murdered out...

murdered out...

PixelPipe testing

Even More Epic-ness (with added sanity)

Scoop toned down a touch, visibility is a requirement!

(I’m going to have to change tack with the titles here, aren’t I!)

More Epic-ness...

 

This is going to be epic

That’ll be the beginnings of Red Victor 3

Crazy Hair Day @ Nursery

Morning doodles…

AM offer DB9 as Stud

Porsche offer 911 as Mare, 928 is born…

 

Based on a short wheelbase version of the Panamera platform, it will also share the engine options, so expect to see a 4.8l V8 (with or without forced induction) up front.  Don’t be surprised to see the hybrid option of a 3.0l Supercharged V6 teamed with a 38kW electric motor, promising economy of in excess of 30Mpg..

 

Expected to cost somewhere between £65k & £90k.. It has some pretty stiff opposition, so it should be interesting to see how well it fares when it goes on sale in 2012

Twingo with LSD...

And no, I don’t mean Limited Slip Diff!!  Awesome stuff…

 

More here -> http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=20874

 

The Catharsis Post..

OK, so admittedly it’s a little early in the year to be doing a retrospective, but it’s been a rather crazy year, I’m going to do it anyway… Partially as catharsis, partially in case anyone is bored enough to read it and to an extent because I just want to write this down..

The year started differently to previous years, My Wife was pregnant, my parents weren’t in the country, and I was rapidly approaching 30…  So I felt a little strange as we entered the new year..  It’s peculiar for a nigh-on 30 year old guy to miss his folks, but it was the first time we’d been separate for a Christmas, and I guess you only realise how much you’d miss something when it isn’t actually there…   Having that on my mind, and wife 6 months gone made my head spin a touch, but with a little Christmas “spirit” things were overcome..

As the year progressed, all was simple, the baby was due early April, a busy season of drag racing was planned and the 30th birthday would be glossed over as a non-event..

Fast Forwarding through the year to late March, the 27th to be precise, our world was turned upside down.  At about 0130 I was woken by my Wife who was suffering the beginnings of labour, by 0400 a bath had been had, drinks made and bags checked .. We popped out for a walk (joined by the cats) at 0445 ish.. Strangely enough, we didn’t walk very far, with contractions coming every 5-10 paces it was obvious that things were imminent, a couple of calls to the hospital and we were shortly on our way. 

Pushing the buzzer for admission at exactly 0600.

A couple of midwives, nurses and an Obs/Gyn Registrar later, it became worryingly apparent that the impending addition to the Perry family wasn't exactly sat where she should be and that a "C-section" was required.. We suspect it was at this point that something slightly more worrying was spotted. So, with the decision made at 0800 we were off to theatre.. Well, I say we, I was running out to the car park to get the bags and make frantic phone calls..

Back from the car park and changed into my rather fetching blue scrubs, I find myself sat on a chair next to the theatre bed whilst Wife is receiving her Spinal Block (I think they turned it up to 11).. All of a sudden, there appeared to be far more people in the theatre than I thought was necessary for a simple C-section (because I've obviously been in this situation many times before and am wholly aware of the work force and resource management required for labour wards?!?!).. but anyway, we were joined by a lovely anaesthetist (Tim) who talked us gently through everything that was happening... Tom, one of the surgeons, then popped in and things became confusing..Tim, Tom, Tim, Tom... erm... anyway, many other people joined in, including someone who's name I cannot recall who introduced herself as "a baby doctor, but I probably don't need to be here"..

Much surgical stuff later (well, what felt like much later, but in real time was a matter of minutes) Daisy Dorothy May Perry was born, 08:47 27/03/09. 6lb 11oz ..

It was then that I heard possibly the most chilling words I think I have ever heard in my life. 

She's alive, but she's not perfect.

It rocked my world..

