Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Hunter-killer...
...Of flies
Iceland doesn't have much in the way of native fauna relative to the UK, Europe or North America. It has a couple of mammals that predate the settlement, quite a few birds, and over 380 species of two-winged flies.
I have no argument with most of those 380+ species of two-winged fly, but I am at war with the common house-fly (Musca domestica). Iceland seems to have rather more than its fair share of these things, and one of the sure signs of approaching summer is the appearance of houseflies buzzing at your window. Tonight I came back from work to find about 18 of the damned things in the kitchen window (I'd made the mistake of leaving one section of the window open to air the room).
As it happens, the house comes complete with a rather old and battered flyswatter, which I retrieved from the cupboard and went to work. There are now rather fewer flies around but I am going to have to clean the kitchen window.
2 comments
Iceland doesn't have much in the way of native fauna relative to the UK, Europe or North America. It has a couple of mammals that predate the settlement, quite a few birds, and over 380 species of two-winged flies.
I have no argument with most of those 380+ species of two-winged fly, but I am at war with the common house-fly (Musca domestica). Iceland seems to have rather more than its fair share of these things, and one of the sure signs of approaching summer is the appearance of houseflies buzzing at your window. Tonight I came back from work to find about 18 of the damned things in the kitchen window (I'd made the mistake of leaving one section of the window open to air the room).
As it happens, the house comes complete with a rather old and battered flyswatter, which I retrieved from the cupboard and went to work. There are now rather fewer flies around but I am going to have to clean the kitchen window.
2 comments
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Roll like a weeble
I am definitely making progress with My Fitness Coach.
Tonight was a core fitness session, which seemed to include a lot of work on my arms. At times that is a bit hard on the shoulder but I'm managing to make my way through most of it. I'm rather better at sideways crunches than normal crunches (although they're still more like crumples) and have now got to the point where I can roll a little. More like a weeble than a ball, and even then I don't do much beause it's quite hard on the sacrum/coccyx region.
The remaining pile of marking on my desk has shrunk to almost half a pile. It's still sitting there being intimidating in a You don't want to start marking me. I'm not the pile of coursework you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along. But I have more dice in Force skills than it has so I'm gradually getting there. I need to finish it tomorrow as the first of the exam scripts will appear either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. In an ideal world I'll get them done before leaving for Rent-A-Don on Thursday night.
Of course it's not an ideal world, but I'll give it a try all the same.
0 comments
Tonight was a core fitness session, which seemed to include a lot of work on my arms. At times that is a bit hard on the shoulder but I'm managing to make my way through most of it. I'm rather better at sideways crunches than normal crunches (although they're still more like crumples) and have now got to the point where I can roll a little. More like a weeble than a ball, and even then I don't do much beause it's quite hard on the sacrum/coccyx region.
The remaining pile of marking on my desk has shrunk to almost half a pile. It's still sitting there being intimidating in a You don't want to start marking me. I'm not the pile of coursework you're looking for. You can go about your business. Move along. But I have more dice in Force skills than it has so I'm gradually getting there. I need to finish it tomorrow as the first of the exam scripts will appear either tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning. In an ideal world I'll get them done before leaving for Rent-A-Don on Thursday night.
Of course it's not an ideal world, but I'll give it a try all the same.
0 comments
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Another completion
Not exactly a large project, that's only taken me over a year.
Some time ago I decided that I needed a bag in which to put all of my assorted pommels and handles. They'd been sitting for too long in an ugly (bright orange Hagkaup) plastic bag. I needed something with a little more style, more panache. As it happened, I had in my fabric stash a length of gold embroidery linen, and in my library a copy of Here Be Wyverns. A flick through the book later and I'd identified a rather nice 13th century Moorish border that I though would look rather good in black and gold and was suitable to use as an identifying band on a wide selection of items such as bags, napkins, tablecloths and so forth.
The original plan was to have it finished by June last year. Hah! As usual I was distracted by sundry tasks and although I finished the embroidery sometime around November I couldn't find any black perle cotton with which to lucet a cord for the drawstring. Eventually I had to order it from Sew And So. Then I mislaid my lucet during the house move. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I discovered my emergency backup lucet in my original SCA box and could so make the drawstring, which I earlier this week.
All that left, then, was to make up the bag. This I did whilst 'watching' the Grand Prix and a selection of assorted news and politics programmes following the race. It took a little longer than normal as I hand-stiched French seams as counted stitch work so that I could be sure that the pattern matched at the seam. It would have been far faster to machine it all, but something crazy within me decided to do it all by hand instead.
And here it is, about 20cm across:
I'm about a third of the way through a much larger bag for my feast gear. This has become my travelling embroidery kit as it only requires the fabric, needle, scissors and black thread but no pattern. I'm hoping to get that finished before June. 2010.
0 comments
Some time ago I decided that I needed a bag in which to put all of my assorted pommels and handles. They'd been sitting for too long in an ugly (bright orange Hagkaup) plastic bag. I needed something with a little more style, more panache. As it happened, I had in my fabric stash a length of gold embroidery linen, and in my library a copy of Here Be Wyverns. A flick through the book later and I'd identified a rather nice 13th century Moorish border that I though would look rather good in black and gold and was suitable to use as an identifying band on a wide selection of items such as bags, napkins, tablecloths and so forth.
The original plan was to have it finished by June last year. Hah! As usual I was distracted by sundry tasks and although I finished the embroidery sometime around November I couldn't find any black perle cotton with which to lucet a cord for the drawstring. Eventually I had to order it from Sew And So. Then I mislaid my lucet during the house move. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I discovered my emergency backup lucet in my original SCA box and could so make the drawstring, which I earlier this week.
All that left, then, was to make up the bag. This I did whilst 'watching' the Grand Prix and a selection of assorted news and politics programmes following the race. It took a little longer than normal as I hand-stiched French seams as counted stitch work so that I could be sure that the pattern matched at the seam. It would have been far faster to machine it all, but something crazy within me decided to do it all by hand instead.
And here it is, about 20cm across:
I'm about a third of the way through a much larger bag for my feast gear. This has become my travelling embroidery kit as it only requires the fabric, needle, scissors and black thread but no pattern. I'm hoping to get that finished before June. 2010.
0 comments
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Weekends and bank holidays
Why are they so different?
Thursday was a bank holiday here, so I didn't go into work but got a lot done around the house. In one day I managed to do considerably more than I'd often get over a full two-day weekend. Today? Very little.
Is it because my brain has by now been conditioned to expect five days of action and then two days of inactivity? Five days of stress and then two days hiding away from everything? Take today, for instance. Although I have completed seven engraved goblets I've also had a snooze, watched some television and am even now procrastinating rather than hoovering the living room. And the dining room, given the amount of glass dust I've generated over the last couple of days doing the engravings.
