Dyslexic Revelations
For most people this would be such basic information that it's not even worth mentioning. But not for me. My dyslexia is so highly skilled that it has kept from my the following nugget of truth:

• Cornflakes are made from corn

Excuse Me, Who's English?
My brother remarked on this from a presentation he went to by some American and I've just come across the same in a program I use on my Mac. In other respects TextWrangler is an excellent free text editor which is really quite powerful. I use it for editing my HTML files and any other text documents. True, true, the spelling mistake mark-up can be dodgy - it doesn't seem to think it necessary to always display your mistakes unless you specifically request it too, but I've also observed this issue in LaTeX, so perhaps it's a Mac thing.

But sadly I've just discovered the unforgivable error while setting up my new install's dictionary. It's set by default to 'English', but of course what I really wanted is British English. Of course! What was I thinking? Being as I am English, living in England, I don't speak English, I speak British English, meanwhile just over the Atlantic in America, where all the Americans live they speak English. Silly me.

NO. It's not British English. There is English and there is American, or American English. It's like saying that Mexicans in Mexico speak Spanish while all the Spanish in Spain speak Spanish Spanish. (Oh dear god, don't tell me some Americans think this way...)

NB: I'm happy on the following compromise where we all specify what flavour of English we speak: English (UK), English (US), English (Canada), Chinglish (China), English (Australian). We do, after all, speak the same language. But it's OUR language.

Happy December
[01-12-09]

1 Lifelong Dream Accomplished
Just now I had a look down the lift shaft at work. I've always wanted to have a look down a lift shaft, and now I have. There was a chap servicing it and I asked to have a look so he showed me what was what. Fascinating :)
[30-11-09]

Where Have I Gone?
Panic not! I am still here. But it is true that I'm not blogging so much these days. It's not for lack of wanting to - I keep coming across things that I want to share with you/the world (mostly gripes and annoyances with appliances breaking, stupid police, weather (wind in particular - I hate wind!).

But what happens is that I get home, have dinner with Suyeon, then gripe and moan about all the things I want to blog about and feel a sense of 'got that off my chest' so I loose the urge to write my thoughts down here. It seem Su has become my thought and memory repository rather than my blog.

Perhaps this is normal, like a part of growing up. Interestingly I've also moved away from Facebook - I couldn't keep up with all the endless updates and friends. Maybe the internet is focussed on single folk, the lonely and the alone. Indeed the internet is most excellent for enabling people to connect with others (even if that sometimes ends in people eating each other). But I'm increasingly finding less and less need to be online. I live with some very sociable humanities students and my girlfriend gives me plenty of opportunity to chat. I don't feel I need to be online anymore.

But still I am determined to record my life here. This is as much for me as you, so that I can look back and read it in the future, which is what I currently enjoy about my blog anyway. Perhaps even in years to come my children will read it - that's a scary though. But it's also so that I can share it with anyone who reads (and I know that some do - including some of my family*, which I was very touched the learn).

So I'm sorry for not writing more here these days, and I will endeavor to continue. Indeed, now that I'm finally feeling I'm finding my feet after my Thesis trauma. And as a consolation perhaps I'll be able to filter out some of the rubbish and just record the good stuff.
* a special big hello to those in Scotland. [25-11-09]

Police - Nasty or Nice?
On the way into town yesterday it was drizzling and gloomy. I was on my bike on the way home from work, heading in to pick up some kit from Maplins. Coming down the avenue the pedestrian/cycle path crossing went amber. I could have stopped, just about, but as it was wet and clear (nobody crossing) I decided to go through hitting red by about a second and continued on to wait at the next lights.

Then I heard "excuse me sir", so I looked round and there was a police car 4405 with the window down and the police woman looking at me. "You ran a red light back there. That's illegal, I could give you a ticket". 'What the fcuk?' was my reaction, but I said that I realized what I'd done and then explained my reasoning, and also that I am not one of those cyclists that ignores red lights (I was after all waiting at one at the time). Clearly this wasn't good enough, so she said that if she ever caught me again she'd fine me straight away. I then gave her a 'whatever' sort of expression which she clearly didn't like and offered to gt out there and arrest me. The lights went green an I went off.

This really pissed me off. Why they hell are they wasting their time telling off cyclists for innocuous crimes when there are murders burglaries and drug dealers all over the city. Was she just having a bad day and wanted to shout at someone? Then today that police man died in Cambria trying to warn people not to cross a weak bridge.

It got me thinking - why do people enter the police force? Sadly my thinking and experience is hat there are two reasons - a desire to sacrificially help others and make the world safer or a selfish desire to be in power and control and enable you to bully others. I've experienced both sides - the most lovely caring and honest police folk as well as the corrupt nasty and malicious ones - but sadly not much in between.
[21-09-09]

Meat!
Last night I cooked myself meat for the first time in... in... erm, ever. Panic not yea fellow veggies, I am still a veggie (and not one of those "I'm vegetarian, except for fish, chicken and the occasional stake). I am vegetarian and I still feel it is important to be so, environmentally speaking particularly.

But recently I've been eating quite a few bugs and insects that I've happened to accidentally kill. This is part of my new vegetarian philosophy - that of the hunter gatherer veggie. I'll eat anything I kill, and anything I kill I'll eat (or bury). So what happened last night? Well, there's been these tuna stakes in our freezer for a number of years - legacy from a previous housemate. They really need to be used up or thrown out. Now if I'm just going to throw them out then I might have well have killed them - it would be a waste of that life. And the sacrifice of death for continued life is very important - that's why eating meat is a special thing. So rather than throw them out I decided to cook one. I cooked it by frying with some bay leaves. It turned out quite dry and chewy, but enjoyably so.

There. I can cook and eat meat (well fish at least). Now I want to try some proper fishing again...
[01-10-09]

Vandalism - Update
This weekend we lost a further couple of Sunflowers. I felt less sad having come to terms previously with the potential loss. But this time something odd happened - the Police turned up, twice over the weekend, wanting to tell me they knew who had done it and wondered if I wanted to place a complaint. How crazy! How did they know?

Following on from my previous thinkings I replied to the police saying that I dind't want them told off for this, but rather to try some better form of justice. I said that I'd like to meet them and give them a pot with some soil and sunflower seeds for them to grow their own next year. We'll see what happens.
[29-09-09]

It's Raining Nuts
Popping out to the local shop from work - Chilworth Stores - I was walking up the road which is flanked by beech trees on both sides. It has been a little drizzly earlier and as I walked I kept hearing this popping noise. Looking down I found the road littered with nuts and the popping noise was made as the nuts fell from the tree. So I gathered a pocket full for eating later (might roast them somehow).

PS. Hand up all of you who read the title to the tune of "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls?
[23-09-09]

Micro$oft IE Fail
It just does, but I don't want to live with it (which is why I use Firefox and sometimes Safari (and offer them links).

While hunting the web to find out how to make the Exergy Devices website IE compatible I came across this site by Scarf*oo about 5 CSS tips to make IE happy. The introductory paragraph is so perfectly worded I wanted to share it with you:

If I could, I'd give you a special present this Christmas - I'd tell you how to make IE on Windows behave like a grown-up browser. Sadly, reality sucks - as does IE on Windows - so I can only offer to share with you a couple of CSS tips to ease the pain of working with that piece of crappy software.
[16-09-09]

Vandalism
It is a horrible thing. I guess there's many types of vandalism: environmenal, coporate, personal, and senseless. It's this senseless vandalism that I really hate. It's the shear mindlssness that gets me. At least when it's targeted then there might be some deep reason behind it, I can sort of accept. But when someone has walked down a road and smased a window on every car in the street for no reason (not in an atempt to steal the thing) I'm left with an incomprehensible sense of "why"?

