tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45150078439758004632024-03-27T06:38:12.135+00:00A colourful lifeChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.comBlogger787125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-2159050243916011622024-03-24T12:27:00.001+00:002024-03-24T12:27:26.647+00:00can I have a sauna in my garden, please<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqQSySrXJm2xNnsrERIGAcDpKuMBQOzSCaSdqnuBs2jQZ0WRb33p6SZgMZAiI5AO6kx4yJ4Wv39Or-gjjSe3VZymFAu41h3YUv4Kr721kZ9qYVx74GW2nbzKNFBDP-OrLsf15ezHhRT9vHPGX9Nl5JEtoKgLWOP46IVZjHVFe-3y01c9HgYyY5d2nqZs/s4032/IMG_1354.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqQSySrXJm2xNnsrERIGAcDpKuMBQOzSCaSdqnuBs2jQZ0WRb33p6SZgMZAiI5AO6kx4yJ4Wv39Or-gjjSe3VZymFAu41h3YUv4Kr721kZ9qYVx74GW2nbzKNFBDP-OrLsf15ezHhRT9vHPGX9Nl5JEtoKgLWOP46IVZjHVFe-3y01c9HgYyY5d2nqZs/w640-h480/IMG_1354.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHBW7PtLzUDJOUoVxIC4v0OAQkRb3F-56vVK6x45x6r9a69xzY5qds9OYAqxg_rgp2jBQBk_lu_KePJfKexmTXPjjnFiB_zD7fA5VFmCrDTDwjxvWN47EF_qUFPeVhMZRE3W5oBp5f62j2ZUGA615QbRbbRy23XGJwEA2dEGPUCup0gVLN_cNx8BIuk0/s4032/IMG_1357.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHBW7PtLzUDJOUoVxIC4v0OAQkRb3F-56vVK6x45x6r9a69xzY5qds9OYAqxg_rgp2jBQBk_lu_KePJfKexmTXPjjnFiB_zD7fA5VFmCrDTDwjxvWN47EF_qUFPeVhMZRE3W5oBp5f62j2ZUGA615QbRbbRy23XGJwEA2dEGPUCup0gVLN_cNx8BIuk0/w640-h480/IMG_1357.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZShDdoOFFMFRWa7eGQaQAmBNpsIPtBZ7Lb28O9YqOB3vQUfjCHs_0JjfiEgPgYCTlLZJkCNbnyhAv5nOrv-AnhHvgXXbobE3XfNKeLlOixCB87JJ5avi_ItRqatsFvOr_l1NSyqa0daYLycOL_-b7fW8jp7xT5-RF-up4N9I2quCM0QNzmNe6eE9WcyI/s4032/IMG_1360.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZShDdoOFFMFRWa7eGQaQAmBNpsIPtBZ7Lb28O9YqOB3vQUfjCHs_0JjfiEgPgYCTlLZJkCNbnyhAv5nOrv-AnhHvgXXbobE3XfNKeLlOixCB87JJ5avi_ItRqatsFvOr_l1NSyqa0daYLycOL_-b7fW8jp7xT5-RF-up4N9I2quCM0QNzmNe6eE9WcyI/w640-h480/IMG_1360.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTbHUT-Yiw5e_oyh1SZ8pr6j3uQi8x3tkTgDIrH56oMpikOt_qkTL6zHEbAaJD2Ege7Kfemo8bPwGoWQ-pSsLFIpKvAb2A8jxlYwTnV-KyIv53R35U4faibIvHF04C6zqka5m3q3Zm1RcfIN73B6RZjxCDdrVqNHidhR9Nkr9AfPhFb5C2xH1i4XdyL8/s4032/IMG_1367.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTbHUT-Yiw5e_oyh1SZ8pr6j3uQi8x3tkTgDIrH56oMpikOt_qkTL6zHEbAaJD2Ege7Kfemo8bPwGoWQ-pSsLFIpKvAb2A8jxlYwTnV-KyIv53R35U4faibIvHF04C6zqka5m3q3Zm1RcfIN73B6RZjxCDdrVqNHidhR9Nkr9AfPhFb5C2xH1i4XdyL8/w640-h480/IMG_1367.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I am properly exhausted... after the busiest week in a long time and a few hours volunteering. The latter has helped calm my mind, which is good. Nothing quite beats sawing fallen branches into smaller chunks for a dead hedge and digging holes for hedgerow planting. My body on the other hand is screaming. Oh how I would love a wee sauna in my garden, complete with cold plunge pool to properly relax my bones and muscles after that hard work. <p></p><p>Earlier, I thought I had lost my mind. I was searching for my walking boots on the shoe shelves in our porch and they were not there. I couldn't make sense of it at all. Where might they be? I mean, they are filthy and smelly, nobody would lift them from the porch (which is usually unlocked). Would they? I thought maybe Annie had taken them to St. Andrews and was just about to call and ask when I literally (and I mean literally) stumbled over them. Because a few minutes previously I had set them out, ready to put on for volunteering. It is a bit scary to think that my mind had completely blanked on that. </p><p>I blame a challenging and tiring week. Two evening shifts and more (unpaid) overtime than is acceptable. One of my close colleagues was signed off sick on Tuesday (with no prior warning) and I had to pick up the work. It took me the better part of Wednesday to make sense of what needed done urgently, or what could possibly wait. In the meantime, I didn't do my own work and now I am so behind that I will have to work on Sunday to prepare for class on Monday. Obviously, my colleague can't help being sick but with no redundancy in the system, any absence has a knock-on effect on the those still able to work. If feel resentful for being put in this position and I feel guilty for being resentful. </p><p>Of course work is not all bad. My mentor and colleague Susan took early retirement, we celebrated her working life with a small reception, drinks and canapΓ©s. It was lovely to catch up. In this post Covid era of online teaching, we rarely saw each other. I also bumped into some colleagues I hadn't seen for years.</p><p>In other news, I decided to wax my moustache and lady beard just before bedtime on Thursday. I lost track of the microwave, the wax got too hot and then I wasn't patient enough to wait for it to cool down. The consequence? Two burns that blistered and are now crusting over, and lady beard still present. Not a good look. </p><p>Richard's sister and her son visited on Friday, en route to see Annie in St. Andrews. I had to work for a bit for my podcast but got to spend some time with them all, having a lovely dinner of Cullen Skink, fresh sourdough bread and a selection of cheeses. It was most wonderful. I waited to have a glass of wine until after podcast recording, it would be mortifying to be half tanked on air. </p><p>I just realise I forgot to publish this post.... Sunday is quiet. Feeding my friends cats, a top-up shop at Lidl, later a walk with a (different) friend. Some laundry, the usual really. I also finished preparing my teaching slides for tomorrow.</p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-48665517943335874062024-03-08T10:13:00.001+00:002024-03-08T10:13:17.808+00:00a minute of fame<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOpRRPfDpLGNWLqeWfFpNzWzY1IoVTH_oXPeJcIIkkuWc5zR-S-NiX9ozrZnSTjpOzRMRH1rmbK9-n8CMXpWsYfizvojUATvTVc5szGhuSpqFMGRO2UWn8FoZth2IGZTLQaAIz2ZMJKpyd2DsPvii-7IlIJGb68zFeLrt8zszl8uwcLN5JTxB7FELPf0/s4032/IMG_1344.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIOpRRPfDpLGNWLqeWfFpNzWzY1IoVTH_oXPeJcIIkkuWc5zR-S-NiX9ozrZnSTjpOzRMRH1rmbK9-n8CMXpWsYfizvojUATvTVc5szGhuSpqFMGRO2UWn8FoZth2IGZTLQaAIz2ZMJKpyd2DsPvii-7IlIJGb68zFeLrt8zszl8uwcLN5JTxB7FELPf0/w640-h480/IMG_1344.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxHrf6p4WxnwtyYtq_vshdkzNB6-QxLmCdpfL-Ul8n-vGIzzsn_49xI6VYxD-Sh6I3WoxQrXk-Lzjm3ahEOoSCo0HoSn2B11jkGVR9Hrvj3UfVWNyToZNpid0pIRb6_R43zZpewFSgsmyyHBuY3avujuVGvEH6DOCFWYfNFa_IHqoliaGv1d2sg_SwAY/s4032/IMG_1345.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxHrf6p4WxnwtyYtq_vshdkzNB6-QxLmCdpfL-Ul8n-vGIzzsn_49xI6VYxD-Sh6I3WoxQrXk-Lzjm3ahEOoSCo0HoSn2B11jkGVR9Hrvj3UfVWNyToZNpid0pIRb6_R43zZpewFSgsmyyHBuY3avujuVGvEH6DOCFWYfNFa_IHqoliaGv1d2sg_SwAY/w640-h480/IMG_1345.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbfnbZ600pKmutGg9Hx7KjFmS0KlyuI3GJ8u1vI5KUaazUJEzok8HoHwqTAaNhRRnV-3ND_vrJno926BA0CtU0JvHSUCnnY1AplWnPI6eEKC3gffXAE79KLiGSXDoO0RETIk8mhqDjaE0cpW7u3W0uAwqcOvk1ktqZevSBWwdBPmTbUssfSWb94RlymM/s4032/IMG_1346.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbfnbZ600pKmutGg9Hx7KjFmS0KlyuI3GJ8u1vI5KUaazUJEzok8HoHwqTAaNhRRnV-3ND_vrJno926BA0CtU0JvHSUCnnY1AplWnPI6eEKC3gffXAE79KLiGSXDoO0RETIk8mhqDjaE0cpW7u3W0uAwqcOvk1ktqZevSBWwdBPmTbUssfSWb94RlymM/w640-h480/IMG_1346.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiQ2XUTZOpJjuvkFiOAjlyQtUZ5mlEtVSVPnBOdeAUy4cQ1TdvpNIbulqHbHkPBNlHYaCXXwgloiZiDAT3zKbH7wOsFhyphenhyphenr-rQVt2hyJMt6u7MxKIJpnbX5tL9cjQHl-uQbxyuulYCySIXm23huV52hy0XwVlvy7mVZsgZ3cwZI7AJR7tLfKqCfEoGafM/s4032/IMG_1348.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIiQ2XUTZOpJjuvkFiOAjlyQtUZ5mlEtVSVPnBOdeAUy4cQ1TdvpNIbulqHbHkPBNlHYaCXXwgloiZiDAT3zKbH7wOsFhyphenhyphenr-rQVt2hyJMt6u7MxKIJpnbX5tL9cjQHl-uQbxyuulYCySIXm23huV52hy0XwVlvy7mVZsgZ3cwZI7AJR7tLfKqCfEoGafM/w640-h480/IMG_1348.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqvu7GwBjrLlGnt2XG6Q8Kql6S69M8OA64cpeRiGN-zGS_cX9GNlX42daMvSs_cv7MkM36pkSeIFyzu_1bCtdySiG1w316t6s6EnaNqM3TnqqWua7_eJffw6IhFqvG82ldf8cMJFfsPBiv3YOpVKAjHJhv0LV0TV84V8hAoMgwI_3gqkV7s9rcPDJe80/s4032/IMG_1349.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQqvu7GwBjrLlGnt2XG6Q8Kql6S69M8OA64cpeRiGN-zGS_cX9GNlX42daMvSs_cv7MkM36pkSeIFyzu_1bCtdySiG1w316t6s6EnaNqM3TnqqWua7_eJffw6IhFqvG82ldf8cMJFfsPBiv3YOpVKAjHJhv0LV0TV84V8hAoMgwI_3gqkV7s9rcPDJe80/w640-h480/IMG_1349.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEdA5YtNkdkUmjHwtd6QtTGccaWzJ5NEjpvy3BNt2xX-VIS50NHVir2ffS4hZ7bGBwNE4fVH8yQvlp5i7OIQqH6uYp_uR9heLZystS9-kQq-XJr5jgx_s-jhCn6y1MLTsstxvWQuDasSATQ20xP-iPzvBYdxn9M771hOvRK2TJzxRcJ7Y1H6aZieJ-bA/s4032/IMG_1350.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLEdA5YtNkdkUmjHwtd6QtTGccaWzJ5NEjpvy3BNt2xX-VIS50NHVir2ffS4hZ7bGBwNE4fVH8yQvlp5i7OIQqH6uYp_uR9heLZystS9-kQq-XJr5jgx_s-jhCn6y1MLTsstxvWQuDasSATQ20xP-iPzvBYdxn9M771hOvRK2TJzxRcJ7Y1H6aZieJ-bA/w640-h480/IMG_1350.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I finally replaced our lavender hedge. I wasn't sure about spacing but Richard suggested about a foot. I can't get my head around these weird non-metric units but I measured one of Richard's boots and then used a measuring tape to plant the lavender because I am weird like that. Looking at the neat row of plants, I think I should have measured a larger boot for reference, or just relied on my instinct. It has only taken a year and a half to get this done, after our last hedge perished during the freezing winter of 2022-23. We now have 28 little lavender plants framing our wildflower meadow. I scarified some of the meadow area and scattered some more seeds. I had kept the seeds in the freezer for three weeks, to simulate an extended period of frost, which they need to germinate. I hope there is some yellow rattle in the mix, to keep the grasses at bay. I forgot to check. <p></p><p>I got a flavour of being a famous actor this week. Ok, probably not world famous but just a little. I spent a couple of hours with our marketing and social media team, being filmed for a new marketing video for the MSc programme I lead. I spent about a week worrying and drafting answers to the standard questions for this type of video. Spontaneity is not my strength, nor is acting, although I can be very dramatic. My colleagues made me feel relaxed and it went ok. One of them had to climb on a chair to hold my notes up, like a living telepromter. I am glad she didn't fall. We then walked around campus for outdoor footage of me walking admiring the campus, looking clever and important (someone else carrying my bag and coat). There is no denying it, our campus is beautiful, the cloisters and the tower absolutely stunning. The weather was mostly beautiful. too. Bit chilly to be walking around without coat but a little bit of suffering is manageable. I was superb apparently, a "natural". Neither adjectives I am normally associated with but I take it. Almost as good a "Christina is legend", a student testimonial read out at Graduation a couple of years ago when I was awarded a teaching excellence award. Work is not all bad (but oh so exhausting). </p><p>It is Friday and I am pooped. I am on Zoom pretty much all day, typing this last sentence while our students are in breakout rooms for discussion. I'll be volunteering tomorrow, looking forward to it. After that, I'll meet a friend, if I can still walk. Volunteering is physically demanding and I am usually aching when limping home. The cafe we are meeting at does a mean walnut coffee cake, a strong motivator for getting myself there. </p><p>Thank you for visiting π</p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-65635336572757405372024-02-27T12:20:00.001+00:002024-02-27T12:20:06.069+00:00February ...ingIt is noticeably lighter now, at the end of February. I am also feeling lighter, much lighter than back in the old year. That is in mind, not in body π<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP27frYXhGThoKG_AZr7h1iG-aCp3s0sQ8DxYMGsmlYiPsfzW0IVDBw1prCwtHFjdx6lN0g2TfIttioGf5em008i54Qpa3IK7hbdxBN1t1V65DxZjNxFdIt3eVbhtW5R-cgle0IyxISAgI_vrFHBfbzRo5RHQFzehZbO61WbIgAG6gk6FhY_qQDShePVM/s3176/blog%20photo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1544" data-original-width="3176" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP27frYXhGThoKG_AZr7h1iG-aCp3s0sQ8DxYMGsmlYiPsfzW0IVDBw1prCwtHFjdx6lN0g2TfIttioGf5em008i54Qpa3IK7hbdxBN1t1V65DxZjNxFdIt3eVbhtW5R-cgle0IyxISAgI_vrFHBfbzRo5RHQFzehZbO61WbIgAG6gk6FhY_qQDShePVM/w640-h312/blog%20photo.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K7-k_bW3ODvY_xSnwww1VsDF5hlEYGhob0uXwoQSEy12Ms65AalEu4IgBfou4u1ah5frvIlq7LCrNopQTbgL_GPyWmjmbcum6YLFcckCw4pwTYI9sxBQfqZJNpPb2sm2fr4NQ9jKXfpZYONUnYHieVknAu2q7qm2PVyi_oxlhu6rns1kuS4SJZtsKxk/s4400/blog%20photo%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2475" data-original-width="4400" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5K7-k_bW3ODvY_xSnwww1VsDF5hlEYGhob0uXwoQSEy12Ms65AalEu4IgBfou4u1ah5frvIlq7LCrNopQTbgL_GPyWmjmbcum6YLFcckCw4pwTYI9sxBQfqZJNpPb2sm2fr4NQ9jKXfpZYONUnYHieVknAu2q7qm2PVyi_oxlhu6rns1kuS4SJZtsKxk/w640-h360/blog%20photo%202.png" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Re-fashioning</b> a favourite sweatshirt I made a few years ago, maybe in 2021. I fell out of love with the neckband and cuffs, which were orange and gold. I replaced neckband, cuffs and hemband with a pale pink version. Combining orange with pink makes my heart sing. It took longer to unpick the seams than to sew the new ribbing on...