I've also been captured by World of Goo. Oh dear. How silly. I don't think I've come across a game that makes me laugh aloud when everything goes pear-shaped before. And it's so addictive! Sufficiently so to make me feel quite guilty about spending an hour with it. Bad me. :)
0 comments
Thursday was a bank holiday here, so I didn't go into work but got a lot done around the house. In one day I managed to do considerably more than I'd often get over a full two-day weekend. Today? Very little.
Is it because my brain has by now been conditioned to expect five days of action and then two days of inactivity? Five days of stress and then two days hiding away from everything? Take today, for instance. Although I have completed seven engraved goblets I've also had a snooze, watched some television and am even now procrastinating rather than hoovering the living room. And the dining room, given the amount of glass dust I've generated over the last couple of days doing the engravings.
I've also been captured by World of Goo. Oh dear. How silly. I don't think I've come across a game that makes me laugh aloud when everything goes pear-shaped before. And it's so addictive! Sufficiently so to make me feel quite guilty about spending an hour with it. Bad me. :)
0 comments
Friday, April 24, 2009
Day 3: 93 more Calories
Probably a little less actually.
Mainly because, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, I do not roll like a ball. I also do not lunge well to the right. Lunging to the left I can manage, but my left knee is not up to lunging to the right. Besides, that's not a lunge, this a lunge... :) Today was lower body training and was quite fun. None of those inertia-limited jumping jacks.
It was quite an odd day at work today, probably due to it being the day following a Thursday bank holiday. I spent the day doing all of the little jobs I'd put off for various reasons, all to delay starting on the two big piles of marking that are now sitting neatly squared up on my unusually tidy desk. I kept rationalising it by telling myself that I need to be able to do each pile in one go, that starting one and doing part of it before the weekend and the other part after might introduce an unacceptable variation in the marking. Yeah, right. Still, I now have no excuse not to just get straight into it on Monday morning.
I've also managed three more of the engraved glasses. That's four down, four to go, plus another four that only have initials rather than heraldry and initials. I'll add promisory notes to them that once the recipients decide on their heraldry then I'll engrave the other side of the goblet. All being well I'll get those completed tomorrow, and that will be another thing crossed off my medium-term to-do list.
0 comments
Mainly because, as I mentioned a couple of days ago, I do not roll like a ball. I also do not lunge well to the right. Lunging to the left I can manage, but my left knee is not up to lunging to the right. Besides, that's not a lunge, this a lunge... :) Today was lower body training and was quite fun. None of those inertia-limited jumping jacks.
It was quite an odd day at work today, probably due to it being the day following a Thursday bank holiday. I spent the day doing all of the little jobs I'd put off for various reasons, all to delay starting on the two big piles of marking that are now sitting neatly squared up on my unusually tidy desk. I kept rationalising it by telling myself that I need to be able to do each pile in one go, that starting one and doing part of it before the weekend and the other part after might introduce an unacceptable variation in the marking. Yeah, right. Still, I now have no excuse not to just get straight into it on Monday morning.
I've also managed three more of the engraved glasses. That's four down, four to go, plus another four that only have initials rather than heraldry and initials. I'll add promisory notes to them that once the recipients decide on their heraldry then I'll engrave the other side of the goblet. All being well I'll get those completed tomorrow, and that will be another thing crossed off my medium-term to-do list.
0 comments
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Sweating like the proverbial
Day 2, and she has indeed increased the difficulty of the first section.
And yes, I broke a sweat pretty early on. She's added the jumping jacks. Maybe if I wear my corset while doing them...? Honestly, plastic surgery has never seemed so tempting. Today was in the meditation garden, which was pleasant except that it's a little difficult to see the television when I'm doing any of the lying down exercises. Ah well, at least it was another 102 Calories burnt.
In other news, the Icelandic government kindly gave my St. George's day off. God for Harry, England and Saint George!. Not quite. The third Thursday of April marks the first day of summer in the old calendar and is thus a bank holiday. People go out to celebrate the arrival of summer by hurtling down snow-clad mountains on strips of wood/fibreglass/carbon fibre/whatever.
That's not what I did, however. I've had a very pleasant day doing all manner of things. Starting with making a six-pointed origami star from my book of origami polyhedra. Then I did some washing, some reading, carried on quilting my new fencing armour, crocheted half a snood, watched a bit of Battlestar Galactica, The Bill and Sharpe's Peril. And finally got around to one of my long-planned projected, the engraved glass goblet. Thingy.
It's not too bad, given that it must be about twenty years since I've done any glass engraving. I used my Dremmeloid to do the actual engraving, but I'm probably going to have to pick up some of the simple manual ones if I want to do anything with any very fine detail. Either that or get in some more practice with the Dremmeloid. The big problem was finding suitable glass goblets; most modern wineglasses are the bowl or tulip shape. These were discovered in IKEA at the end of last year, although I didn't manage to pick up the small engraving bits until a recent visit to Hobbycraft.
The only problem with glass engraving is that you end up with glass dust everywhere. I can feel it in my pores. Time, I think, for a shower before bed.
3 comments
And yes, I broke a sweat pretty early on. She's added the jumping jacks. Maybe if I wear my corset while doing them...? Honestly, plastic surgery has never seemed so tempting. Today was in the meditation garden, which was pleasant except that it's a little difficult to see the television when I'm doing any of the lying down exercises. Ah well, at least it was another 102 Calories burnt.
In other news, the Icelandic government kindly gave my St. George's day off. God for Harry, England and Saint George!. Not quite. The third Thursday of April marks the first day of summer in the old calendar and is thus a bank holiday. People go out to celebrate the arrival of summer by hurtling down snow-clad mountains on strips of wood/fibreglass/carbon fibre/whatever.
That's not what I did, however. I've had a very pleasant day doing all manner of things. Starting with making a six-pointed origami star from my book of origami polyhedra. Then I did some washing, some reading, carried on quilting my new fencing armour, crocheted half a snood, watched a bit of Battlestar Galactica, The Bill and Sharpe's Peril. And finally got around to one of my long-planned projected, the engraved glass goblet. Thingy.
It's not too bad, given that it must be about twenty years since I've done any glass engraving. I used my Dremmeloid to do the actual engraving, but I'm probably going to have to pick up some of the simple manual ones if I want to do anything with any very fine detail. Either that or get in some more practice with the Dremmeloid. The big problem was finding suitable glass goblets; most modern wineglasses are the bowl or tulip shape. These were discovered in IKEA at the end of last year, although I didn't manage to pick up the small engraving bits until a recent visit to Hobbycraft.
The only problem with glass engraving is that you end up with glass dust everywhere. I can feel it in my pores. Time, I think, for a shower before bed.
3 comments
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
74 Calories
That's what My Fitness Coach told me I burned during my 15-minute workout.
