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Welcome to this Researcher's Journal. If you'd like to comment on anything they have written here, just click the relevant 'Discuss this Entry' button. Wordfest and waxwings
(5 Weeks Ago)
This morning, on the way to the supermarket, I saw a flock of about 8 or 9 birds fly out of a bush and into a tree. Wouldn't have paid much attention, except that a neighbour had told me recently she had seen waxwings in that tree - and that's what they were! So pretty: http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/w/waxwing/index.aspx
After the shopping and a few other chores, went to Wordfest. Three talks today: James Buchan on the history of the Iranian revolution (particularly interesting for me as I visited Iran in 1978); Robert Macfarlane on his book 'The Old Ways'; Alexander Danchev on the life of Cézanne. All good, but the last one was in the rather overheated ADC theatre, and I found my eyes closing from time to time. More tomorrow.
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Quick catch-up
(Apr 4, 2013)
Haven't written a journal for some time, here's a brief summary of what's been going on.
It's FREEZING here, and tried to snow again today. Fed up with this, it's time for spring.
Had planned to go to London for the w/e of my birthday (24 March). On Thursday started having runny nose, and by Friday had headache and sore throat, so had the day off work and stayed in bed. Went to London on Saturday afternoon, but didn't feel like going out in the evening, so G cooked and we stayed in. On Sunday he went to church for the long Palm Sunday service, got back at 1.30. We went out for lunch and then to the Mughal manuscripts exhibition at the British Library - exquisite, but we didn't really have long enough to see everything properly.
On Sunday morning I got an email telling me a former colleague (and friend) had died in Strasbourg; after a bit of swithering, decided to go to the funeral on Thursday. Several other mutual friends I contacted couldn't go, so I was glad I had made the effort, although it was quite stressful. M (the woman who had died) was only 50, and had had cancer for the last 8 years. Flights betw Stansted and Strasbourg only 3 times a week, so couldn't come back till Saturday afternoon.
M had been a colleague when I worked in the European Youth Centre (part of the Council of Europe), and I lived in Strasbourg for 4 years. Not the happiest time of my life, and I still find it quite a depressing place. But at least the transport system has improved radically - trams run all over town, and are cheap! Also train shuttle from airport to town central station only takes about 10 minutes. Of course on Good Friday most places were closed (museums etc) but luckily the weather was reasonable, so I spent time in the Parc de l'Orangerie and watched the storks in the conservation area, and in the afternoon went on a boat trip. Woke up to snow on Saturday morning, but had planned to do bookshops, and anyway it dried up pretty quickly, so that was OK. Couldn't find a particular book I was looking for in any of the many bookshops - must have been to 6 or 7 ...
Rest of Easter weekend quite relaxing, apart from boring chores on Monday. Nice Sunday roast with the usual crew at the Oliver Cromwell in St Ives.
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Puppy patting at Aberdeen University?
(Apr 4, 2013)
Douglas? Please tell me this is a belated April Fool!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/educatio...ret-to-exam-success-puppy-love.html
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Spring now on hold
(Mar 22, 2013)
Having said three weeks ago what a lovely spring day we were having, we are now back to driech as the default weather setting. Not actually raining or snowing yet (although that's promised for tomorrow, when I'm supposed to be going to London), but raw cold and a strong wind. Pah!
As if that wasn't enough, I have a cold. Started with slight sore throat and sinus-y pain yesterday morning, thought I'd just been snoring, but by lunchtime had runny nose as well. Went home early and to bed at 9pm with Lemsip. Now have 'proper' cold, cough etc. Pah again!
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Spring!
(Feb 28, 2013)
Although it's still pretty chilly here in the East of England (btw why have the weather forecasters stopped saying East Anglia?), there are definite signs of spring! Sunny most of the day today, and lots of flowers and green shoots in the College gardens: snowdrops still flowering among the newly-opened crocuses, aconites aplenty, and the buds on the magnificent magnolia tree are looking juicier by the day. It was light enough to cycle home without lights today - yippee!
Had a nice day in London yesterday. Lunch with a friend I hadn't seen for several years, at Brasserie Zédel, near Piccadilly Circus: it's a huge old-fashioned French brasserie, excellent food and very reasonable prices. Then we went to the Manet exhibition at the RA, which was slightly disappointing. After we went our separate ways, I spent some time in Fortnum & Mason's, Hatchard's and Waterstone's (just browsing), called in at my old workplace in UCL, and met more friends for a quick drink before getting the train home. Recommend prosecco for inducing a good mood before battling with First Capital Connect!
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Latest reply: Mar 1, 2013)
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