Grr! Living in a city's good, but the bloody helicopters are annoying. I've got to turn the telly up because of one (apparently) right overhead. Those pesky criminals - if I see one hedge-hopping in my back yard I clobber him myself - pass me that snow shovel!

I hereby declare my neighbourhood a no-fly zone. Anyone caught disobeying will be sent to bed with no tea!

I'm getting fed up with unsolicited phone calls. I get loads of computers phoning me saying "a colleague of mine has been trying to contact you because a member of your household entered our draw". Well, bollocks - I'm the only member of my household, and I didn't enter.

I've just signed up with the Telephone Preference Service. Let's see how it goes.

In a way, I don't mind unsolicited calls, provided that they're:

• Truthful
• Possibly relevant
• Not persistent

Of course, the "norm" is to try and dupe you into somthing (like the recorded messages, which try to 'divide and conquer' by suggesting someone else registered and you need to claim). The other "norm" is to keep trying, even when the prospect is saying "no" - just like the call I got from someone at HomeCall? - "I don't want your service", "Sir, you don't want to save money?" (etc).

Well, sorry marketeers - you've annoyed me one time too many, so now none of you get a piece of my action ;-)

I've just had a very good week skiing in Chamonix, France.

The missing 'blog entries I texted would have told you my journey to Chamonix was less than perfect. First, it was a stupid-early-o'clock flight, so I had to be up really early. Then the plane was late, then my skis got lost so I missed the transfer bus laid on by Inghams. Thankfully the Inghams people at the airport were pretty good, and told me I could either wait 7 hours for the next transfer or pay 33euros for a public bus. I opted for that, which actually was a far more comfy bus than the transfer one, dropping me off at the Gare SNCF in Chaminix a couple of hours later.

I got a cab to the Residences des Aiglons, although couldn't figure out how to check in. A call to the Rep, Heather, got it all solved. She demonstrated some excellent customer service, and quite frankly got Inghams off the hook big-time - had she been more the stereotypical rep. (ie. nice, but pretty useless) then I'd have torn a strip off her before moving onto Inghams management.

Anyway, after checking in, the self-catering appartment was decent enough. Inghams sell them for seven people, which is a bit scandalous. We paid suppliments, so were only four. That's also pretty scandalous, seeing as Inghams pay per appartment, not per person. As it was, two of us got bunk beds, one got a double and the fourth got the z-bed in the living room. Not exactly ideal, but thank god we didn't have seven in there!

The next morning, things got much better - there was something like 6" of new snow, and it was still snowing. Despite the fact half of Chamonix's numerous ski areas seemed to be shut because of avalanche problems, we had loads of fun floating about on new snow - fresh tracks to be had just about anywhere you wanted to go. The second day was much the same - even more new snow, and fresh tracks all over the place. We even ended up hiking up a bit to get some virgin snow.

On Wednesday we went to Cormeyeur, just over the border in Italy (through the Mont Blanc tunnel). It was 30euro (organised by Inghams and others), and well worth it. It was warm, sunny and really beautiful. We met up with the two Inghams reps, so got a bit of an opportunity to show off and play about. They took us all over, and introduced us to Bombardinos - a local brew of all kinds of high calorie/alcohol ingredients - worth a try, but you wouldn't want too many of them ;-)

So all in all, I've had a really good week. I'd recommend Chamonix to anyone, although it may not be ideal for beginners. Also be aware that most ski areas are a bus ride away from the accommodation (although you may be lucky and be near one of the "in town" lifts). Also, it's in France, so unlike North America the bus and lift queues are a bit of a free-for-all, with lots of pushing and shoving. They were handing out feedback forms about that stuff, so one wonders if they're thinking about changing things.

Just four little days to go, and I'll be in my beloved Canada for a bit more skiing... ;-)

I know it's been a bit quiet here for a few days. I've just come back from a week skiing in Chamonix (more on that in a bit). I did send some text message blog entries, but for some reason, they don't seem to have been entered. I think any ordinary messages received during the same period have been lost. Sorry about that - I'm having a look into why it happened.

Another good day in the news for the UK and US (not!). Condoleezza Rice talks about 'outposts of tyranny' whilst the rest of the world thinks the Bush regime is dangerous. Meanwhile, the UK's doing no better, now having a bunch of abuse photos circulated, there's fear of an Iraqi backlash. Never mind the Iraqis, there's a backlash right here at home. It seems, almost universally, the papers are having a go about this.

I'm gobsmacked at how the US thinks it can proceed with it's quasi-religious crusade without having finished it's other "projects". Iraq's far from sorted, Afghanistan's not exactly a safe and happy place, and yet they're looking forward to Cuba, North Korea and even Burma (among others).

If that muppet Tony follows as blindly as he has been in the past, I'll be "'avin' a word" ;-)

This is mental. It's not an animated image either.

I've booked my holiday to Canada. I'm going to Sun Peaks in BC. I can't wait...

I booked via ebookers even though the flight was ?5 more expensive than at opodo. The reason? opodo's crappy website works all the way until the final "confirm" button, which has a JavaScript error (in Firefox). As it turns out, opodo's credit card surcharge is higher then ebookers, so actually, ebookers worked out cheaper.

The moral of the story: Internet Explorer costs you more.

I just went to Hamleys (to get a prezzie for the Coofer Nephew - now one year old!). As I was leaving, these four lads (probably about 12/13 years old), full of "atti-tood" were going down the escalator prompting the security guard say into his radio, "there are four lads going from first to ground. They look a bit dodgy". Well, it made me chuckle ;-)

Oh, I popped into the Apple Store too - quite a place. They've worked out how to differentiate themselves from the Windows masses (take a look at Tottenham Court Road - they're all the same as each other). It was absolutely packed, so I didn't buy anything though.

I've just done my civic duty, and it feels good.

At London Bridge station, there was a woman "in distress", sitting on the stairs. I walked past, just like a couple of other people. I couldn't let it go. I went back, and asked if she was okay. She was totally lost, and had no idea how to get home. I don't know either, but London Bridge is a big train hub, so her best bet is the main station (definitely not the tube). I send her on her way (denying her request to take her there). Maybe next time I'll be better.

That woman may just feel a bit better because of me. I hope someone does the same for me one day (actually, they already have, albeit in different circumstances). Everyone should do this - it's easy, and it's remarkably rewarding.

The BBC report GeneWatch? have stepped up and said DNA databases might be a bad thing. Of course, nobody's liberty was ever wrongly infringed, least of all because of their supposed identity (as opposed to their proven actions).

DNA in databases should have a timeout, such that any record not consulted after "n" months is removed. Similarly, DNA shouldn't go on the database in the first place unless you're actually convicted of something.