richardbarley dot com http://www.richardbarley.com Random snippets of stuff from the web and elsewhere posterous.com Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:09:00 -0700 1460 Twitter Days Later http://www.richardbarley.com/1460-twitter-days-later http://www.richardbarley.com/1460-twitter-days-later

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Today is my 4-yer Twitter Birthday. On 15th March 2007 I first joined a geeky new service that was getting a bit of press. Turns out that geeky service was going to provide me with an awesome job and change my life in many ways. Who knew...? 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:36:00 -0700 Loire Holiday Pics - Chateau Le Clos Lucé http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-chateau-le-clos-luce http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-chateau-le-clos-luce

Chateau le Clos Lucé was the home of one Leonardo da Vinci for the last 3 years of his life. Not only is it a beautiful renaissance building, but it is also a fascinating view into the life of one of the great men of history. I felt humbled to be in da Vinci's house and we were all very much in awe of what he had achieved there. The gardens are such a peaceful place to walk and contemplate some of his most famous designs as many have been turned into interactive models throughout the grounds. A very special place and well worth a visit if you're in the area.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:49:00 -0700 Loire Holiday Pics - Chateau de Chambord http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-chateau-de-chambord http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-chateau-de-chambord

Chateau de Chambord was just one of the dozens of stunning chateaux in the Val de Loire. A beautiful place, Chambord was originally a hunting lodge for french king Francois I. The grounds of Chambord are now the largest enclosed natural parc in europe.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Fri, 09 Jul 2010 03:33:00 -0700 Loire Holiday Pics - At the campsite http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-at-the-campsite http://www.richardbarley.com/loire-holiday-pics-at-the-campsite

Our home for the last 4 days was the campsite Parc du Val de Loire - a lovely site with great facilities and very friendly staff. We would heartily recommend it.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Thu, 29 Apr 2010 02:03:28 -0700 Lounging lizards and a fab flower http://www.richardbarley.com/lounging-lizards-and-a-fab-flower http://www.richardbarley.com/lounging-lizards-and-a-fab-flower
Summer is here, brightening up the view from my window...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Wed, 31 Mar 2010 10:39:00 -0700 Its nice to be appreciated... http://www.richardbarley.com/its-nice-to-be-appreciated-4 http://www.richardbarley.com/its-nice-to-be-appreciated-4

Thank you Sweden, you're too kind :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Wed, 31 Mar 2010 08:41:42 -0700 Galactic Empire State of Mind http://www.richardbarley.com/galactic-empire-state-of-mind-15 http://www.richardbarley.com/galactic-empire-state-of-mind-15

Hee hee :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:07:01 -0700 Full Moon and Sunset http://www.richardbarley.com/full-moon-and-sunset http://www.richardbarley.com/full-moon-and-sunset

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The full moon rising over the lake and the sun dipping into the west over the village.
I love it....

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:58:44 -0800 Spotlight on the Barleys, thanks to the TweetDeck Connexion http://www.richardbarley.com/spotlight-on-the-barleys-thanks-to-the-tweetd http://www.richardbarley.com/spotlight-on-the-barleys-thanks-to-the-tweetd
Back in the autumn last year I did an interview for the english-language paper Connexion, which is a national paper published in France for english-speakers.
The story was challenging the traditional view of ex-pats as older couples looking to retire to the sun or run a gite.

With the wide availability of high-speed broadband throughout France now, more and more young families are able to maintain hi-tech jobs while also living the dream.
This story was so relevant to us that I couldn't refuse and was happy to share our experiences.

We really are very lucky to be in the position we are in, where I have a key role in a leading-edge technology startup, while also maintaining the quiet rural lifestyle that we moved to France to achieve.

Thanks to Iain for giving us the opportunity to continue living our dream.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Wed, 03 Mar 2010 06:44:46 -0800 Lego - The Force Unleashed - An amazing fan-made stop-motion video http://www.richardbarley.com/lego-the-force-unleashed-an-amazing-fan-made http://www.richardbarley.com/lego-the-force-unleashed-an-amazing-fan-made
via youtube.com

Someone should DEFINITELY make a Lego Star Wars feature film :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:28:08 -0800 Breakfast by candlelight http://www.richardbarley.com/breakfast-by-candlelight-0 http://www.richardbarley.com/breakfast-by-candlelight-0

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It was quite a civilised start to the day really... Cornflakes and candles :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Sun, 28 Feb 2010 11:26:00 -0800 My trusty companion http://www.richardbarley.com/my-trusty-companion http://www.richardbarley.com/my-trusty-companion