</div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: "Suffering"</b> from litter picker repetitive strain pain. I always try to use both arms but I clearly favoured my right. </div><div><br /></div><div>:: Overall though <b>feeling strong</b> as ballet and volunteering both contribute to my core and upper body strength. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Persevering</b> with running. I used to think that I am not running, merely jogging but I have decided that this is nonsense. I am running, albeit slowly. </div><div><br /></div><div>Enough of exercise! </div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Reading</b> a most insufferable book for book group. Yes, reading. I returned the audiobook because it is difficult to skim read with audio. I downloaded it on the Kindle instead so I can skip passages at my leisure. The book is Three Women by Lisa Taddeo. The tagline is <i>"</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>A riveting true story about the sex lives of three real American women, based on nearly a decade of reporting"</i>. The stories may be real but hopefully not representative. I am just not interested. I rarely give up on a book for book group but this is one of them. For distraction, I have been listening to a new to me crime series Bill Kitson. </span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; color: #1e1915;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>:: Buying</b> lavender plants at Lidl, to replace our dead lavender boarder in the front garden. It feel victim to winter 2022/23. It is probably too early to plant it out but with Lidl, delaying a purchase is not advisable as they have a quick turnaround. We'll get the plants used to the outdoors over the next week or so. I know they are hardy because the same variety is on sale every year and my neighbour down the road mentioned that the Lidl lavender was the only to survive the harsh winter last year. Fingers crossed.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Hanging</b> out the freshly washed bed linen on an unexpected sunny day. A bit risquΓ© considering it is still February but whites benefit from a bit of sun bleaching now and then.... although I am not sure the sun is quite strong enough yet and the sunlight barely just skims the garden. It was worth a try. I didn't expect the washing to dry and it didn't. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Deciding </b>not to apply for the post I mentioned in a previous post. I worried I might wake up full of regrets after the application deadline but I feel relief instead. Thank you for your thoughtful comments on this conundrum. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>:: Increasing</b> the breadth and depth of my English language skills. I am fairly confident with English after living in Scotland for 24 years but I want to make more accurate use of vocabulary and idioms. I make a point of looking up words that I think I understand but suspect I don't always use correctly. I also look up words that I am not familiar with, rather than just deducing from context. One of the new words in my vocabulary is <span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">solastalgia" (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-size: 16px;">the distress caused by environmental/climate change). I am not sure yet if I will get much opportunity to use it but I know from a student project that this concept provides a growing research area. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>:: <b>Thinking (and procrastinating)</b> about a new learning resource I am creating on the disease Noma, which was recently added to the Neglected Tropical Diseases list. It is a horrible disease, one of extreme poverty undermined by a lack of functioning health systems. I started this back in November but I really need to get cracking now. </div><div><br /></div><div>On that note, I better get back into reading key literature. Thank you for visiting. I am making more time visiting your blogs, too. I'll try to comment more often.</div><div><br /></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-6544107981960051072024-02-24T18:12:00.002+00:002024-02-24T18:12:16.969+00:00nacho cheese - what a delight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVJAjnLel6SkuXBxg7wlcuJQg5125N2CfLtzzZzPuEYL85YUkpOPKezx2p7bkwf6833LkRoO2TSbtBFu_JNzWkhymxddECNBci6u5-oqtQHBBi4fohwNmDoiQBJ_r5lmUJ42bt2zvLRRymw4yqLYXW6uJotYvHmPYMAR0GStFmWqCYYKAod_VCG6pOt0/s4608/DSCN7991.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXVJAjnLel6SkuXBxg7wlcuJQg5125N2CfLtzzZzPuEYL85YUkpOPKezx2p7bkwf6833LkRoO2TSbtBFu_JNzWkhymxddECNBci6u5-oqtQHBBi4fohwNmDoiQBJ_r5lmUJ42bt2zvLRRymw4yqLYXW6uJotYvHmPYMAR0GStFmWqCYYKAod_VCG6pOt0/w640-h480/DSCN7991.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRB3o4EHljIsXlS6-UZcSkVBDfUF3IpA2RAh0NaB5bL2lebLSsyjpgXBvfPO3YxakponeLhJ0V_Sa0oCCOFU82blRQNW1583arT0__t4GfFDZfs7nHZ7kaVKxYfw1-AhyeWIRCLJJBhtg3PIqTJbXny_F5g2Sfj_qVzaNoARAGSHSOMBkMMHwrhNrx8c/w640-h480/IMG_1290.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD_Wl0HqUqdkfiIr3I55JkrF6LUBHQ-vbsyjzidFfJBfkStHtquDIPQJabWTktJ2hfaxtMBqqgV9T12IBAB0pmG2JqOEdFPNQS-LTt-xNsJx6BV9qKgcXYyT0QJvhYEVW3xsMI78AWTbtcn1FCjnqMczWTmlmNJyaP5mCqyqhbpI8QLQktvfW6SqgVCw/s4608/DSCN7997.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVD_Wl0HqUqdkfiIr3I55JkrF6LUBHQ-vbsyjzidFfJBfkStHtquDIPQJabWTktJ2hfaxtMBqqgV9T12IBAB0pmG2JqOEdFPNQS-LTt-xNsJx6BV9qKgcXYyT0QJvhYEVW3xsMI78AWTbtcn1FCjnqMczWTmlmNJyaP5mCqyqhbpI8QLQktvfW6SqgVCw/w640-h480/DSCN7997.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oGK58gccy2jqy2ctLBqJIsB_eMGB_qaqel26ZgYpyKY1RMWOhXKGlFwCPfpPkJJS9VkpNbZYLaO7wbmhHOVPq4EPkNExCkBWbmfxYqXqPAuWWb6R5uV3Hnypj9k5HzxP7xeDuKi5DDEa7xElclhPSojNhH-7CJENJPzfXncVigZx6Zq1KRUeP5WlY7Q/s4608/DSCN8000.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-oGK58gccy2jqy2ctLBqJIsB_eMGB_qaqel26ZgYpyKY1RMWOhXKGlFwCPfpPkJJS9VkpNbZYLaO7wbmhHOVPq4EPkNExCkBWbmfxYqXqPAuWWb6R5uV3Hnypj9k5HzxP7xeDuKi5DDEa7xElclhPSojNhH-7CJENJPzfXncVigZx6Zq1KRUeP5WlY7Q/w640-h480/DSCN8000.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk62FJXwlTy05fNCnOKTm-CBwGgHgFZ0OfBlDKCw82BRAWV5Cna5bRnntt8c5IxAjBcHLCy4jKabKWpvsbTE2q_QX_QujnvkgBRFNRi3OlM3ngAmG1rL1mWPG_JAluSV8V_BiqYVdbLfmeqoJUsS4tkGe5S8Zm3XMUStr03tOj16Y-tCB7dvK0zLJaCQU/s4032/IMG_1309.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk62FJXwlTy05fNCnOKTm-CBwGgHgFZ0OfBlDKCw82BRAWV5Cna5bRnntt8c5IxAjBcHLCy4jKabKWpvsbTE2q_QX_QujnvkgBRFNRi3OlM3ngAmG1rL1mWPG_JAluSV8V_BiqYVdbLfmeqoJUsS4tkGe5S8Zm3XMUStr03tOj16Y-tCB7dvK0zLJaCQU/w640-h480/IMG_1309.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>We finally have a carpet on our stairs. It has only taken four months to get this done. A small job is not an interesting job for trade. We opted for a sisal boucle, exactly the same we had previously. You may think this is very boring and I agree it is and we are boring. On a positive note, it is very hardwearing, forgiving and visually interesting. The underlay is quite thick and the steps feel a bit bouncy. I like it. You know, a spring in my step<p></p><p>I spent a short time in the garden last weekend, tidying up. It looks dismal. I am not a keen gardener, which makes no sense because that's what I do when I go volunteering (which I love). It must be the company that makes all the difference, and the biscuit tin that we pass round at break time. There are also lots of people walking by, often expressing gratitude for caring about our environment and making it more accessible and welcoming for all to enjoy. Today we cleared a bramble wilderness, picked up all the litter and planted food hedgerow plants instead. Food for animals that is, not people. We found lots of Scarlet Elf Cup mushroom, see above. It was most enjoyable and the weather was kind, too. Very rewarding. </p><p>More so than work sometimes. I have been reading through a job description for a new post in my own unit. I can't make up my mind if I should apply. It would be a sideways move rather than an upwards move and I am not sure it is an attractive enough post to give up some of the perks I have in my current post (like a large budget for books and travel). Also, decisions. I don't like to make them. Finally, I am worn out and maybe cruising until retirement is a less exhausting option than starting anew. </p><p>I am definitely getting old and grumpy. I am providing you with new evidence. Ads on blogs irritate my mood more and more. I want to read about other peoples lives and adventures, not being bothered by ads. I avoid those blogs now, which is a shame because I miss the stories. </p><p>Moving on swiftly.</p><p>James spends every penny he earns on sweets, chocolate and fizzy drink. That's six hours of wages every single week. He also spends his train money on junk food. I no longer bail him out when he doesn't have enough money left to buy a ticket to go to college. He usually texts me en route to the train. I don't know what he wants me to do. Teleport to the station with a fiver? I hope but doubt that being caught without a ticket will be a (somewhat expensive) life lesson? The funny part is that James is doing really well in a personal finance course at school. On a positive note, he enjoys his job at the corner shop and has been asked to pick up an extra shift. </p><p>Alistair meanwhile has completed his car valeting training at school. He loved it. I am really glad he gets the opportunity to gain employability skills at school. </p>Time for a glass of wine, it is Saturday evening and I have no other plans than chilling out. That, and cook then eat chicken fajitas. <div><br /></div><div>Oh, before I go, I found another account on the Instagram to watch. It is a chef viewing people cook on Instagram, and live commenting. Some amazing food being cooked up but also some horrendous stuff. The commentary is entertaining. I watched on video of a woman making a kind of nacho dish in a gigantic plastic container, the size of my laundry basket. She started of by crunching six bags of different flavoured Dorito chips up and throwing them into the vat. Then many layers of highly processed obscenities from tins and squeezy tubes, including many tubes of nacho cheese and tubes of guacamole. I had to look nacho cheese up. To scoop it out and serve she had to use on of those pick and mix scoops, only on steroids. My gag reflex was well and properly challenged. </div><div><br /></div><div>On that note, I'll leave you to finish your cup of tea. Thanks for visiting π</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-27940825094404217182024-02-12T16:37:00.002+00:002024-02-12T16:37:53.970+00:00on a chaise longue, all day long<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_mgyeDiEag-1wzxp8Q0G6148zNfU_id4JNyyRz4BjGVDt2dhIKZIFHrukIj7cqHNmZtRNm5d5ZGqWOfXFmbdunokKnEXet4gVv852uMNbUpf4wFsMnSKYkAhxS7xRe74FXEouB9EdNAAWVNOdm3T5ikQgQHhGFKawLK21H2Cmsx381ya8KEIrIoFosc/s4608/DSCN7970.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu_mgyeDiEag-1wzxp8Q0G6148zNfU_id4JNyyRz4BjGVDt2dhIKZIFHrukIj7cqHNmZtRNm5d5ZGqWOfXFmbdunokKnEXet4gVv852uMNbUpf4wFsMnSKYkAhxS7xRe74FXEouB9EdNAAWVNOdm3T5ikQgQHhGFKawLK21H2Cmsx381ya8KEIrIoFosc/w640-h480/DSCN7970.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy89bmnhjezyzc3s9Csd7Y-O47wgv9XjRmzA3XVEi3CpYR-LbUg1Pg-kdIGcRyot0gI8WadKXLxbzPyP5lVn9y77kz3qg5WykemOO3poWwtpFYbYZcZWLBXTb_DNjg9cDo7YkkF0H8Bsx7xft-J6kw_9_fTsijzuPH1v-NsqxGJ5SD-tX7t05x62Zr9Q/s4608/DSCN7975.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy89bmnhjezyzc3s9Csd7Y-O47wgv9XjRmzA3XVEi3CpYR-LbUg1Pg-kdIGcRyot0gI8WadKXLxbzPyP5lVn9y77kz3qg5WykemOO3poWwtpFYbYZcZWLBXTb_DNjg9cDo7YkkF0H8Bsx7xft-J6kw_9_fTsijzuPH1v-NsqxGJ5SD-tX7t05x62Zr9Q/w640-h480/DSCN7975.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqHpURSVyb-vdoLWRqZMXkN8TD8jg7wCEsIXd0eU-eEPKRBKdC8ZqoObJ2Qy9mQ1eDfK5HT_1gVVcuywEgWFPhL4wkUj7n72anMeeqVSHcd-KTBdjnlogtpuuRP0tJPUVnOZhqZ7Vdowx6sOOtwUVUIe6hiUkxGEFUSQJrDVFH59CJIj-daW66J9iAnU/s4608/DSCN7977.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqHpURSVyb-vdoLWRqZMXkN8TD8jg7wCEsIXd0eU-eEPKRBKdC8ZqoObJ2Qy9mQ1eDfK5HT_1gVVcuywEgWFPhL4wkUj7n72anMeeqVSHcd-KTBdjnlogtpuuRP0tJPUVnOZhqZ7Vdowx6sOOtwUVUIe6hiUkxGEFUSQJrDVFH59CJIj-daW66J9iAnU/w640-h480/DSCN7977.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPbi-megpehigBzbSYrB3MAkFySdn3gBP5qBt4oYwC1QF3tQapQxjI3hKCb7GQQ-GC2caOef3FWyzYNWhxVeUC5gkWjMB1txlVRjD3RNA5Rwdk0cr9S5h7TEG4Pnzvkp-QciVkJ0TfDwqumGFgprMytB7gj0-SmkJmi7RsTybXgtMIY-Y9eoW9nYRMPM/s4608/DSCN7983.