Matt’s Journal

Feature Updates

Posted by Matt under Angry, Blogging, Happy, Tech, Update

You may have already noticed that I have rolled out a few feature updates. Let me tell you a bit about them.

1. OpenID Support

OpenID is an open standard that lets you sign in to other sites on the Web using little more than your personal URL. This means less usernames and passwords to remember and less time spent signing up for new sites. The plugin installed on m4tt.net allows commenters to use their OpenID to assure their identity as the author of the comment. It will also provide a framework for future OpenID-based services as OpenID functionality and it’s user base increases.

For example:

2. Post Rating

This plugin will allow users to vote for blog content on m4tt.net. It will allow me to gauge what readers of the blog are enjoying and also show in my sidebar what people are rating the highest for people like yourself to see. To use this feature, look at the bottom of any post on this blog and a rating bar should be visible for you to use.

Thanks to honest_ape for the inspiration.

3. RSS Updates

Some readers of this blog have had problems subscribing to my Feedburner RSS feeds. In order to allow people to syndicate with this blog and read my content in an RSS reader but not use the Feedburner URL, please bookmark or syndicate the following URL: http://www.m4tt.net/feed/atom/

Thats about it really! Any suggestions or comments, please do leave them using the forms provided.

She’s Deeeead…..She’s Not Dead

Posted by Matt under Angry, Blogging, Happy, Spendage

This post has actually nothing to do with anyone being dead. I had originally titled it “She’s Back” but then it reminded me of the awesome “The Office” clip posted above and rolled with the alternative.

Yes, indeed, Katie has returned to me in all her sun kissed beauty (lucky so-and-so). The two weeks in Gran Caneria have left us re-energised and made us really look forward to our upcoming wedding even more (let’s not play it down, it’s gonna be awesome!), so although I missed her, it has helped us reaffirm how we feel.

I spent most of my Sunday hoovering and cleaning the house for when the family returned, by all accounts I did a good job. Harry was fine the whole fortnight but within a few hours of them being home, he had Katie’s parents up twice in the night. The dog was very well behaved with me so I don’t know what is going on there!

Not really much of an update to be honest, just wanted to check in and let you know I was still alive.

The London Banquet

Posted by Matt under Happy, Update, Videos

This weekend I was treated to a fantastic weekend in London. Getting a bag together and driving up the well connected A13, myself and Katie ventured to a nice travel inn not far from Tower Bridge.

Once we had unpacked, had a bit of rest and relaxation, we showered and headed to St Katherine’s Dock looking for a bar or bistro where we could sup a few drinks and wait for the evenings festivities to commence. The evenings festivities were a journey back into the Medieval era for a banquet with King Henry VIII himself.

When we arrived, we were led down into this lowly lit cellar and seated at a long wooden table. We had our choice of unlimited White and Red wine and a flagon of ale, with cast iron plates for your bowls and plates. As the entertainment started, the King and Queen were led out, as were their courtiers, the first course was laid out with a pot of soup that we all had to drink straight from the bowl.

Take a look at the video featuring the lovely Katie for an example:

As the night progressed, more and more events unfolded around us, as did the food. The ale slipped down and a good time was had. Check the next video for yet more fun:

The First Rung…

Posted by Matt under Happy, Spendage

On the property ladder that is! I am beaming from ear to ear after securing a deposit for a flat of my very own! Myself and Katie went to view some properties on Saturday and fell in love with a lovely new-built flat located in Westcliff On Sea. It has the following niceties:

Kitchen

• Designer fitted kitchens with co-ordinating work surfaces and ceramic wall tiles.
• Stainless steel cooker, hob and extractor hood.

Bathroom

• White sanitary ware, mixer taps with shower attachment and screen provided
  and medium height tiled walls.

General

• Gas fired central heating.
• Numerous power points and light switches.
• Video entry phone system.
• Satellite TV provision and telephone points.
• Arch topped panel doors with chrome door furniture.
• Coving to all principal rooms.
• Double glazed windows.
• Carpet throughout and flooring to kitchen.

Above is the picture from the brochure (click here to see a PDF of the development).

So all in all myself and Katie are positively beaming at being proud owners of our first abode! We have done our spreadsheets, paid off debts and look forward to securing the keys and moving in. I will update with extra information as I get it, and most definitely will be adding pictures.

Texperts Application

Posted by Matt under Happy, Tech, Work

Last week I was browsing around MoneySavingExpert and came across a company called Texperts. Texperts are a mobile search company who pretty much answer any question you fire at them, you simply text a question to a specified number and they reply in a few minutes with the answer you need!

Anyways, to cut a long story short, they have a quiz on there to see if you are good enough to become a Texpert. They ask you questions on a chosen field and you try to answer them within the time limit. Me being the geek I am, I ended up with around a 90% score, meaning I would be put forward for the chance to make money working in my spare time for Texpert.

I received an email today telling me just that:

Dear Matt

Well done! Less than 2% of people pass our Tex-Factor challenge.

Because you passed the challenge, I would be delighted to be able to
offer to engage your services as a Texpert. Unfortunately, we are
experiencing a 2 month wait for our training programme. However, I
would be grateful if you would let us keep your Successful Application
until the next available slot in a couple of months time (hopefully
less). Please let me know if you are happy for me to get in touch with
you and I will keep your details. If I do not hear from you I will
assume that you are no longer interested or it is not convenient.

In the mean time you also have the privilege of joining an exclusive
Facebook club. Only the elite 2% who pass the Tex-Factor are allowed in
to this group, so join us and be a member with pride!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4345184908

I hope to hear from you soon.

Texpert

Looking it up, you can make between £6-10 an hour, which would definitely help pay the bills! As it reads above, I have to wait a while but it’s something to gloat about for the next five minutes!

Birthday Celebrations

Posted by Matt under Happy

Yeah, so, I’m 24 now

The weekend was a good one, my birthday falling on the Sunday so I have lots of fun on the days leading upto it. On the Friday I enjoyed a nice night in with my fiance, watched some television and went to bed at a healthy time. The next morning I was up early, Katie wanted me to open her presents a day early so that on my actual birthday I was able to get in from football and open the presents my parents had got me (what can I say, people love to get me presents!).

Katie basically funded things she hated, she hates the fact I play my Xbox and she certainly hated going to see Transformers. With this in mind, I was surprised she got me two awesome Transformers FCUK T-shirts and a remote for my 360, not surprised but bloody loving it!

Saturday afternoon and evening was spent in the pub, where real people love to live. Starting at 2pm, I drank the day away until midnight, returning home to Katie’s with a sore head and a kebab.

As everyone nursed their hangovers at 9am the next morning, I was up, dressed and ready to play football………..not feeling on top of the world at the point I can tell you.

We won 2-1, I didnt play too bad. After that I zipped home and prepared for a buffet my mother had prepared for mine and Katie’s family.

I slept well that night.