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Tech

According the BT checking thingummy I could soon have 8Mbps ADSL:

For Telephone Number xxxx on Exchange EARLS COURT

Your exchange will have Max ADSL broadband by 30th November 2005.

Our initial test on your line indicates that your line should be able to support a potential broadband line rate of 5Mbps up to 8Mbps.

The actual line rate supportable will be determined during the first 10 days of use, after which time the highest stable rate possible will be set.

How rather exciting – I get my ADSL through Mailbox Internet. Fingers crossed they’ll be offering the service at a reasonable price!

A week on…

Personal

7 days into my liquid diet and it’s pretty tough – apologies for not posting much of late, I don’t have much enthusiasm at the best of times, and this is really sapping my will to live :)

May I just say that "tropical fruits" flavour Fortisip should be avoided at all costs.

Day 2

Personal

Due to a cockup at the pharmacy I just have "Fortijuice" to live off at the moment, my milkshake stylee "Fortisip" should be waiting for me this evening.

I can already report that drinking Fortijuice makes your piss smell like that last flavour you had – "Fruits of the Forest" most recently.

My stomach is wondering what the hell has hit it – I was also awake early this morning craving food. And I have a bloody annoying headache.

Not so good so far then…

Maxtor OneTouch III

Tech

The solution to all my backup and storage needs:

onetouch_iii_turbo_unit_t.jpg

1TB (RAID0) of external USB & Firewire goodness. You can get your sticky mitts on it from December for about £700. I’ll take two.

[Originally from C|NET]

Liquid

Food

To help try and reign in my Crohn’s, tomorrow seems me start a polymeric diet. This involves having nothing but liquid "food" for 4 weeks.

fortisip.jpg
Look, 8 of these a day!

They come in "fruit juice" or "milk shake" styles, annoyingly all sweet. I use inverted commas because it’s so artificial – it contains about 1.5kcal / mL (a Mars Bar has about 300kcal) and apparently is nutritionally balanced.

Stay tuned for a food critic’s review of the "flavours"…

Houseboats

Personal

Very seriously, we’re looking at buying a houseboat.

Reasons for:

  • They’re detached
  • Generally have a fabulous river view
  • You can just move your entire house if you hate your neighbours
  • Cheap (c. £100k-£200k for 2-3 bedrooms)

Reasons against:

  • Mooring fees
  • Bottled gas
  • Possible problems getting a telephone line 
  • If poorly converted, they can be cold & damp
  • Having to been replated / repainted in a dry dock every 5 years

So far, the best sites I’ve found are http://houseboats.apolloduck.co.uk/ & http://www.waterview.co.uk/ and these deal in houseboats for sale in London.

Books? Not a lot that I’ve found so far: