Archive for April, 2012

Andy’s Strawberry Plants – Elsanta

Monday, April 23rd, 2012

I purchased 30 bare root Elsanta strawberry plants from Unwins, many weeks ago, (just under a tenner!) and I’ve been waiting for the allotment to dry out, to plant them out, but I could not wait any longer, so I hope they enjoy boggy waterlogged ground!

To mitigate the risk of failure, I’ve planted 10 plants in an old shipping crate, used to deliver a very heavy UPS, and 20 plants at the allotment.

So today, I planted them out, it was like digging wholes in the sand at the beach, when they tide has just gone out!

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More April Showers on Andy’s Allotment!

Wednesday, April 18th, 2012

rhubarb, rhubarb, rhubarb, it’s still damn raining, and the allotment is disappearing under more water, I’ve planted my comfrey, rhubarb and horse raddish. But the ground is far too wet, to plant my potatoes, onions, garlic and shallots, they will just rot in the ground.

My strawberry plants and asparagus corns have arrived, I’m not sure when I’ll get these planted now as the allotment is too wet, and looking at the weather forecasts, rain until Saturday!

here are some more photographs of the allotment developing…

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I’m a VMware vExpert 2012 for the second year #vExpert

Sunday, April 15th, 2012

No email as yet, but I’ve just heard via twitter, my name appears on the vExpert 2012 title holders have been announced in this document published today

Announcing vExpert 2012 title holders

VMware vExpert 2011

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April Showers on Andy’s Allotment!

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

the weather has been terrible, and we’ve been plagued with heavy showers, I was waiting for the ground to settle, now I’ll be waiting for it to dry out…or maybe a rice paddy or water cress?

looks like planting will have to wait, the allotments, are rather wet……

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andysallotment-april122012-3I have planted something, I’ve moved some Comfrey “Bocking 14”, up to the allotment plot, but must move my rhubarb and raspberry canes up shortly, if the ground is not to wet.

My Allotment is at http://gravelpitallotments.org.uk/

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Andy’s new gadget courtesy of VMware – A Kindle Fire

Monday, April 9th, 2012

On April 2nd, I blogged here about a mysterious parcel from VMware that arrived by FedEx.

The parcel contained an Amazon Kindle Fire, not available in the UK. To be released later this year. I’ve not done the Android experience, being strictly an Apple iOS, Microsoft Windows CE/Mobile, and Nokia nerd. So it will be interesting to checkout what Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’ has to offer, compared to Apple iOS 5.1.

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The Amazon Kindle Fire is a Full Colour 7 inch, multi-touch display, tablet, with WiFi, web, movies, music, apps, games, reading & more, and it runs Android 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’.

VMware sent me the gift, as a Thank You for providing feedback in the My VMware Beta program.

Thank You VMware!

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Andy’s Allotment Easter 2012 Update

Saturday, April 7th, 2012

I’ve been preparing the ground on the allotment, which measures 20m x 5m. Breaking the soil, weeding and removing stones and tree roots.

(it burns off those Easter Eggs!)

Ready for me to plant, potatoes, white and red onions, shallots, garlic, carrots, beetroot, horse radish, asparagus, raspberries,  strawberries, goji berries, rhubarb – just a few things to get me started.

Here are some photographs, of my progress so far…

Andy's Allotment on 21 March 2012

Andy's Allotment on 21 March 2012

In the super, summer week in March, the allotment looked like this! But I was a little busy, to prepare the ground.

Andy's Allotment on 4 April 2012

Andy's Allotment on 4 April 2012

April showers, we did not have heavy snow as forecast, just missed out, bit it left the allotments very wet!

Andy's Allotment on 5 April 2012

Andy's Allotment on 5 April 2012

Start of preparing the gound…

Andy's Allotment on 7a April 2012

Andy's Allotment Start of 7 April 2012

Ploughed the day before…

Andy's Allotment on 7 April 2012

Andy's Allotment End of 7 April 2012

finally tilled….I’m waiting for the ground to dry out before creating my trenches for potatoes and asparagus.

A funny picture, this is Plot 2, it shows how wet the allotments have been..

Plot 2 next to my allotment! see how wet it is!

Plot 2 next to my allotment! see how wet it is!

My Allotment is at http://gravelpitallotments.org.uk/

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8th Annual Experts Awards – Expert of the Year 2011 – Andy’s Platinum Plated Trophies – @ExpertExchange

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012

The Annual Expert Awards are announced at the beginning of each year to celebrate the best Experts throughout the years from a competitive field of Experts worldwide at Experts Exchange.

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The award winner in each category receives the following:

  • Top Expert Shirt
  • Platinum Plated Trophy
  • Expert Awards Badge

I believe the Trophy is a cast of the original hard drive which recorded the first Question/Answer at Experts Exchange. Each Trophy weighs approx 2kg.

I was the Award winner in the following

  • Expert of the Year – The expert who earned the most points throughout the year.
  • Juggernaut – The expert that answered the most questions throughout the year.
  • The Ally – The expert who earned the most assist points throughout the year.

and this is what you receive from Experts Exchange if you are lucky enough on Being The Best of the Best!

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oh, and a wardrobe full of Expert Exchange T-Shirts!

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Our Garden in March 2012

Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012

Our front garden at the end of March 2012, before the frost came at the weekend.

Now the Magnolia flowers have gone brown!


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FedEx delivers VMware vExpert swag and what’s in this other box from VMware?

Monday, April 2nd, 2012

Got a surprise today when FedEx delivered not one, but two FedEx Boxes from VMware…A large box and a medium box. I happen to open the large box first!

The first large FedEx box contained my VMware vExpert swag, A VMware vExpert branded laptop bag, VMware vExpert luggage travel tag and my VMware vExpert Certificate.

Large and Medium Box from FedEx

Large and Medium Boxes from VMware, delivered by FedEx

VMware vExpert swag

VMware vExpert swag

Thanks to John and Alex that managed the VMware vExpert Program.

I’ll photograph, and blog tomorrow, what was in the other box!

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Andy and Lindsey do Karaoke in Hiroshima, Japan – March 2011

Sunday, April 1st, 2012

it might be April 1 2012, but this is no joke!

I’ve been meaning to upload this for a while, it reminds me of the fantastic time we had in Japan, in March 2011. (be warned!). This was a clandestine recording of a few of the songs we sang! I did not notice the phone recording the event!

(i’ve also learnt a few more feartures of Adobe Premiere Pro!)

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