Thursday 31 December 2009

Let's Have A Noughties Party!

If you're stuck at home this New Year's Eve (and, goodness knows, I am) there's no need to be miserable. Grab some nibbles, click the link and enjoy a whopping great video playlist I've made from 50 of this decade's greatest UK hit singles. That's over 3 hours of party bangers, classic anthems and fantastic memories.

Click here for the full playlist.

(2011 Edit: Broken links removed making this playlist shorter than the original.)

So all that's left to do is wish you a fantastic New Year, thanks for keeping me company and here's looking forward to an amazing 2010!

Tuesday 29 December 2009

A Story I Couldn't Have Written Ten Years Ago

Katie sat on the London Midland train, on her way home from another busy day behind the counter at Cartridge World. She flipped through her copy of Metro and filled in a few squares of the sudoku.


She hummed along to the Coldplay, Will Young and Rihanna songs on her iPod until she was interrupted by Amy Winehouse playing from her phone. She answered it to find her friends Sophie and Charlotte had sent her a video of themselves posing in their new Twilight tee-shirts.


Katie sent Sophie a text in return and reminded her of their long-awaited trip to London to see the Take That concert.


'CU@ O2 2MOR'


She turned to the newspaper's TV listings and planned her night in. The One Show, How Clean Is Your House? and Celebrity Big Brother would pass the time away, she decided. There was a clash at 9 o'clock so she decided to watch Spooks and record Heroes on Sky+. The hard drive was getting a bit full though, but she reckoned she could make some time to watch an old episode of 24 or Torchwood she had lurking on there. Then she fancied snuggling up in bed watching the Freeview box - Family Guy on BBC3 or Skins on E4, maybe.


Turning the page, Katie saw the review for the previous night's Ashes To Ashes. She groaned as she realised she'd forgotten about it but made a mental note to catch up with it on the iPlayer over the weekend.


She logged into her bank account on her iPhone, checked the balance and smiled at the extra cash she had in there. Her Irish Facebook friend Tara had sent her 10 Euros via PayPal for her birthday and, in an impetuous moment, she paid it into her Paddy Power account and gambled it on an accumulator, guessing the winners of The X Factor, Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity: Get Me Out Of Here. Joe McElderry, Chris Hollins and Gino D'Acampo - result!


The train pulled into the station and the man in the aisle seat briefly took his eyes from his Da Vinci Code paperback to let Katie past. As she began the short walk home, she could almost smell the aroma of sushi drifting on the wind from her kitchen, waiting for her to arrive. Then before she could calculate how many minutes she'd have to spend on her Wii Fit to burn it off, Jonas, the neighbours' Labradoodle, barked his welcome home.

Friday 25 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 25th

A little daft entry to end with today, but as it only does what it does this one day of the year, why not give it a look? So if you're trying this any other day, tough, you should have been here!

Click the... oh if you don't know what to do by now you never will.



A big big thank you to everyone who's visited my advent calendar this month. I hope you've enjoyed the treats I laid in wait for you. I'd better start searching for stuff to put in the next one, I've only got 11 months! (Oh and I haven't forgotten I've got 2 graphics to fix, I'll sort those out after Christmas and I'll let you know so you can see them. As well as on here, they're archived on my Facebook page.)

Join me after Christmas as I present my look back on the year and the decade. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and you'll be the first to know when I update.

However you spend it, have a fantastic Christmas!

Thursday 24 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 24th

If the kids (or big kids) aren't excited enough already, here's something to get them bouncing off the walls. Site suggested by Carol from www.williamyoung.org.

Click the pic - you'll have to do it today to get the best effect.



Don't forget, there'll be a final entry tomorrow. I won't keep you long, I promise, but it's another one you can only see on the day. So please spare me a couple of minutes while you're digesting the turkey!

Wednesday 23 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 23rd

Something for those of you wearing out your remote control with boredom this Christmas. Set aside an hour and let this autoplay (clue!) This is one of my all-time favourites so I hope you enjoy it.

The fire's out so it's safe to click the grate.



NOTE: The links I'll be posting for the last 2 entries will be live on that day only, so make sure you're here to see them in all their glory! I'll try and get them ready for you in plenty of time (allowing for gift wrapping and snack arranging).

Tuesday 22 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 22nd

Today, a nostalgia fest (or not, depending on where you live or how old you are.)

