My Latest Blog Posts

Catch up with my latest musings on life, photos, videos and more.

The London 2012 Torch Relay celebrations start!

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The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay has started! After flying in on flight BA2012 from Greece to Land’s End last night and beginning the relay from there this morning, the Torch has now reached Plymouth, where the first evening celebration took place tonight.

Follow the Torch on the London 2012 website – see the route and live location of the Torch or watch it live online.

Here are some photos from tonight’s live BBC News coverage (apologies for the low quality!) as the Torch went from Plymouth city centre, through the Barbican harbour area onto the Plymouth Hoe seafront.

 

A newer, better website!

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I’ve now released the new version of my portfolio website, josephmelville.co.uk.

Although the look and feel of the website generally remains the same, the content within it has expanded to include more information about my capabilities and experience. There are also a number of subtle design changes to the site.

The improvements are:

Structure

The entire website now operates on a content management system, in line with the blog. This will allow for more frequent and up to date information and changes.

The access URLs have remained the same, but there are now extra pages within the Services, Portfolio and Contact sections.

The old website used 4 different fonts: in the logo, images, forms and text. This has been stripped to use just 1 font for simplicity and consistency – and the new font is more readable too.

The site now uses a list format rather than a grid style for the main content areas on the homepage and portfolio pages. This means the right-hand sidebar from the blog can now be incorporated across the whole site.

Content

The Services, Portfolio and Contact sections have extra pages now, with more detail of each service, more examples in the portfolio and a more extensive quotation form in the contact section.

The homepage has more detail of the services I provide, with clearer explanations for each service.

The sidebar retains the About and Social sections, but I now have a testimonials section so you can see what people are saying about my work.

Other bits

I maintain my standards-compliance rule wherever possible, but with the increase in third party integration, social media and other dynamic features it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain W3 standards.

I also have a full list of cookies, their purpose and how to reject them on my new Cookie Information page. This is in line with new EU law that was set out in May 2011 and comes into effect on 26 May 2012. Using this site implies you accept the use of cookies on this website.

I also now have a mobile site – visit http://www.josephmelville.co.uk in your mobile browser to see it.

Please let me know what you think of the new website by tweeting me, or send me a message using the feedback form below.

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Throwing precious water down the drain

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So today is the day that 7 UK water companies are imposing a hosepipe ban (April 5th, 2012). The biggest of those seven – and my supplier – is Thames Water.

Fine, I thought – we’ve survived through hosepipe bans before. But then as I learned more, I became more angry.

It turns out that despite Thames’ claims that they have hit this year’s leakage fix targets (which are set out by the water regulator Ofwat), they still managed to lose 665 MILLION litres of water EVERY DAY through leaking pipes. That (according to the Metro newspaper) is enough to fill Wembley Stadium every 36 hours!

It went on to say that the company are also intending on putting up prices by an inflation-busting 6.7%, but apparently that’s fine because its a lower increase than other companies!

To be fair though, in these economically-challenging times it is fair to feel sympathetic to poor Thames Water. I mean after all, their operating profit for the last tax year was only £400million. Just a drop in the ocean really.

Have your say on the hosepipe ban here or on my Twitter post @josephmelville (opens in a new tab).

The Olympic Torch street level route is released!

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Today, the London 2012 organisers announced the Olympic Torch street level route for the relay across the UK.

If you aren’t familar with the facts, then read on:

- 95% of the population will be within 1 hour of the Torch (including the islands of the UK)

- 8,000 torchbearers will carry the Torch round the country

- The relay starts on May 19th at Lands End and takes the Torch 70 days to reach the Olympic Park, which it will do on the day of the opening ceremony on July 27th

- Evening celebrations will take place almost every night; most of these will be organised by local councils and will be free and/or ticketed events

In my local town of Reading, the Torch cuts through the town centre twice – once in the evening before the celebration at the Madjeski Stadium, and the next the following morning on its way to Salisbury.

In Oxford, my home town, the Torch goes straight past my house!

Does the Olympic Torch travel near you? Are you going to any of the once-in-a-lifetime evening celebration events in your nearest town? Or perhaps you’re disgruntled that the Torch doesn’t come near you?

Whatever your view, I’d love to know your thoughts!

Find out where the Torch is going at http://www.london2012.com/olympic-torch-relay-map

Merry Christmas!

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Just a quick blog post so I can wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for your interest in my blog this year and for helping me to raise a combined £300 for
Asthma UK and Oxford’s Sobell House Hospice with my Reading Half Marathon attempt and Facebook ‘Like’ campaign.

I am looking forward to a healthy and prosperous 2012, and I wish the same for you! Once again, many thanks.