Annual Leave Time – What I needed

by | Dec 18, 2013 | Updates

From the 17th of December to the 2nd of January, 2014 – I’ll be on annual leave.

I haven’t planned too much, but I have spent quite a bit of money on a new laptop that arrived on my doorsteps today. Here are the specifications of my new laptop:

  • Windows 8 64-bit (pre-installed)
  • 3rd generation Intel® Core™ i7-3630QM Processor with Intel® Turbo Boost Technology 2.0
  • Toshiba TruBrite® HD TFT High Brightness display with 16 : 9 aspect ratio and LED backlighting
  • 750 GB
  • Ice Blue Brushed Aluminium Finish, black keyboard
  • 8,192 (4,096 + 4,096) MB
  • DDR3 RAM (1,600 MHz)
  • AMD Radeon™ HD 7670M Graphics (2GB dedicated memory)
  • maximum life : up to 3h00min (Mobile Mark™ 2012)
  • weight : starting at 2.3 kg
  • W x D x H : 380.0 x 242.0 x 32.55 mm

I’ve started using the laptop. I just need to get Photoshop, ScreamingFrog, and a few other programs that I’ll need for work. I justified the cost of paying for this because of my job. Otherwise, I would have stuck with my old sluggish laptop that I’ve had for over 2 years. I have yet to test it for gaming and it has a dedicated graphics card with 2GB of memory. I should be able to play most modern games – if I wanted to.

The only bit of technology that I’d like would be a new camera and perhaps a new phone. Although, my Nexus 4 is pretty decent and I can’t quite complain with the performance of that phone. In fact, I’m thinking of saving up for a new camera, as I’d like to get my photography site back up and running with new content.

Fitness update

I’ve not really been doing anything too healthy this year and I guess the blog section on here under “Health” reflects that. I have however decided to join a leisure centre that is not too far from where I live. I went on a tour of the place yesterday and it looks fantastic. It has a decently sized swimming pool, a nice cosy gym, and if you want to do yoga, martial arts etc then there are classes for those.

I’ll likely be sticking to running, lifting weights, and swimming.

The best thing about this leisure centre is actually the price. It’s only £20 per month, but you do have to pay 3 months in advance and thereafter it works like a sort of rolling contract. You also don’t have to pay the world for the lockers, too. I found this to be the case for Easy Gym on Tottenham Court Road, where you have to purchase a lock. At ‘my’ leisure centre you only have to insert a £1 and you get it back after. It’s a pretty sweet deal, which I’ll be taking advantage of.

It’s time to become healthy again!

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