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Posts tagged ‘france’

22
Mar

Resisting the world

You know when you have a dream that is so vivid, when you wake up you have to do a double take and for a split second wonder if it was actually real or not?

Well I had one of those last night and it was a wierd one. One day I’ll try and write the whole thing into a short story but for now here is the summary.


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A new element is discovered in Jersey – this is something incredibly rare and 1mg of it has the power to both destroy a planet and power a whole country forever – assuming it’s mixed properly.

But it turns out after much searching, debate, discussion and bartering that Jersey is the only place in our solar system it can be found.

So France who believe they have a medieval claim to the island, China who need the power, England who believe they own the island through the Crown and Imperial Stormtroopers (told you it was weird) decided to invade.

This then turns the tiny island that’s just 9 miles by 5 into an international battle ground.

In my dream I was leader a resistance movement of people that were living in the island before the element was discovered, I work with a team to convert the Puddle Ducks (google Puddle Duck Jersey) into escape ships that can take hundreds to mainland UK to escape the fighting in Jersey.

All the while dodging the Stormtroopers, Chineese forces and French soldiers eating cheese (don’t ask).

One scene saw me walking down towards Victoria Avenue as a squadron of Stormtroopers marched along the Avenue – I avoided them by joining a marching band who – for some reason where in fancy dress and hiding between them.

All the while I have an irritating buzzing feeling in my left shoulder.

That’s when I woke up to find my 14 month old baby poking me in the shoulder.

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9
Sep

Who am I?

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A friend asked me how I would rank the places and things that impact my identity the other day.

The concept behind it was to rank the things that make me who I am in order – starting with national identity and then gradually working down the list.

So the first thing on the list for me, as a British citizen, would be … well British but the concept then allows for anything to be put in the order of identity after that.

So it could be Geek, Musician, Drummer or even English, Magician or Lunatic. I’ve personally gone for geek as, in terms of personality I think of myself as a geek before I think of myself as English (even though I was born in England and spent the first 18 years of my life there).

Anyway, I’ve been thinking long and hard about it and this is the list I’ve been able to come up with so far – it may change depending on my mood.

  • Father
  • British
  • Geek
  • English
  • Journalist
  • BBC
  • Jersey
  • Blogger
  • New Media/Web
  • Drummer
  • Hemel Hempstead

I don’t actually factor European in there at all – anywhere – mainly because (and don’t get me wrong I like the European idea) I don’t feel European or any connection with the continental idea of Europe.

When I think of Europe I get all stereotypical and imagine old French philosophers sitting at a cafe smoking and debating the world. I’ve never lived in France and only visited once and I’ve visited the rest of Europe (with the exception of Portugal) even less.

So my knowledge, understanding and relationship to Europe is limit to two week holidays in Portugal, having a cousin from Germany and a day trip to France in Primary School.

Anyway – I did toy with the idea of showing this list in other ways but in the end a good old fashioned list was the best way of displaying a few items.

What defines you? My wife suggested that I didn’t need to make a list as the tag cloud pretty much defines me already, that what I wrote about on my blog was a measure of who I am already – but to me that’s more a measure of what I like than who I am.

Here is the tag cloud as of now:

apple Arts audio BBC BBC iPlayer blog blogging british channel4 comedy Design download Entertainment facebook google interface internet iplayer ipod itunes itv James May Jeremy Clarkson jeremyclarkson jersey Last.fm Media mobile Music newmedia News Podcast Radio stig Technology Television top gear topgear torchwood tv UK United Kingdom Video writing youtube

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24
Apr

The Great British Adventure

I love watch Oz Clarke and James May when they’re on screen together – the two shows they’ve done so far have been both heartwarming and funny as well as charming and disturbing – all at the same time.

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7
Nov

An iPhone in Six Months

I wrote yesterday about why I don’t intend to get an iPhone – several reasons but most to do with the nonsense cost difference between the UK and US versions.

But having spoken to an Apple expert this morning I’m thinking of changing my mind – in six months time.

Let me explain. The iPhone goes on sale in France on 29 November 2007 through Orange. Under French law mobile operators have to make a phone available unlocked, or provide a way to unlock the phone within six months of it going on sale.

So in France the iPhone can only stay locked for six months – this doesn’t mean Orange won’t still be the sole, official, retailer in six months time, they’ll still have exclusivity to sell the phone – but you will be legally allowed to put another operators sim card in your iPhone.

So in six months, on 29 May 2008 I should be able to go to France, buy an iPhone without a contract, bring it home and put my Sure Telecom sim card in it.

Alternatively – O2 in England will notice an increase in underground iPhone sales through eBay etc and decide to make the iPhone available unlocked as well – but also make a heavily subsidised version available with a contract.

So if that happens I could go to England in six months and sign up for a contract with O2 (£35 per month) and get an iPhone for something like £80 – that would bring it in line with most of the rest of mobiles sold in the UK.

Either way – good things come to those who wait.