If you haven't guessed it already, I've been the recipient of some senseless vandalism in the form of people breaking my sunflowers. Yes. I know that breaking a sunflower hardly compares to smasing a car window, there is no direct cost to me, but like I say it's this shear senselessness that stings.

Over the weekend a further three were broken from my front garden including the biggest and the tallest (see photoblog for photos). What really hurt was the fact that the broken off flower heads were simply chucked in the road just up the street. I found these sad forlorn looking faces wilting in the sun and had to take them home for burial. They looked so sad :(

I was very angry when I found this. The idea that it's done 'for fun' really grated. What brainless drains on society really think that this sort of act is fun? I never felt the need to break other people's things for kicks when I was growing up - why do they? (For I suspected youthes as it's only happened since the schools have been back). And the thing is I would have been happy for them to cut the flowers to take home - I've beans growing on the front fense for passers by to harvest - but just to kill a growing plant and imediatly discard it is frustratingly pathetic.

You can tell I spent a good long while fuming and thinking of all the ways I could teach these kids a lesson if I saw them do it. But then I realised two things. Firstly, it is not the kids fault, and secondly it would not work.

It is the parents fault for not loving these people and for failing to provide a adequate secure environment in which to grow up as humans. (Our society is somewhat to blame to as it's given up on family an community in favour of persuit of the self). And if I were to run after them an thrash them over the head with the remainder of the baligured plant it would just bread more violence. Sadly Jesus was right in that you have to (and can only) love your enemies. Violence breads violence. And love will, despite being frustratinly slow to take affect, be the only solution to the problem. These kids need love. They don't get it at home as, quite frankly, their parents never recieved love so they don't know how to give it (the fact that they're breading at twice the reate of everyone else does accellarate the negative spiral of lovelessness).

What can I do? I'm not sure. But in the end I'm glad I am still vulnerable to this sort of thing. If I were to retreat into my back garden then I would have lost the battle. I planted my front garden with many tempting things in the expectation that some would be lost to vandalism. Yes it hurts. But the joy it has given others (many stop to admire the garden), as well as myself, more than compensates.
[14-09-09]

Finishing Harry Potter
Just to let you know that I'm finally getting round to reading the final Harry Potter book, the Deathly Hallows. It's been a long time coming
[10-09-09]

Autumnal Joy
I really love autumn. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but over the last three days I've been occasionally struck by a moment of joy at the thought of it. It fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement and cosy in a way that no other season does. Sure summer is exciting (if it ever comes), but it's also filled with heat and uncomfortable nights. Spring is joyful, with new life popping up left right and center. And winter has the prospect of long nights curled round a fire. But for some reason they don't cunjur up the same excited antisipation of autumn.

So I'm a little sad that the summer is over. We have at least had a summer this year in England, thankfully. But I'm quite looking forward to those special warm days when the leave are singing their autumn song and the nights draw in, leaving a quiet stillness outside. And this year our house has been insulated, so it shouldn't be so damn chilly.
[04-09-09]

Wild Fruit
It's everywhere at the moment. 2009 is a bumper year for fruit! Just on my way to work this morning I found a victoria plum tree dripping with fruit. It's not quite ripe just yet, but was bursting at the seams. Yesterday I noticed another cherry plum tree. Even at my new work I've been able to gather a load of blackberries in my lunchbreak just by browsing the local hedgerows. I've not needed to buy any fruit from the greengrocers for ages (sorry Ganaways!). I want to encourage you to head out and pick your own for free!
[26-08-09]

End of Retirement
Well happily (and sadly) I have to announce that I'm being pulled out of my retirement. I have been offered a job with a neat start up busniess called Exergy Devices which is researching a groovey tool for monitoring and controlling your house's heating system to make it more efficient and automated (knowing when you've gone on holiday and when you get home again). It's a job, which means I'll get paid (I guess I've missed that) and it's in the green sector, which is where my heart lies, and means I am more secure. But how will I cope with an office job? Getting in to work every day from 9-5. How will my garden cope in my absence??

I will certianly be sad to leave my retirement, and I don't feel yet that I've really anjoyed it enough yet - but some good advice from Christelle is that you never can have enough time off. And I'll miss being able to be free to pop to the shops and prepare dinner for my Su, and support her as well as I have (if what I have has been 'well' enough). But money will be good. To be able to buy stuff that I'd like to rather than just watch it being sold to other people on eBay.

But one thing I have learnt is that I can cope with retirement. I don't get bored or frustrated at being home all day. I love being free to brouse the hedgerows for fruit and explore the countryside for fun. And something that I'd like to take away with me is that a proper break from work every so often is a very good thing. Having proper time to do the little jobs around the home that need doing as well as time to reflect on how life is going (not that I did enough reflecting as I'd like).

This links in with the Christian (predominantly Catholic) idea of retreat. Haing a break from busyness to make space to find yourself and hoefully God too. I really should have taken myself on a proper retreat while I was retired, but I failed. Next time. Thankfully I've got Greenbelt coming up at the end of the month and that will help. I'd not been looking forward to it till recently. Not 'not', rather not getting round to looking forward to it. But writing this and thinking of retreat, I'm feeling it will be a well earned good thing.
[19-08-09]

Educational Retirement
Since I completed my PhD and my part time work with Chaplaincy and SCM finished in June I've been re-discovering life. The PhD really took it out of me and it's still taking me time to recover mentally from the battle (I definitly made too much of the thesis writing process, but it makes you want to write a masterpiece).

But despite being 'free' I've been as busy as ever. Decorating jobs, web design, gardening, cooking, cleaning, sorting, admin and lots of other little bits and pieces have just filled my life. I've also been trying to tackle the backlog of things I didn't get round to while writing up - I had this host of delayed tasks that kept hanging over me while I put them off to write, and I've finally been finding some time to go about completing them. But despite being 'free' all the other things continued to mean that I've still not finished them all! Crazy. What is wrong with me? (Please don't answer that).

In fact the whole thing has reminded me of my Mum's experience when she retired a couple of years ago. I remember her commenting that she was still so busy that she couldn't beleive how she ever got things done while having a job as well. And it's felt just like that to me to which lead me to think of my situation as a mini retirement, or rather, having finished 27 years of education, enjoying my educational retirement.

Sadly, unlike my Mum, I have the realisation that I'm going to have to plunge back into the world of work - how will I ever cope? [12-08-09]

Stephen Fry on Language
What a cool frood Fry is. I've been loving his podcast for a while [pick it up on iTunes or www.stephenfry.com] and I've just found that my iTunes had forgotten to download another 5 episodes I'd missed. Nice. One of my favourite episodes is his discussion on language. I listened to it a while ago and have been ruminating on his thoughts since, but I really need another listening to fully digest it. One of his best thoughts was that actually spelling doesn't matter, as long as the meaning is transmitted. I like this. Sure, I've spell checked this blog (damn pressures from all those readers who complain at my spelling).

More recently he's begun a three part BBC Radio 4 series on language. More listening gold for anyone in the UK (available on the iPlayer).
[11-08-09]

Wild Food
It's the season for wild food, in particular wild fruit. This year I'm noticing wild fruit trees everywhere. Su and I have already cooked up two batches of jam from harvested fruit and been brousing the hedgerows on numerous occasions for blackberries and rosehips.

Our best find was on a cycling trip to Arturi's garden center out on Allington Lane (past the Itchen Valey Country Park). The garden center was closed so instead we cycled on to explore a bit of the Brittish countryside. Then on our way back into Southampton on Moorgreen Road, just inside the M27 we came across a hedgerow brimming with yellow cherry plums. The floor was littered with windfalls which we gathered eagerly in bags and tuppaware pots, then we harvested some from the trees (so tasty eaten fresh) then discovered some red cherry plums just along a bit and finally a damson tree bursting with fruit. We must have gathered a good 5 kilograms of fruit. The next day we cooked up the yellow plums (as they were more delicate) and made a superb bright yellow plum jam. The red ones are still waiting to be cooked up. I'll put some photos up soon.
[10-08-09]

Toilet Cleaning
Dang! I'm unemployed! Oh no :( So what do I spend my time doing? I've cleaned my outdoor toilet. It had been a huge blight on the house, it smelled, had mold growing over the walls and the toilet bowl was solid black below and above the waterline. So out with the rubber gloves and I plunged in.

