matt's debates
because matt's debating is not a crime
Snowboarding… Guernsey style
Snowboarding in Guernsey. Weird.
How to access iTunes Store from restricted location
I recently posted about how it was impossible to access the iTunes Store if you were in one of the Channel Islands such as Guernsey or Jersey. Specifically, when you were updating your account details, it used to be possible to enter your postcode in lower case, or, enter a valid e.g., UK mainland postcode to get around it. This stopped working and all workarounds were essentially dead – the only explanation was that iTunes now uses some geographic IP address matching to check you were physically where you say you were. So it seemed like there was no way around it.
However, I’ve found a way around it.
Guernsey needs sewage treatment
The debate has raged on long and hard for years, but the simple fact of the matter is: currently, Guernsey, a well-developed financial centre of excellence, pumps raw sewage in to the sea – a sea the 2nd biggest market in Guernsey – tourism – relies on. There are many different water users round here – not just boating – where Guernsey is obviously a popular destination – but surfers, kayakers, swimmers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, not to mention casual beach users.
From the latest Surfers Against Sewage newsletter:
We are the mushrooms.
So remember I mentioned the CI Cup? Well, we won. That’s right. Oh yes.
And yet more coverage in the Guernsey Press, where I somehow found my ugly mug (albeit in fortunately low-resolution) on both the front and back pages.
Awesome.
P.S. Fcking get in there!
Famous. Again.
Ahh, the pressures of being a cricketing supergod. Perhaps not.
But still, it’s always nice to get written up in the paper. ESPECIALLY when they get your name right. (Third time lucky.)
Matt on BBC website
OK, so it’s nothing major, but I got a small mention on the sport section of the BBC website, as part of its coverage of the Channel Islands Cup, in which I am playing, for PKF Wanderers.
The standard of cricket we play in Guernsey is very good and it’s right that the BBC monitor the CI Cup. Wanderers this year have an excellent chance of winning it, and it would be a fantastic achievement to do so. The semi-final last week was washed out, so we’ll try again this weekend. We’re strong favourites to win, which will most likely set up a final with arch-rivals (and Guernsey-based) Cobo who are unbeaten in all forms of cricket this season.
Fingers crossed eh?
Matt’s travel blog is a go
Well, hello. And, of course, welcome. Thanks for stopping by. I don’t know who you are, or why you happen to be looking at my wee spot ‘o’ t’Interweb, but nevertheless, thanks for being here. And for being you. Because without you, none of this would be possible. Fortunately, you *are* you, and this *is* possible, which is where we find ourselves, around about now.
What this is though, perhaps requires some definition. Alternatively it’s painfully obvious: it’s my travel blog. The weblog I am keeping, or, at least, endeavouring, to keep, whilst I am away travelling.
Whoops – did I jump the gun? You’re (I’m) away travelling? Yes, I am. Despite Guernsey being a fabulous place to live and work, my feet got just a little too itchy. After numerous visits to the doctor, I was pleased to hear it was nothing medical and in fact, something else entirely. It was mental. (Not in a “you crazy twat I’m going to rip your fucking head off” kind of mental way, I hasten to add.) Almost, philosophical.
It seems, though, that it’s not an altogether unusual thing – to want to go off and explore for a while – as I’m repeatedly told “you’ll meet so many people on your trip!” – which maybe takes a bit of the gloss off the whole thing. But undoubtedly there are only a handful of people who are lucky enough to be able to do it.
And I’m one of them.
Now, I do have certain things I want to get “straight”, if you will, as a part of this trip, and I’m fully anticipating immersion in a totally different way of life being one excellent way of doing that. Alternatively, a few months of glorious pacific coast surf ought to be another. Failing that, I don’t think you can really put a value on the experience. So it’s win-win, really.
So there it is. I’m Matt and I’m away travelling for awhile. Thanks for stopping by, and please, do stop by again. I’ll be updating this as often as I can. I’d love for you to keep in touch, either via the comments, or via Facebook, or maybe you know my email address.