Yesterday’s internet issue lasted well into today, but the announcement of a restoration of service came alongside a complete explanation of what had gone wrong, and a full apology.
Lol. Did it bollocks. Stuff just finally started working again at about 2 this afternoon, and we haven’t heard a peep from our ISP.
[sarcasm]Amazing.[/sarcasm]
Thankfully, and I am saying that with a very calm voice because this is now in the past, we could use the satellite TV to watch United’s playoff semi-final. And so we did.
And that was genuinely amazing.
A new record aggregate score for the Championship playoff semis, and a place at Wembley next Saturday.
They’ve been brilliant. They’ve blown Bristol City away.
Again. No chicken counting. But this does just feel better than our previous [checks notes] nine failed attempts in the playoff system.
[OK. Some few internet problems here in the bottom corner of Africa, so I’m getting this out now in case everything falls apart later.]
In Greek mythology, Tethys is a Titaness, the wife of Oceanus and mother of the river gods and Oceanids.
Die Mimik von Tethys is piece of artwork in which a suspended buoy in Turin – at least several miles from the Bay of Biscay – mimics the movement of an real, identical buoy in the Bay of Biscay:
Continuously transmitting motion data via satellite to its relocated double, the information guides eight electric motors and cable winches, which precisely reproduce the buoy’s movement in the ocean.
And it is quite interesting, thought-provoking and maybe a little disconcerting to watch a buoy suspended in an old car factory (because we’ve all watched this video, right?) moving up and down as invisible, distant waves drag it around.
You inevitably understand the ocean as a character—you feel the whim of the wild water that can potentially hold your life in your hands. Most people lack such existential experiences with the sea. Buoys function as outposts in the sea. They are like space probes—external ambassadors that represent our human existence without our actual presence.
Yes. Space probes and external ambassadors. Just what I was thinking.
…it’s also quite interesting to see just how big some of the waves are. Waves of 6m high are a regular occurrence in the notorious Bay of Biscay, and visualising that as a couple of storeys in the art gallery is quite sobering and unsettling.
Some of JvB’s other projects are also rather interesting. he really doesn’t hold back… Have a look here and here for examples.
Toilet hung. Shower glass in. Mirrors up and wired in. Countertop installed. Basins glued. n0 fUmEs wErE InH@LeD… Taps drilled and attached.
And it’s just that penultimate one that’s holding us back. Because the glue needs to set before they can plumb the basins in, and so they’ll need to visit us for about half an hour on Monday.
So _FINAL_FINAL, then.
While the guys have been great throughout – and I’ll try to remember a post with some contacts in for local people wanting recommended local services for local things – it’s been a real mission to get through this with the numerous public holidays meaning short weeks, and a small, tight, hard to get to workspace in the East Wing of 6000 Manor.
But we’re (very, very nearly) there now. And it’s looking great.
We might even get to sleep in our own room tonight.
Thank goodness I corrected that spelling error in the title.
It’s never ever over until the fat lady sings, but I can hear someone warming their voice up and all the chocolate has disappeared from the treats cupboard, so I think we’re at least some way towards getting somewhere.
A wonderful performance last night down in Bristol from the Red And White Wizzzaaaards, and we look forward to a cracking atmosphere at Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane on Monday for the return leg.
As soon as I saw Vini Souza throwing himself about in the background of Andre Brooks’ goal celebration, I knew that someone was going to have the photograph of the night. And while this one isn’t quite at peak flight for either of our protagonists, it’s still really rather good, and surely one of the next few frames will surface in the near future.
I hate the playoffs, but yes, that offside call might just have been correct; yes, of course it was a red card; and yes, this result was probably more than we could have dreamt of before kick off last night. I’m absolutely ready to have my now foolishly expectant heart broken again in the near future. Rinse and repeat.