Sadly I did resort to chemicals along with a screwdriver to chip off the 'lime'scale. Eurgh. Now it's all white and shiny and clean. Yippee. (This really shouldn't excite me as much as it does - but while the girlfriend is away I'm having a party). The next part of the task this evening is to repaint the walls, ceeling and cictern. Nice.

Stupidly I didn't take a photo before hand thinking 'who would want to see such a horrible sight'. But then of course the answer is 'I do!'. Damn. So I'll take a photo afterwards and post it up.

And happy Independance Day for all my American friends :)
[04-07-09]

Typrewriting My Thanks
On Friday I finally printed out my final (final) thesis for binding on monday. Then I remembered the typrewriter I found in the office skip in my second year. I had planned to wrtie a page of my thesis using this typrewriter. So I printed out some blank acknowledgement page templates and this afternoon I'm going to sit in the garden and bash them out on the typewriter.

Place your bets now for the number of typing / spelling mistakes I'll make bearing in mind I've got to type three exact copies of the same acknowledgements.
[14-06-09]

Front Garden Project
This really should be an update, but instead is a first-date. Our front garden project is nearing completion. Half the area has sweetcorn planted out, with some more germinating to fill the available space. Below these are lots of pumpkin plants that I accidentally germinated, these should ramble around at the foot of the sweetcorn. Many sunflowers are planted around the edges and I've also bordered the pathway with marigolds. Then yesterday I planted some random beans along the front fence to grow up and over it to create a living fence. It remains to be seen how much of the produce will be 'hardested' by passers by, but that's half the experiment.
[14-06-09]

The Final Print
Thankfully I'm nearly there with this blasted thesis agony. I'm just in the middle of printing my thesis out for the final time, the end product, the perfect article. Not that it will ever be perfect, but good enough. Then tomorrow I should be able to submit it to the bindery to be encased in a beautiful hard back jacket and then actually hand it in for the very final time. It hasn't half lagged this thesis perlarva.

Thankfully I'm feeling alot brighter in myself. Yes I still might not have a job, a future, a career, a house, morgage, income etc. But I'm feeling much more happy in myself. I had been getting re-occurances of the mid-writeup blues (or blacks) each time things seemed to pile up on me (like paperwork or events), but now I seem to be more able to actualy tackle the things that need doing and clearing my backlog. Yikes, one day soon I might even be on top of my life and able to think properly and clearly about the future. That might be scary, so perhaps I'll just cue up some gardening jobs to keep me occupied a little longer.
[11-06-09]

Kitchener RTA
Thankfully I wasn't involved in the RTA that happened outside my house this evening, but I very nearly was. On crossing the road to reach Su's house I heard a car speeding up the road, so I ducked out the way. It sped on up to the junction, slammed on it's breaks and hit a little car trundling along the road perpendicular. The little car span round 140 degrees and the speeding car continued on up the road and came to a halt.

I ran up to the little car, found two elderly gentlement looking somewhat shocked. I asked if they were ok and offered them a cup of tea (as one does in such circumstances). Then I ran up to the offending car to make sure they didn't run. We started taking details of the witnesses and the offenders (some sort of foreign) said they had their insurance details. So we went to their car to copy them out. With them written down I thought I'd just have a read of the policy and then found out it was for a Toyota Corola not the Ford Mondeo that was smashed up next to us.

About then another local lady arrived saying she'd rung the police and the two offenders said that their friend round the corner had the details. Sounding shifty I decided to follow them as they went, thankfully my neighbour Brian followed me at some distance to check. After the second courner the main offender (the only one who spoke English) stopped and politely informed me that he was now going to run away and that I could follow if I liked. Leaving me a little taken aback he then legged it. So I followed, in my wellies.

We ran up the street, I cut him off round a car when he fumbled nearly running into it, then he headed back in the other direction twords university (mistake!). I chased after him screaming help-help-help at the top of my voice (which is now a gonner) and finding that my legs were a little tiring and contemplating ditching the shoes and persuing a-la-barefoot. Thankfully he seemed to give up the hunt, a bit like ones rabbit does after a chase round the garden, and I latched onto his back, my arms around his sholders and neck. Brian arrived and took hold of his arm so I lowered my grip to give him a hug round his middle till security arrived. I managed to persuade a passer by to stand with us for moral support, but I was shocked and appalled by the lack of care anyone else has for another in need. There were folks up the road who'd come out of one of the uni buildings to have a look. I shouted to them for help and to call security, but they just stood lifeless and dumb.

Eventually the police turned up, arrested our offender and took a statement from me. Meanwhile the two old chaps had been kindly furnished with cups of tea and a sit down amongst the warmth of the Kitchener Road family, which was lovely. A fun day out for all the family. Anoyingly it prevented me from planting my frount yard up with sweetcorn (more on that story later).
[02-06-09]

I'm in Malaga
I know, it's kind of surprised me too. But I flew out this morning and I'm now sitting in a youth hostel pretty much in the middle of the old city. I've not been outside as I've been finalising my presentatiuon for the conference in Granada next week. But it's done now so I might get out and find something to eat as I'm pretty hungry. Sky is blue and the air is warm. Lucky me :)
[24-04-09]

Dr. Bailey
Hello every body!
Hi Doctor Nick

Yep, you guess it, I passed. I quite enjoyed the experience in the end. Perhpas I had it easy, or perhaps I was just simply amazing, it's hard to tell, but here I am now, the third Dr. Bailey.

The viva lasted about three hours of which half an hour was my presentation (nothing great, in fact the most dull presentation I've done - a deliberate choice to counteract the prettyness of my actual thesis.) My external examiner was a Spanish ESA chap and it was his first time (mine too!). We mostly chatted for the three hours about my research and he asked me a few questions about estimating errors in the simulation, but nothing too technical. At one point I did stop myself and think "hang on, this is my viva, isn't this supposed to be grueling?" Then it was over. I did wear shoes, for those of you who were concerned (though I did slip them off for a brief airing), but I didn't wear a suit. Afterwards we all went to lunch in the Blue Room - the universties attempt at a posh restaurant (a tad fake), and then we departed. Easy. Well, not horrible, and nothing compared to the hell of writing the thesis.

So my education is over. I've done playgroup, infants, junior school, middle school, senior school, further education, higher education and post graduate education. I'm all educationed out now. Time to have a look at the real world. [16-04-09]

Mr Bailey
My PhD viva is tomorrow. 9:30 (which I felt was a tad early) and, according to my internal, should probably finish around lunchtime, say about three hours in the lions den. Am I worried? Well, probably, but also not. I have no real idea what to exect - and it's my external examiners first as well, so he'll be as unsure as me. So I don't know what to be worried about - apart from being asked some horrific jaw dropping question which leaves my brain somehwere back in the 1980's trying to re-boot.

I think it might be fun. Well, funsih. Or at least stressfull. The good news is that I'm actually thinking I might be relieved when it's over and feel like celebrating. A week ago I was getting worried I was not going to be happy when it's over.

I'm also resaonably confident in my thesis. I think it's a good'n and, having now actually read through it, I don't think there are too many massive cock ups, bar the usual miss spelling (includding the very last word of the last sentence!). But who knows? And I think that's the problem, I don't know what I'm going to be asked, but I pray that I will be able to answer each of the questions with confidence, not to rush my thinking, but take time, and hope that I don't get stumped too many times.

