Matt Hobbs

Hmm… just found out that yesterday’s flight was arriving at Heathrow literally just before the entire automated radar system in the UK failed! Landed at Heathrow around 9.45am in the end (or it might have been a bit later) and the system crashed around 10. Actutally it might have been around the same time as we were coming in as they suddenly delayed us and kept us in a strange holding pattern that I’d never seen coming into Heathrow before. On the plus side the plane landed safely and I was only a bit late unlike 1000s of other poor sods who got delayed hugely. The manual processes still seem to work.

So I’m in the UK for now and about to setup a page for details of where I’m camping at Glastonbury this year. In summary though – the plan is to camp at the south side of the site, at the bottom (ie, southernmost) tip of the field to the west of the Sacred Circle field. This is a nice spot as it’s out of the main flow of traffic – other than people sneaking in of course. If anyone wants to try and reach me call or message – 0779 0145027, it’s an Orange phone and they worked pretty damn well last year. Here’s a map of where we’ll be. There should be a large orange tent and I’m going to try and come up with a cool flag before going.

Back in the good ol’ U of K again for Glastonbury and a few other choice, family events. Today was my little sister Abigail’s 10th birthday party.Being the love buying sibling that I am the simple application of dollars to Pokeman Team Rocket cards (not yet out in the UK) meant that I was top in the sibling ranks for at least 10 minutes. Sigh – such simple pleasures packaged in a nice shiny foil wrapper…

Perhaps more fun is that I’ve borrowed my dad’s Citroen 2CV for my time here. Driving this half tin half fibre glass machine is the driving equivalent of juggling raw eggs. Although the eggs would probably provide more protection in a crash. Luckily it doesn’t go above 50 mph anyway.

I keep thinking – screw the Internet. To really make money I need to invent ‘self-esteem in a can’. That’s gotta be worth something! Unless of course the ingredients are just a good deodorant, body shampoo and vodka. In which case the market’s already flooded.

I need more sleep. Things came up last night in a conversation that got to me more than I’d like and I don’t even know why. Isn’t that strange? How emotions can just rise up in you with no way of knowing where they come from? My normal range is lust, sleepiness, lust and hunger which I can normally source. Other ones… well, they come and go.

People can be fuckers though. Sometimes they know it too and still do it – that’s the scariest thing I know. For everyone who knows me out there – whenever I’m a fucker tell me! I probably don’t realize it! Can’t everyone just be nice to each other? Why do people want pain in their lives? Jeez.

s.u.w.n.

After a weekend of tropical heat in the 90s New York has decided to go decidedly British today with freezing cold rain. Since I am wearing shorts, sandles and t-shirt I am not amused!! The good side of this is that it means the office has not been a complete sauna.

Spent Sunday in the park with Kirsteen having a picnic. We went to the Rose center for Space for a bit to catch up with StJohn and his chums. Jodi Foster explained, in conjunction with a laser light show, how the universe began. 10 seconds later we were on our way through time – from the big bang to the present day. Yawn-a-fuckin’-rama! They could have made it more exciting but it was pretty dull all told. The mouse we saw running under the exhibit was the big excitement. In the evening we went for some smashing sushi at some place in the East Village on A between 5th and 6th.

Saturday was spent a lot on my mobile having discussions in the park, then getting pissed off. Ended up at cush on 5th between A and B. Emily’s friend was DJing playing a nice mix of weird dance. The sofa was hella-cool. Sharp cuboids of black rubber coated foam. Nice. Tim wanted to try and steal one but we decided it would be tricky to get past the bouncer. I was also completely sober which made it seem a less sensible option… Yes, I’d decided – based on Friday night where I’d got highly drunk down at Liquids after a meal down at Holy Basil including one blue drink that I can’t remember the name of. Probably safer that way. They were playing good music again but the crowd was mix of chinos and chinos. Yoiks.

Well, mum and nan’s last night in New York City tonight. Mum made roast beef dinner so I’m now feeling extremely fat and bloaty. Luverley. We all went to see Beauty and the Beast just off Broadway. This turned out to be pretty fun (although they wouldn’t let me take my extra large vodka and coke back to the seat) – especially when they did a dance based around all the characters banging metal cups together. Amazing stuff – especially when they had four different people hitting cups together in time with each other.

Strangely enough it all ended happily ever after… bless.

Today I went up to Boston for a two hour meeting. A great way to spend the day. Also involved seeing the Marine Terminal at Le Guardia airport which is pretty amazing with painted ceilings and strange, Russian style sculptures. I was running too late to really appreciate this though!

Ended up spending some of the night with evil playmate StJ and and legal alien, Herta (boss of Uber Inc and Nicole). St had set up his projecter on Herta’s roof on 27th and Lex (v cool) and we watched American Movie. Then went down to Baktun and listened to some luverley tunes at what is going to be the last static for a while – sigh. Had another amaretto sour – lovely. The owner/barperson was giving me consistent weird looks which, it transpired, were because she thought I was Bodie – the Saturday doorman. She hadn’t heard of Doyle though… Must have been my Grade A Bruce Lee shirt (which I still love more than life itself) and my CyberDog grey/blue rave pants combo – they make synchronicity flow….

Cycled in again this morning – third day in a row and I’m getting progressively more knackered!! It takes a lot more time overall than getting the subway but I get to have a shower in the office and feel refreshed for the day (before the Q back room sweatshop effect kicks in). I love the views over the bridge on the way into town. Wish there was a park on the way. One thing I really miss from London is cycling into work along the river from Tooting. Oh, and trying to beat Russ’s time around Richmond Park.

g.b.t.w.n. – 4 hours after last communique!

s.u.w.n.

{:(

New York weather is amazing sometimes. It was hot and humid at 4pm then by 6pm a torrential downpour struck Manhatten midtown. Lightening struck the Empire State buiding a number of times and to stand outside was to get drenched. The most sensuous weather – although not really appreciated when trying to carry a bag without getting it wet! Hopefully it won’t be that strong when I fly to Montreal tomorrow for the eofy.2k.

Abigail’s birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday Abby!) – she’s hit her first set of double figures, 10 years old. I was trying to remember what I was doing at that age. Probably being bullied, my last year at Crawley Ridge Middle School before going to RGS Guildford! Everyone else going to Collingwood. Nothing appears in my mind even if I focus on it. It’s amazing how a smell can make you think of somewhere or something instantaneously but when you try to think of an event you can’t. No wonder they have such trouble simulating the human mind. Probably a good thing.

A cat is now officially required for my apartment since I just caught a mouse. Cute little thing. I was unsure whether to chuck it out the house or keep it as a pet. For lack of a suitable home it was returned outdoors. Apparently we can’t get an exterminator for the building as one person refused permission to spray or whatever since she’s pregnant – everyone’s using traps. Bizarre. My roof is still leaking as well, even though they’ve re-tarred about five times now . Perfection is not something one should ever aspire to – in themselves, others or apartments in New York.

New toy alert – a Music Clip. Definate cool toy potential – size of two AA batteries and stores 170 minutes of music. Totally N.A.F. (nice as fuck). Only downside is that Sony are playing super-retentive by only supporting Windows 98 (the VAIO standard deploy) and I have Windows NT. Ho hum.

Meanwhile getting involved in two cool eCommerce bids – one for my current project and one for an old client. More news as and when and if. Very excited when I’d been seriously lacking work direction for a day. I need to learn to stop taking the high ground and accept that things aren’t always perfect whilst striving to get them there!