Nick Jordan

I’m currently having a bit of a play with Google Desktop for Linux, and so far I’m suitably impressed. It installed on my computer without a hitch and is now busily indexing everything.

I tried the Windows version on my work computer when it first came out, way back in the mists it seems now, and the way the Linux version works is pretty similar, although it doesn’t have all the desktop crud like weather reports and news feeds. No loss there, quite honestly, I can live without all that. Besides, I can understand that it’d be hard work to get it to play nicely on KDE, Gnome and all the other desktops that are available for Linux.

Anyway, using it is simplicity itself. Configuration is done via the browser, and then it’s just a question of hitting the Ctrl key twice to summon and dismiss a simple search box, which will pull together results from the web and your local machine. It seems to work very well indeed, although it’d be nice to see it also indexing Google Reader and Google Documents. I suspect that that’ll happen in the future.

If you’re a Linux user and you’re after an application like this, give it a try. I reckon it’s better than Beagle, although these things always come down to personal preference, of course. Some people may have privacy concerns, which is entirely understandable, but I’m happy that my information isn’t going beyond my home PC. Famous last words? I hope not.

I’m off to Snodland (what a truly wonderful name that is! - the land of Snod) in Kent to visit friends this afternoon, which will be a fine way to finish off my mini-holiday. In spite of the weather forecast, the sun is shining, too, so I reckon it’ll be a nice little trip. I like travelling by train; it’s just a shame that it’s so sodding expensive.

I’m on holiday for the rest of the week. Not doing anything specific, just lounging around, reading, listening to music and generally getting chilled out. I’ve been feeling really mentally exhausted recently, unable to think clearly and certainly not working anywhere near my full capability, so I’ve taken a few days off to rest. I’ve been looking forward to this, and I intend to make the most of it.

Yesterday I had a bit of a wander round Walthamstow market where, rather wonderfully, a steel band was playing the theme from the Crystal Maze. I picked up a copy of Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds in Waterstone’s, which I’ve already started and am enjoying, and had a fry-up in one of the many cafes.

In the evening I watched a wonderfully scary episode of Dr. Who. The concept of creatures who look exactly like statues and are unable to move while they’re being observed but who can move incredibly quickly when you blink or look away was a good one, although I thought that they could have been dealt with rather easily by the suitable positioning of a mirror or two (can anyone say ‘Medusa’?). Still, they looked frightening, what with the fangs and clawing fingers, and I’m sure there are some appropriately traumatised children out there.

The plan for today is to watch MotoGP and Formula 1 while eating snacks and drinking beer. Well, it is Sunday, after all.

Back from Winchester very tired, very grubby and very happy to be home after an excellent weekend in the company of friends from the SCA, dressing up and getting drunk in Winchester. Particular highlights include wandering around Winchester cathedral in full mediaeval garb and the incredibly warm welcome we had at the Hospital of St. Cross, where we stayed.

I met some really cool people and arrived home sweaty, sunburnt and tired but very glad I went. I think the rest of the day will be spent relaxing and trying to recharge my batteries before throwing myself back into work tomorrow.

Another day off work today, as I’m off to Winchester for a long weekend with some very nice people. There’ll be a trip to the cathedral at some point, which I’m looking forward to. I was there a couple of years ago and really liked what I saw. The rest of the town is pretty nice, too. I like old market towns.

Let’s just hope my socks, currently draped over the radiator, are dry before I have to leave.