It's an interesting piece of software. I wasn't sure that I liked the coach until during one of the rest periods she fiddled with her hair. That human touch was very effective. Having done the evaluation yesterday today was the first day of the actual exercises.
These are split into different sections, a warm-up, sections with any particular bits of equipment you happen to own (I have an exercise ball and I might put the WiiFit board to work doubling up as a step) and a cool-down. Every few minutes it asks how you're finding the exercise - easy, hard or impossible - so that it can adapt the workout in future. It also schedules rests into the workout, which is nice. I don't think that I could comfortably do 15 minutes of continuous aerobics quite yet.
The warm-up was fine. The first set of free-standing exercises was okay. I almost managed to fall off the ball doing press-ups whilst balanced upon it but survived in the end. I even managed the crunches, although they're more crumples than crunches in my case. I do not, however, curl up and roll backwards and forwards like a ball. No way. Not a scoobies. Ask me to do that and I'll end up in a giggling heap on the floor (which counts, I think, as my necessary happy thought of the day).
I'm due to do another session tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see how it has changed from today's.
0 comments
It's an interesting piece of software. I wasn't sure that I liked the coach until during one of the rest periods she fiddled with her hair. That human touch was very effective. Having done the evaluation yesterday today was the first day of the actual exercises.
These are split into different sections, a warm-up, sections with any particular bits of equipment you happen to own (I have an exercise ball and I might put the WiiFit board to work doubling up as a step) and a cool-down. Every few minutes it asks how you're finding the exercise - easy, hard or impossible - so that it can adapt the workout in future. It also schedules rests into the workout, which is nice. I don't think that I could comfortably do 15 minutes of continuous aerobics quite yet.
The warm-up was fine. The first set of free-standing exercises was okay. I almost managed to fall off the ball doing press-ups whilst balanced upon it but survived in the end. I even managed the crunches, although they're more crumples than crunches in my case. I do not, however, curl up and roll backwards and forwards like a ball. No way. Not a scoobies. Ask me to do that and I'll end up in a giggling heap on the floor (which counts, I think, as my necessary happy thought of the day).
I'm due to do another session tomorrow. It'll be interesting to see how it has changed from today's.
0 comments
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Comfort food and uncomfortable motions
This evening there was corned beef hash for dinner.
I know, it's not exactly haute cuisine but I'm very fond of the stuff. Unfortunately it doesn't get made very often as I've never found corned beef around here so I have to bring it in. But as I brought a couple in last time and will be back in the UK soon to acquire more, I felt that I could indulge myself a little. This was a good thing for the day.
Admittedly a meal made from bread, butter, potatoes and corned beef is not perhaps entirely balanced; comfort food seldom is. In my defence, though, while it was cooking I did the initial assessment for the My Fitness Coach on the Wii, one of the two fitness-related games I've recently picked up. To start with it had me doing star jumps. Ahem. While I can do star jumps I do have a slight problem with them - bouncing up and down like that does tend to have an unfortunate effect on some of the more forward-facing parts of my anatomy, in that there is a certain inertia involved which mean that we do not necessarily bounce up and down in synch. Yes, I know that there are people out there who might pay good money to see that but I suspect that the application of copious amounts of duct tape might be quite useful under the circumstances.
Ah well. I suppose that if I close the curtains so no-one can see me then I can face the horrors of 15 minutes exercise a day.
3 comments
I know, it's not exactly haute cuisine but I'm very fond of the stuff. Unfortunately it doesn't get made very often as I've never found corned beef around here so I have to bring it in. But as I brought a couple in last time and will be back in the UK soon to acquire more, I felt that I could indulge myself a little. This was a good thing for the day.
Admittedly a meal made from bread, butter, potatoes and corned beef is not perhaps entirely balanced; comfort food seldom is. In my defence, though, while it was cooking I did the initial assessment for the My Fitness Coach on the Wii, one of the two fitness-related games I've recently picked up. To start with it had me doing star jumps. Ahem. While I can do star jumps I do have a slight problem with them - bouncing up and down like that does tend to have an unfortunate effect on some of the more forward-facing parts of my anatomy, in that there is a certain inertia involved which mean that we do not necessarily bounce up and down in synch. Yes, I know that there are people out there who might pay good money to see that but I suspect that the application of copious amounts of duct tape might be quite useful under the circumstances.
Ah well. I suppose that if I close the curtains so no-one can see me then I can face the horrors of 15 minutes exercise a day.
3 comments
Monday, April 20, 2009
Amusing reference
I've now finished marking the final year project reports.
Of course that's not all that's left - other than the project reports I've got exams to write, coursework to grade and general crap to deal with. And on top of that I wasn't receiving a BBC1 satellite signal tonight until after Ashes to Ashes. Bah.
So I think it's time to declare another WiSH week to counter the post-convention blues and general malaise that's building up over here. For today, then, I offer up an amusing reference:
I love it when a strange reference comes up - it brightens up the tedium of checking a reference list.
0 comments
Of course that's not all that's left - other than the project reports I've got exams to write, coursework to grade and general crap to deal with. And on top of that I wasn't receiving a BBC1 satellite signal tonight until after Ashes to Ashes. Bah.
So I think it's time to declare another WiSH week to counter the post-convention blues and general malaise that's building up over here. For today, then, I offer up an amusing reference:
United States Patent and Trademark Office. (2008). Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
I love it when a strange reference comes up - it brightens up the tedium of checking a reference list.
0 comments
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Changing my mindset
I'd forgotten how different short stories are from novels.
That probably sounds rather silly, but in my defence I will raise two points. First, it's been many years since I've read many short stories. I think that the last collection was Peter F. Hamilton's Second Chance at Eden, which are slightly unusual in that they are all set in his own well-defined universe. It's certainly been some time since I've read any free-standing short stories.
Secondly I've just spent three months reading (or re-reading, in the case of the earlier books) all of the Honor Harrington novels. All 11 of them. Before which I read all of the Vorkosigan novels. So I've been spending a lot of my reading time on long involved plots that go on for (in effect) thousands and thousands of pages. Dropping back to a twenty-page short story is a bit of a shock to the system. I want more. Much more.
What has spurred this change of mindset is that while I was at Eastercon I picked up a copy of Future Bristol, a collection of short stories by Bristol writers, edited by my friend C. All of the stories have something to do with Bristol in various realities, some past, some present and some future. I went to the book launch at the con, where I heard extracts from three of the stories. I've now got through five of the nine stories and enjoyed them (once I got used to their brevity). In particular John Hawkes-Reed's The Guerilla Infrastructure HOWTO managed to press all of the right buttons for me.
I think that this is just what was needed to put me into the right frame of mind to enjoy the subscription to Interzone that I won in the prize draw at the book launch. I am certainly looking forward to its arrival in my postbox.
