As I drove home, I noticed a thick fog had descended across the whole leafy surrounds of Berkshire. As I headed onto the by-pass, the truly density of the fog became apparent as I could only see about 150 yards ahead. The weather conditions resulted in a greater build up of traffic, so even though I had left the office promptly at 4.30pm, I did not get home until just after 5pm. Working the early shift, although appeals with the benefit of leaving the office an full hour and a half earlier than normal, even I appear to lose the benefit of my early start. Think I will opt for the late shift in future and be more reluctant to accept a change in working hours. I hate to give the impression that I work in factory, in some rota system, but it must sound this way. I do indeed work in an office, but the support line has to be covered for those hours. The week came to an end, just as it at started, if only by a reflection in the weather. The week was long, busy and at time hectic, although I must admit I enjoy working somewhere, where the days flash by so quickly. I know I should not be thinking about it already but next week is going to be even more of a struggle.

Can you live without broadband? An article on BBC News Online tempted me with the concept of bandwidth guilt. I had my broadband installed in August 2002, detailed briefly on my web site, just as I was beginning to start what has now become this blog. After the initial honeymoon period when I went mad, downloading whatever I could get my hands on, the most significant benefit has been no longer tying up the phone line. I can remember, back in 1999, coming back from work on a Saturday afternoon, and by 2.30pm being dialed up on my 56k modem to download three mp3s from the then illegal Napster. That was the total number of tracks I could download in the two hour session. Freeserve had a timeout period, so you had to redial to connect up again. At the time, my family PC was so low spec that I was unable to play mp3 files. The lack of removable media, meant I had to do the following. Download the mp3 file, then compress it to a zip. Then use PKZIP from the command line to span this across six sometimes eight floppy disks. These would then be taken upstairs into my room, to my personal computer (which I am still on at the moment) to extract and then finally listen to the solemn audio track. Believe me that was a hell of a struggle, but a wonderful moment opening up WinAmp and clicking on play.

The Internet, for me now has become a drug. The fact that I have broadband, and therefore an ‘always on connection’, means I have become dependent (perhaps too much) on having the world wide web, on my fingertips any time, day or night. I seriously do get withdrawal symptoms if I cannot go online everyday. By being online, I mean using my own personal computer to access the net, check e-mail and read all those blogs, I enjoy. Although I have the ability to do this at work, I am only truly comfortable surfing to my heart’s content at home. Not sure of why, but it must be the same feel of drinking tea from your own mug, or drifting off to sleep in your own bed. As I write, I am racking my brains trying to think of the last time I went several days without using my computer or the net. Unfortunately, I cannot think of time, but am aware that even two days consecutively without being ‘plugged in’ means I find myself losing some sense of reality (even if only the fact I have not checked my e-mail or logged into MSN Messenger).

The other big news this week was more hype than anything else. Most of us were aware that it was inevitable, in time and knowing that it was a situation that needed to be resolved. Diamond Geezer does well to summarize the reality of what will be just another marriage between a middle aged couple. As usual the subject of the Royal Family comes along, do we really need a monarchy? Some may have a good argument for a Republic. I am a strong believer that tradition, ceremony and our past are very important and should never be just abandoned. What makes Great Britain, such a unique country, is our culture, ever diverse and our Royal Family, which are, slowly but surely moving with the times. Just the thought of having a elected President as our Head of State makes me shudder. Leave that sort of position to the Americans and Europeans. They wallow in that world of self importance, which we, the British people, are often so cynical about. The Windsor’s are here to stay, for the time being at least and I have no desire to replace them in the vain that all “men are created equal”. This is not the case, some people are born lucky, some people make their own luck, others just make the most of their lives and get on with it.