Wii Fit, Mii Fat

Whilst walking through brum today, noticed an A4 notice in the window of GameStation.

WII FIT in Stock!!!!!! (probably didn’t have all the exclamation marks). Decided as the belly is too big and the bike is currently of reach to purchase. Seems everyone else decided to as well. Queue was quite long, couple of Emo types very indecisive about Final Fantasy on the DS (I think) anyway after about 10 minutes I got one.

The fitness starts as soon as you purchase and walk out of the shop, the main reason is the bleeding balance board does weigh a bit. Eventually after work, tea and Traffic Cops (wtf were those Swedish women doing bouncing off cars/trucks?) I fired it up. Takes a while to get into it, the initial setup requires a little calibration.

So puts in height (which the Wii already knows – maybe my mii has the details) and DOB etc. It then tells me my weight. Fortunately as the balance board is on the carpet it loses a few kg. So I’m around 15 1/2 stone (97ish Kg), I’m obese and my Wii Fit age is…………….48

Bleedin hell. Anyway started up and had around 30 minutes on all the activities.

The Yoga was interesting as my balance is good (must be the real Yoga – I wont tell Jayne though). As usual the tree pose (the one you see on the cover of Wii Fit) was utter crap. Though I can imagine the other yoga bits will be as difficult as my real Yoga lessons.

Also hard are the arms and legs work outs. These are more like gym work, and having the belly and weak arms I notice them more.

Balance is quite a fun departure, the slalom skiing and Ski Jump are difficult to master. I was absolutely shite at the football (heading). The balance game also has a mini marble madness type game, though it’s just drop a number of mii balls through a hole (got to level 4).

I forget what the other games were, but they are simple things like step and jogging (not on the balance board though. The Wiimote goes in the pocket and jumps out!).

Overall, a good bit of fun. Not too sure if i’m a morning person or an evening one for the training. Hopefully I can keep it up. My ambition is to lose a 1 and a half stone in 3 months. We’ll see.

Birmingham Bloggers Meet

Quite a strange experience as I’ve not done this before. Mom always said don’t talk to strangers, well sorry Mom I’ll be doing this in a bit.

Today’s event is held at Stans Cafe in the Jewellery Quarter, which is currently hosting the ‘Of all the people in the world’ exhibition (or the thericeshow as it’s also known).

Anyway. Early impressions – Quiet, as I’m the first here (usually attempt to get in early). So blogging in an empty cafe, with a cup of tea.

I hear voices………….

……..quite a few turned up. Spent a while around the rice show. Will update with pictures later (train is about to go through snowhill tunnel, so I’ll loose the 3g).

So, back home now. Met quite a few of the bloggers, seems quite a few know each other very well. Bit difficult to really break into a group, still was my first time as an attendee but hopefully will get round to speak to more at the next one. Spoke to Joanna and Mark form the post, both nice and approachable people (apologised to Joanna for being a little blunt with her in the past) also met up with Simon who I sort of know from Skyscrapercity.com (when it works).

Met up with Nick Booth (Podnosh), Pete Ashton (formerly of Created in Birmingham) and Chris Unitt (now runs CiB) as well. All nice guys.

So, I had my camera……….

Riceshow

Riceshow

Riceshow

Riceshow

Adobe bum rape time

Yes folks it’s that time of year. New Photoshop CS time. But the usual sting in the european region is standard. So, here’s the proof

Upgrade from £163.32
Full from £569.88

To be fair the UK price I’m comparing is ex Vat.  So how does it compare to the dollar:

£139 ex Vat – US price $199 converted is £106 + £33

£485 ex Vat – US price $699 converted is £375 + £110

According to HMRC* there is no duty to be paid on the TARIC code for imported software (8523402500), just the VAT.  So the mark up and the basic cost is fairly evident. Huge mark up.  Thanks Abode you bunch of great software writing money fleecing cunts.

*please correct me if I’m wrong

Europe is pretty much fleeced in the same way.

Loft Project, Part 1

It’s been on the cards for a while, but now I’ve actually started. Well, when I say ‘I’ I actually mean Dave the builder.

So stage 1 is complete:

  • Loft Ladder installed
  • Velux Windows installed

Now time for me to plan the design and build.

The area is a around the same size as my current office, although it’s major issue is height.  That said, being a short arse that’s not really a big issue.  And besides the desk position should stop many of the major head butts.

So initial plan (was planning a nice 3D model using google sketchup – but it turned out shite)…..

Seems to be fairly self explanatory. L shaped desk, and storage/shelf areas.

Now just need to build the frame. Once the frame is complete the rest is fairly easy.