0 comments
That probably sounds rather silly, but in my defence I will raise two points. First, it's been many years since I've read many short stories. I think that the last collection was Peter F. Hamilton's Second Chance at Eden, which are slightly unusual in that they are all set in his own well-defined universe. It's certainly been some time since I've read any free-standing short stories.
Secondly I've just spent three months reading (or re-reading, in the case of the earlier books) all of the Honor Harrington novels. All 11 of them. Before which I read all of the Vorkosigan novels. So I've been spending a lot of my reading time on long involved plots that go on for (in effect) thousands and thousands of pages. Dropping back to a twenty-page short story is a bit of a shock to the system. I want more. Much more.
What has spurred this change of mindset is that while I was at Eastercon I picked up a copy of Future Bristol, a collection of short stories by Bristol writers, edited by my friend C. All of the stories have something to do with Bristol in various realities, some past, some present and some future. I went to the book launch at the con, where I heard extracts from three of the stories. I've now got through five of the nine stories and enjoyed them (once I got used to their brevity). In particular John Hawkes-Reed's The Guerilla Infrastructure HOWTO managed to press all of the right buttons for me.
I think that this is just what was needed to put me into the right frame of mind to enjoy the subscription to Interzone that I won in the prize draw at the book launch. I am certainly looking forward to its arrival in my postbox.
0 comments
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Unwinding
Ah, a day off!
And I have relaxed shameslessly throughout the day. Well, apart from spending an hour or so on some Marigold stuff. I'd had a bit of a panic earlier on when I couldn't find my notebook with all of my random jottings in it and had visions of having left it on the table in Liverpool, but it turned up in the computer bag.
Other than that I've done very little Last night I explored the nearly 400 channels available via satellite. Most of them are encrypted, but there are still quite a few that are useful - I was delighted to discover that Channel 4 is hidden up in the high 300s under a completely different name. I can't get BBC3 and BBC4 yet, but between BBC1, BBC2, ITV1-3, C4, 5, News 24 and Create & Craft that'll do me nicely for a while. Yes, I do miss the History, Discovery and National Geographic channels but this provides enough background noise and the occasional intelligent documentary (tonight was Richard Starkey's Henry VIII - Making of a Tyrant).
Tomorrow is back to work. I've got three final year project reports to read and possibly even a record voiceovers for a couple of lectures (although I might leave that until Monday in the office just to maintain the same background accoustics for these as for the others in the sequence). And maybe, just maybe, I'll do a little more calligraphy.
1 comments
And I have relaxed shameslessly throughout the day. Well, apart from spending an hour or so on some Marigold stuff. I'd had a bit of a panic earlier on when I couldn't find my notebook with all of my random jottings in it and had visions of having left it on the table in Liverpool, but it turned up in the computer bag.
Other than that I've done very little Last night I explored the nearly 400 channels available via satellite. Most of them are encrypted, but there are still quite a few that are useful - I was delighted to discover that Channel 4 is hidden up in the high 300s under a completely different name. I can't get BBC3 and BBC4 yet, but between BBC1, BBC2, ITV1-3, C4, 5, News 24 and Create & Craft that'll do me nicely for a while. Yes, I do miss the History, Discovery and National Geographic channels but this provides enough background noise and the occasional intelligent documentary (tonight was Richard Starkey's Henry VIII - Making of a Tyrant).
Tomorrow is back to work. I've got three final year project reports to read and possibly even a record voiceovers for a couple of lectures (although I might leave that until Monday in the office just to maintain the same background accoustics for these as for the others in the sequence). And maybe, just maybe, I'll do a little more calligraphy.
1 comments
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Vaguely cheerful
That's my latest exercise regime, not my mood.
Although my mood isn't bad given that I did indeed reach my bed at about 03:00 this morning. That's 04:00 UK time. Not only that, but I also managed to surface again after less than five hours of sleep and hold a civilised conversation with M before flying north and having a relatively normal day in the office.
There will be plenty of sleep tonight.
No, vaguely cheerful is how I would describe my first efforts with my latest Wii-related purchase aimed at increasing my general fitness levels: WiiCheer. Yes, it's a cheerleading game. I appreciate that the mental image of me jumping up and down waving a pair of pom-poms (or, at the least, Wiimotes) is probably too much for the more delicate of minds, and the exercise modules are going to require a little practice, but it looks fun all the same.
Another thing that is definitely fun is my latest toy. After yesterday's trip from Liverpool to Stansted where I missed the M42->M6 junction and had to navigate cross-country I decided that I'd have to cave in and buy myself a SatNav... assuming that I could get one for a sensible price. There was one, a TomTom ONE Classic, which was under £80 so I bought it. It doesn't do Iceland - neither TomTom nor Garmin do - but I only need it for the UK for the foreseeable future (such as the journey to Rent-A-Don) so that's not a problem.
That's not all, though. While the TomTom's mere existence is a cause for joy, the fact that one of the free downloadable Points Of Interest maps happens to be the locations of all of the Hobbycraft stores in England and Wales is, naturally enough, a matter of sheer delight. Now, no matter where I am I will always be able to find the neariest "coffee shop" :)
0 comments
Although my mood isn't bad given that I did indeed reach my bed at about 03:00 this morning. That's 04:00 UK time. Not only that, but I also managed to surface again after less than five hours of sleep and hold a civilised conversation with M before flying north and having a relatively normal day in the office.
There will be plenty of sleep tonight.
No, vaguely cheerful is how I would describe my first efforts with my latest Wii-related purchase aimed at increasing my general fitness levels: WiiCheer. Yes, it's a cheerleading game. I appreciate that the mental image of me jumping up and down waving a pair of pom-poms (or, at the least, Wiimotes) is probably too much for the more delicate of minds, and the exercise modules are going to require a little practice, but it looks fun all the same.
Another thing that is definitely fun is my latest toy. After yesterday's trip from Liverpool to Stansted where I missed the M42->M6 junction and had to navigate cross-country I decided that I'd have to cave in and buy myself a SatNav... assuming that I could get one for a sensible price. There was one, a TomTom ONE Classic, which was under £80 so I bought it. It doesn't do Iceland - neither TomTom nor Garmin do - but I only need it for the UK for the foreseeable future (such as the journey to Rent-A-Don) so that's not a problem.
That's not all, though. While the TomTom's mere existence is a cause for joy, the fact that one of the free downloadable Points Of Interest maps happens to be the locations of all of the Hobbycraft stores in England and Wales is, naturally enough, a matter of sheer delight. Now, no matter where I am I will always be able to find the neariest "coffee shop" :)
0 comments
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Waiting
It's almost 22:00 and Stansted is shutting down for the night. Everything is going into hibernation mode, even Starbucks. My flight, however, is not due to depart for over an hour.
