On sleeping through seminars

It seems as soon as I enter a lecture theatre I fall asleep.. At the very latest when they turn on the beamer and start talking. It’s not quite full on sleeping, just dozing off and waking up a few seconds later when my head jolts back up, but it’s frustrating to be completely incapable […]

On the day the world didn’t stop turning

Sometimes, when you’re small and still busy growing up, people tell you not to do certain things because otherwise Bad Things will happen. Sometimes, many years later, you do those things anyway, and realise that the world doesn’t actually spontaneously combust, or stop turning or fall on your head. It’s quite a let down in […]

On the difference between days

Yesterday I mended the tip-ex mouse, helped the secretary with some tricky stuff on her computer and maybe taught a year 8 kid some maths (“maybe” because I’m not sure how much stuck.). I feel those are 3 good uses of a day. Today I have nothing of note to mention. I assume I must […]

On learning how to program a snake

I’m not particularly keen on snakes. I don’t have anything in particular against them, but I have less for them. I have no desire to be bitten and/or poisoned and possibly even less desire to be squeezed to death. This isn’t about that kind of snake. *** Recently I started learning Python. That’s a programming […]

On complicated coffee

I went out for coffee with a guy from school and his wife today. I’d borrowed some books for him and he was returning them now that school’s over. It was too cold to stand outside the library for long so we decided to find a café. Most cafés don’t appreciate cards, so I went […]

On the moment of truth

I wrote here almost exactly a year and a half ago to say that I was starting school again. I’m writing now to say that I’m [hopefully] about to finish school. My last exam starts in less than half an hour (ARGH!). It’s an oral defence of my thesis, followed by a whole lot of […]

On the magic of new books

Nothing like a brand new book or two to cheer one up, even if they are ‘only’ school books. This pile of brand new school books arrived today. I received them in exchange for a small fortune..  They contain – I hope – the knowledge I need to pass the next lot of exams AND […]

On failure and other misfortunes

(Warning: contains a small amount of blood and a great deal of frustration) *** On Sunday I admitted failure.  I had failed to finish the book in time to send it to the printers before leaving to catch the plane, despite staying up all night to work on it. I was quite miffed (ok, a […]

On learning to fly

My colleague made me an aeroplane for my birthday. He’s been away, so I received it yesterday. He explained the technical aspects and showed me how it works. Two days later I still haven’t managed to actually fly it.. ..which he finds hilarious 🙂 Especially because, way back when, he was in exactly my position. […]

On not talking about Christmas

It’s the 25th of November. That makes it exactly a month until Christmas. I am ignoring that, and all other Christmas related things. Between now and then, I have: 4 exams to revise for a book to finish compiling and find pictures for and format and send off in time for printing 3 aquariums to […]