Unfortunately, at this point, no-one knew exactly what the problem was (or at least they didn't inform us) so a bit of flapping ensued in the theatre.  A paediatric registrar arrived, had a quick nose, applied a dressing of some description, swaddled Daisy and advised that we could hold her for a little while..

Cue this terrible photo... (RIM, sort out the cameras on BlackBerry devices!)

Daisy was then rushed down to NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and hooked up to a number of monitors..

I was lost..
Trying to sort family out, keep them informed of what was going on when I actually didn’t know, trying to make sure Wife was OK, trying to work out if I was ok, smoking, shaking, crying..

A short while after Daisy was moved to NICU, we were joined in the recovery room by the head of Paediatric services, Wife had the benefit of copious amounts of post-op intra-muscular morphine. I had the clarity provided only by sheer adrenalin, nicotine and coffee.

I’ll never forget the words.. “OK, so you know about the Spina Bifida” … The WHAT??? We knew nothing…

“Your daughter has Spina Bifida, it is likely that her bowels and bladder will not work properly, it is very unlikely that she will walk and she will probably have intelligence problems.. “

Well, and you’ll have to excuse my language, thanks for dropping that fucking bomb shell..

At this point, I had no idea what the hell Spina Bifida was, let alone what impact it could have..

So as the day progressed it became apparent that Daisy would need an operation on her spine and would be moved from Worcester to Birmingham Children’s Hospital that day..

By 2000 I was in the car, mother in tow, heading up to Birmingham, red bull and nicotine coming out of my ears..

A swift meeting with a Neurological registrar to discuss what was to happen in the morning, and a kiss goodnight for Daisy..

It was only on the way home that what I’d been told during that day sunk in.. My Daughter has been born with Spina Bifida, in the form of a Myelomeningocele, meaning that spinal cord tissue was in a sack, outside her body, and that sack had burst..  The surgery the following morning was to put her spinal cord, back inside her spine and came with it’s own fair share of risks.. The potential for additional damage to be created by carrying out, what is intended to be, a repair, is quite scary, but what other option do you have…

Surgery the following morning went well and Daisy began showing her true character, only a few very small doses of pain killers were required to help her cope..

Further tests in the week that followed the procedure revealed that Daisy also has Hydrocephalus and a Type II Chiari malformation. At the time of hearing this, they made as much sense to me as they probably make to you now..  I’d explain it, but Google would do a better job..

Daisy came on in leaps and bounds that week, getting discharged quicker than any other baby that had been through that ward with the same condition.. A heartening thought..

Fast-forwarding from there, we hit May, my birthday, quick, let’s get it out of the way.. and Daisy back into hospital, but panic not, it was an Ecoli based UTI, serious, yes, but serious we can deal with..

Unfortunately, whilst Daisy was in hospital for the UTI, the Wife’s grandfather was in the hospital too, and during that stay he passed away.. A strange spectrum of life, from one end of the hospital to the other, from one end of life to the other…

I was there when he passed and felt strangely calm..

So, it’s now quarter to November and the year is nearly done..  You’ll notice by the lack of any crisis between May and the back end of October, that things are going very well.. Although Daisy has recently nearly wiped out the entire family having dragged a bug home from Nursery.. Her condition appears to be having no adverse affect on her development, she is doing everything she should when she should, if not before..

So there you have it, I’m older, not much wiser, probably a bit uglier.. but we’re doing bloody well …

Oh, and the drag racing? Yeah, we blew it up.. bugger… Oh well, we’re building a bigger and faster machine now… I’ll keep you posted on that one..

Here’s Dot..

Oh My.. Lotus I do like you...

This… is the Exige Scura..  Fantasyland material for The Matt Black Fetishists Club (of which I’m a fully paid up member!)

More info and pictures here -> http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=20840

 

THIS is a turbo

Note the normal size coffee cup in the background..

This is one of a pair that’ll be powering a new project I’m involved in…

I think it’s safe to say it might have 1 or 2 HP!

