Yesterday I received an email saying that they like the way I look (they’re after guys with long hair) and could I come in to the agency for more photos and a chat. So, I’ve booked the afternoon off work next Friday and arranged to pop by. I have to say that I’m quite excited at the prospect of being in a proper film, even just in the background or whatever, and also by seeing something of the process of making a big-budget movie. It’ll be an experience.

I shall keep you posted on my progress and, if I get to be in the film, I’ll try to write some stuff here about what happens.

I’m not sure what the answer to this problem is. Perhaps, on seeing someone leaving without the paper they brought onto the train, everyone else in the carriage should refuse to let them out until they return to their seat and get it. Perhaps someone should roll said paper up and give the miscreant a good whack over the head with it first. However it’s done, we need to put pressure on these anti-social gits to take their litter with them and put it in the bin. Preferably the recycling one.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Yes, we’ve seen similar stuff before, and in the hands of almost anyone else it’d be quite boring by now, but somehow Gareth Malone manages to keep our interest. A great deal of this has to be due to his infectious passion for singing and his refusal to give up in the face of the kids’ initial indifference. It really is lovely to watch, despite a certain predictability. I’ll be glued to the remaining two episodes and to whatever Mr. Malone comes up with next.

Anyway, the point of this ramble is that despite my loathing of the national sport and the consequent dreading of the World Cup that was my initial reaction, a thought has occurred to me. While the England matches are on, especially if the team make it through to the later stages of the competition, the streets will be blessedly, delightfully empty. I shall be able to amble around London without having to keep stopping or changing direction suddenly. I shall be able to get a seat on the Tube. As long as I’m safely off the streets by chucking out time I’ll be able to pretend that some sort of ghastly, Survivors-like plague has struck and I’m one of the lucky few who’s still around.

So, unlike my behaviour in previous years, I shall be cheering the home side on (mentally, at least) with as much gusto as the most excitable enthusiast can manage. And if they make the final I shall be utterly delighted.

I was made redundant recently. The good news is that it only took me a couple of weeks to find a new job, and also that the job I found is particularly great, working for an online music  and DJ equipment distributor in Camden. The bad news is that being out of work for a bit has left my funds rather depleted (oh, OK, nonexistent). It’s going to take me a little while to get back on my financial feet.

I’ve been feeling a whole lot happier in myself in the last couple of months or so, too. I find that I really enjoy just pottering around my flat on my own, content with my own company. Which is not to say that I don’t appreciate being with my friends – I do. I count myself very fortunate to be surrounded by really good people. However, I’m aware that I’ve been a bit of a hermit recently and am determined to take steps to get out and about a bit more.

Health-wise, I’m in great shape. I’ve put on a couple of stone and I’m eating and drinking better. I’m also getting plenty of exercise in the form of riding my bicycle and taking nice long walks. The additional weight means that I need to invest in some new clothes, trousers in particular, but I figure that’s a small price to pay for feeling as good as I do. I still find myself getting quite tired, although less so now than a few months ago.

All in all then, things are on the up. I promise to try and post here more regularly, too.

In the box were the Roomba itself, a mains charger, a spare filter and a brush cleaner. The higher-end models come with a base station, to which the robot will return automatically for charging. Some models also include scheduling, but while I’d have liked that I just couldn’t justify the additional expense.

After a couple of hours’ charging the Roomba, which I have named Wanda, was ready to go. Cleaning the floor is a simple matter of placing the cleaner in the middle of the room, switching it on and pressing the big, glowing ‘Clean’ button in the centre of the device, at which point it plays a few notes and starts to move. I was initially impressed by how quiet it is, although I still needed to turn the TV up a bit. Ordinarily, of course, you’d set the Roomba off when you go out, so this isn’t an issue. As well as the brushes on the underside of the machine, there’s a rotating brush which protrudes from the side and does a good job of cleaning right up to the wall.

Initially, the Roomba moves in an outward spiral but this quickly changes to seemingly random motion. I noted a few spots on the floor and was pleased that the Roomba covered them all at some point. Obstacle avoidance is also very good; as the machine approaches table legs, walls and other fixed objects it slows down and gently bumps against them, ensuring that it cleans right up to them.

Once the Roomba judges that it has cleaned everywhere it switches itself off, ready for emptying and recharging. The bagless design is good and the bin, although not huge, is large enough (especially as you’ll be vacuuming more often). It’s easily removed and emptied, important in an appliance whose entire purpose is to save labour. Although it takes longer to clean a room than you would, the whole point is that you don’t have to do it at all.

Overall I’m very impressed and pleased with my Roomba and would happily recommend it to anyone, especially those who live in single-floor accommodation since the one place it can’t clean is stairs. The sheer pleasure involved in coming home to a freshly-vacuumed home can’t be overstated.

Nobody in their right mind is claiming that reducing car use is going to be painless but most of us agree that it’s necessary. It benefits all of us, including those who still drive because they have no choice.

There’s something fascinating about time-lapse photography. This is just a simple video of me watching a bit of TV in the evening, but the accelerated time makes even this rather mundane activity take on a whole new life.