TXP Minima
24 August 2008, 11:10. Filed under: textpattern web design
Back in July 2007, I entered a simple template design into the Textplates 2007 competition.
Textplates features template designs for the Textpattern content management system, an ultra-light and elegant CMS.
If you are looking to download the template, which is called TXP Minima, please either visit the Textplates TXP Minima page, or just go to the demo site I set up here.
For a quick download of the template, click on this link for the .zip file download.
Starting to write again
27 July 2008, 20:22. Filed under: general
Well, I guess I have reached that time of life when I feel like writing again.
This site has usually been used for the purpose of testing Textpattern CMS plugins, but for some unknown reason, I feel like starting to use the site for something a little more significant.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will introduce a new site, one that hopefully allows me to talk about things that interest me, but also one that includes views from outside.
Its been 3 years. We’ll talk soon!
I am back. Anything to share? [3]
Tennis in Barcelona
11 June 2005, 11:18. Filed under: tennis
One of the less appealing aspects of coaching high-level competition players is traveling and tournaments.
Many events are stressful due to a combination of poor officials who don’t know the rules, the rules themselves which are confusing and lack unanimity between the tours, parents and coaches who coach players from outside the court, grumpy officials, lack of courts for practice, poor organisation etc etc.
In Spain one of the refreshing aspects is that one is allowed to coach from outside at most events. Almost all the players travel to tournaments with their coaches, and since most coaches know each other, there are rarely any problems.
Organisation is good, players are fun and there is no stress at all. Players compete hard and go back to training. If only all tournaments could be like this – decent matchplay without the extras that go with international tournaments.
Barcelona life
22 May 2005, 13:02. Filed under: life in spain
Its really nice in BCN. Let me repeat – its REALLY nice in Barcelona.
We have an apartment on Calle Mallorca which is close to the centre of BCN in the Eixample district. Downstairs we have a bakery and a delicatessen run by an old man with very good taste and a passion for his work.
Across the road, supermarkets, cafes, fruit and vegetable stores. Barcelona is a city of constant surprises. One can walk the same route every day and discover something new each time. The people are friendly, passionate about good living and enjoying life, all of which makes Barcelona one of the great cities in which to live.
How to lose your passport in 30 days
26 April 2005, 20:58. Filed under: general
Over the years its been fun traveling, learning, making mistakes while traveling (getting kicked out of the US and Bangladesh spring to mind, although in the latter case, the bigger mistake was going back for seconds) or getting frustrated with officialdom of various levels of competency or corruptibility.
Late in March I sent off my application for an Indian visa to the Embassy in Madrid. It arrived the 4th April, but until today I heard nothing. Not too strange really, except that not once has the embassy answered the phone to say what was happening with the process.
How is it possible for an embassy to have listed phone numbers that they don’t answer because they are busy? Very, apparently. Thanks, I had to change my flight 3 times so far, and will have to change it again tomorrow. Each change costs 68 Euros.
The chap in the Embassy finally picked up the phone this afternoon and after cheerily taking my details, asked that I call back at 4.30pm. I called at 4.32pm and he looked up the date, tutting and saying that he had told me to call after 15 minutes.
I bit my tongue, not wanting to yell at him in case he decided to lose my passport, which according to an earlier story, they already had (the Indian Home Office got involved, but thats another story).
He was not sure if the passport was still in the Embassy or not, because I “probably did not include a self addressed envelope”. I had, you moron! OK, I feel bad about that, he was very pleasant. But its hard to detach oneself after waiting for 3 weeks for the Embassy to pick up the phone. Plans had been made to go to Madrid and storm the Embassy….ok, turn up and ask for the passport.
The he tells me that they have so many applicants, but that “we issue visas very quickly”. Aaagh! Why not answer the phone if you have so much time??