So this is Mr Bailey saying good night, and good mental health.
[15-04-09]

Working Outside
The weather is beautiful and I'm enjoying working outside. Inbetween reading and preparing for my viva I've been doing the finishing touches to my new greenhouse. Photos to follow at some point. Oddly enough I've just noticed that my forarm smells of Scicilian museums.
[15-04-09]

25 Years
Mum rang me this afternoon. It's twenty five years since my dad died. I'm only twenty seven. That's not a long time to spend with a father, and the age of two is not a good time to star experiencing death like that. But that's life, and as a result I have a wonderful close family that means the world to me - an exceedinly precious thing. And to think that there are families in which people haven't spoken to each other for years makes me so sad.

There are many things I could say about how hard it's been growing up for me. But to be honnest I don't feel that way, I have had a wondeful childhood, growing up in a secure and loving home. It's not easy, but that's growing up for you, never an easy task as I can tell.

Oddly enough it's only in the past few years that I've come to understand what I've lost. When I first grew a beard I looked in the mirror and saw a man I'd never known looking back at me. It was odd - the realisation of a loss that I'd never had. But reasuring to find daddy in me. That word's another interesting realisation - I don't know how to spell Dady. Sure, you'll all be sitting reading this thinking "come on Nick, there are an aweful lot of words you don't know how to spell!". But it's just not a word I've ever used, it's alien to me. Then there's that moment when a son first finds out his dad's not perfect, but in my case I had to suddenly realise that, had he been alive, I would no doubt have got angry with him, even hated him - how unfair and horrid of me! Finally this PhD thesis had been most valuable for how it's given me insight into my dad's experience - for the first time I've shared something with him in a very real way.

There are many other things to express, but the most important thing is my understanding that I am my fathers son.
[12-03-09]

Submitted
At three fifty this afternoon I toom the three bound copies of my thesis and submitted them to the school office. Job done.
[05-02-09]

Terry Pratchet on Alzheimers
"It becomes you attacking yourself. Your brain is at war with you. That's how it feels."

I know I don't have alzheimers (well, I've not been diagnosed) but this description is exactly how it feels to be dyslexic. I know what I mean to say, but the words just don't come out in the right way.
[04-02-09]

The Print Begins
Yay.
[04-02-09]

Rediclous
Me.

Also the fact that, despite having started reading The Lord of the Rings about a week ago, I've still not actually got to the story. There's all this stuff about how this particular version was compiled and how it's attempted to get rid of all the errors in the previous verstions (and how all those errors came about). Really I'm not that interested in the particulars of book production*, but I'm a stickler for reading all in a book. I'm also a slow reader. Perhaps the two are related (I've heard it said that some people don't actually take care to read every word and that some don't read the word "aloud" to themseleves in their head. I do both, perhaps another reason for my lack of vitesse.

Happy New Year to all my asian friends!

* Cough. Thesis. Ahem.
[26-01-09]

The final death throws
So having finsihed, as I said earlier, naturally I haven't. There is allways more tweaky bits to do, the references to format, the figures to ckeck, table to title, numbers to fudge... of course not. I quite enjoy this bit of a document, all the finishing touches each of which just makes the document a little better, polishing the edges. But what I've realised I'm trying to achieve is a balance between polishing it to make it nice and shiny, and inspecting the sheen too closely and discovering that I've missed out something critical. Not that I'm trying to ignore the gaping holes in my thesis - I don't think there are too many - but I'm slightly worried I'll come across them if I look too closely, then my perfectionism will kick in and not allow me to let it go.

Then there are the tweaks that end up making more work. A couple of times I've though "I'll just change that, oh yes, that's better! Arse, I now need to go through the entire thing and change to the new format".

So I'm in the final stage of birthing this beast, but I'm not quite ready to release it on the world.

Interesting that I'm using both birth and death imagery at the same time.
[24-01-09]

23:43
It is finished.

Well... not quite. I've just finished going through my final chapter's corrections. I've got a few floaty bits to tidy up, then the references to check formats of, then the other bits I notice that my OCD just won't let lie. Then I'll be finished.
[19-01-09]

Awesome Dream
Steep hill parking lot in the mountains (Wales)
[16-01-09]

Picasa for Mac - User Experience
So overall I'm happy that Picasa is now nativly with my mac, but not all is rosy. Naturally the Google software is still in beta (is not all their software such), but this really is very beta. I've found the platform quite suseptable to crashing when I ask it to do too many things at once. But I'm sure it will get steadily better. Other than the crashing, all the functionality is there and it's great to be able to use all the features (not possible when I was running through Crossover).
[06-01-09]

Office for Mac
The best thing about Office for Mac was that it includes a full uninstall function. I've just decided to abondon it in favour of the free OpenOffice.org. As one of my biggest gripes with OSX is the inability to uninstall programs I thought I'd just google how to uninstall MacOffice. All you do is go to the folder: Applications > Microsoft Office 2004 > Additional Tools and run the Uninstaller. Simple.

It's a bit ironic the lack of uninstall functionality in Mac as I was watching the BBC's Click program which explained how Mac users don't need to defrag beacuse OSX doesn't get fragmented in the first place, but what it does do it get full of old abandoned software that at one time you thought you'd try, but then didn't need, and rather than simply uninstallying it, you just leave it there. I'm at the point where I'm going to re-instally my OSX just to get rid of all the unwanted rubbish and start again.

I'm choosing OpenOffice.org beacuse it's free and for me will be better due to it actually having a spell chacker (I think you'll all realise just how important that is for me).
[06-01-09]

Picasa for Mac
And just like that Google release the most anticipated program of the decade (well, last two years) - Picasa for Mac. When I first got my Mac I was devastated to find that I couldn't run Picasa, my favourite quick photo editing and organising package. iPhoto, Mac's native photo organiser, added insult to injury by being a complete waste of time.

Then I heard about Crossover, a piece of software by CodeWeavers that lets one run windows apps on a Mac. I brought this for the sole purpose of running Picasa. And it was worth it. Not an elegant solution, a tad clunky in places, and a wee bit slow, but I finally had Picasa.

Now, just when Su gets her shiney new MacBook (and boy is it shiny) Google go and relase a proper Mac version of Picasa!! I'd been waiting two and a half years for that, and then it's available days after Su gets her's. Grr.

Still, best go and download it now...
[05-01-09]

A New Year, A New Mac
Yesterday, following a failed attempt the day before, Suyeon brought a laptop. We cycling into town to go looking for laptops as her previous was stolen in a burglary last November. She'd mentioned that she'd like a Mac, but I passed that off as just Mac-Lust, a frequently observed phenomenon when people see how much cooler my mac is than their rubbish "vista PC laptop". I'd also secretly thought she should go for a Mac as I've experienced how awesome they are and how much better than a boring windows laptop; but I just passed this off as my own Mac-Love.

So there we were, in West Key*, and to start had a little jolly look in the Apple Store. Lots of lovely Apples to chose from. I thought of upgrading... but we weren't here for my desires, so back to Su. The little MacBook white was the cheapest at £704, and seemed to fit the bill. I resisted urging her to go for the new model for just a couple of extra hundred pounds.

New Year Celebrations
For the first time I spent New Year in Southampton. Most of my housemates were in as well as Suyeon and her sister. So we shared a hot-pot party for dinner then settled down to watch a new Indian film called Slamdog Millionaire. This was enjoyed with some rather lovely mulled wine I made (which, due to my under-boiling, remained delightfully intoxicating). Then we tuned into the continually rubbish BBC coverage of the New Year (both BBC 1 and 2 were un-appealing - whatever happened to the End of the Year Show?), but it included the fireworks from London. These were impressive, but fireworks on TV never really do it, so instead I grabbed my tin of Chinese fireworks (`French Bangers') and we all piled outside for some bangs and sulphurous smells.

