Yes, I'm still doing the blog! I've been very busy (when aren't I) on a very critical project which has kept me very occupied. I'm also making an effort to spend more time with the wife and kids, but it's primarily work that's kept/keeping me away.

It really doesn't help that FredS gave me his copy of Elder Scrolls 4 : Oblivion for the XBox 360! On top of everything else, I've become addicted to that - admittedly I'm only succeeding in playing one or two hours late at night as a rule, but Fred: not helping mate!!! :-)

The project - well, I can't talk about what it is, but I've been working on the design for 2 years, and it's fairly nerve-wracking to see it all now taking shape (especially with various vendor delays and errors). It's an expensive project by our standards but will really benefit my work place in future.

Other things ... well, the site seems to be settling down with the new software. There are bugs, and I'm still trying to iron ...

It's nice in theory to divert your desk phone to your mobile, and most of the time it's convenient. However it becomes inconvenient, even troublesome, when you want to screen your calls against some vendor/telemarketer who keeps hassling you; the number doesn't get passed on to your mobile so you can't tell if it's someone you want to talk to or not.

Very annoying. So far the best option I have is to just ignore it and wait to see if they leave a message. Not particularly reliable.

What I need is a big red button to detect nuisance callers and obliterate them. Time for a Google search!

Well, I did wind up setting up and playing with the XBox 360 last night, since I had a bout of insomnia in the end.

All in all, very happy. Glad I bought the wireless adapter although I may have to look into replacing my beloved Netgear FWAG114 802.11a/b/g router. It's pretty old now - has served its purpose VERY well - and is not fully compatible with XBox Live. Not so worried by this since prices for XBox Live compatibles seem to be reasonably low.

Anyhow, I'm about to head home and try to get some time in with either Project Gotham 3 (fun game) or Perfect Dark Zero. I wanted Dead or Alive 4, but looks like I have to wait for now.

Any other game suggestions out there?

Well, strolled into The Gamesmen at just before midnight and picked up my XBox 360. Only a few people instore, so it was a nice smooth transaction.

But before I left the city at around 11:00pm, it was absolutely pouring down. So I wonder how the big launch in Pitt St Mall went. Did anyone go? Did anyone get drenched?

Of course, with any luck someone had the foresight to look at the weather and change plans - or already had a plan B. It's embarrassing to watch when that doesn't happen.

Anyway, for those of you who were crazy enough to do the midnight launch wherever you are - enjoy, you'll probably be playing it long before I do. I still have to work today, and I will therefore put off my XBox 360 setup to tonight. At least I found someone to take my old XBox, and they'll probably get it later today :-)

Yup - off to Gamesmen in Penrith tonight, just in case no-one else turns up so the guys won't be lonely, and getting my XBox 360.

O'course it's been a long day so I doubt I'll play it until the next day sometime - but I will still be going to work tomorrow (should be quiet if some of those media reports are to be believed?!?!?!)

You know, if you're paying for a managed firewall and Internet service with a provider who also provides WAN services to you, and you decide to terminate the WAN services - stop and think when they ring to confirm disconnection of the managed firewall as well. We hadn't requested that to be disconnected, but although the obvious and correct answer is "No, that's not to be disconnected yet", you also need to consider that, for some reason, they will not consider the transport as included in that answer.

Such was the case yesterday, and when today our Internet (not to this site) suddenly disappeared without warning, I began to have some suspicions. Sure enough, although the firewall service had been left intact, the HDSL link had been disconnected. "We didn't realise you meant that too". Funny really, since they're billed together and are seperate from the WAN services.

Anyway, fortunately the disconnection was logical rather than physical, s ...

Well, it seems the Gamesmen in Penrith will be opening at 12:01am on Thursday after all.

So I guess I'll be going since it'll mean not having to drop in before work ... and of course I want my Xbox 360! :-)

Took my eldest daughter to Scenicworld (err - that's what it's called now) and Echo Point at Katoomba today. I've been going there ever since I was a litte boy.

Not the first time I've been there since they upgraded it, but first time I've been on the new Skyway. It was the first time for my daughter going on the Scenic Railway. It was really great although pricey.

I do miss the charm of the old setup though. It was shoddy, bodgy, and sometimes smelly - but it was great fun for a young kid. I've been going there a long time.

Still, times move on and I don't think it's really any the worse for the upgrades.

Echo Point - well, the work there has just been great and I never cease to enjoy a short stop to take in the view.

All in all, a good day. I think a lot of people don't realise how much there is to see that's just a short drive away. Well worth investigating!

We went shopping for a new dining room table set today. What a nightmare!

It seems funny that virtually everyone has the same basic designs, and expect people to like them.

We want a fairly low budget, kid-friendly setting, and - well, perhaps furniture stores consider that kids are actually a figment of people's imagination. Or maybe they really do believe people want to be told what furniture to have.

So I guess we keep searching then!

Now, I know nowhere near every Australian user of the site is going to buy an XBox 360 or has bought into the hype, but I'm curious as to how many will be staying up late for the 12:01am XBox launch on 23rd March. I'm even more curious if anyone will be going to "Australia's biggest entertainment launch ...ever!" at Pitt St Mall in Sydney (details here).

Now for me, the Games Men in Penrith have no special plans for opening at midnight. As far as they're aware, they will open at their usual time.

Suits me just fine. I don't think I'd really welcome a midnight launch since I'd kinda feel obligated to go and get my 360 in spite of having pre-ordered. Instead, I look forward to rocking up in the mo ...