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPbi-megpehigBzbSYrB3MAkFySdn3gBP5qBt4oYwC1QF3tQapQxjI3hKCb7GQQ-GC2caOef3FWyzYNWhxVeUC5gkWjMB1txlVRjD3RNA5Rwdk0cr9S5h7TEG4Pnzvkp-QciVkJ0TfDwqumGFgprMytB7gj0-SmkJmi7RsTybXgtMIY-Y9eoW9nYRMPM/w640-h480/DSCN7983.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-LX330l3nOJG-0NkcApGFDkX5KYghm8ZsXG4NgmuzbtlyGGsRcIK3Grgpsh-YT8cuFiCcVrCW1T4-VQyT4i_TN1QwTNXJW_jIv8BeZRRJQ5K1tBRdixSPUvr1hlkLZjsRJrQtp1Ou-ehQe0YCaIb9oHIae141mbrRcaKqCbMIX8HEw6GeD0KW0MjiyY/s4032/IMG_1286.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA-LX330l3nOJG-0NkcApGFDkX5KYghm8ZsXG4NgmuzbtlyGGsRcIK3Grgpsh-YT8cuFiCcVrCW1T4-VQyT4i_TN1QwTNXJW_jIv8BeZRRJQ5K1tBRdixSPUvr1hlkLZjsRJrQtp1Ou-ehQe0YCaIb9oHIae141mbrRcaKqCbMIX8HEw6GeD0KW0MjiyY/w640-h480/IMG_1286.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The other day when I was driving Jack to his wee holiday in Govanhill with Sam I listened to BBC Radio 2. Usually, I listen to BBC Radio 4 in the car but it was comedy hour and It thought it was a bit annoying. As I was exiting the motorway, a somewhat unusual song played. I now cannot get out of my head. The chorus went something like this: on the chaise longue, on the chaise longue, on the chaise longue, all day long. I wanted to rewind and check if I had heard right or if indeed I had gone coo coo. Alas, I am of sound mind. I went on the YouTube and found the song. It is aptly named <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zd9jeJk2UHQ" target="_blank">Chaise Long</a> (have a listen) by a band called Wet Leg. I have since been trying to figure out what the message of this song is. Do tell if you know, or work it out. </p><p>On the note of radio my friend Laura pointed me in the direction of a podcast on the aforementioned BBC Radio 4: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p09zgv36" target="_blank">Now you are asking</a> with Marian Keyes and Tara Flynn. I am hooked. It is a shame I didn't have such sound advice non all things life when I was much younger.</p><p>This weekend my fellow volunteers and I planted 300 bluebell plantlets. I was on self-imposed litter duty also. I picked up 15 full dog poo bags in the small area where we planted the bluebells. If at some point in the future I witness poo bag littering I shall pick up the bag and catapult it into the offenders face. The bluebell planting was fun though. We also tidied up around last year's hedgerow plants and finished the meadow patches. </p><p>James and Alistair were away on a Scout Sub Zero camp. I insisted on two sets of thermals and a hot water bottle. Camping in February is not for the faint hearted. There were 1100 scouts at the camp. Imagine that! They had loads of fun and dealt well with the cold. It was mostly dry, which is always good when camping. The smell of campfire will linger for a while, despite a good wash. </p><p>We dragged the boys to the beach today for a walk with Jack. It is half term and a wee outing seemed in order. Teenage dread was oozing out of them, just like black sticky tar. We drove to Irvine beach. Not my favourite beach, or my favourite part of Scotland but within easy driving distance. Some of the towns in that area are very depressing to drive through, forgotten places of sorts. Jack loved the walk. We drove through West Kilbride, a town renowned for artisan craft. We thought it would be a good place for a stroll and lunch but the town had not awoken yet from hibernation and the only cafe was closed. We drove on to Larggs and stopped at Nardini's at the Moorings for lunch. The teens briefly came to live for the food. I take that as a win. </p><p>Upon our return, Alistair announced he would not leave the house until it was time to go back to school. Fair enough.</p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p><p>P.S. All but the cat photo were taken at Bingham's pond. I had scheduled a duck appreciation day last week. </p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-73439410967533028182024-02-07T19:25:00.005+00:002024-02-07T19:25:53.879+00:00the cat doesn't love me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQv62ikRIpldCco_EKyv4Y5MkhQ8vZicf6K8mDQ021t46OVORHSOJQA4FdY_fn0A81cjJJ_HiCYnON39HFiqNoNt7YAPGEMsmcZSAnPm4cTpObLaSw_qVwAYq2JWEgMWpcFb6q-pgaqYMHdhtGxos0Q-3j4vyJh3WpdVpJoX43LNlxJSpKfsMsajgQro/s4032/IMG_1273.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQv62ikRIpldCco_EKyv4Y5MkhQ8vZicf6K8mDQ021t46OVORHSOJQA4FdY_fn0A81cjJJ_HiCYnON39HFiqNoNt7YAPGEMsmcZSAnPm4cTpObLaSw_qVwAYq2JWEgMWpcFb6q-pgaqYMHdhtGxos0Q-3j4vyJh3WpdVpJoX43LNlxJSpKfsMsajgQro/w640-h480/IMG_1273.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOWjX12EmAj-d5Jet7Lcwx1ApV65LmagkZUnwXha_K7iRh_ZKYMxG8JMPE4fS1Nfqd_Ox2GCaeauK2oxVgRBLC-ttXvy9nVgE03ewIrRElZGJplOiG40FxSKPTQlacIvhfbHbfa9EJLe14qzhf51MzYKOu1bnFm30Tq_FO0WXluVKpWEEhlQ1kZtlcnE/s4032/IMG_1275.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAOWjX12EmAj-d5Jet7Lcwx1ApV65LmagkZUnwXha_K7iRh_ZKYMxG8JMPE4fS1Nfqd_Ox2GCaeauK2oxVgRBLC-ttXvy9nVgE03ewIrRElZGJplOiG40FxSKPTQlacIvhfbHbfa9EJLe14qzhf51MzYKOu1bnFm30Tq_FO0WXluVKpWEEhlQ1kZtlcnE/w640-h480/IMG_1275.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I have a new secret obsession and it takes up a few minutes of time every day. Not too bad (yet) but we all know how it goes with obsessions. Have you ever noticed pianos in public spaces? And people actually playing them? And then filming themselves for the Instagram? There is often a "random" passerby surprise musician or opera singer who wants to join in. Just like that. So, I am watching those clips. Far too many of them. I am sure it is educational. </p><p>While on Instagram, I usually check in with Cooking for Levi. Levi has to be the least fussy toddler ever to be alive. He is also very cute and super lucky to have an amazing dad-chef. </p><p>Lupin the cat started sleeping on my chest, close to my neck when I am relaxing on my favourite armchair. I thought maybe she loves me now. Alas, she really wanted the chair, which is also her favourite. The moment I got up she settled on the cushion and went straight back to sleep. I was merely an extension of her favourite downstairs corner. She is doing really rather well after being very poorly last spring. She has chronic kidney disease and now high calcium, which (the vet says) is sometimes a consequence of the renal food prescribed. She'll have to take a calcium chelator once a week. This is currently not available through the vets usual suppliers of drugs. So she now has to take the orange flavoured liquid human equivalent, once a week. I hope cats don't have taste buds for artificial sweeteners and orange. She'll have another blood test in 6 weeks or so. Thank the heavens for pet health insurance. </p><p>The wind. I am so fed up with it.</p><p>Another small obsession is to get a barre for some ballet exercises at home. Essentially a hand rail. I could of course just use the kitchen island because it is about at the right height. However, I fancy a proper wall mounted wooden one. No mirror nearby though because I don't like the feeling of being elegant in my movements being shattered by the view of a dancing walrus. I like the barre exercises most of all in my ballet classes but I also enjoy the "port de bras" section of the class. That translates to carriage of the arms. Definitely good for the bingo wings but also adds elegance to the dance (more so with a long sleeved top). I still can't do a pretty curtsy, my knee wobbles too much. Some of my class mates are talking about taking exams... I have no intention to join them. </p><p>Do you have any small obsessions? Do share!</p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-27453839559872472002024-01-28T20:58:00.004+00:002024-01-28T20:58:52.745+00:00January ...ing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIzseggcjlqghw2l6yZ-kuoCwskxRg5DMcnY7M4oZPehoKp7RYrxx7fMcVzps8FULJbhwkTYE5Qi-Hsi2imUBHPKerTJBsz1FQ9qmwoZnZi1QkSX09pAzDLwVZD8DnNcTHJYuRQ3COo_x_9q0c-GNTwlBPy2Yuhu7Y55BwerhkhMcLHIypa3WeAN-uxQ/s4032/IMG_1228.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzIzseggcjlqghw2l6yZ-kuoCwskxRg5DMcnY7M4oZPehoKp7RYrxx7fMcVzps8FULJbhwkTYE5Qi-Hsi2imUBHPKerTJBsz1FQ9qmwoZnZi1QkSX09pAzDLwVZD8DnNcTHJYuRQ3COo_x_9q0c-GNTwlBPy2Yuhu7Y55BwerhkhMcLHIypa3WeAN-uxQ/w640-h480/IMG_1228.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm8ic1jnqVxYxq1Vdi3RORElSV7SpUgCr0X5_qaLgdufwSDPfFICmOZ4rMz1F96vz2Kl0ndk8fXDrrRlzY917MEHvpWdJWVbAMFJywSHpM85oPLFZ74mCVfDXkfP9oygELmfLoRr4AJxtdxcg4IwY5Gg1R8IEgTZ4hakPADYcq1yg0bK-RENzDFciD88/s4032/IMG_1247.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxm8ic1jnqVxYxq1Vdi3RORElSV7SpUgCr0X5_qaLgdufwSDPfFICmOZ4rMz1F96vz2Kl0ndk8fXDrrRlzY917MEHvpWdJWVbAMFJywSHpM85oPLFZ74mCVfDXkfP9oygELmfLoRr4AJxtdxcg4IwY5Gg1R8IEgTZ4hakPADYcq1yg0bK-RENzDFciD88/w640-h480/IMG_1247.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKhzsxtMW0Cg_d6rRoGe1Ipe76QXZdSezgbjBoCEG0ZfaiYAZeL0ChY7IvXGZRTvnH3zcC9EDHDMIlmLM_4bhhijoeUJ98NOKzUyNIo0Fgjg1UBDz1mU55zqJ3lNAmsWeOUPyNnUl9OD7HIpyGCmQ9O4UosPbQKUPZt7EbtMtgT350fZWS8cG6gB6YC0/s4032/IMG_1244.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijKhzsxtMW0Cg_d6rRoGe1Ipe76QXZdSezgbjBoCEG0ZfaiYAZeL0ChY7IvXGZRTvnH3zcC9EDHDMIlmLM_4bhhijoeUJ98NOKzUyNIo0Fgjg1UBDz1mU55zqJ3lNAmsWeOUPyNnUl9OD7HIpyGCmQ9O4UosPbQKUPZt7EbtMtgT350fZWS8cG6gB6YC0/w640-h480/IMG_1244.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JxbBg8YQNpOg1dAbxuMdVr_QcQcXiX3I9DmI9wBunhWjuvLDLl5slLCcEJLEL3gm-tPSrcNOoWesoh9A2r9jOnm2VCPfyE4836tSCZ0_Ju23Z9U41GRRcGHBoMBha10xw6-A-vqRK4wHauHxpScwy3s9AkIQFDL5ZmFDMhr6jmCccLKrhOOQg8J8tfk/s4032/IMG_1240.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1JxbBg8YQNpOg1dAbxuMdVr_QcQcXiX3I9DmI9wBunhWjuvLDLl5slLCcEJLEL3gm-tPSrcNOoWesoh9A2r9jOnm2VCPfyE4836tSCZ0_Ju23Z9U41GRRcGHBoMBha10xw6-A-vqRK4wHauHxpScwy3s9AkIQFDL5ZmFDMhr6jmCccLKrhOOQg8J8tfk/w640-h480/IMG_1240.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOCK4ADO71j3KoIXvu7ClqKVAFF_3Z6IkHPL_fdbNNo5FoUi3arYwxxWxyS890E6X_GQ8-JuTprH2A99JTG9eUiTa0-UCdV09uE4hz7FIU4RUmaxN70au0phAws8ani8XCQnY5mdLkp96tV7l9qT4noLMbs8tvcKzkERngNS_E05lMl8kFZb1uMv5cs8/s4032/IMG_1232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOCK4ADO71j3KoIXvu7ClqKVAFF_3Z6IkHPL_fdbNNo5FoUi3arYwxxWxyS890E6X_GQ8-JuTprH2A99JTG9eUiTa0-UCdV09uE4hz7FIU4RUmaxN70au0phAws8ani8XCQnY5mdLkp96tV7l9qT4noLMbs8tvcKzkERngNS_E05lMl8kFZb1uMv5cs8/w640-h480/IMG_1232.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I like being back to my usual routine. I don't miss December, quite possibly my least favourite month of the year. January however comes with lower expectations and an often manageable workload. There is a whiff of new-year-new-me, although I know fine well that this is not good for my wellbeing. So here we go, with another year of monthly ...ing posts. </p><p><b>Celebrating</b> the light. Every day we have a little more daylight, which is wonderful. </p><p><b>Buying</b> daffodils. They are back in the shops and will provide cheerful pops of colour on my kitchen table for the foreseeable future. </p><p>Back to <b>volunteering</b> work after a lengthy pause. We prepared several areas for wildflower meadows along the river. We lifted the turf, raked and scarified the exposed earth, scattered seeds, did the penguin walk to bed the seeds in. We probably have enough frosty periods left for a good germination rate. We'll be cleaning the newt pond in Dawsholm park soon. It is good to get out and move earth and have a good old chat with my volunteering pals.</p><p><b>Knitting</b> socks. I am on my second pair. The grey ones shown are my own pattern, the Twin Spiral Sock, which you can find on my sock page. I have yet to figure out why the patterns don't open for others, something to do with Google docs sharing. </p><p><b>Making</b> too many lunch boxes. I insist on making lunch boxes, even though Alistair and James are perfectly able to do that themselves. However, they would at most pack a limp sandwich. I sneak vegetable matter in, a slice of cucumber hiding between ham, or a sliced gherkin. Some carrot sticks, a treat and fruit. Peeled for Alistair because he would not otherwise eat it. </p><p><b>Treating</b> myself to a lunch of M&S delicatessen. Because I deserve it.</p><p><b>Waiting</b> for HRT to do its magic. </p><p><b>Baking</b> Lebkuchen. I didn't have the energy for this in December but now I do. Mind you, just a tray bake version, not a fancy decorated Lebkuchen house. </p><p><b>Eating</b> porridge, every morning. Well, most mornings. I like it most with cherries, the frozen variety. </p><p><b>Booking</b> a summer holiday. </p><p><b>Listening</b> to "How To Say Babylon" by Safyia Sinclair and loving it. It is a memoir of an unusual childhood in Jamaica. Her prose is beautiful, like a lullaby. She is reading the audiobook, which makes it more special still. </p><p><b>Thinking</b> back to last January, when I was in Malawi for work, and wishing I was there again. </p><p><b>Feeling</b> sick of the endless howling of the wind. One storm after the other, with lots of rain thrown in for good measure. </p><p><b>Shouting </b>at Blogger... I noticed comments I write sometimes vanish into the black hole that is the internet. Not all blogs and completely random. </p><p><b>Wishing </b>you all a good week. Thank you for visiting π</p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-6234078952942494172024-01-16T20:24:00.001+00:002024-01-17T08:08:53.961+00:00wardrobe essentials 2024 - a cosy jumper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEJGqxN_AzafsaRTFyRdwLgL8kFypuujUWqddoQSaE8GatM8uc931rMXL51speRCdBzyBO1bamiye4vyNc_iGAhvroN9O50JOhs2mj19zIaFYq3tbYxULgFwxJcNlQ0rGLq4QgqzbBz7C9IgRUNjdtauxZoy_bvEU8_69K-oHSSQ9QXHA2t3qwPmdAvU/s4032/IMG_1214.