Then back in side, as it was rather cold out, we popped on Wallace and Gromit's Shawn the Sheep, which I'd recorded earlier in the day. A little later we all retired for the night. In the morning my head hurt with a nice hangover, but interestingly it did not generate a migraine. So I'm still at a loss as to what causes me migraines. Overall a good celebration. Welcome to 2009!
[01-01-09]

Rosehip Jam
As autumn set in and the leaves in the garden fell, a beautiful crop was revealed. On our dog rose was a feast of rose-hips. Now from some ancient reading of The SAS Survival Handbook (or perhaps The I-Spy Guide to Edible Food) I've known about eating rose hips. Usually, when out walking, I like to try the big, bulbous ones you get in towns and gardens - large and fleshy, where one can clearly eat the edges of the hips and avoid the furry pips. But I've never tried the more usual wild, or semi-native varieties that grow in Hampshire (and make it its County Flower).

One day, in a spout of thesis-induced desperation, I escaped the laptop into my garden and squeezed a hip. Out popped some juice which tasted fab - much sharper than the bulbous types, and much more flavoursome. Excellent. So I picked a colander-full.

A few days later, with this colander of rose-hips sitting in the kitchen, I decided to cook them - surely they could be made into a jam os some sort. They could (and stop calling my Sheryl). Naturally the inter-web revealed the answer - boil, remove pips, add sugar, boil, pot - and I've seen my mum make jam many a year from our crop of damsons so I was aware of the basic drill. That evening I set to it.

It was late, I didn't feel like sleeping, so I boiled up the hips. This produced a seed-thick red soup which smelled pretty awesome. To extract the juice, I began sieving it into another saucepan and dumping the seed remains into a pot. After pressing through all the soup I was left with a little ketchup-like liquid and a mound of juicy pips. This wasn't good enough! There was loads of rose hip juice left that I wanted to make into jam - with it being such a precious resource grown in my garden, I wasn't going to let any escape. So I added more water to the pip pile, boiled it and re-pressed the lot through the sieve. After this second pressing I did a third, just to get all the goodness out. After which, the pip pile looked bare of juice. This I composted and then went to bed.

In the morning I went for the boil, having about enough sugar in stock, I heated up my rose hip juice and added the sugar (about as much sugar as juice, or slightly less). This instantly changed the colour of the liquid from bright tomato-red to a deep berry-crimson. I'd placed a spoon on a saucer in the fridge to check for jam-y-ness and every so often placed a spot on the plate to look for wrinkles. Not exactly knowing what sort of wrinkling I desired I ended up boiling too far and by the time I bottled the jam, the consistency was definitely into the syrup category.

The resultant jam was not so much jam, as a syrup-toffee, but fruity and nearly jam. Since then I've made two other batches. The second with the help of my girlfriend we picked more hips from up the road and finished off my garden bush. We boiled it less and the jam was much more jam-like, but a little thick. The third batch I made last night while at home in Cheltenham with the expertise of my mum and her proper kit. This jam is more syrup and less jam, but the reports from my step-father are that it tastes better. So still some way to go, but I'm nearly there,
[31-12-08]

A Little Solitary Walk
After a rather low day (for not much reason other than my own internal frustration and worry) I decided to take myself on a little walk to make the most out of the last of the day's light. This little walk was the only thing I'd actually wanted to do today, but other things happened earlier that I couldn't say no too (not in a "I wouldn't say no to another cup of tea" kind of saying no, rather an inability to actually express my own personal desires). I nearly didn't even go as it was half three and sunset is currently shortly after four. But thankfully I pushed myself and got out the door. [How silly? I literally have to force myself to do something that I actually want to do. Is that one of the symptoms of depression?].

So out I went, with my nice boots on, and lots of layers. I walked pretty much the same route we had taken as a family on Boxing Day, but in the other direction. I had with me a plastic bag, scissors, and an interesting sermon on my iPod. The air was crisp and the ground underfoot even crisper. I was quickly out of the village and heading down little footpaths and along fields up onto the Cotswold Escarpment. The sermon was excellent (and I'll comment on it fully soon), talking about the need for mission in the church, the need for mission to be outside in the community, and the need for us Christians to get out of out comfortable pseudo communities and into the real community to make it the community.

I soon reached the spot I was aiming for - a field boundary with a magnificent view over Charlton Kings, and three lovely dog roses laden with rose-hips. I got out my bag and scissors, and got to collecting the hips. It was fun work with not to many lacerations from the rose thorns, and I gathered a fair quantity of hips in total. I then headed up to the peak and wonderful lookout spot where I sat down and soaked in the view - daylight fading, clouds gathering overhead, and the lights of Charlton Kings and Cheltenham twinkling below. Just before it got too dark I made a break for home, reaching just as the faintest slither of moon appeared over the hills, and below Venus looking resplendent. My mood wasn't fixed, but I'd acted upon a personal desire and breathed in a little private experience of the real world's beauty.
[29-12-08]

Outnumbered
For those in the UK (or with access to a UK VPN) then I'd recommend watching Outnumbered. It's excellent manic family fun.

Reading a few of the reviews I notice that it's being exported to the US. But actually it's not being exported, as such, rather the `format' is being exported.

Hang on! We in the UK love to watch American sitcoms (Cheers, Seinfeld, Simpsons, Friends, Frasier, Scrubs, My Two Dads, Rosanne....). We like the Americans who act in them, and we cope just fine with the accent. We don't feel the need to re-make them with a bunch of British actors. So why is it that the Americans feel the need to remake all our good TV (The Office, Fawlty Towers, Men Behaving Badly, [so I can't think of that many])?

I'd definitely agree that on average American comedy is better, or at least more numerous (sure, we are no doubt saved from much of the dross that must get pumped out). But I just can't see what makes British sitcoms with British actors so totally alien that they see the need to re-make it all. Furthermore, our original actors must be loosing out on the publicity, airtime, and royalties. Rubbish!
[28-12-08]

26, Just.
In the last but one hour of my twenty sixth year, after finishing the final corrections to my second thesis chapter, I decided to cycle out to find some chips for dinner. Turns out all the chip shops in the area close at 10. Bummer. Nice cycle though, despite the rain.
[16-12-08]

Return to Life
Today, after a slightly emotional meeting with my supervisors and no sleep since 9 am the day before, I began my return to life. In the meeting I printed and handed in my second draft to my supervisor. Don't get excited, I've not submitted yet - I've still a long way to go with more corrections from my supervisor and then the hell of a viva - but I'm on the way home.

It was a glorious day, bright cloudless blue skies as I walked across campus. I popped into Chaplaincy for an hour or so which was a huge boost. Having come out of the meeting, I'd met Dave and Su, who'd encouraged me, but I still felt fairly dazed and weak. In Chaplaincy I sat and recovered, began to let go of the pain I'd been holding and open my eyes again. The general lively banter was a great boost, as were the offers of tea.

On my way home the sunlight was stunning, warming my body and lifting my spirit. For what seemed like the first time in 6 months or more, I saw beauty - the trees and bushes, though now largely leafless, looked simply glorious in the light. I felt blessed by their presence, and I felt thankful again for God's creation. I also felt like getting out my camera and being artistic - something that has also been farthest from my mind for a year or more. But I didn't (which is why this is not a photoblog), I simply wanted to enjoy it and save it to my own memory; I would not have been able to capture what I was feeling.

Later, walking round my house, I felt strange, I felt like I'd not been there for five weeks or more. Everything felt strangely familiar, like when you come back from holiday, it looks the same but it also looks new, as if you were looking at it for the first time. It was mighty odd, but also joyful as I realised that I was home, and not working anymore. I grabbed some dahl on toast for lunch and promptly fell asleep on the sofa.
[01-12-08]

Draft 2 - Finished
At 3:39 am this morning I finished corrections on my first draft. After a long but fun SCM weekend, I started work at 14:00 yesterday and worked through. I worked steadily and methodically through each page, counting them off as I completed each one. When I got to zero I was, well, not excited (it was too late for that), just merely pleased.