Fortunately I have the wherewithal to amuse myself - books, magazines and even videos on the iPod or the computer. Even so, a comatose airport is a strange place to be.
I *should* arrive at my hotel at about 03:00 local time, assuming no delays. Time enough to grab a few hours of sleep before my flight north tomorrow then straight into work. Fortunately lectures are over so I don't have to 'perform' as such.
This weekend is going to include some serious sleeping. I'll need to catch up before RentADon early next month.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Fortunately I have the wherewithal to amuse myself - books, magazines and even videos on the iPod or the computer. Even so, a comatose airport is a strange place to be.
I *should* arrive at my hotel at about 03:00 local time, assuming no delays. Time enough to grab a few hours of sleep before my flight north tomorrow then straight into work. Fortunately lectures are over so I don't have to 'perform' as such.
This weekend is going to include some serious sleeping. I'll need to catch up before RentADon early next month.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
0 comments
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Catching my breath
I'm in that strange world between the worlds, Liverpool. No longer at the convention nor at home, I'm at the parental residence... which isn't entirely home any more.
It would have been quite a pleasant drive across the Pennines this morning if I hadn't been so exhausted; too many late nights and early mornings. It was misty and grey, as moorlands should be. Instead I was concentrating on staying awake.
I've managed my technical support duties, which were lighter than expected so I have a little time to myself tomorrow. I may choose to sleep through it.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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It would have been quite a pleasant drive across the Pennines this morning if I hadn't been so exhausted; too many late nights and early mornings. It was misty and grey, as moorlands should be. Instead I was concentrating on staying awake.
I've managed my technical support duties, which were lighter than expected so I have a little time to myself tomorrow. I may choose to sleep through it.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Monday, April 13, 2009
Eastercon 3
Or "have you backed up your jam roly poly?"
This was the final day of the con, which started with a little work on something I'm going to refer to as Operation Marigold. Given that I'm likely to be doing quite a bit on this in the next few months I think it needs a codename so as to maintain a little secrecy for now.
After that was my one participatory programme item, a panel on terraforming and pantropy - if you're going to colonise a new planet do you use geoengineering to change the planet or genetic engineering to change the human? It was very enjoyable and we had an extremely interesting and wide-ranging discussion.
There was going to be some swimming this afternoon but instead the comfy sofa in Ops became the home to my mad dash to finish an embroidered toy for little R - which I did, thankfully, finish in time.
Several of us then went off to the Toby carvery down the road for a rather large meal. Unfortunately they didn't have the treacle sponge so J had to have the emergency backup suet sponge instead - jam roly poly. Much amused conversation followed.
Back at the Dead Dog party a little later I picked up a job lot of good Berol pens for a pittance, which was handy. There were several others things I'd have picked up if I wasn't flying.
Now I'm off to bed early as I think I'm coming down with Con Lurgy. Besides, I've had relatively little sleep over the weekend and am shattered. Goodnight all.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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This was the final day of the con, which started with a little work on something I'm going to refer to as Operation Marigold. Given that I'm likely to be doing quite a bit on this in the next few months I think it needs a codename so as to maintain a little secrecy for now.
After that was my one participatory programme item, a panel on terraforming and pantropy - if you're going to colonise a new planet do you use geoengineering to change the planet or genetic engineering to change the human? It was very enjoyable and we had an extremely interesting and wide-ranging discussion.
There was going to be some swimming this afternoon but instead the comfy sofa in Ops became the home to my mad dash to finish an embroidered toy for little R - which I did, thankfully, finish in time.
Several of us then went off to the Toby carvery down the road for a rather large meal. Unfortunately they didn't have the treacle sponge so J had to have the emergency backup suet sponge instead - jam roly poly. Much amused conversation followed.
Back at the Dead Dog party a little later I picked up a job lot of good Berol pens for a pittance, which was handy. There were several others things I'd have picked up if I wasn't flying.
Now I'm off to bed early as I think I'm coming down with Con Lurgy. Besides, I've had relatively little sleep over the weekend and am shattered. Goodnight all.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Eastercon 2
I actually got to three more programme items starting with the art auction. I've been very good this year and only bought one piece - an original oil by Eira called "Cubist Dalek 2" and is yellow and brilliant (in both senses of the word).
Then it was off to the "Future Bristol" book launch on an anthology of short stories by Bristol authors edited by my friend C. I'd already bought a copy of the book so I'll be able to find out how the stories from which we heard extracts end. I also won a year's subscription to "Interzone", which surprised and delighted me.
The final event of the day was the panel on eBooks and their readers; quite an interesting topic, given that I count as as 'early adopter' of the technology. I was stunned and horrified to discover that all eBooks sold in Europe are subject to VAT, hence their relatively high price.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Then it was off to the "Future Bristol" book launch on an anthology of short stories by Bristol authors edited by my friend C. I'd already bought a copy of the book so I'll be able to find out how the stories from which we heard extracts end. I also won a year's subscription to "Interzone", which surprised and delighted me.
The final event of the day was the panel on eBooks and their readers; quite an interesting topic, given that I count as as 'early adopter' of the technology. I was stunned and horrified to discover that all eBooks sold in Europe are subject to VAT, hence their relatively high price.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
Eastercon 1
The first full day started with a cooked breakfast (including fried bread) before a morning Ops shift and a spell on the Redemption desk I finally managed to make it out to Asda. Then, amed with a new pair of indoor sandles I actually got to a programme item - the Great Egg Race.
I believe that we had the moral victory, as our craft made it the full distance without any human intervention once it had been released, but the number of small children taking part lead to a change of the rules to favour speed over distance, which was a little frustrating.
Although I missed Dr Who (hurrah for IPlayer on Tuesday!) I did the get to my second prigramme item of the event - the Symphonic Fantasy with the London Festival Orchestra. Yes, a complete classical concert at Eastercon, attended by about a third of the 750+ membership. It was great fun, even thoug I've never liked that particular arrangement of the original Star Trek theme (too many bongos) and I hate the way the 'new Enterprise' theme from ST:TMP is played at a gallop to become the ST:TNG theme. I much prefer the slower' grander version of the film.
The concert was a brilliant idea though and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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I believe that we had the moral victory, as our craft made it the full distance without any human intervention once it had been released, but the number of small children taking part lead to a change of the rules to favour speed over distance, which was a little frustrating.
Although I missed Dr Who (hurrah for IPlayer on Tuesday!) I did the get to my second prigramme item of the event - the Symphonic Fantasy with the London Festival Orchestra. Yes, a complete classical concert at Eastercon, attended by about a third of the 750+ membership. It was great fun, even thoug I've never liked that particular arrangement of the original Star Trek theme (too many bongos) and I hate the way the 'new Enterprise' theme from ST:TMP is played at a gallop to become the ST:TNG theme. I much prefer the slower' grander version of the film.