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiEJGqxN_AzafsaRTFyRdwLgL8kFypuujUWqddoQSaE8GatM8uc931rMXL51speRCdBzyBO1bamiye4vyNc_iGAhvroN9O50JOhs2mj19zIaFYq3tbYxULgFwxJcNlQ0rGLq4QgqzbBz7C9IgRUNjdtauxZoy_bvEU8_69K-oHSSQ9QXHA2t3qwPmdAvU/w640-h480/IMG_1214.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD53QwtOmH86TuaqCsBfMfoa3k2AOTvT1RgKy7s90olIADQF4feu3h3CrrN907BQtyULTfQkUEB9WGXC1YbRPXEK1hUE_kfwFlxPQADxpDQJVTBA6KhO8pXpq9uoJ7HDQixqyUhBHZ22MKu4a5CO2qfuhY0nUEmHr2W55f4gaHYvMGeSwUtjac11F_y68/s4032/IMG_1219.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD53QwtOmH86TuaqCsBfMfoa3k2AOTvT1RgKy7s90olIADQF4feu3h3CrrN907BQtyULTfQkUEB9WGXC1YbRPXEK1hUE_kfwFlxPQADxpDQJVTBA6KhO8pXpq9uoJ7HDQixqyUhBHZ22MKu4a5CO2qfuhY0nUEmHr2W55f4gaHYvMGeSwUtjac11F_y68/w640-h480/IMG_1219.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Thank you for you kind comments on my last post. I really appreciate your thoughts. I am one week into HRT and we are exploring a private assessment with GP care share for our youngest. One day at the time. </p><p>As usual this time of year, I am enthusiastic about planning my wardrobe makes. I had a couple of "fails" last year, which put me off a bit. One make is salvageable, the other not so much but I can make it into something else. More about this another time. </p><p>I want to make clothes that I need and like. Nothing exciting as I am a plain dresser but a basic wardrobe needs some thought, too. </p><p>First on my list of things I wanted to make is a sherpa fleece jumper. I saw one not long ago on a Fabric Godmother Instagram story, it was Josie's dream wardrobe kit reveal for December or maybe November. This included a creamy white soft sherpa fleece and the <a href="https://papertheorypatterns.com/collections/patterns/products/copy-of-lb-pullover-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Paper Theory LB pullover</a> pattern. I am not a subscriber for this dream wardrobe kit because I don't like surprises but after I saw the reveal on Instagram, it surfaced in my consciousness at least daily. I rewatched the story a few times and eventually, after a few weeks of indecision, I ordered the sherpa fleece and the pattern separately. I only needed 1.5 metres of the fabric. </p><p>The LB pullover is a boxy fit with dropped shoulders. It comes with a turtle neck or normal neckband option. No cuffs or anything fancy. I could have easily adapted another jumper pattern I have but I am lazy and I like to support smaller pattern companies, too. I made the turtle neck version.</p><p>The fabric is as soft as it looks, and very warm. It wasn't too messy to cut, only minimal fluff accumulated in my sewing corner. I used my overlocker except for the hems so that no fluff remained exposed. </p><p>Making it took next to no time, literally. Probably about two hours from cutting to finishing. </p><p>What can I say? It is perfect, although I would maybe add a few centimetres in length. The pattern is drafted for a much taller person than I but maybe one with a short torso, who knows. I don't think my torso is exceptionally long. Maybe it is meant to be a bit cropped. </p><p>I may never take it off again, except for an occasional shower. The timing of this make was excellent because no sooner than I finished it our boiler broke, beyond repair. The temperatures outside are well below freezing, typical. I keep somewhat warm in my back office with a hot water bottle, the big fluffy fleece and a borrowed electric heater. </p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-61551700156493888742024-01-12T18:17:00.003+00:002024-01-12T18:17:40.747+00:00dark & dreich with a smattering of snow drops.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe4WopF8xOTjnKgLnc5sNVmiI2UPHL795Kd_aR0abpqKTeqDEsrrSWaAUz_0uhCMKUcf0B6i3ZpuGnyMM3exh7QmGcF1SSRDnh1FH3D_FS2VMEAUnA37I5ULbH0qbCbQGDTeO5i9ypLSSLisSFMS8nWX4JsPZd6fOLb0ARqPOdLtxA1Px157DfWsIpR0/s4032/IMG_1205.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAe4WopF8xOTjnKgLnc5sNVmiI2UPHL795Kd_aR0abpqKTeqDEsrrSWaAUz_0uhCMKUcf0B6i3ZpuGnyMM3exh7QmGcF1SSRDnh1FH3D_FS2VMEAUnA37I5ULbH0qbCbQGDTeO5i9ypLSSLisSFMS8nWX4JsPZd6fOLb0ARqPOdLtxA1Px157DfWsIpR0/w640-h480/IMG_1205.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This photo is a good illustration of my current state of mind. I am struggling a bit with various aspects of life, including my overall low mood & crazy mood swings and a teenager with challenging needs and unpredictable behaviours. I have started HRT to see if that will make a difference to my emotional wellbeing. For the teenager, we continue to be on the waiting list of an overstretched child and adolescent mental health service. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To add insult to injury, I hurt my knee while jogging up the incline you see on the photo. It looks almost flat here but trust me, it is not. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With the doom and gloom out of the way, I am trying with varying degrees of success to focus on what gives joy. Distraction is always a good strategy for an unsettled mind.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you follow Gurdeep Pandher of the Yukon on social media? He is described as an ambassador of joy, and frequently post videos of joyful Bhangra dancing. Google him to find him on your favourite social media applications. I went to a wedding once where there was Bhangra dancing, it was so much fun. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love to watch the birds in the garden just now. I counted 12 species in one day - goldfinches, chaffinches, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, dunnocks, sparrows, wrens, black birds, robins, magpies and pigeons. The magpies come for water rather than food and also to have a wee peek through the window. Also an honorary bird, our resident squirrel, Ricky. I would like to buy a window bird feeder, replacing one that is broken. If you have one that stays stuck on the window, please let me know. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also, the snow drops are appearing in my garden! Always a welcome early sign of longer days to come. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am knitting a pair of socks while listening to audiobooks in the evening. I am looking for a good TV programme, preferably of a factual variety rather than drama, unless it is science fiction. Let me know what keeps you entertained. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am also looking for book recommendations. I am listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62807190-frontier" target="_blank">Frontier</a> by Grace Curtis just now, a post climate change dystopian novel. I am also listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59575939-an-immense-world" target="_blank">An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us</a> by Ed Yong, a favourite science communicator of mine. Enjoyable but needs more concentration than I have at the moment. I have given up with <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59364173-i-m-glad-my-mom-died" target="_blank">I'm Glad My Mom Died</a> by Jennette McCurdy. I have yet to come across a celebrity autobiographies that I enjoy. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So, January so far? Dark and dreich overall but with occasional sparks of joy. I am working hard on finding more sparks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thanks for visiting π</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-6751943054192469332024-01-04T08:12:00.003+00:002024-01-04T08:12:39.391+00:00December ...ing in January<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNYue-ZvC68EP0yzLqY5uu3J_THzDV0a305oydhO4N4gLsgjPJgD_gG6JcEZXy741k9a2VpfkwPIS9KWFFBtWrOm-e8C6vtkS6Ip5c-Y_zT_m1_marSlhYIv4oYWHiVqCG4te8sq1AjydYvJJRNJOOQIxoXPy3HFAvY8nQRydvQxyPmVu6UDZxfKaq3M/s3677/IMG_1186.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3677" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNYue-ZvC68EP0yzLqY5uu3J_THzDV0a305oydhO4N4gLsgjPJgD_gG6JcEZXy741k9a2VpfkwPIS9KWFFBtWrOm-e8C6vtkS6Ip5c-Y_zT_m1_marSlhYIv4oYWHiVqCG4te8sq1AjydYvJJRNJOOQIxoXPy3HFAvY8nQRydvQxyPmVu6UDZxfKaq3M/w640-h480/IMG_1186.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyqlTcRV1_u4A4j5nC-UbHPgpoLP2ujf6IQnD18AZrlddVnNVfrI-ejCQKojNpUcBYYAqvej8WaD2uPXepziVpv3sMzAGIrGetD_N6SqlFMFNPdS43nlmPxpmtCzLvleeZivM4Ef9DS5cn1SsV1m4rjzIAbaCJHBNGUvD6HscchDe_HNAI4_W2dW6_EkQ/w640-h480/IMG_1192.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KVm-vVZyxH8YyoqMWi7UdQUlvey_l6-5WBN0xqmNBwGS4EUObxGOtaPIyrlbZGGyp3s29UPTRwsu-8sAldxDaw9Zl85Fls-_Tqy1yIYfJkjx5cVS4jFgo5931pO-tp4qG8k9Rc43pV1l_J0SWUYCxkX8NJO_eNkjtFeq4YLrOwGTootfcFsEii0CcDY/s4032/IMG_1197.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KVm-vVZyxH8YyoqMWi7UdQUlvey_l6-5WBN0xqmNBwGS4EUObxGOtaPIyrlbZGGyp3s29UPTRwsu-8sAldxDaw9Zl85Fls-_Tqy1yIYfJkjx5cVS4jFgo5931pO-tp4qG8k9Rc43pV1l_J0SWUYCxkX8NJO_eNkjtFeq4YLrOwGTootfcFsEii0CcDY/w640-h480/IMG_1197.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Zelu-H_ro3gRYN1O2ij_Gj2DvqwGdXvp9WDkxeWS2VOueTiLeFx4ajxZud7FD6uu3wn4U5AEFKskb6iUgbzPrHoNkT6GAZVa5fLhyphenhyphenDTVG2O0SmMiQId8mG1D8KN510Wm52c7UPtSdf8t67zr4rT5xf_Kb7-xGUt_-0LjEr0ozr0upVxCCbS1rcrEw0/s4032/IMG_1179.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4Zelu-H_ro3gRYN1O2ij_Gj2DvqwGdXvp9WDkxeWS2VOueTiLeFx4ajxZud7FD6uu3wn4U5AEFKskb6iUgbzPrHoNkT6GAZVa5fLhyphenhyphenDTVG2O0SmMiQId8mG1D8KN510Wm52c7UPtSdf8t67zr4rT5xf_Kb7-xGUt_-0LjEr0ozr0upVxCCbS1rcrEw0/w640-h480/IMG_1179.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs34vDp733pNth9Pig9t7cy4o6PYXAEFzjy__rcnzVa8iooVaeNbnlufViZGYhEd8PE0rVpPDOrOiC9JddjyYn4yclEm9rOFGxErrwaaSi4uX6XATejllYJlHzVtLOUzrVhLYkiRZhpEgrWBDCTH6EOmmygGnH3pgUaA1C2mSEP6-HC6bhctjKeDH1aU/s4032/IMG_1188.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZs34vDp733pNth9Pig9t7cy4o6PYXAEFzjy__rcnzVa8iooVaeNbnlufViZGYhEd8PE0rVpPDOrOiC9JddjyYn4yclEm9rOFGxErrwaaSi4uX6XATejllYJlHzVtLOUzrVhLYkiRZhpEgrWBDCTH6EOmmygGnH3pgUaA1C2mSEP6-HC6bhctjKeDH1aU/w640-h480/IMG_1188.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDJ2gsGmEgIbMMngpf5y69tmIYT1hNsWIqYBnetvFYquBhUm0G6-EUrklSZdJVZrKjQdQZnQW8RcaUv9Mb-bMEGM7G0s3F8Mqp2TB1RL-ajUloahegrcKxZexkFoweoV3CFoLD1ZlNNphINGxXvSl1KVbBdVcKjFrMRt_cjykxCrbz4jr2Ba3rkq77YQ/s4032/IMG_1189.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjDJ2gsGmEgIbMMngpf5y69tmIYT1hNsWIqYBnetvFYquBhUm0G6-EUrklSZdJVZrKjQdQZnQW8RcaUv9Mb-bMEGM7G0s3F8Mqp2TB1RL-ajUloahegrcKxZexkFoweoV3CFoLD1ZlNNphINGxXvSl1KVbBdVcKjFrMRt_cjykxCrbz4jr2Ba3rkq77YQ/w640-h480/IMG_1189.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>I ran out of energy before Christmas... I feel that my body batteries are mostly recharged but my mind is still catching up. Although I have had an extended work break, I don't feel entirely rested because the Christmas period is busy with trying to meet mostly my own expectations and failing. </p><p>I feel like I was more of an observer, rather than an active participant of Christmas. Possibly not great company either. But I'll have to reflect on that later, for now it is time to let go and move forward.</p><p>Some December highlights:</p><p><b>:: Celebrating</b> Alistair's birthday. </p><p><b>:: Welcoming</b> Annie back after her semester abroad</p><p><b>:: Congratulating</b> James on his first job, stock rotation in the local corner shop.</p><p><b>:: Meeting</b> my teaching colleagues for a packed lunch Christmas lunch. I liked the bring your own lunch idea because Christmas meals in restaurants are often disappointing and always expensive. Some of my colleagues I had never met in person before! We are a unusual teaching team, all under one School but all with teaching commitments in other Schools. We also hotdesk/work at home, which makes it difficult to feel like a team. Anyway, we went to the pub after lunch and it was fun. </p><p><b>:: Receiving</b> Board of Studies approval for my re-developed MSc programme on my last day of work before the break. Minor changes needed only. I was so relieved as it was a huge time commitment to review an entire programme with all its courses and propose changes to keep up with a fast moving world</p><p><b>:: Going</b> for dinner and ballet with one of my ballet class friends. We went to see <a href="https://scottishballet.co.uk/whats-on/cinders/" target="_blank">Cinders!