 

Darth

Darth
Originally uploaded by JuSlaughter

A shot from the marvellous JuSlaughter.. More of his great photography on http://www.flickr.com/photos/juslaughter or http://www.phocusfotography.co.uk/

Brain Fade

Having a blog is both great and terrible at the same time.. 

If there is a point to your blog (i.e. GrumpyBrit and his relentless commentary ) it becomes self fuelling, but, if there is no point, other than to share thoughts and interests with the world, if you have one of those slow days where there’s nothing really in the news that lights your fire, no amazing new cars to talk about, no scandal in motorsport.. (OK, so there is always scandal in motorsport, but in the wake of the Briatore moment it pales into insignificance).. you enter the terrible area of brain fade..

 

I could write for days about my daughter, but I’m not sure if my reader (I hope there’s one, maybe I’ll move to plural at some point!) is really interested in the daily goings on of the Marvellous Daisy Dot..

I could write about work, but really, you don’t want to know about that..

I guess I could write about the impending energy crisis that we are desperately trying to ignore, but there are already so many bloggers hitting that subject far more effectively and accurately than I possibly could..

I could write about some new technology, but, I’ve not found anything of late that’s really set things alight.. (although this article on the CCD is quite interesting.. http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/10/ccd-inventors-awarded-nobel-prize-40-years-on/ )

I could bore you about my return to ownership of an Xbox 360, but the likes of IGN et al are already far more capable than I of providing endless dialogue on that subject…

 

So, what do I write about..  

 

If you are reading this, and have any thoughts.. feel free to pen me a note, preferably non-abusive..

 

I’ll have a think over the next day or so and see if there’s anything to enlighten you, dear reader, with..

 

(there’s an awful lot of “I”s in this… hmmm)

a reason to get up in the morning..

If ever there was one..

 

Never Judge A Book...

I was looking for a particular image on my PC and came across this photo that I took last year.  The majority of people would find Torsten’s image quite off putting, making snap judgements on lifestyle, personality and (most probably) criminality, but, having spent a good amount of time with him it was very apparent that he was not the person that people would judge him to be..

 

Everyone is equal until someone makes a decision about another person..

Getting Away for a While

It’s been a decidedly complicated year this year, a birth, a wedding and a funeral, none of which were simple.. 

So with the small amount of holiday we have left, we’re off to recharge the batteries for a week starting on Friday..

By 1400 on Friday, this will be my view..

http://www.roselandholidaycottages.co.uk/assets/property/stowaway/thumbs/700x700/image-361.jpeg

And to be honest, I just can’t wait..

We’re off to the regular family haunt of Portscatho, down on the Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall.. If I manage to get a signal while we’re there, I may post some updates, but, it’s somewhat unlikely!

Until next time..

Looking for an Evil Corporation?

They’re here..

Just something I spotted a while back that made me chuckle..

Goodbye Mr Briatore : Don't let the door hit you as you leave..

Nice to see that the WMSC have been rather definite in their conditions for Flav’s exclusion from motorsport..

 

As regards Mr. Briatore, the World Motor Sport Council declares that, for an unlimited period, the FIA does not intend to sanction any International Event, Championship, Cup, Trophy, Challenge or Series involving Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever, or grant any license to any Team or other entity engaging Mr. Briatore in any capacity whatsoever. It also hereby instructs all officials present at FIA-sanctioned events not to permit Mr. Briatore access to any areas under the FIA's jurisdiction. Furthermore, it does not intend to renew any Superlicence granted to any driver who is associated (through a management contract or otherwise) with Mr. Briatore, or any entity or individual associated with Mr. Briatore. In determining that such instructions should be applicable for an unlimited period, the World Motor Sport Council has had regard not only to the severity of the breach in which Mr. Briatore was complicit but also to his actions in continuing to deny his participation in the breach despite all the evidence.

 

So, is that a don’t come back.. ;)

 

Full details here on Autosport.com

Vee-Dub go Northern..