The concert was a brilliant idea though and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Eastercon 0
Or "anyone for coffee?"
It felt like 0-dark-hundred again when I woke this morning... But that was just a lack of sleep again. As the convention wasn't due to start until late afternoon K, B and myself "went for coffee" in Leeds. This has become the accepted euphamism for a trip to a craft shop. In this case Hobbycraft, where I managed to pick up some stuff to do over the weekend and a few things I was looking for in particular.
Then it was back to the hotel and up to Ops to sign up for a shift or two... To find myself taking over from C there and then for several hours. On top of which I managed to do exactly the same when I went back after dinner to check what times I was working for the rest of the weekend.
I did eventually manage a trip around the Art Show but haven't yet made it around the Dealers' Room. That's on my schedule for immediately after Saturday's morning Ops shift.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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It felt like 0-dark-hundred again when I woke this morning... But that was just a lack of sleep again. As the convention wasn't due to start until late afternoon K, B and myself "went for coffee" in Leeds. This has become the accepted euphamism for a trip to a craft shop. In this case Hobbycraft, where I managed to pick up some stuff to do over the weekend and a few things I was looking for in particular.
Then it was back to the hotel and up to Ops to sign up for a shift or two... To find myself taking over from C there and then for several hours. On top of which I managed to do exactly the same when I went back after dinner to check what times I was working for the rest of the weekend.
I did eventually manage a trip around the Art Show but haven't yet made it around the Dealers' Room. That's on my schedule for immediately after Saturday's morning Ops shift.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Thursday, April 09, 2009
Eastercon -1
After my 0-dark-hundred hour start I got into Stransted on time and in one piece... Then spent half an hour waiting to collect my hire car. I'm no impressed with Budget - that may appear cheaper than Hertz but there are hidden extra costs to get the same level of service.
I was even right estimating how long it would take me to get here - just over four hours. What I didn't take into account was that my phone and the car were both running on GMT, not BST. Ah well.
Dinner was quite good, particularly dessert - forest fruit crumble with custard. Mnom!
After dinner there was much talking. And now there will be much sleeping.
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I was even right estimating how long it would take me to get here - just over four hours. What I didn't take into account was that my phone and the car were both running on GMT, not BST. Ah well.
Dinner was quite good, particularly dessert - forest fruit crumble with custard. Mnom!
After dinner there was much talking. And now there will be much sleeping.
Sent með Blackberry frá Vodafone
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Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Fridayish
Or, as a friend said, just like Friday but on a different day.
Although today is technically Wednesday, here in Iceland today is treated more like a Friday. The reason for this is that tomorrow, Friday and Monday are all public holidays, leading to a rather long weekend. As a result people start partying on Wednesday afternoon or travel to visit friends elsewhere in the country. Certainly when I arrived at Reykjavík domestic airport the car park was not only full but overflowing into the nearby roads and other car parks. Even the flight was fairly crowded.
From the airport we headed into town to the closing-down sale at the leather shop. I went a little wild and bought a full hide of blue-dyed leather to make a jerkin to go over my fencing shirt. I probably only need about half of it but I'm sure that I'll find something to do with the rest. I also picked up some very soft red glove leather (for gloves that I promised to make for someone several years ago) and some rather nice black leather that should be enough to make several pairs of indoor shoes.
There was also a trip to a fascinating, er, school supplier. This is a craft shop that sells the normal stationery, threads, papercraft materials and craft books but also sells equipment for chemistry labs. If you happen to need variegated perle thread, peel-off card decorations, conical flasks and test tubes then this is the shop for you. It appealed to so many facets of my inner geek.
Tomorrow I have an 07:30 flight to Stansted, which means I have to be up at oh-dark-hundred to get to the airport. Although up here now we don't really get oh-dark-hundred any more, rather we get oh-surely it can't be light yet?-hundred instead. Whichever it is, it calls for an early night tonight.
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Although today is technically Wednesday, here in Iceland today is treated more like a Friday. The reason for this is that tomorrow, Friday and Monday are all public holidays, leading to a rather long weekend. As a result people start partying on Wednesday afternoon or travel to visit friends elsewhere in the country. Certainly when I arrived at Reykjavík domestic airport the car park was not only full but overflowing into the nearby roads and other car parks. Even the flight was fairly crowded.
From the airport we headed into town to the closing-down sale at the leather shop. I went a little wild and bought a full hide of blue-dyed leather to make a jerkin to go over my fencing shirt. I probably only need about half of it but I'm sure that I'll find something to do with the rest. I also picked up some very soft red glove leather (for gloves that I promised to make for someone several years ago) and some rather nice black leather that should be enough to make several pairs of indoor shoes.
There was also a trip to a fascinating, er, school supplier. This is a craft shop that sells the normal stationery, threads, papercraft materials and craft books but also sells equipment for chemistry labs. If you happen to need variegated perle thread, peel-off card decorations, conical flasks and test tubes then this is the shop for you. It appealed to so many facets of my inner geek.
Tomorrow I have an 07:30 flight to Stansted, which means I have to be up at oh-dark-hundred to get to the airport. Although up here now we don't really get oh-dark-hundred any more, rather we get oh-surely it can't be light yet?-hundred instead. Whichever it is, it calls for an early night tonight.
Labels: iceland
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Tuesday, April 07, 2009
The unpronounceable ice cream
This goes by the name of bragðafedur (or something similar).
This is the creation formed of whipped creamy ice cream and several chocolate/other delights of your choice. There are now five places selling such diet-killers between the office and my house. Normally I'm very good at avoiding them but today I gave in.
Today was the last day of teaching. I completed the revision lecture for the data visualisation module and that was it, nothing more to do but write exam papers, mark coursework, arrange meetings, create an emergency backup plan for an exchange student, attend some presentations for group projects, do some research... you know the sort of thing I normally have to contend with.
Anyway, it's always a good feeling to get the last of the lectures out of the way. Okay, I admit that I came down from that lecture and started to think about how I was going to rewrite another module for next year, but at least this year's 'hands-on' teaching is (to all intents and purposes) over. It always lifts a little of the weight off my shoulders.
In the afternoon I popped out into the coffee area to see the group project public presentation stands. One of the computing projects was providing free beer, thanks to sponsorship by the local brewery. The jury is still out on whether that constitutes attempting to bribe the markers, but as they were freely giving it away to the other students presenting their work I think I'll let them get away with it. :) I did succumb to a can of Viking Lite, the low-alcohol local brew (which isn't too bad, particularly if you don't have to pay for it).