</a> - a magical new Cinderalla story - at the Theatre Royal. We were attending on a night where Cinders was a man swept of his feet by his Princess. I really enjoyed this interpretation very much. The dancing was beautiful. My other ballet friend saw the version in which Cinders was a woman swept of her feet by her Prince. Which version was on was a surprise for the audience. </p><p><b>:: Baking </b>Swiss Christmas cookies. I enjoy this very much and if pressed for a decision, this would be the only Christmas tradition I would find difficult to give up.</p><p><b>:: Being gifted </b>two completely unexpected presents that touched my heart. Annie learned to knit in Norway and knitted a headband for me because she knows my ears get a bit cold this time of year. I love to see how her knitting became more confident as the headband grew. Alistair went out to the shops on Christmas Eve and bought me a bouquet of colourful flowers. It was a thoughtful choice. </p><p><b>:: Recording</b> an end of year podcast on the 29th December. It was a fun and I enjoyed it. Sometime in the future I might listen back to an episode but I am bit worried that I sound stupid. Maybe I need to ask someone else for constructive feedback?</p><p><b>:: Having</b> friends and family round for an evening of cocktails and snacks. This was the evening before Hogmanay and it was fun. There was no pressure to stay up and celebrate the new year, which was refreshing. On Hogmanay, I was asleep before the bells.</p><p><b>:: Listening</b> to a thoughtful space opera book (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58388343-some-desperate-glory" target="_blank">Some Desperate Glory</a> by Emily Tesh) and a new to me crime series (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/296062-the-ds-cross-mysteries" target="_blank">DS Cross mysteries</a> by Tim Sullivan).</p><p>More news later. Have a good year! Thanks for visiting π.</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-68824573583188128312023-12-15T15:47:00.001+00:002023-12-15T15:47:27.546+00:00the winter lurgy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNdG_3e6FH2x0BHXBNL3LdYJC2iHZ-MZoTVPF9ENzuXpC3HkQ4eKZbkdRHcpBYi44AabFZffVGTDShfXLF0GVFsKcYCkky9iZpyyGfi2cEBOAr4v7xWHi-ZQoDLmnYUqIdf2k7gsa1pUMTi6nYS9PWc7SBNxTY1SEfHIB2siDTdJoNkoVJHfHcVqh5R8/s4032/IMG_1131.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNdG_3e6FH2x0BHXBNL3LdYJC2iHZ-MZoTVPF9ENzuXpC3HkQ4eKZbkdRHcpBYi44AabFZffVGTDShfXLF0GVFsKcYCkky9iZpyyGfi2cEBOAr4v7xWHi-ZQoDLmnYUqIdf2k7gsa1pUMTi6nYS9PWc7SBNxTY1SEfHIB2siDTdJoNkoVJHfHcVqh5R8/w640-h480/IMG_1131.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_PkJKhjKc32nHatn_ilHz41w7lEoIfqYYTXWpI0JQqJxhBUwg_W-BhsQO0ph1slxiL6Ayy429v8A9PrK9_ec1WFoemSggSLZv16TDwXIhk9eNOC3SMQ0-4aWf92pFW1i8TdDmNvIasqOKoY1McMNiHJ-4LXmtXe-4X31__jkspkN2wHIymeXCbOkXRQ/s4032/IMG_1138.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA_PkJKhjKc32nHatn_ilHz41w7lEoIfqYYTXWpI0JQqJxhBUwg_W-BhsQO0ph1slxiL6Ayy429v8A9PrK9_ec1WFoemSggSLZv16TDwXIhk9eNOC3SMQ0-4aWf92pFW1i8TdDmNvIasqOKoY1McMNiHJ-4LXmtXe-4X31__jkspkN2wHIymeXCbOkXRQ/w640-h480/IMG_1138.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Sickness is sweeping through the house, starting with Alistair, then James and finally, yours truly. Richard was away for a a few days and maybe escaped the period of peak transmission. As I am typing, the boys have recovered mostly but I am still not feeling well. The fever broke but the cough remains persistent and painful. My brain feels too big for my skull. Paracetamol, ibuprofen and Strepsils are my new best friends. </p><p>I canceled as many work meetings as I could, attended those I couldn't virtually and have given up on my to do list. Thankfully I completed marking and I had only two teaching sessions this week. The house is a tip and I have given up trying. I did however empty the cat litter tray, which is a priority on my chore list because I have a well developed sense of smell.</p><p>The photos are from around campus, where there is major construction work all around. I rather like the street art displayed, it is cheerful on a dreich December afternoon. </p><p>Ah well, hopefully I feel human once more soon. Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-9565618381516286332023-12-05T18:39:00.003+00:002023-12-05T18:39:48.953+00:00frozen to the bones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ9Tqk77TyZDMzOhu9n5PLRNp3jrS0DuWZXWUL7uq9yHy5zSmoH7fLqUNCVDe8ckKdknttsGGIGm4AHhI0F4dBo7_7RlYG-R11S3LgzHuQpSL2rMSVyTbyEr_RR6zm-Kc510vdoCkeiDxzHIepstAKE0I5xq_Yhqk2GQIoxDvWDVxYsRhB8xlZ5CRtt4/s3705/IMG_0946.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="3705" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRQ9Tqk77TyZDMzOhu9n5PLRNp3jrS0DuWZXWUL7uq9yHy5zSmoH7fLqUNCVDe8ckKdknttsGGIGm4AHhI0F4dBo7_7RlYG-R11S3LgzHuQpSL2rMSVyTbyEr_RR6zm-Kc510vdoCkeiDxzHIepstAKE0I5xq_Yhqk2GQIoxDvWDVxYsRhB8xlZ5CRtt4/w640-h480/IMG_0946.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuO4DTl3zNlYOU6Cc5v7CLtv9zoGaggAdCIW7Ev44FnbTApC9xkkWqz39Te-FA5U7pL8OBwQ5UAbuyITEMiqez7Rvj3qw0696BmNYqkwD5RlB9GjTRcnT4ydWGXcnAMbBGfoGTfBF7zkFL01pztB0d2VUJw4gO5MBvgmD9EPP_djbBfDrNdLQEPW8nJE/s4032/IMG_0992.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuO4DTl3zNlYOU6Cc5v7CLtv9zoGaggAdCIW7Ev44FnbTApC9xkkWqz39Te-FA5U7pL8OBwQ5UAbuyITEMiqez7Rvj3qw0696BmNYqkwD5RlB9GjTRcnT4ydWGXcnAMbBGfoGTfBF7zkFL01pztB0d2VUJw4gO5MBvgmD9EPP_djbBfDrNdLQEPW8nJE/w640-h480/IMG_0992.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoDRe0piGM0N17fBdkxP-xnNT3dDIZTFI-PWUR-akXL0htMocJUuuUwOJ73P-Up0PghBR2KgFzIor87HN4DRXdjFdLk4CRZIl_OeIpqtUyIAMLt6qVz3kS8R_1FG1uvde1XTrzXU7w9-lhfvdinKZRUNh4BmRyFJRFSGQYcPDLO4gzFnIrOLR6POOIvk/s4032/IMG_0994.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAoDRe0piGM0N17fBdkxP-xnNT3dDIZTFI-PWUR-akXL0htMocJUuuUwOJ73P-Up0PghBR2KgFzIor87HN4DRXdjFdLk4CRZIl_OeIpqtUyIAMLt6qVz3kS8R_1FG1uvde1XTrzXU7w9-lhfvdinKZRUNh4BmRyFJRFSGQYcPDLO4gzFnIrOLR6POOIvk/w640-h480/IMG_0994.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is my second week of microscopy training. Four days last week, another four days this week. We have around 75 students altogether that attend the training. I don't think I have felt warm for any length of time since Monday last week. The lab is the size of a airplane hangar, the four wall heaters a joke. It has been colder than usual in Glasgow, which doesn't help. Coming back for the second week, it was a bit of a shock to discover that the ineffective heating was broken altogether. The temperature was below 10 degrees, warming up to 14 degrees at lunch before plummeting again to baltic. We had to be quite creative with keeping our students from going into hibernation mode. Most of us just kept our outdoor jackets on under the lab coat, and hats to keep the heads somewhat warm. Today, I wore a vest, a merino base layer, two additional base layers, a wooly jumper and lab coat because the winter jacket felt a bit bulky. Peak temperature today was 15 degrees. I don't think the heating will be fixed before we finish our training week... So yes, I am cold. Even when I am in a warm place I feel cold. To add insult to injury, the toilets are also out of order. Just as well that the drinking fountain is also broken... Occasionally over the past two days, I noticed busy looking men in overalls carrying ladders and tools. They must be actors paid by Senior Management to make us everyone believe someone actually cares that the infrastructure is falling to bits. <div><br /></div><div>It is tiring, spending that much time in the lab, on my feet and looking down a microscope and helping students grasp the basics of microscopy and parasite diagnosis. However, our students are excellent and it is fun to meet them all. I only usually see them on Zoom. I also managed to take some good photographs of weird and wonderful parasites, which is always a bonus. <div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, last week we celebrated Sammy's 23rd birthday with a big lasagne and cheese cake. He was off work and took Jack with him for a wee holiday on the Southside. </div><div><div><br /></div><div>Richard and I went for dinner and a concert with friends. The food at Joia in Finnieston was delicious and better still, there was no background music, which was refreshing. The concert, Jools Holland and his band was not my cup of tea but it was nice to be out with friends and have a laugh. </div><div><br /></div><div>I put up a couple of light chains to brighten up evenings. The advent calendars are hanging and are full of small chocolates. </div></div><div><br /></div><div>The weekend was quiet, with a sprinkle of browsing and shopping at the Kelvingrove Museum, where the artist collective <a href="https://www.teagreen.co.uk/" target="_blank">Tea Green</a> had sale. I really enjoyed wandering around and taking in all that talent. I bought a few small things that I liked and I picked up plenty of business cards from stall holders for future ideas. It must be so difficult to make a living as an artist and maker of beautiful things. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I didn't take many photos these past few days, I can barely operate my phone with my Raynaud's fingers. </div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for visiting π</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-20897508109970273412023-11-27T09:16:00.002+00:002023-11-27T09:16:33.631+00:00November ...ing<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx6tcszXgdLwMZSSLD6_VLYUGEXOxZo28eMeFauCyuMnV-ZeMDOkMiNd952TawA1nISvkxA0F0T74jMqYuHFZXtbFvzShAtnMRr2Lz7YxlhIIYRlamPUK9D0GXiccWWsOigw0JBJUQHjDHwQ_Plez9I3nzsxJrjB2sLI0bNG05Sg86hhaH0e2P10Low0/s4032/IMG_0872.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJx6tcszXgdLwMZSSLD6_VLYUGEXOxZo28eMeFauCyuMnV-ZeMDOkMiNd952TawA1nISvkxA0F0T74jMqYuHFZXtbFvzShAtnMRr2Lz7YxlhIIYRlamPUK9D0GXiccWWsOigw0JBJUQHjDHwQ_Plez9I3nzsxJrjB2sLI0bNG05Sg86hhaH0e2P10Low0/w640-h480/IMG_0872.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhej-IMcvxWHlI6u4beOgn5wPtlsZYiXq_g2HRnxJi9xjqNk7RU7zB4H48X_mOMIcCnd2vel09iJPO-XRsG-nPtdN5_Oce8yE01gEvrPOTDnV-EMNpPiwfgDzJrHeqXM4jkHT3YgyIAQNd8W4X2NbljkXwP7w2i8BpfU7nCL5B5JhKpPzjUWOrplfUsjIU/w640-h480/IMG_0891.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3EaNNRHJIKZQIigJHHHujx2O_BYVRKxRuqvdkzHo5ijCYVCBKcCgH7jN2nOnn-nifa-EtGtF767nD_qEOSqk-83wMwHXLVUOIEQLzWoUrJUKhDYJe6NZu1nXBJoJEPZN_AsFPCIrvAcNQWrkVgTAVov6vTtgxmv7yO5CIaEiCg608KWX0GkLBdNxjCA/s4032/IMG_0893.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3EaNNRHJIKZQIigJHHHujx2O_BYVRKxRuqvdkzHo5ijCYVCBKcCgH7jN2nOnn-nifa-EtGtF767nD_qEOSqk-83wMwHXLVUOIEQLzWoUrJUKhDYJe6NZu1nXBJoJEPZN_AsFPCIrvAcNQWrkVgTAVov6vTtgxmv7yO5CIaEiCg608KWX0GkLBdNxjCA/w640-h480/IMG_0893.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>November, November. Stormy, dark and exhausting, also cosy.</p><p><b>:: Travelling</b> to London, not once but twice. The first trip was for fun, the second trip for work. You can read about the fun trip in a previous post. The most memorable part of my work trip to London was the Caledonian Sleeper. Going down, great. Coming back, no water in cabin. I slept well both ways, which was good. Overall a good experience but don't be fooled by the luxurious advertising material, the sleeper at the end of the day is a train, not a penthouse suite. The meeting I attended was really good and absolutely worth the trip.</p><p><b>:: Listening</b> to several mostly mediocre audio books. I listened to the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61282437-the-ferryman" target="_blank">Ferryman</a> by Justin Cronin, which I found fairly awful. The plot is thin and the characters one dimensional and unlikeable. The book needed a more ruthless editor. I started a new crime series, set on the Isle of Skye written by J.M. Dalgliesh. The first instalment is <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199539205-a-long-time-dead" target="_blank">A long time dead</a>, the second one <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199476500-the-dead-man-of-storr" target="_blank">The dead man of Storr</a>. Both perfectly ok but I am not planning on reading the next instalment. I didn't like any of the people in the book. I also listened to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89536978-there-s-something-i-have-to-tell-you" target="_blank">There is something I have to tell you</a> by Michelle McDonagh, which was fabulous, with characters that felt like real people with well developed and complex personalities. </p><p><b>:: Working</b> flat out. There is a light at the end of the tunnel though, in about two weeks, things will start to slow down. For a while.</p><p><b>:: Stitching</b> the final few half blocks for my Ice Cream Soda quilt. I'll have to join the blocks at some point. </p><p><b>:: Mending</b> older quilts. Our quilts get a lot of use and some of the lighter weight fabrics wear through quickly. It is tempting to use all kinds of scraps because they are pretty, despite being light cotton lawns or similar.