With that done, I made a large cup of tea, a cup of honey and lemon and a ginger tea (what can I say? I like fluids). Then I got to work on the remaining tasks - some graph scales to fix, a couple of papers to cite, a figure to add, the acronym and nomenclature lists to import, the abstract to write and then my acknowledgements. Seems like quite a list, but I was in the groove and pottered my way through them.

Then I got to the acknowledgements... and that finished me off. All the pain and difficulty I've had writing this thesis has been suppressed inside me. A great many people have helped me, in so many ways, to get through this without suffering a catastrophic breakdown. So finally writing a thank you to them all was a mix of amazing gratitude and shame for what I've put people through. But it was a healing process, and felt like the completion of this marathon race.

But there was someone else to thank - my father, who died when I was 2 - and that broke me into floods of tears. He would have been proud of me, something I've not really believed or understood before. But the strange thing is that through this long process I have also grown proud of him. That's not to say I was ashamed of him before, but rather I didn't know him to be proud of me. Sure, Mum's frequently said he would be, but I had no real reason to believe this; I didn't have anything in common with him for him to be proud of me about.

That sentence seems confusing, but I think it's right, it's just a difficult concept to express. This is the first experience that we've struggled with together, been through together, that I can feel I've shared with him. And it's this struggle, difficulty and pain, more than any happy shared experience*, that has been the connecting factor. In the last four years I've come to know my father more than at any time before because, for the first time, I've felt his pain and struggle. And it is a direct result of this struggle that I know he would be proud of me. Yes, this is making me cry by the way. Frankly it has been worth doing my PhD just for this, worth the pain, the panic attacks, the darkness, just to come to know my father better.

* the only comparison `good' experience is when I first grew my beard and discovered daddy's face looking at me in the mirror.
[01-12-08]

Missing Blackberry
On Monday night Blackberry, our beloved garden rabbit, went missing. She wasn't seen on Tuesday and never came to eat her food. I've flyered the local houses and searched all the surrounding gardens, but there is no sign of her. There is also no sign of struggle which would indicate she had been taken by a fox. She simply vanished.

missing
[21-11-08]

The Inevitable US08 Election Rant
I'd like to say I'm fed up now of ALL the new being focused on the coming US elections this Tuesday, but actually I'm not. Instead I'm just too worried that McCain (the disturbingly self proclaimed `Mac Daddy') will be elected. My housemate told me a month or so ago that McCain will win and I desperately want him to be proved wrong. For me, and I suspect most of the outside world, the decision is fairly straightforward - Obama. Yes he is black, well done for spotting that you racist southerners, but as it turns out that doesn't actually make a difference. It does not make him a terrorist (terrorism doesn't tend to implement a rigourous policy of rhyming slang). And for the last time being black does not make someone a terrorist.

In fact can we not just drop this whole black and white thing?? Dear America, you are the wonderful country that brought us Sesame Street - a glorious vision of society where red, yellow pink, blue, black, brown, orange, pink and even green folks can live together in harmony. For the love of God please remember that on Tuesday.

What has got me spooked is a comment by my chaplain, Yellow (oh the irony) about the nature of voting conservative compared to democrat in relation to the fabled 'undecided voter'. Firstly I can't quite believe that there is anyone left still undecided - it's really not that hard a choice - one or the other (or go wild and vote green). The thing is that if you ask an undecided swinger who's thinking democrat then there is little stopping them telling of their internal leaning. Whereas if you ask a republican leaner there is a twang of shame in publicly declaring that you're a republican/conservative. The connotations being that you're selfish.

Conservatism works with 'safety in numbers' - as long as there are others around you believing the same thing then it's easy to come out and be part of the faceless crowds and shout praises for the ideals of conservatism. Because when you boil it down, the fundamentals are essential promotion of the self - I want what's best for me. As part of the collective, however, you can freely shout "I want what's best for me" because the voice of the crowd appears to shout "we want what's best for us". Whereas standing alone you're required to pronounce that you want what's best for you and you alone, screw everyone else.

While an individual democrat can clearly and proudly shout "I want what's best for everyone" - essentially the ideals of the left. Sure there are problems with the left, we know communism doesn't exactly work, but the ideal is good - to help everyone equally.

So it's my fear that the hordes of 'undecided' voters are actually just republicans pretending to be democrats. And what's more is that I fear when it comes down to it many of those loving American Christian brothers and sisters will drive to the polling booth in their hummer, sling their rifle over their shoulder and think "Hell, I aint votin' in a black guy" as they duly scribble in the box next to MacDaddy and his pro-life-pro-killing sidekick.
[02-11-08]

Les Amusements
I had high hopes for bird flu, but it turned out to be a bit of a dead duck.
[30-10-08]

Missing the Joy of Waiting
It's all very well me putting in an order* to wiggle at 00:44 on Tuesday and finding that it had arrived at Chaplaincy by 09:00 on Wednesday, but it does kind of take the joy out of waiting.

* a new chain and rear cassette (11-23) for my bike, bike light set for Su and some high-grip winter tires for us both.
[22-10-08]

Community Garden Development
This weekend I've been completing development of a new flower bed at the back of the garden. Up until now it was just a mess of brambles, holly and bay seedlings, roots, ivy and thousands of bluebell bulbs. I rescued the bulbs (and two ferns that I've transplanted to a darker spot) but ripped out the rest (that will form the SCM bonfire). I then laid the original border stones as a back wall and simply cut the grass to from the front edge.

The soil was not in too bad a state, just a bit dry from the ivy roots everywhere. I've sieved quite a bit to reduce the stone content and given it some soil improper. Then popped the bluebell bulbs back in along with some crocuses for the spring. Finally I transplanted the most successful fuschia from in front of the rockery to the corner of the bed and raked the soil nice and level.

It now looks splendid. I'll sow some mustard seeds to act as ground cover 'til spring when I can divide and move my fabulous rudbecia into the bed along with some cosmos.
[20-10-08]

A Weekend Home
I'm just on the train back to Southampton following a lovely break at home in Cheltenham. It was lovely to spend time with my parents and simply relax at home. I was able to help with copping the hazel tree and found a mini seedling from it to bring back to the Kitchener Garden.

Just this afternoon, Mum and I went to the Cheltenham Literature Festival to hear a talk by Jonathan F? on the history of China. It was quite an interesting talk (OK, so Mum nodded off, but it was hot in there), but I wasn't overly impressed by his presentation style. After promising not to blast us with facts and figures, he spent the whole talk doing just that. Not in a bad way if you knew roughly what he was on about, but I think it would have been off putting had you come from a novice understanding. He mentioned that this was his thesis subject and I feel he's lost touch a little with the base level (warning to me). What annoyed me was not his style per-se, but rather the way it made everyone we spoke to afterwards say what a brilliant speaker he was. The false "I didn't understand that so it must have been good" response. It was good, but some basic maps of the place would have helped understanding.

His most interesting point was from questions, where he noted the astonishing rise in the basic standard of living for so many Chinese. Sure there remains massive poverty, but the Party has been successful in lifting the lives of many many millions. And as such there would be great sadness were the Party to fall.
[13-10-08]

Awesome Colours
I'm on the train up to Birmingham today for an SCM Away Day, and the colours wizzing past outside the train are so vibrant. The weather these past few weeks has made up for the rubbish summer - clearly autumn is the new summer - and today the sun is bright and the air crisp. The green of the fields is contrasting wondefully with the early autumn yellows and oranges. Sure it might not rival the richness of Maine, but I do love autumnal England. It really is something to inspire.
[11-10-08]

Korean Poo - t.m.i. Warning
I simply have to tell you that during my time in Korea I had the most fabulous poos ever. It wasn't untill a couple of weeks in that I realised how things had improved both in terms of length and speed of delivery. The reason I was so keenly aware was down to the inability of Asian loos to flush toilet paper. This means you get cristal clear view at point-of-flush, a nice post busniess inspection.