I think it was the beer that persuaded me that I wanted the ice-cream. The big question was where to buy it. That's actually quite a tough one, as the five places have different advantages and disadventages. First there's the shopping mall, where I can also go to the supermarket if needed... except that is far too public for me to be seen with ice cream. The next one is the new bowling alley, but getting there requires turning off the main road. Also off the main road is the place reckoned to be the best of the ice-cream purveyors, with the largest selection of fillings, but that's quite a way off the main road. Next comes the Big Bridge Burger Bar (whose Icelandic name I can never remember) who have a reasonable selection of stuff to go into it but have lousy service. And are over fifteen minutes drive from home; not a problem in the depths of winter but becoming more of an issue as it warms up a little.
Then there's Vív, the little garden centre about six minutes from home. They do great sundaes if you want to eat in but their candy selection is a little limited. Nevertheless, this was my choice due to its proximity to home. I treated myself to a large thingy with chopped Mars bar, Smarties and Nóa Kropp (rice crispies covered in chocolate). Not as good as Mars bar, Galaxy and fresh strawberries but at least it hadn't melted by the time I got home.
It was wicked, but rather enjoyable.
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This is the creation formed of whipped creamy ice cream and several chocolate/other delights of your choice. There are now five places selling such diet-killers between the office and my house. Normally I'm very good at avoiding them but today I gave in.
Today was the last day of teaching. I completed the revision lecture for the data visualisation module and that was it, nothing more to do but write exam papers, mark coursework, arrange meetings, create an emergency backup plan for an exchange student, attend some presentations for group projects, do some research... you know the sort of thing I normally have to contend with.
Anyway, it's always a good feeling to get the last of the lectures out of the way. Okay, I admit that I came down from that lecture and started to think about how I was going to rewrite another module for next year, but at least this year's 'hands-on' teaching is (to all intents and purposes) over. It always lifts a little of the weight off my shoulders.
In the afternoon I popped out into the coffee area to see the group project public presentation stands. One of the computing projects was providing free beer, thanks to sponsorship by the local brewery. The jury is still out on whether that constitutes attempting to bribe the markers, but as they were freely giving it away to the other students presenting their work I think I'll let them get away with it. :) I did succumb to a can of Viking Lite, the low-alcohol local brew (which isn't too bad, particularly if you don't have to pay for it).
I think it was the beer that persuaded me that I wanted the ice-cream. The big question was where to buy it. That's actually quite a tough one, as the five places have different advantages and disadventages. First there's the shopping mall, where I can also go to the supermarket if needed... except that is far too public for me to be seen with ice cream. The next one is the new bowling alley, but getting there requires turning off the main road. Also off the main road is the place reckoned to be the best of the ice-cream purveyors, with the largest selection of fillings, but that's quite a way off the main road. Next comes the Big Bridge Burger Bar (whose Icelandic name I can never remember) who have a reasonable selection of stuff to go into it but have lousy service. And are over fifteen minutes drive from home; not a problem in the depths of winter but becoming more of an issue as it warms up a little.
Then there's Vív, the little garden centre about six minutes from home. They do great sundaes if you want to eat in but their candy selection is a little limited. Nevertheless, this was my choice due to its proximity to home. I treated myself to a large thingy with chopped Mars bar, Smarties and Nóa Kropp (rice crispies covered in chocolate). Not as good as Mars bar, Galaxy and fresh strawberries but at least it hadn't melted by the time I got home.
It was wicked, but rather enjoyable.
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Monday, April 06, 2009
Hurrah for...
... er, snow?
I was going to entitle this entry Hurrah for passerines!, given that yesterday I actually heard birdsong for the first time in quite a while. Proper birdsong, not the roauwk! of ravens or the yik-yik-yee-ah! of the black-headed gull. It turns out that there is a flock of redwings (Turdus iliacus) which, it seems, nest nearby.
Or at least that was the plan. When I went into work this morning it was the yellow-brown that passes for green around here at the end of winter, but when I returned to my office from my final operating systems lecture I noticed that it was snowing again. Big soft flakes of the stuff that hid any other colours beneath a blanket of white. And here I was thinking that it was the beginning of April so spring should be on the way by now. Hah!
On the more positive side, I've worked out how to improve my internet reception - I've moved the router in to the living room rather than the dining room. It seems that the walls are sufficiently solid that there is a significant degradation in signal from one room to another; no wonder the previous residents had to run a cable from the office to what is now the craft room in order to get any internet access upstairs. It means that I have another cable to tape down from the dining room to the living room but as the television arial lead is already taped to the floorboards this isn't going to be a major problem.
Now that my wifi rabbit has a clear line of sight to the router he's much happier - this is good, as I'd got quite used to hearing his random wibblings and was beginning to miss them.
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I was going to entitle this entry Hurrah for passerines!, given that yesterday I actually heard birdsong for the first time in quite a while. Proper birdsong, not the roauwk! of ravens or the yik-yik-yee-ah! of the black-headed gull. It turns out that there is a flock of redwings (Turdus iliacus) which, it seems, nest nearby.
Or at least that was the plan. When I went into work this morning it was the yellow-brown that passes for green around here at the end of winter, but when I returned to my office from my final operating systems lecture I noticed that it was snowing again. Big soft flakes of the stuff that hid any other colours beneath a blanket of white. And here I was thinking that it was the beginning of April so spring should be on the way by now. Hah!
On the more positive side, I've worked out how to improve my internet reception - I've moved the router in to the living room rather than the dining room. It seems that the walls are sufficiently solid that there is a significant degradation in signal from one room to another; no wonder the previous residents had to run a cable from the office to what is now the craft room in order to get any internet access upstairs. It means that I have another cable to tape down from the dining room to the living room but as the television arial lead is already taped to the floorboards this isn't going to be a major problem.
Now that my wifi rabbit has a clear line of sight to the router he's much happier - this is good, as I'd got quite used to hearing his random wibblings and was beginning to miss them.
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Sunday, April 05, 2009
Quiet again
Everyone is now heading home.
It's been a very busy weekend here, but now I'm back to my more normal solitary state. Yesterday was the shire's Pot Luck Day, and we had a significant portion of the shire present for an assortment of activities including a fencing practice. Come to think of it, we had one or two people doing several different things and a lot of people sitting and chatting. That was fine - C provided a new challenge for our fencers and the weather obliged by clearing up sufficiently so that we had somewhere ice-free to fence.
This proved quite amusing, particularly as the area we were using can be seen from the 'road' that passes the house. This doesn't get much traffic, but we do get one or two cars past each hour. Several went past while we were fencing... or rather, several slowed down to watch us as they drove past. One even stopped, but as he was on his way to the ice-cream place at the farm next door at least he had an excuse. Perhaps we could come up with some sort of sponsorship deal for the summer - we provide entertainment for the clientele of the ice-cream parlour in exchange for ice-cream?
