In case you haven’t noticed, you have arrived to an updated version of “The Story”.
The main reason behind the switch of hosting providers was an increased storage requirement, mainly for photos (there are MANY wedding photos itching to be uploaded).
I also took the opportunity to upgrade several components of the site. A new Movable Type installation with better control over comments, a new phpBB installation that fixes that annoying howdark.com exploit, a fresh new Gallery (currently with some issues) and more.
There are ambitions of a total redesign in the near future, let’s hope they real.
That is all I have to say for a while…
It has begun
I have decided to switch hosting providers due to a growing archive of photos.
With my new provider I will get 3000MB of storage compared to 250MB of storage with my old provider. The new provider also works out slightly cheaper.
I have updated the DNS records for my domain name and it will take anything between 0 and 48 hours to propagate all across the Internet.
Meanwhile you may arrive at the old location or the new location or alternate between them.
Quite a lot of manual work was required to move the MySql data, phpBB, Gallery of photos, movable type db, custom scripts, http configs and more. I should write it up because it could serve as a starting point for other people in my situation.
Have fun, see you in my new home in 48 hours.
PS “ipconfig /flushdns” may help
Applying for an Indian visa in London
Being the owner of a Swedish passport, I have been quite spoiled with never having to issue any visas during all my travels around the world. Until today because all foreigners require a visa to visit India.
The place to get an Indian visa in London is India House, Aldwych, London WC2B 4NA. The operating hours are 08:30 to 12:30 but you’re best to be there by 07:30…latest! The queue builds up very fast after that and you would spend the rest of the morning there if not being turned away due to too many applicants.
First you have to queue outside, in the freezing morning, to get a queuing coupon. The small window where they hand out the queuing coupons opens only at 08:30.
After that you are at least let inside and can purchase a warm drink. Inside you wait until your number comes up to hand over all the paperwork.
Make sure you have a pre-filled visa application form, your passport, two passport photos and cash enough for the fee (usually £ 30). If you require a business visa to India make sure to bring a letter both from your company and the Indian company, stating the purpose and duration of your stay. If you have been travelling recently in certain Yellow Fever endemic countries, bring proof of vaccination.
The last waiting exercise is to get back your passport. This process is less organised as the passports come back in batches of 30 and the numbers are shouted out.
All in all it wasn’t an as stressed experienced as it might have been, had I arrived only 30 minutes later. There were even some jokes going on about certain embassy staff that were reading the morning paper and drinking tea in the middle of the chaos…
Success
As much as I was worried before the wedding, the more am I relieved now that it is all over.
Most people settle with one wedding but we had to have two; one ceremony in the church and one civil ceremony the following day.
The church ceremony was mainly attended by close friends and family. It was the hardest part by far. Watching my family lined up along the church benches as I was walking towards the altar was quite a thrill.
It was then surpassed by the sight of the bride, my future wife, walking towards me accompanied by her father. A four men strong group of trumpeters announcing her entrance added to the suspense.
The following day was relatively easy. Sure there were a lot more people (close to 400) but for me it was a repetition and I knew there was a big party waiting.
Party hats and sunglasses, fireworks, the Swedish flag next to the Brazilian flag, late night Havaianas for the girls and a 13 men strong samba band were just some of the surprises prepared.
Early in the morning I was told by several of the people at the party that they doubted they would ever attend a grander party, not even at their own wedding. Now that is a great compliment if there ever was one!
Photos.
Wedding bells
Interesting; just 4 hours left before I get married in a stunning church and yet I am not freaking out.
People have traveled from all around the world for the occasion. A friends wedding is an important event that should not be missed but I suspect that the fact that the wedding is in Brazil was a strong puller as well.
The priest speaks English very well which helps a lot so that the non-Portuguese speaking guests can enjoy the ceremony as well.
Traditionally people settle for one wedding ceremony only but we are not traditional. There will be a second, civil, wedding ceremony tomorrow that will supersede today’s religious ceremony in grandness and party factor.
People keep asking where we will go for our honey moon but there will not be one; at least not immediately after the wedding. Family and friends have come from near and far and it wouldn’t have been nice to go away.
Instead some beach houses have been arrange where we will kick back, catch up on gossip and drink Caipirinhas until early mornings.
There is always room for a luxurious holiday later next year.