I'm putting it down to the diet of fabulous rice-based meals (mostly bi-bim-bap [mixed rice] and kim-bap [rice rolls a bit like sushi]) with a multitude of fresh vegetables in an array of side dishes. I believe it was these side dishes that did the busniess. Order any dish from the menu (even the blandest thing) and between 3 and 13 side dishes arrive that you didn't order. They're free and can be re-filled at will, and are largely a range of differently preserved vegetables. Pickled beetroot is the nearest Brittish equivilent, only these are tasty and very spicy and don't turn your wee red. I'm not sure quite how it works, but the spicy sour vegetable goodness really got my innerds working nicely.

And I mean massive, these battle ships (boys will get that analogy) were frequently over a foot long, and maintained that length every day. And gone were the days of pusshing. These subs wooshed straight out. Sadly it didn't last. Pretty much as soon as I borded the plane home my bowels ceased up to their usual infrequency. (Actually, this might have been their usual auto-responce to air travel).

I've heard that people somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa have the best diets. This is based on their poo quanity, which is massive and fiberous. I'm pretty sure I could have riveled theirs.
[24-09-08]

Republicans - Barely Believeable
I was listening to Up All Night on BBC Radio 5 Live last night which was being broadcast from the Republican party conference. I listened to some of the speaches, including Bush's but what really brought me to near laughter/tears/fear was this quote by one of those being interviewed (a British Conservative) by the BBC presenter about McCain's choice of Palin as his running mate.

"... his choice of Palin, member of the NRA, mother of five, working mother, her stand on Pro-Life. All those things are important to Republicans...

I'm sorry. NRA - the National Rifle Association and Pro-Life. So she is in favour of everyone being allowed to own a gun - that weapon [n. An instrument of attack] which is designed to KILL PEOPLE - and also pro life - i.e. totally AGAINST killing unborn feotouses.

Is it me or does anyone else see something amiss here. It terrifies me that these people are allowed to rule a country. It terrifies me more that they call themsleves Christians.
[03-09-08]

So Much to Write
I really have been neglecting this blog for too long. After coming back from Korea I've been on the downhill with my thesis and things are finally on the finishing straight. I'm aiming to have my completed draft altogether by the end of nexy week. So all you who have offered to read it, get ready... From then on it's just a case of tinkering with it to make it better - an odd spelling here, a graph re-allignment there, a tweak to that table, a whole section to rewite, some grammer to correct - just the small stuff you understand. After corrections from my Supervisor (no doubt there will be thousands) it will all be over. Finally. Praise the Lord I can return to life in the real world. And a job, which starts (I believe) in mid-september.

So for the time being this site will remain a little quite. I'll try and get a few things up about my time in Korea and more recently Greeneblt. But untill then please bear with me. And I think you for all your support.
[03-09-08]

Union Flag
On the BBC Olympics broadcast I've been very much enjoying the cycling. Not simply because we're winning them all, but it's somthing I think I could do quite well at (no way near this standard of course). I've particulary enjoye the sprint races, they're so tence with cunning tactics and sudden finishes.

One of the odd things is the commentators refering to the `Union Flag'. I thought it was called the Union Jack? My housemate Christian suggest that it's sexist to refer to it as that beacuse there's no Union Jill. I like that.
[19-08-08]

Glorious England
I've been back just under a week now after my travels through Seoul and South Korea. The day we arrived home it was raining, in fact it was hailing as we landed, but a couple of the days have been simply glorious. Today, Sunday, was one of them. While not as warm as Thursday or Friday, the brightness and clean fresh air was filling my with some of the uplifting joys of Britain.

Today it's been great to get out into the garden and harvest some of the seed heads that have been ripening while I've been away. I've gathered quite a stash of Sweet William seeds that I can sow next year. My vegetable patch is looking good too. The peas are mostly over, but the beans are coming thick and fast. There are a number of new spinach plants springing up and my sweetcorn are brilliant. I've only got six shoots, but some have a couple of cobs beggining to emerge - I've grown sweetcorn!

Sadly my squashes are not doing so fantastically. There are a few flowers, but not that many, and certainly no fruits emerging yet. I'm taking solace in hearing that other people are experienceing the same thing, perhaps it's just too early yet. But we've got some nice caugettes coming along, so I'm still hopeful, just need some proper warm sunny days to give them a lift.

So while there's always that end of the holiday blues, it feels really good to be back and I feel much more positive about Britain and Southampton in general.
[17-08-08]

After The Ceremony
Unfortunately after watching the olympic ceremony I joined most of the hostel who were going out for a birthday bash at the local karioke bar. Lots of been flowed and some soju and I was a little smashed by sunrise, and thowing up with a hangover migrane in the morning and afternoon (finally while on the undeground).

The underground I was taking north out of Seoul to visit a suspected impact crater I'd spotted on Google Earth (and I'd brought a vessle in case I threw up again). After a failed attempt at climbing the ridge feature I was targeting and ending up in a military camp (I suck my hands in the air and made a quick backtrack) I finally found a proper path up the mountain. Climbing up things always helps with my headaches and it began to dissapate as I reached a little rocky vantage point to enjoy the setting sun.

I didn't get to the top and I didn't find any of the shatter cones I was looking for (evidence of meteorite impact), but it turns out I was right in thinking that's what it is. I headed down in the growing darkenss to find some dinner. I stopped by what I thought was a restaurant but turned out to be a pottery cafe serving only meat. The owner and to girls rushed out to say hello. I explained I was a veggie looking for bibimbap, and they imediatly offered to take me to the local restaurant (one of the girls works on a forign exchange program and spoke excellent English).

The meal was fantastic with hundreds of side dishes, pancake and soup. Afterwads they invited me back for tea which the owner performed with full ceromonial honours. It was beautiful and served in her own hand made ceramics. Then she gave me a little tea cup and ofered me a lift back to the station. So totally welcoming, it was really lovely and such a wonderful ending afer a disasterous morning.

The cafe is called ToWoo but the website is all in Korean.
[09-08-08]

Beijing Wow
Tonight of the first time I actually watched an Olympic opening ceremony, and what a one to pick. Being in Korea we are only an hour out, so it heppened at the comfortable time of 9pm, but unfortunatly the TV was in Koren so I couldn't understand any of the comentary.

It was so very China. Mass people. The drumming must have been awesome live - so many people in time with each other. Then the scroll painting which was quite nice, but the blocks moving up and down were cool. And the olympic rings were nice. And those footprints coming up from Tiananmen square - awesome! I liked the globe thing too, but it reminded me of my reasearch...
[08-08-08]

Shanghai Changes
Apart from the surfleet of new high rise buildings, some other I noticed were the lack of spitting, cleaner streets, mega tv-screens everywhere, British high street shops [:(], general friendliness of the people, ease of public transport navigation, lovely tiny tea shops, the back streets of the bund, hawkers (everywhere).

A great time was had by all.
[24-07-08]

Half Asian
Asians say that westeners smell of cheese. I think I must have become half Asian as I think I smell of cheese too. It's not pretty. Damn this hot weather and sweatty back.
[24-07-08]

China Four Years On
I've been in Shanghai for the last three days and have really enjoyed my stay. I do love China - it's just so easy to get around and so wonderfully cheap, simply brilliant! The reason for my trip here was to meet up with my family who were all here for a family gathering. It was quite strange meeting up on the other side of the world, all arriving in different directions at different times. But it's been great to have a mini family holiday and also to meet the parents of my soon-to-be sister-in-law :)

This is my second time to Shanghai and this time I've had a much more positive experience of the place. Lastime was more of a whistel stop tour, while this time I've been living here in a back street youth hostel with street food and locals to meet and talk to. Everyone is very friendly and I've had some great conversations during my stay.

