Journal Entries
Overdue update.
Posted Mar 25, 2006
Lot's gone on since last entry so in no particular order:
Been to Gran Canaria for a lovely week in lovely weather in a quiet and charming resort on the coast - location secret I'm afraid for truly selfish reasons so no pics or articles.
Been asked to submit an article for Chilt-Chat which is an upmarket free sheet circulated in the Chilterns. Re-write needed urgently. If they use it they pay so that would be nice (and a first).
Two pieces needed for next week for my 2 writing groups. Previous meetings I cheated and used the two Ruskin items, both of which made the "Post" which is very satisfying. Recycling is good for the environment of a lazy writer.
New car bought, well not new but new to me. Just hoping it drops below Gordon Browns "Chelsea Tractor" gas guzzler road tax band.
No. 1 daughter's fixed a wedding date in of June in the Lake District. Surnames are under discussion - last son in law was a Green, this ones a Smith. Our family name is obviously not Yabutz but it is about as uncommon and having no sons both daughters want to keep it going. Quick reminder to help future genealogists. Using maiden names as middle names is a huge help. Also write names places and dates on the back of photos (or caption digital images) which will be gratefully recieved. Do it soon while people are around to remember who's who.Might do an update piece on Genealogy for submission to peer review soon.
Next planned weekend away is to Ruskin College for a short course in May on climate change followed by a day in Oxford then an MX5 sports car owners club car rally at Burford Wildlife Park (Mrs Y's car, not mine.) Jounalistic style quote "Mrs Y, an attractive blonde age 59 said "I'm still young and fit enough to get in it but old enough to afford the insurance". Hoping that car does get "gordoned" as well.
That's all folks.
Discuss this Journal entry [9]
Latest reply: Mar 25, 2006
Success
Posted Feb 23, 2006
Ieaun The Sheep Farmer A9598459 has made The Post with only minor surgery for bad language. I am delighted, this is second "Published Piece" with the BBC and just what I need at the moment. Now can add "regular BBC author" to my CV. (I do admit to being somewhat extravagant with the truth above).
The first piece was an email read on Radio 4's Home Truths about driving round London's South Circular Road without a steering wheel in the rush hour. It happened on the same roundabout where the front wheels fell off my brother's Morris Minor as he was setting off on his honeymoon. They don't make cars like they used to, thank God.
Phil
Discuss this Journal entry [4]
Latest reply: Feb 23, 2006
Ruskin College
Posted Feb 22, 2006
At the weekend I am off to Ruskin College, Oxford to do a Short Course in Creative Writing. This starts at 5.00pm Friday, ends 2.00pm Sunday. Ruskin provide these courses to "without formal qualifications" which they interpret as anyone who has never had a grant to attend university. I haven't so I get to attend for £30 inc. tuition, accommodation and food. I will keep notes and put a pen-picture of co-attendees in next week's journal. . I had better be nice because there may well be some hootoo readers there and I don't want to have to use any 
or 
s.
Is there a lawyer smiley?
I will seek advise on whether Ruskin would welcome a guide entry. You can find them at www.ruskin.ac.uk.
Phil
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Latest reply: Feb 22, 2006
42
Posted Feb 19, 2006
Just been rambling through http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A530560 "the Myth of 42". Ok, it's old hat now but new to me. I've submitted 3+1+3+2+(8*5)-7 for scrutiny to avoid being shot as an imposter.
Has anyone failed to get a solution or is the Truth Out There in which case it's not a myth.
Mersenne Primes anyone. I think about 35 have been found so far. When they find the 42nd all will be revealed. but don't hold your breath. The 33rd Mersenne Prime has 378,632 digits and would fill twelve pages of a standard broadsheet newspaper.
Discuss this Journal entry [1]
Latest reply: Feb 19, 2006
It's been busy
Posted Feb 15, 2006
Back now from daughter number two wedding at Ledbury which went off perfectly. A very small affair - 16 guests, all family stayed at an excellent country house from Friday through to Sunday. Friday and Saturday was fine and dry, Sunday it rained a bit. The wedding took place at 12.00 at the Registrars Office then, escorted and announced by the town cryer who just happened to be there with not a lot to OYEZ OYEZ about, on to the Feathers for a light lunch 
and cake cutting. For those who consider these things important the bride wore a short cream dress with spring flowers like snowdrops and catkins, picking up the theme of the cake decorations. Lounge suits for the men. Then back to the house for a snooze, tennis, walk, X box games or watching rugby, dependent on interests and energy levels. I slept
. We had a formal dinner in the evening, chaps in black tie, bride in same dress but with some shoes by Jimmy Choo. Apparently in shoes less is more, lot's more. Sunday saw the bride and groom setting off to Bristol to fly to Edinburgh for their honeymoon.
Daughter number 1 has now set a date in September in the Brecon Beacons.
Tuesday and today have been taken up with hospital appointments so a bit of a tense week in store waiting for results. I also have to decide if I want to buy my brother's diesel Mercedes estate before he trades it in. It's a lovely car but seriously enormous and very, very fast. A very easy car to get caught speeding in. Too quiet!!
Last week's writing workshop was good and we did get to the pub
. Task set was on what emotions we were feeling without actually stating them. I found this hard because I've a lot going on lately, some good and some less so, so I wrote a piece on worrying describing the cat sleeping in the sun in the shelter of the shed. It's called Cat's Do Not Have Tomorrows. Obvious they do have tomorrows (providing they leave the birds alone) but has anyone met an insomniac cat?
Last night was a "Shirley Valentine" evening organised in a local village. Great Greek food, games, dancing, ouzo and retsina but the Powerpoint movie on the wall of a great big log fire in a taverna did not quite get that hot summer eating outside by the harbour feeling quite right. Looked good but it was jolly cold, until I set my hair on fire leaning over a candle. I am assured that very little actually burnt away but it smelt horrible. Do we need a smiley for hair on fire? Perhaps 
will do.
Discuss this Journal entry [11]
Latest reply: Feb 15, 2006
Phil Yabutz
Researcher U3132857
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