</p><p><b>:: Sorting</b> through old construction sets James and Alistair received over the years. I checked the parts and those kits that were still complete, are off to charity to bring joy to another child. </p><p><b>:: Cheering</b> on James from a distance. He travelled to Liverpool with his running club for a big cross country race. He did well, much better than last year. Unfortunately, he and all his stuff were caked in mud... so much washing! I haven't opened the bag with his spikes yet and I am not looking forward to it. </p><p><b>:: Lamenting</b> the stormy wet days but then enjoying the first frost. </p><p><b>:: Seeking</b> out the last splashes of colour all around. </p><p><b>:: Sitting</b> in the lab freezing (it is large and impossible to heat properly), and<b> waiting </b>for students to arrive for a week of training. </p><p>Thanks for visiting. I have been a bit quiet recently when visiting your blogs. Reading but not commenting. I am there though, enjoying your posts π</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-49979380152938045862023-11-15T08:01:00.001+00:002023-11-15T08:01:17.546+00:00living from weekend to weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNKFesGzjoAxpgKO05zEgtwfDWvTcy1wX0RWpu1pF6gspYCIwLDHNqe-gehTOnXeH7XwAp1RmII4N32t8Zvr5PdrJGpjYKadLMPWkOSC_-6492h6p_iDROKqIV7lMGJyUUkflbUUYQIfStWU5PN2KN0dPC3MbY8khveGmX9UUAI84PPN4ATf7qxAW3jU/s4032/IMG_0858.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNKFesGzjoAxpgKO05zEgtwfDWvTcy1wX0RWpu1pF6gspYCIwLDHNqe-gehTOnXeH7XwAp1RmII4N32t8Zvr5PdrJGpjYKadLMPWkOSC_-6492h6p_iDROKqIV7lMGJyUUkflbUUYQIfStWU5PN2KN0dPC3MbY8khveGmX9UUAI84PPN4ATf7qxAW3jU/w640-h480/IMG_0858.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL4FrDktvQGAFaXAI_kuDHoE6uJ4ZDdfXdLPl4Brdt8Pd471Ry9jD1n53q0_xQ_LMrjx_xGkF8nPhg46OCiKTDKcpe7ApnT7pjD4mciqwsiMkteVuWCSg7yQrSSlFwkqV-oBrkVo4tgavuTa7zooBdAWmkAAs-hVY3wbhGOho153KZiarnwlVFQs5AQs/s4032/IMG_0864.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggL4FrDktvQGAFaXAI_kuDHoE6uJ4ZDdfXdLPl4Brdt8Pd471Ry9jD1n53q0_xQ_LMrjx_xGkF8nPhg46OCiKTDKcpe7ApnT7pjD4mciqwsiMkteVuWCSg7yQrSSlFwkqV-oBrkVo4tgavuTa7zooBdAWmkAAs-hVY3wbhGOho153KZiarnwlVFQs5AQs/w640-h480/IMG_0864.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaziWHL6fqZW24iA-fG2s6YJ9-oqf9o0X806_deAgnu41rbvUnTsYUD7Z4Nl1uIBYbNVt-sOJAl2d3UzGh3p8RSQZe4UWSXT1M3QR48HmAGR5Ody2ewA8DhqVdd0L43I0b9THEGYP-u6Xh-493Np_q6K_cRhl5xBsTtSiRPqPMmTx-uJ21cpbglpyNWk/s4032/IMG_0859.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMaziWHL6fqZW24iA-fG2s6YJ9-oqf9o0X806_deAgnu41rbvUnTsYUD7Z4Nl1uIBYbNVt-sOJAl2d3UzGh3p8RSQZe4UWSXT1M3QR48HmAGR5Ody2ewA8DhqVdd0L43I0b9THEGYP-u6Xh-493Np_q6K_cRhl5xBsTtSiRPqPMmTx-uJ21cpbglpyNWk/w640-h480/IMG_0859.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I enjoyed a most restorative weekend and I think my batteries recharge will last for the week ahead. <div><br /></div><div>I finished podcast recording late on Friday, about 23:30 pm. I a moment of what can only be described as temporary loss of my faculties I have agreed to podcast every two weeks on a Friday at 22:15. But it is better than any other day of the week really because on Saturdays, I can stay in bed longer</div><div><br /></div><div>I spent a good while pottering around on Saturday morning, cleaning what needed cleaning (rather a lot after a weekend away...). It is quite relaxing really, cleaning is. I can think of worse chores. Jack and I went for a long walk and I did for once not care about him exploring the wilderness around us and disappear for ages. He is rather small and therfore tricky to spot in the undergrowth. He also has a habit of finding and entering badger sets, not a good idea. All was well on this occasion. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took Alistair winter coat shopping because we have no hand me downs at the moment. I put a positive spin on this by reasoning with myself it would be a good opportunity to spend a bit of one-on-one time with my youngest, who is struggling with life a bit. We really need to follow up his CAMHS referral, it has been 15 months since his clinical pre-screening. The waiting times are shocking, and detrimental to Alistair's development. Alas, shopping. We visited three shops but found that teenage/young adult sizes are no longer stocked in store. Weird, yes? We did find a extra small adult jacket that had all the features he asked for (non-detachable hood, pockets, black, waterproof). On our way back we stopped at IKEA on our to buy a toilet seat, toilet brushes and picture frames. Glamourous. We chatted and generally had a good time together. </div><div><br /></div><div>To wind down, I made a new sleep mask because I left mine in our London hotel last weekend. An sleep mask is essential for my good sleep, I guess a bit like a weighted blanket for others. I used the free <a href="https://blog.closetcorepatterns.com/sleep-masks-for-everyone-a-free-eye-mask-pattern/" target="_blank">Closet Core pattern</a>, which is quite fun and made without elastic but with velcro closure instead, which is good because the elastic always wears out too soon.</div><div><br /></div><div>On Sunday I was taking it easy because I am participating in a study that required me to eat specific foods at specific times on this day, with fasting in between. Some of the food was blue to track gut passage time. It was also disgusting, even the natural coloured stuff. I had to collect a poo and a blood sample. I have quite a few more tasks to do over the next two weeks, for example logging food for three days, and use a blood sugar sensor and track that regularly. I am interested in the gut microbiome and its effects on physical and mental health. Participating in the study hopefully provides more data for the researchers and a maybe an understanding of how my body reacts to foods. I am most interested in my microbiome profile. Fingers crossed I am hosting the good guys.</div><div><br /></div><div>In between eating blue food and pricking my finger for blood I refilled bird feeders, listened to a story, cut fabric for the half blocks for my Ice Cream Soda quilt, unpicked a faux turtle neck from a long sleeved t-shirt and replaced it with a simple crew neckband. I forgot to plant the tulip bulbs. After finishing my last test I finally had a decent hot and milky coffee, which was wonderful. </div><div><br /></div><div>I am already looking forward to next weekend. Work is so busy this time of year, it is all I really do during the week. That and staying on top of family meals, teenage activities and keeping the laundry pile from collapsing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for visiting. </div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-58477012888079500192023-11-08T14:46:00.002+00:002023-11-08T14:46:34.697+00:00a weekend away<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8G-TeKVx_2hj_dysY78YrsO2pn3CCWqpasdbRjS3dLiGSuV39O6HF3foLAlLzFZMnSstsIMZM7YdEhAD5rpiSr0EISpthFYpyVIHaYW6tVOMLK9ExHFrOygMjalfVKAZVgxG_8IJw8X7dCWOSkSzOp_AA2bSqIncXxTB8JhhSl08lN6qJMCP-HaOc4AI/s4032/IMG_0815.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8G-TeKVx_2hj_dysY78YrsO2pn3CCWqpasdbRjS3dLiGSuV39O6HF3foLAlLzFZMnSstsIMZM7YdEhAD5rpiSr0EISpthFYpyVIHaYW6tVOMLK9ExHFrOygMjalfVKAZVgxG_8IJw8X7dCWOSkSzOp_AA2bSqIncXxTB8JhhSl08lN6qJMCP-HaOc4AI/w640-h480/IMG_0815.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhn4ScOLbFQFhbHJsThQAXbSHUPxURM75F_RDAWvYIaTNdWaHqAze7XoqBKwqOpxn3C05p1evoqs8cOE5zI9m9PV2krsPN9wplD1mTJM9V77QU0HVDbT5kxkWYa9tj5Wc704j7RAWVhx7Q4UFlH5klod9jzxQL6Hscnoh1k5wBOtDE-B5HTTIrv6hhAk/s4032/IMG_0813.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhn4ScOLbFQFhbHJsThQAXbSHUPxURM75F_RDAWvYIaTNdWaHqAze7XoqBKwqOpxn3C05p1evoqs8cOE5zI9m9PV2krsPN9wplD1mTJM9V77QU0HVDbT5kxkWYa9tj5Wc704j7RAWVhx7Q4UFlH5klod9jzxQL6Hscnoh1k5wBOtDE-B5HTTIrv6hhAk/w640-h480/IMG_0813.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n4zCsNvt_uuC6U7J7hisI9pYi3R4KhHPZHKB1uxztwCH3H57hkyF-k5SsOg9yA8Rna7_EdMAI-zZFjVg8rITNMMLKKyPILWfpAIDEGA4EZt683AKXvE4QDOUlZXDEsw2hym_PUsbK82A_YGaRXf4Vr-9VcLGwEh-5DelYNko2sQnwPnH8BJVgFJppK0/s4032/IMG_0811.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9n4zCsNvt_uuC6U7J7hisI9pYi3R4KhHPZHKB1uxztwCH3H57hkyF-k5SsOg9yA8Rna7_EdMAI-zZFjVg8rITNMMLKKyPILWfpAIDEGA4EZt683AKXvE4QDOUlZXDEsw2hym_PUsbK82A_YGaRXf4Vr-9VcLGwEh-5DelYNko2sQnwPnH8BJVgFJppK0/w640-h480/IMG_0811.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy-z6x0EqK-9zBKUqTYrbnQUPO2kzEIjto4JgyiG1ezwuq_OP-W62Tp0aHDGxEaKdbP4HPwTmhC-YH9ulD4J1NLxzm8oqbV6UvKvO9KBAkEXw2kbpb737rROiMF22gjxi3SC0uCcxLhBcDaEi2Ose-MAHd5BcZWZ5DcsG_bA7-vuz3SuwTa3tGlheVs8/s4032/IMG_0807.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDy-z6x0EqK-9zBKUqTYrbnQUPO2kzEIjto4JgyiG1ezwuq_OP-W62Tp0aHDGxEaKdbP4HPwTmhC-YH9ulD4J1NLxzm8oqbV6UvKvO9KBAkEXw2kbpb737rROiMF22gjxi3SC0uCcxLhBcDaEi2Ose-MAHd5BcZWZ5DcsG_bA7-vuz3SuwTa3tGlheVs8/w640-h480/IMG_0807.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-q18qZXXUuafk5q3Bs3HcsdEqBEgHUHgu4qVeIevnTTzTL8egN0BsAkuvTyyY2IMzGJNitc46Uho4Qb7KKowUNwsE8ql9aZ-Jl7cl2NpZ1Ny9oousxJSGJQWs1m-pEcpsG9aLPuvhIf-BiUVLZhXFMzHXwqh6bk5nUJpe7VC2G8jbVXs-NgBajeSMdY/s4032/IMG_0808.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-q18qZXXUuafk5q3Bs3HcsdEqBEgHUHgu4qVeIevnTTzTL8egN0BsAkuvTyyY2IMzGJNitc46Uho4Qb7KKowUNwsE8ql9aZ-Jl7cl2NpZ1Ny9oousxJSGJQWs1m-pEcpsG9aLPuvhIf-BiUVLZhXFMzHXwqh6bk5nUJpe7VC2G8jbVXs-NgBajeSMdY/w640-h480/IMG_0808.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5KTPmEDC810qUPEe99vvOUfqLjPgQnWK4xW4fjw3AWc7PwrR48gkw6yvZQrCllfcD18cYQAGmE0-hYcH149uCIjn7sJvJIH5Q9oGJ8T2fFOpiqFY2QN-IBskWUCGbFdT4l6CJUeizeWNoxO4-60QETqeeKJu2rRZRTNkGV38JMJxtDsNlUS0SP09QMM/s4032/IMG_0810.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5KTPmEDC810qUPEe99vvOUfqLjPgQnWK4xW4fjw3AWc7PwrR48gkw6yvZQrCllfcD18cYQAGmE0-hYcH149uCIjn7sJvJIH5Q9oGJ8T2fFOpiqFY2QN-IBskWUCGbFdT4l6CJUeizeWNoxO4-60QETqeeKJu2rRZRTNkGV38JMJxtDsNlUS0SP09QMM/w640-h480/IMG_0810.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Last week, I met the lovely Dorothy and Patrick from <a href="https://thefrogandpenguinn.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Frog & PinguINN</a> over in Edinburgh. They were at the end of a tour of Ireland and decided to add a few days in Scotland. We visited the Museum of Scotland together but we definitely chatted more than we viewed exhibits. I had such a lovely time and I really enjoyed meeting Dorothy and Patrick, old blog friends, in person. </p><p>On Friday, Richard and I went to London. Before I tell you about this I need to vent. Trains in the UK are s**t. There, I said it. We had to change to a different service in Crewe but his service was cancelled because (and I am not joking) there was not enough staff to run it. We could not hop on the next service to London because it was operated by a different train company. The next available service had to accommodate all passengers from the cancelled connection. It was also very delayed. We had to stand for the entire trip. As you can imagine, this was not fun. On the way back we opted for the East Coast service because it can be faster and is usually more reliable than West Coast Avanti. Alas, not this time. We stopped outside York for more than 2 hours because of some signalling failure. Utter pish. If this was the first time, I would be less annoyed but it is a regular occurrence for train trips from Scotland to London, and back. Last time I had to make alternative arrangements because my train to Glasgow terminated in Preston for no obvious reasons. I am booked on the Caledonian Sleeper for a work trip to London at the end of the month and I hope it is a bit less terrible. </p><p>I am done complaining now. </p><p>Although delayed, we were just in time to drop our bags and get to our ballet performance at the Royal Opera in Covent Garden. I got us painfully expensive tickets for Don Quixote. It was marvellous, worth the money, for sure. I enjoyed every minute of it. The set was astounding, the cast impressive, the dancing beautiful. Just fabulous. I even feel forgiveness for the Β£11 pound hummus sandwich purchased at the bar for sharing before the performance (because we had no time for dinner). In my ballet class I am learning a short dance with music from Don Quixote. I was very excited to hear the segment, part of a solo dance by the main heroine in act one. We ended the evening with a very late and rather mediocre Lebanese dinner in the only open place we found. Where are all the chippies when you need them late at night? Maybe a Glaswegian thing? </p><p>On Saturday we explored London on foot, eventually ending up at the Hayward Gallery in the Southbank Centre. It currently exhibits Hiroshi Sugimoto's work. He is an incredible photographer, really creative and not afraid of the unusual. I absolutely loved it, as did Richard. I can't decide if I liked his dioramas most, or the photographs of theatres and cinemas. I would be happy to hang his work in my house. Alas, no posters for sale and no money in the bank for a print. Maybe in my next life. We walked some more, had a spot of lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant and then went back to our hotel for a brief cooling down of our feet, and to get ready for the evening.