Having disliked E-bay’s new search so much, I am pleased to see that things seem to have gone back to the old ways. Not completely, but enough that things are usable again 
Well done E-bay for admitting when they messed up and sorting it.
Not sure when it went ‘live’ but I see today that E-bay has a new search. God its terrible! I search for “6001 bearing” and it only shows me results from “Car and Vehicle”, listing 4 results. It has a link to another group, “pocketbikes”
with another result, but thats it. I know damn well there are more than 5 results within E-bay for my search, I’m watching 8 auctions with “6001 bearing” in the title! I tried a few other searches and it appears that it is all just as bad. So bad that to me E-bay is really now not usable. How can such big site make such a big cock-up?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4660644.stm - Now to me that does look awfully close, even with perspective etc…
I went to IKEA on Wednesday evening, with my GF, to buy a shelving unit thing.
Its a machine that ‘tests’ a Poang armchair by simulating a heavy arse sitting down and reclining. In case you can read the couter, which should show how many cycles the chair has been through, here is a close up.
One of the many nice things about Sri Lanka is that there is a lot of diversity, both in socioeconomic, culture and landscape terms. For example, I am sat at the moment on the patio of my hotel, surrounded by lush tropical tree and flowers, yet without being disturbing I can here the hustle and bustle of the main road at the end of the culdesac. I am in the heart of the city whilst feeling outside of it.
This past weekend (following a very busy but fruitful week in the office) I got to get out and about a bit. Saturday morning was spent nipping round some of the local shops (I say local, but other than at Majestic City, the locals don’t shop there) to pick up a few things to take back home. Suitcase space being at a premium I did not buy to much, but next time I won’t bring so many clothes I won’t wear… Why did I bring a suit? The afternoon was spent sat in the fresh air, in the shade!, reading the newspaper and enjoying a brief doze.
Sunday started all to early (well, okay, 8.30 isn’t early but I’m a lazy so and so and the beds are just to comfy) but a terrific day ensued. Sitara (our office driver) and Rajitha (who really should do more than just SEO for OW) took me down to Madu Ganga Villas (Madu Ganga is a world heritage site), which is about 85km south of Colombo. Its a slightly odd place, tucked away down some rather bumpy residential back roads, but all the more endearing for it. Set beside a huge salt water inlet you can enjoy a drink on the floating veranda, take a boat trip round what seems like an ever expanding expanse of water, dotted with islands and little boat-ways through the mangroves, then have lunch on there deck over the water. All terribly pleasant, though all the more odd for being the only people there! One wonders how such places survive.
The drive down to Madu Ganga and back takes you through some areas where the recent tsunami has made its impact felt. Along the main A2 Colombo to Galle coast road there are many ruined buildings, dotted with white Red Cross tents which make do as homes for the affected whilst rebuilding takes place. the devastated railway has already been fully restored, which is encouraging to see, but the full rebuilding of the coastal areas (many so much more badly affected than those I saw) will take very much longer, especially as the debate over the Sri Lankan Government’s 100 meter rule continues.
I’m back in the UK tomorrow, after a 12 hour flight that only takes 6 hours on the watch, so hopefully I’ll get some sleep and be awake for a beer or two back in Bath.
Some pics are HERE.
“Welcome to Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport. The temperature today is a warm 33 degrees celsius. Would those seating in rows 28 to 43 please exit by the rear doors. It has been a pleasure having you on-board this SriLankan Airlines flight today and we hope to see you again soon.”
I’m sorry, I don’t do 33 degrees! Taking my nice heavy winter fleece off before disembarking though, was a plan. Odd that getting through immigration is so much easier in Sri Lanka than in the USA. But I guess to the American’s I am a threat, where as to the Sri Lankan’s I am a fat white guy that can’t cope with the heat and thus not likely to be much of a threat at all. Which is a fair point to be honest.
Anyway, I must dash, off for a drink at the Navy HQ. More later probably.
Well, I have hijacked some wireless in Heathrow to entertain me whilst I wait for my flight to Colombo. Apparently I get a stop over (the kind where you cant get off) in the Maldives, which is not quite the direct flight I asked for. Nevermind. 11hour flight… sucky, I hope I can get some sleep.
Went to see Killing Joke’s 25th anniversary gig at London’ Sheppard’s Bush Empire tonight, t’was bloody excellent! Sure, it was rather packed and I the chap in front of me looked unhappy with 110kg or me jumping about behind him, but hey, I had a great time!
Sadly, on route to the gig, my dear sister loudly announced to the entire tube carriage, that I have started to go grey. Bitch 
Now this is a sentiment I fully appreciate http://www.raceface.com/valentine.mov
Thanks be to
In other news I took the afternoon off work ‘cos I feel rather shitty. I don’t do ill damn it!