With the Interesting E-Up

 

Waiting for an all-electric city car? If you believe Volkswagen, you won't have to wait long. The company says its new E-UP will be fit for the masses by 2013. Whereas most current hybrids make use of a nickel-hydride battery stack, the E-UP packs a lithium-ion unit and no gasoline motor whatsoever—making this one of the first full EVs we've heard of that has a chance of production.

Volkswagen is calling the E-UP the Beetle of the 21st century. We're guessing it means the car will be inexpensive and appealing to the masses. The similarities don't stop there—both pint-sizers have a 0-to-60 mph time of around 11 seconds.

 

More info on Popular Mechanics

More Bugatti foolishness..

I think they’ve beaten Audi’s A2 for the “Most Useless Bonnet” award

 

Yes, the bonnet is actually open in this picture..

Renault F1 Fiasco

So, at the height of speculation around what is going to happen at the Renault hearing next week (following Piquet Jnr’s planned off at last years Singapore GP) it would appear that neither Briatore or Symonds are welcome at Renault any longer.. Yes, they’ve left.. 

I understand that they will still be called to the hearing and disciplined as required..

Full story here on Autosport http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/78668 (and any other motorsport news site you care to check!)

Will Bernie manage to keep the press machine running next year?  It seems that a year in F1 is not complete without scandal, the sceptic in me is suspicious that only a very small portion of the controversy occurs “naturally”

Food for thought..

Problem Solving Workflow

I find this stands true in most situations..

Google FastFlip

Yes, a little change of tack this morning… but, this, I believe, is rather special.. 

http://fastflip.googlelabs.com/

Google have done it again.. THIS is how to read news..

I’m seriously impressed by it already..

Oi Bugatti... NO!

This.. thing.. is the Bugatti Galibier.. I’m not going to say anything else…

Writing CVs

I’m on a recruitment drive again, so I thought I’d bump this post back up to the top…

I regularly have cause to review CVs that have been submitted for roles that we are recruiting for and almost every one that I read includes some ridiculous inadequacies...

1.) do not write curriculum vitae at the top of your document, I know it's a cv, it's quite obvious.

2.) do not include the words motivated team player in your profile/personal statement/synopsis, it is over used and meaningless

3.) unless you have just left school, do not put your education before your career history, obvious exception to this being relative professional qualifications

4.) do not tell me that your interests include socialising and listening to music, unless you have recently found a love of these having spent life as a hermit!

.) possibly the most important, this document is designed to sell you, it is your brag sheet, your opportunity to tell people how good you are, make sure it looks professional, make sure you check what your agency are going to do to it, believe me, agencies destroy CVs!

I could go on for hours, just remember, a cv gets you through the door, you get the job!

Russian Supercar Manufacturer Releases "Bitza"

The B1 (and teaser shots of the B2) from Marrussia…

 

I’m seeing distinct elements of a large number of other cars, namely:

McLaren F1

McLaren MP4-12C

Ferrari Enzo

Lamborghini Murcielago

Ford GT

Lister Storm

Stealth B1

Pagani Zonda

 

And there was me thinking the Merc SLS was a bit of a hotch-potch!

Ferrari bring F1 to the road

In the form of scarily complicated steering wheels..

 

Does it come with a map??

Have Mercedes Been Successful in Recreating the Gullwing?

I’m really not entirely sure..

 

This car manages to look so terribly bad from some angles but great from others..

Also, there are far too many easily recognisable lines from other cars.. There’s a big of Dodge Viper here, a bit of TVR Cerbera there, a touch of S2000 dotted about and the arse of a Lexus SC430 (possibly the worst feature of the Lexus!)

 

You decide..

 

Brown Audi Looks Great??

How can a brown Audi possibly look good? Somehow this R8 Spider somehow manages it! It really is an incredibly good looking car..

 

 

Instamapper Arrives..

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