Just been to the supermarket, or as I like to call it - the nightmare before Christmas

Off to a panto today. Oh no you're not! Oh yes I am. Ho Ho. More fun updates soon, stay tuned.

Damn you Thomas Cook and your compelling ad with haunting piano track & poignant narrative about family time. Summer hols is almost booked.

I haven't done a status update for 11 days. Looking forward to Christmas. That is all.

£350 on a small sink, I feel ill.

My wife had her Christmas present early as it was too heavy and large to hide, a potter's wheel.

Every time I go through airport security I think this... http://xkcd.com/651/

Interesting perspectives on childhood development of drawing. http://ping.fm/28WnC

Successfully gave directions to a taxi driver and ordered a coffee, all in German! It's all coming back. Quite proud.

I don't feel quite so lost in Germany. GCSE German is still in there. Heading through dark foggy streets in a taxi.

Staying in Bremen tonight, up early tomorrow heading to Oldenburg, business not pleasure sadly. Its foggy!

I wonder what north Germany is like at this time of year...

Since the builders arrived, my ability to climb ladders, make strong sugary tea and speak with a faux cockney accent has really come along.

I am not doing Movember because what I think I look like http://j.mp/vc9Svd is different from reality http://j.mp/tIRrD4

Important report to finish. My wife pointed out I am behaving like Spongebob in this episode http://j.mp/u7TJwU - this update confirms this.

Oops managed to attempt to call 3 people during 2 mins silence due to forgetfulness, sorry! Will donate to BRC to make up for it.

Spent the day dressed as an "evil" secret agent for my son's themed birthday party. Everyone had a great time.

Happy Birthday to my eldest. 7 today and smarter than his Mum and Dad already :)

Happy Birthday to a wonderful son. 5 years of being adorable.

Second great evening out. Amsterdam is lovely, but man am I looking forward to getting home tomorrow.

Fever all night and now an Easyjet flight to Amsterdam. 3 days of meetings. Sat among the usual uncomfortable mix of businessmen & stoners

Climbed a tall ladder yesterday, conquered fear. Got up early to make everyone blueberry pancakes. Man of the year?

OK, imagine the biggest jellyfish you can imagine, got it? Now click this http://imgur.com/ZKhVN

Watching Adam Curtis' the power of nightmares again. Utterly brilliant.

Has anyone tried googling "do a barrel roll", fascinating.

Loft guys sealed access hatch to lay flooring. Only route up now via ladder. Morbid fear of Heights. Stairs go in around Christmas! Torture.

Off to my first firework display of the year with the family, quite excited!

Off to see Dave Gorman tonight

Walking home, through the dark, toward a dodgy estate, on Halloween, carrying a blackberry, ipad and iphone 4. Triple jackpot for a mugger!

Saw Tintin in 3D at the cinema, loved it (so did the boys)

Had a really great night with friends. Best in ages! Danced for 2 hours like nobody was watching. In cold light of day, I think they were :P

I really love the US TV show "Community". On series 2. Why isn't it popular over here? It's got Chevy Chase in it!

Legoland today, to meet scooby doo and gang!

Tonight I am very excited to have tracked down a short, atmospheric film that has eluded me for 20 years. Read on... http://j.mp/pulf83

I remember being a teenager regularly staying up late to watch a series on channel 4 called 4 Mation. The series aired both contemporary and classic animation from around the world and I enjoyed it immensely. It was one such evening that I saw a haunting and atmospheric short film that profoundly influenced me, igniting a love of animation and particularly stop motion (which I have dabbled in) all my life.

Until this evening I thought I would never see this obscure film ever again.

On many different occasions over past years I have searched for clues as to what this animation was. Apart from remembering the simply story, I got my first strong lead just recently when I visited Prague. While browsing traditional wooden toys in Prague airport, the style of the puppets seemed familiar to me. Holding a one I remembered the eerie animation. I bought some beer for my friends back home and boarded the plane, forgetting about the link until tonight. I started my search again with the clue that the animator may have been eastern European.

Within minutes I tracked down the animator Jirí Trnka and most importantly the name of the 1954 animation "O sklenicku víc", is it any wonder I didn't remember the title! Rather embarrassingly Jiri Trnka was considered the Walt Disney of eastern Europe. Damn my islander education.

I watched it again and enjoyed every minute of it.

It is with great pleasure that I present this to you. It is a sad story with a simply warning message. No obscure metaphors here. Just atmosphere and heart produced out of simple materials.

Interested to get your thoughts on this.

Jirí Trnka "O sklenicku víc"

Justice is finally served for the attempted assassination in a parking lot of this guy http://j.mp/o53eg7

Almost a year of being a manager. I know I'm still a techie geek at heart because I feel like a kid in a candy shop here http://j.mp/obW4nK

Packing up my current home office which soon will be converted into a bedroom for my little boy. Moving up in the world (literally).

I hate it when visitors to centre parcs leave their cars parked everywhere when they are supposed to move them to the car park #middleclassproblems

My wife is reading the children "The Lorax" with a little too much vigour and venom. I wonder if she may be a communist.

Off to see Stephen Merchant in town tonight, should be good, I need a laugh.

So much sadness in the world, and then I find this on the Internet and all is well again. http://bit.ly/qhonKi

Just watched the latest Transformers movie, I am glad to see that they stuck with a common theme. Being crap.

Under Armour Fusion top just arrived in the post. Now I can run in the cold (and look quite a lot like an extra from Tron)

Physically and mentally exhausted. No sleep last night, jittery from too much great coffee. Weights and running today. I'm off to bed, nn.

I will celebrate my return to Facebook with an appropriate film clip http://ping.fm/oZXK7

10 pull-up challenge completed. The sparticus workout is evidently paying off.

Lovely weekend. 29 degrees in October! Hosted a BBQ yesterday and attended another today. Kids playing so well together. Good times, tired.

Made these for everyone this morning http://ping.fm/XAzc0

Classic, http://ping.fm/2scOf