The city has changed a bit since I was here last. The number of shiny sky scrapers has more than doubled and there's still new stuff going up every which way. The Bund is still a dissapointment, but it was interesting to hear that when Mum first visited 20 odd years ago, they were the tallest buldings around. Now they've been dwarfed and so blend in much better.
[23-07-08]

In Flight Seoul to Shanghai
I'm on board a Shanghai Airlines flight from Seoul to Shanghai. Quite frankly there is very little to report regarding the flight itself. The meal was soso - rice with some praws on top, cold peas and sweetcorn, an odd cream/sponge dessert and some melon slices. The inflight entertainment is poor - TV's mounted in the seeling, no sound, mostly showing adverts. I had a Carling with the meal.

I'm going to China for the next four days to meet up with the rest of my family which will be in Shanghai then. On Wednesday we're going to be meeting with my brothers fiance's family. I'm really looking forward to the expereince, though I don't know quite waht to expect. Cabin announcement to shut off electonics - bye!
[20-07-08]

The Fall of the BBC
That is it, the BBC as it was is finished. No longer can they say: "due to the unique way it is funded, by you the viewers". Oh no. Now it is run on advertising.

This morning, sitting in my youth hostel in Seoul, Korea, I logged onto the BBC and saw a link to a new Hydrogen Powered Car. I clicked the link and found the video clip. Below the video window I saw what looked like a harmless little box with a link to Facebook in it. But to my horror I read the words ADVERTISEMENT emblazoned above it.

Then to my further shock and horror as the video played (without sound as I had muted my laptop) I became aware that I was not watching the film about a hydrogen car I had expected but rather an advert about a new Nokia phone. What the...

I guess this was bound to happen. Advertising is the new currency as Google has shown us, but I surely wasn't ready to see it on the beeb.

BBC - RIP - 16 July 2008

Footnote:
Take a look at the BBC's own policy on advertising.
Ahh! Turns out I only see adverts because I'm viewing the BBC from outside the UK. Read their FAQ.

Korea
I have arrived in Seoul, Korea. The place is big hot and steamy, and wonderfully Asian. Many of the smells are familiar to me from China, but it's now mixed with the aroma of kimchi and bean paste. The food (much of the above mentioned kimchi and bean-paste) is lovely, really splendid tofu with lots of mushrooms and pickled vegetables. Of course there is loads of meat, but plenty for us veggies around.

Seoul itself seems quite nice and not the oppressive sprawling bland metropolis I had been lead to expect. Though that might have something to do with the constant haze in the atmosphere which prevents one seeing that one is not actually able to see the edge of it. The best bit of the views is that it's surrounded by mountains, so even if Seoul does stretch beyond the distance, it doesn't really matter as the mountains give a view outside (even if that outside is surrounded by more of Seoul and, as such, inside).

There is also loads of parks and palaces to visit and the back streets are humming with activity and street-food. The recently reclaimed river is a lovely break from suburbia and the shopping malls provide welcome relief form the heat.
[16-07-08]

Nick is: In Dubai
Just before 7pm local time today I landed at Dubai airport after a rather nice Emirates flight from Heathrow after a fun tube ride from Victoria, after a reasonable bus ride from Sheffield Meadowhall, after a quick train ride from Grindleford (via Sheffield Central), after a very lovely wedding of my cousin (now Sarah Duggan), after a smooth drive up from Bristol (with my Bro and his Fiancé), after a working train ride from Southampton Central after a now much more expensive bus trip from my Home in Southampton.

I breezed through customs and was stamped freely into Dubai and then met up with my housemate Jason, his cousin and his mother. It was so lovely to have a welcome party and I was overjoyed to be shown right around Dubai. First we went to a little old market, then across the creek on these crazy tiny wooden boats to a restaurant with a view. On route we walked through this working harbour where boats bound for India (the sort you see on a Michael Palin adventure) were being crane loaded overhead. There is not red-tape or over protective safety enforcement here - I love it!

Back across the river and we drove to a cool vegetarian restaurant. The meal was lovely, good Indian food eating with hands, great. But unfortunately while there we unfortunately came across the down side of the lacking safety rules - Jason's mum's car (along with most of the people in the restaurant) got booked for a totally no reason at all. It seems the 'police' do it here for kicks (and money). After dinner we drove right around the really tall buildings including the tallest in the world, which was disturbingly massive. We also saw Jason's school and a quadrant of Protestant churches before heading back to the airport.

That's where I'm now sat, bum numbing on the marble floor while I type. Thankfully there are 3-pin sockets and a free wireless service. Most excellent. But the terminal here is stupendous, but a bit full of shops and people. Plus I've just seen my flight come up and I realise that it's right down the other end the place - a 20 minute walk away. Best get going. Next stop Seoul and my Kim Suyeon.
[13-07-08]

Chines Food Made Easy
I just caught the first episode of the new BBC series "Chinese Food Made Easy" on the iPlayer. I don't tend to watch cookery programs as the food is usually all too British, bakey and meat-with-two-veg-ish. But a series on Chinese cooking caught my fancy. I had a bit of an issue with the 'made easy' part, but I was willing to give it a go.

The presenter Ching-He Huang, was quite effervescent and evidently excited by her cooking, but not too over the top. The food she cooked was definitely quick and simple - just the sort of thing anyone could do at home. What I found most annoying was that one of the dishes she presented was then shown being re-made by a member of the public (well, the British female rowing team captain). I guess the point was to show how really anyone can cook this stuff, but what I would have preferred is simply to see more cooking.

What I really liked was Ching He's style of teaching, and the reason is that it's how I teach my friends Chinese cooking. I'm not one for recipe books (reading not being a strong point of mine) and when I cook Chinese, or show someone else, I love to be vague about quantities and measures, to encourage others to make it up and experiment. A "get some garlic, chop it up a bit and shove it in" approach. I like that.

So while there were some actual recipes presented in the program, the focus was on the theory, and that's what I think is most important. Don't try and re-create the exact dish, you'll never manage it, rather have a go and make something of your own which is fantastic. It was really quite interesting to find a program saying the same things as me, especially seeing as how I'm not Chinese (and so occasionally feel a bit of a fraud).

And that was the encouragement I felt, that what I call 'Chinese' really is just that and not just some western take. Indeed I share Ching He's near contempt for Chinese takeaways - the real fraudulent westernised Chinese. I felt further encouraged when I ticked all the boxes regarding what ingredients to store and what not to (msg, grr), and what wok to own (amen to the cheapest steel non-non-stick), and also the tiny bits of Chinese philosophy I like to apply to my cooking; it was all in there.

So with that I might be energised to take a look back through the Chinese cooking section of this site and flesh it out a bit.
[07-07-08]

For One Night Only
Su arrived back on Friday morning, packed slept, then headed off at 10 am on Saturday. A flying visit between international conferences. But in that short time we were able to go out for a date. First to the Namaste south Indian restaurant in town, then to see Prince Caspian at Harbour Lights. We also tried a little cycle on the tandem, but decided to opt for individual bikes instead. I'm now going o miss her as she's in Korea for the second conference. But I'm most proud of her and I'm looking forward to seeing her at Incheon airport in Seoul in a week or so.
[05-07-08]

Back on the BBC (Radio Solent)
I've just had a phone call from BBC Radio Solent wondering if I could be interviewed on their morning show tomorrow. Of course, what fun! So if you're up by half nine tomorrow morning then do tune in to:

And here's a link for Lewis to my Barefoot Blog
[02-07-08]

Studentville: Small Room Solutions
If you're moving to a new house this week and find that you've been landed with the small runt of a bedroom then panic not, I have a couple of tips to make your life better.

Firstly build shelving...
[01-07-08]