Yes, we need one of these.

There is of course a huge joy in living somewhere which is actually warm: you get to stay warm for a start. Which is one of the reasons why we moved to where we are: we simply cannot be dealing with the snow, cold and gloom that we went through when we lived in Moscow (that's the one in Russia, not the one in Idaho). However, one of the little things about the world is that places which are generally warm are not always warm: thus the need for a firewood rack.

Yes, of course, this should be obvious, that while a climate may be warmer there is still the cycle of the seasons and so there will be times of year which are colder than others. And it's also true that when you move to such a warmer climate you adjust your expectations: what would be a balmy warm day to a northerner will have us shivering in our overcoats. So being in a "warm" place does not mean that one avoids the need for heating and thus log racks and fireplaces and all the other accoutrements.

But there is more to it than just this. If you're in a traditionally built house in such a warm area (as we are) then the house has been built to deal with the predominant weather: warm. Which means that when it turns cold, as it will do for some small part of the year, the house really isn't built for it at all. No one around here has central heating for example (and absolutely no one has AC) simply because that's not how the houses are built. Which means that we all have great cast iron stoves which we load up with wood for those couple of months of the year when it is cold: and thus the need for a firewood rack. In fact, I just had a tonne of orange wood (from the orchard over the road) delivered and will be, when I've finished this, be loading up the rack with it.

Flipping the central heating switch may be easier, but it's no where near as much fun.

Whadda girl!

Hat's off everyone to Teanne Harris. Not only is she a redhead who likes her food (the best kind of course) she has a heart of gold.

When her love rat of a fiance jilted her 6 days before her wedding she didn't simply junk the wedding reception. Given that it was Halloween themed anyway she simply invited over the next door old folks home for a Halloween party.

What was it those folks were saying about what you had to make if life offered only lemons?

Once more to the stores my friends!

Or rather, if not once more to the stores my friends, once more to the shopping site on the internet. For it is time in our renovation of this house and garden for us to be looking at outdoor patio furniture. And that means that we need to have both a large selection and great prices: all for the very best of quality of course.

This is the thing about living in a warm climate: what you have as your outdoor patio furniture can actually be more important than what you have inside: for you're likely to spend longer outside than you are in. Who really worried all that much about what you sit on for 40 minutes watching the evening news: what you're going to use for hours as you sit outside is vastly more important. Thus the care with which I have been tasked with buying our outdoor patio furniture. Nothing must be allowed to go wrong, nothing must be allowed to damage this experience which is, after all, what we moved south for.

Actually, the responsibility makes me slightly nervous: it would be better if she who must be obeyed would share the decision making (and thus any blame) but then I know I'm in good hands with my possible selections of outdoor patio furniture....something you can see by simply clicking through any of the links. I know I'm going to get the required price and quality, it's just the choice that's causing the problem.

Is this what the economists call the paradox of choice? That too much choice of what I want makes me unhappy? Could be I suppose but I'm sure I'll get over it. Now then, which design do I want in which color?

Looking for the songs?

Of course, lots of us love High School Musical. The two TV shows, the movie, I'm sure that tere are people already lining up to get tickets for the next movie which doesn't come out until next year.


But it does have to be said, doesn't it, that it's not so much the plot that excites. What's really interesting are the High School Musical songs. That's why the albums have gone so far up the Billboard charts and some of the singles have too.

If you want a guide to all of the songs that are on the soundtracks why not check out that link. All of the songs, who sang them and a rough guide to the plots of the series: all the things that make High School Musical so popular.

Once More about Katie Holmes!

Good grief, even I'm geting bored making these posts about Katie Holmes.

There's a nice little site that has all sorts of news about the actress and Scientology kook, Katie Holmes.

Of course, there's a section on Katie Holmes and her marriage to Tom Cruise.

There's also a round up of news stories, photos and a video feed.

Yes, you can catch up with all the news on your favourite celebrity just by clicking through on of the links.

New Kid on the Block

Or perhaps new kid on the fairway.

Elin Woods has just given birth to a girl, her and Tiger's first child.

Given the family background the young un is Afro-American, Native Indian, Chinese, Thai, Dutch and Swedish.

Book your seats now for the photographs in 18 years or so of someone I have a feeling is going to be an absolute stunner.

Pablo or Paul?

Massed excitement I know, as it is revealed that Jennifer Anniston is dating the British model, Paul Sculfor.

One can see, from looking at Sculfor's photo and video, what is in it for her.

But what's in it for him?

Dying Alone

I guess this is pretty much evidence that no one missed him:

The decomposed corpse of a German man was found alone in his bed after nearly seven years, police in the western city of Essen said Thursday.

The police said in a statement the man was 59 and unemployed at the time of his death. He most likely died of natural causes on November 30, 2000, the date he received a letter from the Welfare Office found in the apartment, police said.

Next to the dead man's bed police found cigarettes, an open television guide and Deutschemark coins, which came out of circulation after the euro was introduced in 2002.

The man's apartment was in a building with offices and apartments, many of which are now empty.

We once had someone die in a flat in the office block we were in. Believe me, after a few days, a corpse smells.