</p><p>In the evening we attended the wedding reception of Richard's oldest school friend. It was a joyous party with good food, good speeches and good company, and a very happy couple. It was another late night for us but it was a wonderful evening and well worth being a bit tired the following day. I wore a bright green dress and trainers. Because the invite said dress to party and I knew there would be dancing because we were asked to submit favourite songs for the DJ. This, we forgot of course. I also didn't dance, I preferred to chat at the bar, which was more quiet.</p><p>Sunday after breakfast we made our way to Kings Cross for our trip back (see above).</p><p>Meanwhile in Glasgow, Sam was staying with James and Alistair. It is so nice to have a responsible adult child who is happy to spend time with his little brothers, feed them and help the do the school uniform laundry. James had a cross country race and Alistair went to his youth group. Other than that, I don't think they left the house much. The ate take-aways and bacon rolls and thought it was fabulous. </p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-21861786645115810372023-10-30T09:19:00.006+00:002023-10-30T09:19:54.426+00:00October ...ing<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSgDGgV_wz-su9OleY6iGBQJUID1Iwee2nh-5Yyz1RSTalDNCoaLQuYfBSfyLesdYAgbqaH2d7PmWRI764vdJfUX22su3yP7mHUr23RLafpQEd1Y-nTm9-UZudIW0t3CWcgsUhW51rI7SKCyiFHqb3P0yyFzN5fH1xsyKf1vXemyoLZelJnduyNcE4Yo/s4032/IMG_0777.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSgDGgV_wz-su9OleY6iGBQJUID1Iwee2nh-5Yyz1RSTalDNCoaLQuYfBSfyLesdYAgbqaH2d7PmWRI764vdJfUX22su3yP7mHUr23RLafpQEd1Y-nTm9-UZudIW0t3CWcgsUhW51rI7SKCyiFHqb3P0yyFzN5fH1xsyKf1vXemyoLZelJnduyNcE4Yo/w640-h480/IMG_0777.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooLsq80qqsg_ZUqaOFkrp1Pe2vUi0ecLxud5TUXFdlfN8xPaC02FYc_IfhDoAcQUD2-1a6djIQu9C0tUOQkOsW8cmHc-gWirv2tfI4r9tVzomNTOOh0MXR8lsAl94NvPE1DzhoJX-4Yu9UyYgGVnYmkrmaNqQGsqoynYUzznyqYEUQQksFBVSNDFG594/s4032/IMG_0780.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiooLsq80qqsg_ZUqaOFkrp1Pe2vUi0ecLxud5TUXFdlfN8xPaC02FYc_IfhDoAcQUD2-1a6djIQu9C0tUOQkOsW8cmHc-gWirv2tfI4r9tVzomNTOOh0MXR8lsAl94NvPE1DzhoJX-4Yu9UyYgGVnYmkrmaNqQGsqoynYUzznyqYEUQQksFBVSNDFG594/w640-h480/IMG_0780.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNW2xUwCXqcKzVmAYNWaVlRrzzvDRKrMBr15CxSed9v7KNuWVBXxgjCtsO9eJB8iRT0P0WagEgfMgsPlkykrR6UVCHGvC5i-i7h-62FRDfORa9Ny_lh6aTJ-oDSdyqBgo1TJiY2zQS3_P4GPw0xlHU8Ha6aK7Rnkcl5r7qvuCOk_Nr8taqocrbiY8ZO0/s4032/IMG_0782.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNW2xUwCXqcKzVmAYNWaVlRrzzvDRKrMBr15CxSed9v7KNuWVBXxgjCtsO9eJB8iRT0P0WagEgfMgsPlkykrR6UVCHGvC5i-i7h-62FRDfORa9Ny_lh6aTJ-oDSdyqBgo1TJiY2zQS3_P4GPw0xlHU8Ha6aK7Rnkcl5r7qvuCOk_Nr8taqocrbiY8ZO0/w640-h480/IMG_0782.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I have nothing much on my camera roll this month, or nothing I have not shared already. Just three photos of a recent walk with Jack, up in the woods. <br /><p></p><p>:: <b>Listening</b> to "<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58881197-paper-cup" target="_blank">Paper cup</a>" by Karen Campbell. Not an easy read but excellent so far, and thought provoking. Kelly, the homeless heroine really tugs at my heartstrings, a lost soul. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">:: <b>Observing<span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></b>the garden birds whenever I can (often during work Zoom meetings). It is busy by the feeders, downright frantic when I put the sunflower seeds out. The mixed seeds last a bit longer.</p><p style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">:: </span><b>W</b><b style="font-weight: 400;">atching</b> Star Trek, the newest series, Strange New Worlds. I am enjoying this, quite traditional Star. No weird spore drive and extra galactic adventures so far. Other programmes that are entertaining me are This Farming Life and Planet Earth III. </p><p>:: <b>Buying</b> tulip bulbs because Ricky, our resident squirrel has been busy digging mine up. There might be more than one Ricky actually. Greedy things, squirrels.</p><p>:: <b>Noticing </b>the darkness in the morning. The return to winter time makes little difference if you live in the north and get up early.</p><p>:: <b>Sewing</b> a second "unwearable" garment. I am puzzled, I made minor changes to a favourite and often used pattern, the Sudley dress by Megan Nielsen. I am not sure what went wrong but it is too baggy (even for a loose fitting garment). I don't have the energy to think about it just now and will probably make a simple top from the skirt part at some point.</p><p>:: <b>Looking forward </b>to a wedding party in London. It is rare that friends our age get married, a rare treat.</p><p>:: <b>Hoping </b>to get tickets for Don Quixote at the Royal Ballet in London for the first weekend in November. There seem to be none at the moment but we have a backup plan for a recital at Wigmore Hall.</p><p>:: <b>Shopping</b> in Chicago. I was a bit on a mission actually, looking for a black version of a green pair of trousers I already have, from Anthropologie. The UK shop does not cater well for fat women. Shame on them, we do exist and we like to wear nice clothes, too. I didn't find the trousers I wanted but I returned home with a bright orange pair instead, a Denise the Menace jumper and a couple of additional tops. </p><p>:: <b>Trying </b>to use up annual leave, I have far too many days left and can only carry over 5. I am not surprised I feel done in. Normally, we have a family holiday in October, which replenishes my energy stores until the Christmas break. This year, I went to a conference instead. While good, certainly not relaxing.</p><p>:: <b>Starting</b> a Learning & Teaching Leader programme. I appreciate the opportunity. Us lecturers on a learning, teaching an scholarship track are not always appreciated for what we do and it is good to see that the senior management considers it worthwhile investing in this career track at long last.</p><p>:: <b>Cutting </b>the final 4 full blocks for my Ice Cream Soda quilt. I hope to finish these in November. Then I have 8 half blocks left, and the corners. Then I'll agonise over the shade of white to join all the blocks together... Maybe in the new year, I am ready to start a new quilt.</p><p>Unusually, I really had to think about things to add to this post. I wonder if I maybe slept through half the month? May November be more interesting. Thanks for visiting π</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-78755235847021250682023-10-24T08:45:00.003+01:002023-10-24T08:45:57.536+01:00back from Chicago<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKczX6kbOq-NqNcAhHEZ_uIExUkA9quPbb_sQrpcR-Z7XPmVim01O3Rs43l9lR8KTonpkzHOXbq7dKGAz82lVBS-AmkIbAmrDfuI3NmyfofI-kk16u2UJ_o7bBOueEEPZG8TV34BH3qP8OOik70L7GtLwYxyIlMdzWDf3sfr8ZnCN4uXMjpO_NoA7hjvs/s4032/IMG_0741.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKczX6kbOq-NqNcAhHEZ_uIExUkA9quPbb_sQrpcR-Z7XPmVim01O3Rs43l9lR8KTonpkzHOXbq7dKGAz82lVBS-AmkIbAmrDfuI3NmyfofI-kk16u2UJ_o7bBOueEEPZG8TV34BH3qP8OOik70L7GtLwYxyIlMdzWDf3sfr8ZnCN4uXMjpO_NoA7hjvs/w640-h480/IMG_0741.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HhA44Re_WsGL9_uhtLokv4a5o6ECvveZ9hUbdE4U_eDPLghPOGxBR0O0CeeOUwFIZhH4PMCnXSywHbH9Sz355tOmlUCsDjOJeUf_0vnIMdTlOG3GjdbQV0EuX_pvkEkgKnjO71cMtwirE81ggyOmjWQAChxbMGN3gNi0JyyMa6cVXymiz22Ip3eTytM/w640-h480/IMG_0771.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aAdEblzklobjnk5CDclwXEnvMGcWHyBndAxRfS1Lis-fQIfY4jNHd3hh_Yrz62vh4JqIgNcbYYk5xBdN42UToMlxsQSn9kONIfnSZ_s9MkQuIZmOS-DZ4VSH_n0Ddj-uMt3SCbnePNkdKAe14_wgiVKnvBOKmcJHzLdcSUR-pu0TELnRz57jZEZ6ed8/s4032/IMG_0772.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aAdEblzklobjnk5CDclwXEnvMGcWHyBndAxRfS1Lis-fQIfY4jNHd3hh_Yrz62vh4JqIgNcbYYk5xBdN42UToMlxsQSn9kONIfnSZ_s9MkQuIZmOS-DZ4VSH_n0Ddj-uMt3SCbnePNkdKAe14_wgiVKnvBOKmcJHzLdcSUR-pu0TELnRz57jZEZ6ed8/w640-h480/IMG_0772.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was in Chicago. As was my suitcase, from day one. Those of you who have been visiting for a while know that I am not always lucky with luggage. Air travel is such a faff, I hate every minute of it. Back in January and by sheer luck, I got a flavour of business class travel when I went to Malawi and I now want to be rich so I never again have to fight over the armrest in economy, or touch knees with a stranger. <p></p><p>I checked into my hotel and got upgraded to a room with two gigantic beds. I am not sure I showed enough gratitude when I pointed out I did not need two king sized beds. I should have asked for breakfast instead because that is not included in the eye watering price. They pre-charged my card Β£543 for incidentals and there is not even a minibar in the room. No room service either so who knows what the incidentals might be. I kept myself awake on this arrival day, walking around the neighbourhood and stopping by a Whole Foods market to stock up my empty minibar fridge with dinner, breakfast, orange juice and milk. </p><p>Tuesday was a day of exploration and shopping because when you travel that far for a conference, you just have to add a bit of free time. I explored mostly on foot but also using the overground train. SIt is a funny old place, Chicago. Beautiful in some areas, pompous elsewhere and then there are pockets that are dark and in need of some attention. Flags everywhere and signs warning not to bring guns inside at many venues. Disconcerting. I wanted to end the day with a visit to the Art Institute but found it closed. It is a funny old place, Chicago. Beautiful in some areas, pompous elsewhere and then there are pockets that are dark and in need of some attention. Flags everywhere and signs warning not to bring guns inside at many venues. Disconcerting. </p><p>The first scientific sessions started on Wednesday morning. For the rest of my time in Chicago, I was on on my feet constantly, clocking up working hours like nothing else. I attended some good sessions, and some not so great ones. Some big figures in the field have not updated their slides since circa 2010. Shame on them. I recorded a podcast with my podcasting pals in the lobby of the hotel and spent some time at the exhibitor booth at the Parasites without Borders booth, talking to lots of people interested in their charitable work. I also went to a book reading I was invited to. I had already listened to the books so knew it would be worth my while. If you want to read one single book about parasitic diseases and the impact on families and societies these can have, make it <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61268043-the-kissing-bug?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=cEHn1JnqvM&rank=3" target="_blank">The Kissing Bug</a> by Daisy Hernandez. Daisy is a great storyteller and the book is also really well researched. The reading was followed by a reception with pretty and tasty finger foods. I went for dinner with podcast cohosts one evening and for late cocktails another. As I experienced before at conferences set in the US, interactions with others are warm and enthusiastic but fleeting. I made no new lasting contacts but strengthened the links with a few that I already had. </p><p>By Sunday lunchtime, I was done in. I thought I might go back to the Art Institute to see if it was open but in the end, I bought a sandwich and chilled out in my room until late checkout. The overnight flight home was uneventful with a long wait in Dublin on Monday. I purchased a day pass for a lounge and spent some time working on a lecture, drinking buckets of coffee. Although exhausted I went to ballet on Monday evening because otherwise, I would have gone to be and suffered for it for days. </p><p>Thanks for visiting. I hope to visit some blogs this week, too. It has been too long! π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-556940333751237352023-10-12T15:05:00.002+01:002023-10-12T15:05:42.124+01:00 October... what can I say<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhJRDz4AstNcDhkige1cmkMOCsfcTkdHT8h67FCp8vlCm9O8csvMWBfZEgldqjL43n4BFjTTt7MF6q0JwXcs7KDaVT37QpKtcx5SYXOV4W_LVr6cyastUOWB4IjIX2rnGdjaswu76LmA0O9s90bqsReMe9kar915qKXfd3Y8A3c369iPlD9SGOCTdkCg/s4032/IMG_0695.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyhJRDz4AstNcDhkige1cmkMOCsfcTkdHT8h67FCp8vlCm9O8csvMWBfZEgldqjL43n4BFjTTt7MF6q0JwXcs7KDaVT37QpKtcx5SYXOV4W_LVr6cyastUOWB4IjIX2rnGdjaswu76LmA0O9s90bqsReMe9kar915qKXfd3Y8A3c369iPlD9SGOCTdkCg/w640-h480/IMG_0695.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZHgZ3ClRvy3cZGjbaa8BLrspEva9BsLAKBqQUBAuKnFs-oyRnUPRRgyKDzrKwymweiRkz4XH6f3JTHAvK5FI1U69i7FJ9wUJSHzz-O7Ro-zGVBoKJIS1W1XccATVA0CgjxlIjuSJ3_DAg2_xqRrtHo_t6xb0FVZgDcEVWW_vi46IiMkYSmTtpXN1vyE/s4032/IMG_0705.