Click the ginormous HD-ready plasma telly that's obscuring the number 22.

Monday 21 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 21st

Well now we're in The Big Week, I thought you might like something useful to help take away the stress.

Gobble gobble means click me.

Sunday 20 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 20th

Something a bit thought provoking today (in a fun way of course.)

Eek! We're into the twenties! There's a little sheep-girl for you to click. How exciting!

Advent Calendar - December 19th

Some little works of art for you today. I've actually had to put some effort into this one, so apologies for the lateness.

Click the... oh you know how it works by now.

Saturday 19 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 18th

I hope you've all posted early for Christmas. Here's a cautionary tale about why you should.

Click the postbox. Or the robin. Or anywhere in the picture, actually.

Thursday 17 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 17th

The schools start breaking up tomorrow so here's something for idle hands.

Click the danglies.


(2011 Edit: Link updated to an alternative site.)

Wednesday 16 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 16th

Today, a little help with a delicate subject.

Click below but please don't wake Poochy.


(2011 EDIT: Post updated with a different link.)

Tuesday 15 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 15th

Today's treat comes thanks to my friend Mo at williamyoung.org. (2011 EDIT: Sadly the original link is no longer available but I've updated it so you can explore the whole site instead.)

Click the 15. (Eek! 25-15 = 10 days to go!)

Monday 14 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 14th

It's the Monday of the last full week before Christmas, so no doubt you're in need of something to cheer you up.

Click the yummies and they will oblige.

Sunday 13 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 13th

Today: head****s - the gift that keeps on giving. Although I'm going to distance myself from what they've put as number 6 on there (you'll know what I mean when you see it!)

Chrtistmas fairy transports you away when you click her with magic mousey.

Saturday 12 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 12th

Something really jawdropping for you today, don't miss this one!

See that 12? You click it and nice stuff happens.

Friday 11 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 11th

Just a quick one today, but it follows on brilliantly from yesterday's. (Make sure you see that first, here, if you haven't already.)

Clicky the biccy to see the piccy.

Thursday 10 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 10th

A classic bit of showing off today (I should warn you about flashing lights if you're sensitive to such things).

The trees say "click me".

Wednesday 9 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 9th

A follow-up to something I posted last week, based on a suggestion from Elaine at williamyoung.org.

Piccy-clicky as usual.

Tuesday 8 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 8th

Today, the greatest Christmas tradition in the world EVER, no exceptions.

Click on the 8.

Monday 7 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 7th

Something to fight off the Monday blues today.

Click on the 7.

Sunday 6 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 6th

The advent calendar sticks with its international flavour today.

Click on the 6. (Yay! It's got a picture on it again! The technology's behaving itself today.)

Saturday 5 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 5th

The advent calendar takes an international turn this weekend.

Click on the 5 to find out why.



PS: After an emergency dash to the Apple Shop, the computer's working fine now so normal service will be resumed tomorrow. I'll probably tart up the graphics for today and yesterday when I get some spare time, too. Oh dear, it never rains but it pours, doesn't it?

Friday 4 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 4th

Click on the 4 to see something to keep the kids (and big kids) busy this weekend. Suggested by sallyk at www.williamyoung.org


Apologies for the more basic graphics. I've hit some serious computer problems so I've got to keep this as simple as possible at the moment. I'll still be posting my links though, so make sure you keep visiting!

Thursday 3 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 3rd

Today, something to get you in the festive mood from one of the friendliest sites on the internet.

Just click on the 3!

Wednesday 2 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 2nd

Today's surprise is something which I've had great fun raising money for with friends and workmates. It beats Secret Santa any day!

Click on the number to be transported away.

Tuesday 1 December 2009

Advent Calendar - December 1st

Welcome to the start of Val's Work In Progress Advent Calendar 2009!

Every day between now and the 25th (yep, I'll even be here Christmas Day) I'll be putting up a mystery link to a brilliant bit of Christmas-related art, design or media. It could be anything - a silly photo, a drool-inducing recipe, a classic video or a gift for the man/woman/child/pet who has everything.

So here to kick us off is one of the greatest ever pieces of marketing, which many people now consider to be the official start of Christmas (and which caused an outrage when it was dropped for a year in 2006).

Just click on the big number (designed © yours truly, by the way) and enjoy. Hint, there's more than 1 thing it links to, so let it run on.