Oh boy, where do I start? Lots going on, all at once. Namely:

Job: New job is going really well. I'm getting to do a boat-load of design work, spots of JavaScript programming, and will soon be learning ASP (ask a geek to explain that to you, or alternatively just make some snake/ass related jokes).

Whilst it's going well, I'm certainly not coasting. Generally working extra time each day, and to make matters worse/harder, the commute from London to Oxford and back each day (120 miles) is kicking my ass. Rula, bless her, is the most relaxing of cars to drive, but even she can't make the North Circular Road at rush hour seem like a bunch of fun. (a bunch of c**ts, would be more accurate).

Last week, I worked from home for the day, and ended up working until 3am to get something finished. I then slept three hours, and was up and going at 6am. As if this wasn't bad enough, as I arrived at the company car park, Rula had a little bit of a funny turn, and became a large German paperweight.

Three phone calls later, and it transpires that her water pump had seized, which threw the fan belt off its wheels. Had that happened on the motorway, I'm told, I may have ended up getting a second shave of the morning, courtesy of her fan being thrown through the windscreen.

St Clarkson was watching over me however, because it turned out that said pump proved to be covered by the warranty I'd taken out on Ms Lenska. So, by 3.30 that afternoon, she was back, from the Clinic For Elderly Beemers, and looking sassier than ever.

Max Turner Media: The private web/media sideline is finally starting to take off. It's ironic that having been hoped to get freelance gigs whilst I was contracting, it's only now that I have a regular day-job, that offers of work seem to be coming from all directions. I have to re-write the copy and launch the all-Flash website for MTM real soon.

Accommodation: After viewing several excellent Oxford-based options, I've now secured a little place in the fashionable Summertown district. I've been up there twice, and the nearby High St is lined with little bookshops, cafés and (actually quite useful) other shops. Oh, and pubs and eateries. I've a feeling it's going to be a good place to live.

Miles: Moves are afoot to get the boy back from the US. He's spent the past year being cared for by Kris, whom I can never suitably repay for such kindness, but now that I've finally settled, it's time to bring the boy home. More news as we get it.

Dial M for Maxwell: I've just been reading through some old comments from readers, and have decided something needs to happen to re-enable commenting on DMfM. As we speak DMfM researchers (yes, there's more than just me) are investigating alternative blogging systems.

I know that good ol' Blogger has been much improved since the days when I last used it, however, we're looking into all the alternatives - at least those that are installable on one's own web server.

OK, well you're up-to-date now. I move to Oxford on 10th May, and from then on, will get at least two hours a day of my life back (currently taken up as part of my three-hour-a-day commute). Once I do, I've a feeling that DMfM will take off again big time - with a whole new city to explore, and a refreshed look to the site, there's a lot of possibilities.

I've finally posted the new DMfM banner graphic. For the uninitiated, it features the original Dial M for Murder poster, plus one of the very few decent publicity shots of the movie, available online. The DMfM telephone and table were photographed in Camden Market by yours truly. Actually, the phone was on a shelf, but I convinced the stallholder to clear the table and let me put it on there, on the basis I was scouting props for a forthcoming episode of Poirot. A bit naughty I know, but what the heck.

For the pedants among you, there is at least one flaw in the picture, but I'm leaving it in to annoy you.

Some real gems at heavy.com, not least of which is "Dell Porno", "American Suck Down", and Manny's Grill.