boakes.org » Misc

This is one of those “maybe it exists but I can’t find it” ideas. Something that I’d find very useful would be media player plugin that could use the ID tag from mp3’s (etc) to nip off to the WWW and find the relevant guitar tab so playing along is thus a very easy process. The idea could be taken further for different instruments, of couse, but it’s generally something similar to the usual “buy this album” button which is purely commercial. So, what’s out there, anyone know? If it doesn’t exist someone please write it!

Since we’ve been upgraded to the new-style of coin trap on our Dyson CR-01 washing machine we’ve noticed that it clogs more than the previous design. This is good (ish): it’s supposed to clog, that’s the idea, by clogging at a point that is accessible it reduces the likelihood that larger particles of gunk and hair can get through and compromise the pump or the exit tubes, but regardless of this, it’s still a bit of a pain when it happens. You walk past the machine expecting your washing to be ready but instead there’s a message saying “Not emptying: Check coin trap …” More…

The recent demolition of Killay House left a lot of memories without an anchor. It was a familiar shape to the thousands of people who travel on Gower Road daily, and it had been so for over 120 years. Growing up in Heol Glasnant (where the houses are tall), and going to school in Hendrefoilan (futher up the hill) meant that the old building was always in our line of sight when we looked across the bay to the view’s focal point, Mumbles Head. I understand that before NCH sold the site there was talk of getting the building protected: why this didn’t happen is not something I know. More…

Thirty one years ago, my grandfather, thought it might be interesting to fix his cine camera to the outside of his car, and go for a drive from his home in Wimmerfield Crescent, down to Sketty and back. More…

This cine was taken at the Hendrefoilan School Sports Day, sometime between June 1978 and June 1980… ish. More…

Wimmerfield Crescent is a residential street located in Killay, Swansea. It feeds three small residential cul-de-sac roads, one of which is called Heol Glasnant where I used to live. Heol Glasnant has the unusual property (in Wales) of being flat, and the lack of throroughfare made it an ideal venue for street parties. More…

Having converted my Grandparents stash of cine film to a digital format earlier in the year I’ve at last found a few minutes to extract something of general interest (as opposed to the family-interest stuff), so here it is. More…

It looks like Mission Beach (where we spent an amazing week living a rainforest lodge in 2002) may have been very badly hit by Cyclone Larry last night. More…

Penyrheol Comprehensive School (where I used to do an evening football class, and a team which our school rugby team played against regularly) has been razed to the ground by fire. More…

I find I work better at night: not just a bit better; a lot better. My code output seems to skyrocket between the hours of 23:00 and 04:00. Can anybody tell me, why? There must be a reason. More…