Just 2 hours left…
Barenaked ladies at the Shepherds Bush Empire
This not so known but fairly old skool Canadian band was playing at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire last Thursday. The venue is fairly small and it was easy to walk all the way up to the stage.
The band was promoting their holiday album and much of the performance revolved around Christmas spirit. Alternative versions of Jingle Bells and Feliz Navidad (Próspero Año y Felicidad) were played. As usual the real crowd pleasers were classics like Pinch me and If I had a million dollars.
At one point the band members decided to swap places with each other and the main singer ended up playing drums, the bas player ended up playing keyboard, the keyboard player took over the at the bas and the drummer positioned himself at the microphone. Another act that showed how musical and talented the Barenaked ladies are.
Besides being great at playing music, the Barenaked ladies knew how to entertain. Small anecdotes, jokes and all things are better in three were fused into several of their classic songs. Often resulting in LOLs from the audience.
New address
Yet another address in London; this is the fourth time we shuffle all our lively possessions in hopes of bigger and better.
Moving is a pain in the butt but (intended) this time we had help from the amazing guys at Aardvark Removals. They were very professional, chatty and did not flinch even when faced with two 100kg+ rose pots (actually, they did flinch a wee bit) in the garden.
14 hours and 100 boxes later, we were settled in into our new flat and the festive bottle of champagne was uncorked. Still plenty of unopened boxes but with the bed assembled, a roof over our heads and the TV set-up I am content.
House warming party you ask? Send me your details and you will be invited in the very near future…
Memorable moments:
* The moving guys singing along to Dire Straits, Money for Nothing playing on MTV. “We got to move these refrigerators, We got to move these color TV’s”
* Pizza dinner and listening to 30 years of removals stories
* Ball room dancing in the new lounge while sipping champagne…
Apple eye candy for Windows: Konfabulator
Last year I noticed a Mac OS application that looked very sleek and I wished it would run on Windows. This month my wish came through.
Konfabulator is an engine that runs in the background and updates various widgets placed on your desktop. These widgets display information about your computer or information fetched from the Internet.
The installation comes with 15 default widgets to update you about the weather, time, WiFi strength, CPU usage, photo frame and more. On the Konfabulator gallery page you will see that people from around the world have contributed with hundreds if not thousands of widgets to perform all kinds of tasks.
One common characteristic of the widgets is their design. It is pure eye candy combined with high functionality. Fancy transparencies, docking to the side of your desktop, eye popping icons and much more previously only seen on Mac OS.
My current favourite widget is the standard digital clock in float mode and very high transparency. What is your favourite widget?
Sony HBH-660 bluetooth headset review
Yet another Bluetooth headset. I sure hope that this one sticks with me for a while.
The main feature that sold me the Sony HBH-660 was the caller info.
The headset has a tiny 6 character LCD display. Besides showing battery status, volume level and other good information it also display a caller’s number or name if you have the number stored in your phone as a contact.
The headset comes with a strap so that you can wear it around your neck. Much better than loosing it in a pocket somewhere. While wearing the unit around your neck, the caller info is really handy.
The battery life has improved slightly from my previous HBH-60. This could also be just a perception due to the new battery indicator.
The HBH-660 is tiny bit heavier than the HBH-60 and HBH-600 but it did not result in any discomfort.
On a downside, my HBH-660 has worse voice quality than my old HBH-60 and HBH-30. This could be due a faulty device but I recommend you to try it out before purchase!
Man on Fire (2004)
A very powerful movie on the theme of revenge.
Creasey is a washed out ex-marine that has lost his will to live and has given up hope that God will ever forgive him for his killings.
He reluctantly accepts a job as a body guard to the little girl Pita in Mexico City. A body guard is needed due to the frequent kidnappings and to satisfy an insurance policy requirement.
Pita is an irresistibly friendly little girl and Creasy finds him self becoming very attached to her. In a way Pita shows him that there is reason for caring and living.
When Pita is later kidnapped, Creasy swears to find her and kill “…anyone who was involved, anyone who profited from it, anyone who opens their eyes at him”.
Cue one-man-army suicide mission where Creasy works his way up from low level gangsters towards the man responsible for the organised kidnappings in Mexico City.
Dakota Fanning (Pita) puts on a very convincing performance which is impressive especially due to her young age. Washington is very good at convincing the audience of his cold blooded nature and ruthlessness.
Rating: 4/5