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Left alone for weeks on end, Tom Hanks turned to Wilson, the football, for conversation.
Me? I had Bin Boy to keep my spirits up during my week of solitude.
Could't have done it without you BB!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:48:58 -0800 The Longest Night http://www.richardbarley.com/the-longest-night-2 http://www.richardbarley.com/the-longest-night-2 As expected, last night we felt the full force of the storm called "Xynthia".  I shut up shop early, moved the garden furniture inside, secured all the shutters and braced myself for the expected 130kmph winds.
Xynthia did not disappoint.
I must have fallen asleep at around 10pm, thinking that maybe we had been spared the worst, but at 3am the howling outside signalled that I was wrong. I have never experienced such high winds and was, first time in ages, really quite scared of what might happen. In an old house, with a dodgy roof, I shuddered to think of what the storm could achieve.
For the next 3 hours I laid listening to the howling wind and random bangs, crashes, scrapes and snaps that it was causing.
When the sun began to rise I dared to risk a look outside. There I found the result of the mornings madness.
- Half a dozen tiles scattered and smashed on the floor
- The postbox lifted from its position on the wall and dumped in the flowerbed
- The tarpaulin over the swimming pool half-submerged in the water and half flapping around in the gale that was still continuing to rage.
- The trampoline once again up-ended, having tumbled halfway across the field, wiping out one of our pear trees. Both tree and trampoline are beyond repair
- The huge old tree in our neighbour's garden fallen across the lane, totally blocking the way out

A fair list of damage, but then again, given the events in Chile just 24 hours earlier, we should really count ourselves lucky. No-one was hurt and all most of the damage can be easily fixed.

It certainly made my journey to fetch Lisa and the kids form the airport an interesting one. For some reason I chose to take the forest route towards the motorway and thus spent half an hour weaving around the dozens of fallen trees on the way. Not one of my better decisions.

Luckily all was well, the flight arrived ahead of schedule and we all got home again safe and sound.

That was one of the longest nights I have experienced and not one I would like to endure again for a long time.



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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:39:03 -0800 Here comes summer! http://www.richardbarley.com/here-comes-summer-0 http://www.richardbarley.com/here-comes-summer-0 Today was a beautiful day. We drove out to Châtelaillon-Plage and had a lovely picnic on the beach, followed by a long walk in the sunshine.
After the cold winter, it was so nice to feel the sun on our faces again. It's amazing how a single day of sun can make the summer seems only just around the corner.
The family are heading back to England tomorrow, leaving me at home to cat-sit. I think I know who is going to get the better weather :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Tue, 16 Feb 2010 07:04:09 -0800 A Millennium Falcon that Actually Flies http://www.richardbarley.com/a-millennium-falcon-that-actually-flies http://www.richardbarley.com/a-millennium-falcon-that-actually-flies

A Millennium Falcon that Actually Flies

It's not the full thing, it doesn't fly on anti-gravity engines, and it doesn't include lots of wookie hair, but I definitely like this 11 by 8-inch Millennium Falcon released at Toy Fair. Why? Because the damn thing FLIES.

The remote-controlled Falcon comes with a charging controller, all for $50.

Is it Christmas yet...?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:25:47 -0800 AT-AT raceday http://www.richardbarley.com/at-at-raceday http://www.richardbarley.com/at-at-raceday
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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Sun, 24 Jan 2010 07:05:00 -0800 A walk with the animals http://www.richardbarley.com/a-walk-with-the-animals http://www.richardbarley.com/a-walk-with-the-animals

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This afternoon we went for a nice walk up to the "new estate" to pick up the mail for our friends who are moving in later in the year.
As usual, Rory, our intrepid feline explorer, followed along, dashing through tunnels and investigating each and every garden on the way.
When we got back after half an hour, which must have felt like 3 hours for Rory's little ginger legs, we saw the most strange thing.
At first I thought it was just a fallen branch from one of the trees around our field, but on closer inspection we discovered it was actually a long line of caterpillars, all marching nose to tail. Thirty-one of the furry little things!
Absolutley bizarre but absolutley wonderful!

 

UPDATE: Aparrently these are dangerous little devils who can cause very nasty reactions when touched! See this article for some background. Such a shame, as they really look amazing...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:16:58 -0800 The bat-brolly! http://www.richardbarley.com/the-bat-brolly http://www.richardbarley.com/the-bat-brolly
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Like it says, it doesn't protect you very well from the rain, but looks really cool when you put it up :)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:27:00 -0800 Sound Waves in Ice Sheets « Sounds like Star Wars laser battle :) http://www.richardbarley.com/dispersion-of-sound-waves-in-ice-sheets-silen-0 http://www.richardbarley.com/dispersion-of-sound-waves-in-ice-sheets-silen-0
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Just found this fascinating...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:25:30 -0800 I love my winter sunrise http://www.richardbarley.com/i-love-my-winter-sunrise http://www.richardbarley.com/i-love-my-winter-sunrise

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Getting up to in the winter to take the kids to school never fills me with joy. Especially when, like today, we've run out of oil and the house feels like a freezer.
But as we pull away from the house and drive down to the lake, the early get-up is rewarded by the loveliest of sunrises.
This morning I just missed the best of it as I didn't have time to stop and snap the sun just starting to filter through the mist that was hanging over the lake. But I grabbed a few shots on my return anyway. I've probably taken hundreds like this over the last couple of years, but I don't think I'll ever get bored of seeing them.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/1223765/fedup.jpeg http://posterous.com/users/15X0eVKsy2J Richard Barley richard Richard Barley