Today started with the Grand Prix; by the time the race started we had five of us watching it either avidly or as we wandered around doing other things. It also provided a good excuse to make Gloriana porridge for breakfast, then a smoked salmon kedgeree for lunch. In between we committed heraldry - I've now got several devices ready to be registered (with completed paperwork, even) so there's just the matter of finding the appropriate documentation for the names. All being well I'll get them submitted before Rent-A-Don next month. C is now on her way south with M in preparation for her early morning flight tomorrow. It's been fun having her here and Ithink that I may be able to tempt her back for Revel in June...
Next month... it's all going by so fast. Mind you, that may be because I had very little time to myself in March. I've now got three days before I'm off to Eastercon, so I'll at least have time to do some washing. :)
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It's been a very busy weekend here, but now I'm back to my more normal solitary state. Yesterday was the shire's Pot Luck Day, and we had a significant portion of the shire present for an assortment of activities including a fencing practice. Come to think of it, we had one or two people doing several different things and a lot of people sitting and chatting. That was fine - C provided a new challenge for our fencers and the weather obliged by clearing up sufficiently so that we had somewhere ice-free to fence.
This proved quite amusing, particularly as the area we were using can be seen from the 'road' that passes the house. This doesn't get much traffic, but we do get one or two cars past each hour. Several went past while we were fencing... or rather, several slowed down to watch us as they drove past. One even stopped, but as he was on his way to the ice-cream place at the farm next door at least he had an excuse. Perhaps we could come up with some sort of sponsorship deal for the summer - we provide entertainment for the clientele of the ice-cream parlour in exchange for ice-cream?
Today started with the Grand Prix; by the time the race started we had five of us watching it either avidly or as we wandered around doing other things. It also provided a good excuse to make Gloriana porridge for breakfast, then a smoked salmon kedgeree for lunch. In between we committed heraldry - I've now got several devices ready to be registered (with completed paperwork, even) so there's just the matter of finding the appropriate documentation for the names. All being well I'll get them submitted before Rent-A-Don next month. C is now on her way south with M in preparation for her early morning flight tomorrow. It's been fun having her here and Ithink that I may be able to tempt her back for Revel in June...
Next month... it's all going by so fast. Mind you, that may be because I had very little time to myself in March. I've now got three days before I'm off to Eastercon, so I'll at least have time to do some washing. :)
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Friday, April 03, 2009
Sploosh redux
Yes, it was back to the swimming pool today.
As C and I didn't make it to the Mývatn pool this week we managed an extra trip out to Þelamök instead. I arrived a bit earlier than expected, as I'd managed to get out of work just before five rather than well after it (mainly due to a banging headache that made it impossible for me to usefully sit through a set of Icelandic project presentations). The result of this was that I actually managed to get 13 lengths done before C and M arrived. I suspect that my shoulders might protest about that tomorrow, but it was good to do some serious swimming again after rather a long break.
All of my lectures are now finished; I've just got the two revision sessions to go at the beginning of next week and then I'm finished for the academic year. I fear that this might be a good thing as I think that I might be coming down with another throat infection. :( Still, I can now concentrate on finally writing the exam papers (I finished the operating systems example paper this morning) and marking the remaining coursework. I wonder if I can get all of that done by Eastercon?
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As C and I didn't make it to the Mývatn pool this week we managed an extra trip out to Þelamök instead. I arrived a bit earlier than expected, as I'd managed to get out of work just before five rather than well after it (mainly due to a banging headache that made it impossible for me to usefully sit through a set of Icelandic project presentations). The result of this was that I actually managed to get 13 lengths done before C and M arrived. I suspect that my shoulders might protest about that tomorrow, but it was good to do some serious swimming again after rather a long break.
All of my lectures are now finished; I've just got the two revision sessions to go at the beginning of next week and then I'm finished for the academic year. I fear that this might be a good thing as I think that I might be coming down with another throat infection. :( Still, I can now concentrate on finally writing the exam papers (I finished the operating systems example paper this morning) and marking the remaining coursework. I wonder if I can get all of that done by Eastercon?
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Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Adrenaline high
I wish all lectures could go as well as today's.
It was the quantum computing lecture, effectively a qualitative introduction to the physics behind them and their potential uses in the future. After all, when you consider that my students' working lives are likely to go on for at least thirty years and think of where electronic computers were at the end of the seventies, I thought that giving them a little background would be a good thing. Besides, I've threatened to give this lecture for a couple of years now so it was about time that I got around to it.
And yes, I will admit that there was a slightly selfish element in that it's a field that I find very interesting even if I can't handle the maths behind it... but if I find a topic interesting then my lecturing tends to be more enthusiastic and generally better all round. I think that this semester I've managed to get enthusiastic about cryptography and quantum computing, that's about it.
It's been quite a busy day outwith the day job. C came into work with me today and then wandered off to have a look around Akureyri until we met up for lunch at Bláa Kanann. It would have helped if I had realised that lunch was a buffet, as opposed to the evening's brought-to-the-table service. Once I'd finished work we picked up a little shopping before heading off to Hrafnagill to the pool. I had hoped that we could head out to Mývatn but the weather has turned again - it had almost entirely thawed by last Saturday morning but it's now back to six or so inches of snow once again. Unfortunately I've got meetings all afternoon tomorrow and Friday or we could have gone then. Still, at least we can pop up to Þelamörk on Friday evening... unless I can get away before five, in which case we might be able to get out to Mý that evening. It'll all depend on the weather.
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It was the quantum computing lecture, effectively a qualitative introduction to the physics behind them and their potential uses in the future. After all, when you consider that my students' working lives are likely to go on for at least thirty years and think of where electronic computers were at the end of the seventies, I thought that giving them a little background would be a good thing. Besides, I've threatened to give this lecture for a couple of years now so it was about time that I got around to it.
And yes, I will admit that there was a slightly selfish element in that it's a field that I find very interesting even if I can't handle the maths behind it... but if I find a topic interesting then my lecturing tends to be more enthusiastic and generally better all round. I think that this semester I've managed to get enthusiastic about cryptography and quantum computing, that's about it.
It's been quite a busy day outwith the day job. C came into work with me today and then wandered off to have a look around Akureyri until we met up for lunch at Bláa Kanann. It would have helped if I had realised that lunch was a buffet, as opposed to the evening's brought-to-the-table service. Once I'd finished work we picked up a little shopping before heading off to Hrafnagill to the pool. I had hoped that we could head out to Mývatn but the weather has turned again - it had almost entirely thawed by last Saturday morning but it's now back to six or so inches of snow once again. Unfortunately I've got meetings all afternoon tomorrow and Friday or we could have gone then. Still, at least we can pop up to Þelamörk on Friday evening... unless I can get away before five, in which case we might be able to get out to Mý that evening. It'll all depend on the weather.
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