The collected works of ScottyB

Another week gone.

For some strange reason, I’ve been having really odd sleep sessions this week! Last night - again - I had an awesome sleep, woke up completely refreshed and bright. Yet the night before, I slept for roughly the same amount of time, but I felt like I’d been awake all night! And couldn’t wait to get back to bed…

All I know is I’m looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow morning

This has been a busy week. A week of development, a week of solid website coding, or graphic design and of frustration! (Though they usually go hand in hand anyway).

Strangely, my Internet changeover seems to have semi taken place.

I awoke this morning to see I was uploading data at ~39kb/s. Usually I can only upload at about 10 or 12kb/s tops! Yet my download speed is still limited to 50kb/s. Plugged the new router in and set it up this afternoon, but the new plan isn’t active yet - even though I seem to be uploading at the new rate, even with the old modem. Quite strange. I guess the line is sorted by Telstra, but waiting for TPG to finalise…?

It’s a big weekend of Motorsport with the 24 hours of Spa coming up.. can’t wait for this one - got the live timing ready to go!

Basically, this is the only television I watch. You know it has to be a good show when it forces me to turn the box on and flick through the garbage to something I actually want to watch. Sit down and view for a complete hour, not just scan by while I’m on the way to “Input 1″ for a DVD…

So last night I managed to catch the latest episode of TG. The Polar Challenge special.

One word: Epic.

I expected it would be good - that was a given. Anything by the Top Gear boys is always good, fun to watch. But occasionally, its exceptional.

While it contained the usual camaraderie and gags, they were more the ‘icing’ - while the body of the cake was pure and complete, raw reality.

From Clarkson getting pushed into the Arctic water by crazy man, or driving over the thinnest coastal ice, to Hammonds emotional video diaries - it was just incredible. Keeping active in -40 degree C temperatures, encountering hungry Polar Bears, digging a sinking car out of the slush, fighting the irritability and loneliness - all things we’re really not accustomed to seeing from the TG boys. And I have to say I was unbelievably impressed.

On the subject of being very impressed, I have to say, that modified Toyota Hilux was about the coolest, most awesome vehicle I’ve seen on the TG show. Absolutely friggin’ unbelievable! Even while their electronics are failing, iPods are retiring, cameras are locking - it just kept going.

Brilliant little tid-bits of discovery along the way too..

Long live the Top Gear!