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZHgZ3ClRvy3cZGjbaa8BLrspEva9BsLAKBqQUBAuKnFs-oyRnUPRRgyKDzrKwymweiRkz4XH6f3JTHAvK5FI1U69i7FJ9wUJSHzz-O7Ro-zGVBoKJIS1W1XccATVA0CgjxlIjuSJ3_DAg2_xqRrtHo_t6xb0FVZgDcEVWW_vi46IiMkYSmTtpXN1vyE/w640-h480/IMG_0705.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rKP2uSbShdbsuut-KuHjzvKnMRHSB61aION11c06-xfx-b1GCcqra95rqTnz7HiUnyvdmS2iswNUs_VmlKSIWR0ufc_9atK7YFlHdBOmHiQqWPpMOitbmPti5uc-SJoST04q6z1ynBJwQT3WaQrIRgJsVrKZqIG7GBRiJnVmAOwpwMiUXNKVCsfl6gY/s4032/IMG_0708.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rKP2uSbShdbsuut-KuHjzvKnMRHSB61aION11c06-xfx-b1GCcqra95rqTnz7HiUnyvdmS2iswNUs_VmlKSIWR0ufc_9atK7YFlHdBOmHiQqWPpMOitbmPti5uc-SJoST04q6z1ynBJwQT3WaQrIRgJsVrKZqIG7GBRiJnVmAOwpwMiUXNKVCsfl6gY/w640-h480/IMG_0708.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">October... what can I say. I am not loving it so far. The weather has been awful, so bad indeed that Jack refused to leave the house on some days. If only I had that luxury! Last weekend was particularly wet. The poorly maintained drainage system in Glasgow didn't cope and on Saturday, the usual stretches of road flooded. I was on a mission to get supplies for the ravenous teenagers and I had booked my flu shot for Saturday evening. Against all recommendations, I had to go out. My clever detours to avoid the usual flood spots were not that clever, with a caravan stranded across two lanes on the dual carriageway. It was a "</span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201126.We_re_Going_on_a_Bear_Hunt?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=gu5GLjhhDi&rank=1" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank">We're Going on a Bear Hunt</a><span style="font-family: inherit;">" situation. You know, can't go over it, can't go under it, oh no, we've got to go through it... I also couldn't turn back because of traffic build up. I followed the car in front, getting on the elevated central reservation and slowly inching forward on the narrow strip, focusing on the distant shores. The elevation was also flooded but not as deep as the road. I tucked in mirrors to squeeze past a lamp post hoping not to drop of the ledge on the left side. Some larger cars were not as lucky. This was not the only questionable driving on that day but I'll spare you the detail. That was the most exciting event all week. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other than that, it is the usual mix of work, feeding teenagers and rescuing Jack when he gets stuck high up. I love that dog, warts and all. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for visiting π</span></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-22638501849079210362023-09-28T20:45:00.002+01:002023-09-28T20:45:42.398+01:00September ...ing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uNrezp7k4rZNZxJsZuVCplrgDSeFlQPrgjWgoM1DbUXWVD8apd3LCWLvixLRRJ32zdhp9P3_V3pQx4urZ7iB3de-rEpMjLGsZ5rzpP3G3PnHal8S5CGCWbIBRyz87swmBB8VT2cMSBz9gP2noJC4QIoHrxif1VY7qlm-2BWCte-_8Pu_DYq0k78Yy1g/s2000/Kinlochleven%20fire.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uNrezp7k4rZNZxJsZuVCplrgDSeFlQPrgjWgoM1DbUXWVD8apd3LCWLvixLRRJ32zdhp9P3_V3pQx4urZ7iB3de-rEpMjLGsZ5rzpP3G3PnHal8S5CGCWbIBRyz87swmBB8VT2cMSBz9gP2noJC4QIoHrxif1VY7qlm-2BWCte-_8Pu_DYq0k78Yy1g/w640-h640/Kinlochleven%20fire.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F4FwQV5mUyi8LCle6KWCaBhAk7PLFXiOc95uZrhX18Jqf1JXZ-gI7cqCF-ISEMSBfWfU-DDceCoulAUoIEzc27vwu9ADk2UTav_mPIPMpEp7mDCr6KKfz4mHedW0ttyJ8weunp_aboA5XwNOItghSYARb6cyEdYEfyX_-UPlQNOkIHmI8gBOf1CNf58/s4000/IMG_4173.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7F4FwQV5mUyi8LCle6KWCaBhAk7PLFXiOc95uZrhX18Jqf1JXZ-gI7cqCF-ISEMSBfWfU-DDceCoulAUoIEzc27vwu9ADk2UTav_mPIPMpEp7mDCr6KKfz4mHedW0ttyJ8weunp_aboA5XwNOItghSYARb6cyEdYEfyX_-UPlQNOkIHmI8gBOf1CNf58/w640-h480/IMG_4173.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRspuwHtTBXfhyphenhyphenjaZPfOPoOKQtJ_C4X1gufHpFwYfEhKzI7tbyfEsTxKV0Nis4O6q4iUpgLdM2DiSYzyMAg8IIvFvMXm7-Pva0P1ZSl8VOQhDDSG0Y8IEly2CradDQ5Hj6v_LNK3aIj9XCWFkXrMwla9bp9ffhb1tCzSkqDaut_CoXrB468tZPp-bJpw0/s4000/IMG_7004.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRspuwHtTBXfhyphenhyphenjaZPfOPoOKQtJ_C4X1gufHpFwYfEhKzI7tbyfEsTxKV0Nis4O6q4iUpgLdM2DiSYzyMAg8IIvFvMXm7-Pva0P1ZSl8VOQhDDSG0Y8IEly2CradDQ5Hj6v_LNK3aIj9XCWFkXrMwla9bp9ffhb1tCzSkqDaut_CoXrB468tZPp-bJpw0/w640-h480/IMG_7004.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5sS2qjnZGquZePAddkzaXBWNn_REhIT847XByajyvIlhq-wW2A66cZLbbyUWfo7lKegx_fOZreV_TB1MoPnPkEXcpgPuXXsDHIVIB37XWwobCYsU_ve2j-qlc5v0u_yQsnmbhvNJtgPPTRbc88RUBQZVRGQc1O2qJWLVenQceLRcQzo7S0Nzom4bGvQ/s4320/IMG_1220.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG5sS2qjnZGquZePAddkzaXBWNn_REhIT847XByajyvIlhq-wW2A66cZLbbyUWfo7lKegx_fOZreV_TB1MoPnPkEXcpgPuXXsDHIVIB37XWwobCYsU_ve2j-qlc5v0u_yQsnmbhvNJtgPPTRbc88RUBQZVRGQc1O2qJWLVenQceLRcQzo7S0Nzom4bGvQ/w640-h480/IMG_1220.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNk6sMLKgb0cj4ZP8xGAKr85a5Ra7OJJ0zw_tEyPBAATiPGSynnEfk0WsBKZ_Wewe6tXhQK80KAcyutsGaUtKbnKEpygPKYIyP7Oa64PgQ6Lb4cQ30rrVeyzeClWwZqTGUzfPSRa3ioyqeR-yj8osNfI2KpEubMT_jxcotluj9deRcybf25OaMzk6ocE/s4320/IMG_1278.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3240" data-original-width="4320" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhNk6sMLKgb0cj4ZP8xGAKr85a5Ra7OJJ0zw_tEyPBAATiPGSynnEfk0WsBKZ_Wewe6tXhQK80KAcyutsGaUtKbnKEpygPKYIyP7Oa64PgQ6Lb4cQ30rrVeyzeClWwZqTGUzfPSRa3ioyqeR-yj8osNfI2KpEubMT_jxcotluj9deRcybf25OaMzk6ocE/w640-h480/IMG_1278.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>September used to be the month during which we have our last camping trip, always something to look forward too. Now, with our Happy Camper group "losing" children to adulthood, and marriages breaking up, we no longer go. But we all have those glorious memories of bacon rolls and campfires, and much more. And that is a good thing. I am sharing some old photos in memory of some fabulous camping trips (also nothing new on my camera). The new September for me is a month of never ending commitments, and all of it work related. Beginning of term, personal development reviews (mine and others), new and old project students all wanting to have an hour of my time, reminders to re-take expired HR courses, to name a few. This year I have the added bonus of having to review and redevelop an entire MSc programme, with a deadline in early October. Still, life is happening around this and some of it is fun, too. </p><p>Slowly <b>cleaning</b> upholstery around the house. When the outline of my head is clearly visible on the back of my favourite armchair, it is time to give it a good scrub. Boring but ultimately satisfying.</p><p>Also <b>tidying/cleaning</b> the utility room (aka dark cave where stuff gets shoved in, never to be seen again). I did this while listening to a science podcast about near death experience. Satisfying to see some order, and the floor. </p><p><b>Painting</b> our hallway walls and all the woodwork. I can't take credit for this of course but I do make tea and coffee for our wonderful decorator Davie. We went for "natural slate" aka warm medium dark grey. It looks perfect.</p><p><b>Choosing</b> new lights for the freshly decorated hallways. We need three. </p><p><b>Looking forward</b> to Mondays. I go to ballet on Monday evenings. I am trying to remember the names of all short sequences of dance we have been learning. Brushing up on my French at the same time. </p><p><b>Cursing</b> our bad luck with postal services. We sent two parcels to Annie in Norway. One took 5 weeks to arrive, the other 3. We only tracked the second one, it took almost two weeks to leave the UK. Then it was stuck in customs for a few days. </p><p><b>Coaxing</b> two reluctant teenagers to work on their first portfolio piece for their English National 5 qualifications, a personal essay for one, a discursive essay for the other. Let me tell you, it is not easy. </p><p><b>Having conversations</b> about the teens life pre-adoption. I hope this helps them understand aspects of their life that they find more challenging as they grow older. </p><p><b>Spending</b> too much time on an epic fail sewing project, <a href="https://theassemblylineshop.com/products/apron-dress-sewing-pattern?variant=32423022559291" target="_blank">The Assembly Line Apron Dress</a>. I shall fold it up nicely and donate to charity, maybe there is a body out there that can wear it. I made as a warm up to dungarees but might now review this plan.</p><p><b>Listening</b> to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/122854125-creation-node" target="_blank">The Creation Node</a> by Stephen Baxter. Solid first contact science fiction, I rather enjoyed it. Now listening to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/81360004-in-ascension" target="_blank">In Ascension</a> by Martin MacInnes. This is on the Booker Prize long list, which includes a few books I'll enjoy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2p5No9H_lDc-RsyzMwIMqibbLrWdMMMZSMXMbAlRSTXtILP9yCjDew0MrcO8HeNq8Ygpo9ukUuwTq94x2G2w7816htQOJeZYmwUFO9uwlTzSNH2pmzmumaI3QMI_xQw7IvxPfwmn_nOlw0xnWGmcdz3K-AJRRU9X0IR02D6j2xlTcz5jkS_YduKhqUI/s4032/IMG_0666.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2p5No9H_lDc-RsyzMwIMqibbLrWdMMMZSMXMbAlRSTXtILP9yCjDew0MrcO8HeNq8Ygpo9ukUuwTq94x2G2w7816htQOJeZYmwUFO9uwlTzSNH2pmzmumaI3QMI_xQw7IvxPfwmn_nOlw0xnWGmcdz3K-AJRRU9X0IR02D6j2xlTcz5jkS_YduKhqUI/w640-h480/IMG_0666.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><b>Eating</b> porridge for my breakfast. It is this time of year when a warm breakfast is welcome. I like mine with fruit. I made apple sauce with fallen apples from our tree, a nice porridge topping. I also bought frozen cherries because the cherry season is now well and truly over. </p><p><b>Airing</b> the winter duvet for those long cold nights ahead. </p><p><b>Watching </b>birds feasting on the cleaned and replenished feeders. </p><p><b>Saving up</b> for a shopping expedition in Chicago next month, while I am at a conference. I want to go to Anthropologie to top up my smart wardrobe. We have a branch in Edinburgh but their plus-sized choice is very limited. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yrqNFK84NJpAWxAM5Cwp6Ttmzx8UBw2kk6RgdKpruYlUKSjCSSf7WLu2aj1Krky4Armw-OxxbCocmf4Og6m9BVKq3RxNsBOjPIcYxQ0_MGZ62y7Jo09ct1z4qdKY3o6GgIsDwGw_SIQRD7Zo5BLKFciqoOsv0O-hecI-tWlySdpGfhqe7PJgDznZg0/s4032/IMG_0687.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH0yrqNFK84NJpAWxAM5Cwp6Ttmzx8UBw2kk6RgdKpruYlUKSjCSSf7WLu2aj1Krky4Armw-OxxbCocmf4Og6m9BVKq3RxNsBOjPIcYxQ0_MGZ62y7Jo09ct1z4qdKY3o6GgIsDwGw_SIQRD7Zo5BLKFciqoOsv0O-hecI-tWlySdpGfhqe7PJgDznZg0/w640-h480/IMG_0687.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoof3R7Bm090koSHdHU2rma-smyVoWhPgyGCYt5ODQP62cy3a4YxBDtwTdlXsschoVLm_fpiJ6s9n4xDnSpADNba4Hh2v_mX8wtELGS-WytBsMK8TTmPXUruB-sGOcHOhHt-cVhIYSIfVp852XlPWWNqJjjp6gTIiLwQ2qJdiPJNT9yfNGPrqF6GsK6Y/s4032/IMG_0688.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoof3R7Bm090koSHdHU2rma-smyVoWhPgyGCYt5ODQP62cy3a4YxBDtwTdlXsschoVLm_fpiJ6s9n4xDnSpADNba4Hh2v_mX8wtELGS-WytBsMK8TTmPXUruB-sGOcHOhHt-cVhIYSIfVp852XlPWWNqJjjp6gTIiLwQ2qJdiPJNT9yfNGPrqF6GsK6Y/w640-h480/IMG_0688.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p><b>Cracking- on</b> with my ice cream soda quilt. This has been two years in the making, I think although I am not sure, and I want it finished. I have 8 more blocks to make, then connect them all. I "need" my design wall back as I have another quilt brewing in my mind, which I want to start soon. </p><p>So that was September. Thank you for visiting π</p><p><br /></p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-15549710233439832032023-09-21T16:41:00.001+01:002023-09-21T16:41:26.812+01:00Recovered (I think)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFAUEChykJYqd63MWuMd2vqtjgAp5qoWYf7iYV_v-K0OfogKJzLd1yjvaVnvc2gWatYB3cok9YMOPhGDZpDP0N8A00pbpAgGTOPC3oGw2JS8bQUtR4zY5gyvoAw7tLzTo_Gmb8lUdh6-w0wiGcRzF8ZgSmvkY8XWZYTUZeMb4ZNTVxiNgs5afv6_IxR8/s4032/IMG_0651.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikFAUEChykJYqd63MWuMd2vqtjgAp5qoWYf7iYV_v-K0OfogKJzLd1yjvaVnvc2gWatYB3cok9YMOPhGDZpDP0N8A00pbpAgGTOPC3oGw2JS8bQUtR4zY5gyvoAw7tLzTo_Gmb8lUdh6-w0wiGcRzF8ZgSmvkY8XWZYTUZeMb4ZNTVxiNgs5afv6_IxR8/w640-h480/IMG_0651.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTeBckZGNrAjcwrpBNGqrnz_kW1EoL7Re3-B0tU-_DRvXRrcv7slTA_mQJE6kCvQAJPOjomrNUZQYfseYWqMsY2pwmqod_cqKkN8KtLLQDwq-WgqtWeRjxQYspkasGowkxOTAcZ1p1dOVjJllBVrL_gyUZWhaI1g-41YNpIFsDdWswSv4pKnzVC9-bCA/s4032/IMG_0659.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTeBckZGNrAjcwrpBNGqrnz_kW1EoL7Re3-B0tU-_DRvXRrcv7slTA_mQJE6kCvQAJPOjomrNUZQYfseYWqMsY2pwmqod_cqKkN8KtLLQDwq-WgqtWeRjxQYspkasGowkxOTAcZ1p1dOVjJllBVrL_gyUZWhaI1g-41YNpIFsDdWswSv4pKnzVC9-bCA/w640-h480/IMG_0659.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0Dy-ppdca7NHZRUzhNjAu_bj0HeG3CAo3_5u8gzRS2vVjrT9clEU8VSImaxmOIR_qkIqvct7APV7epqF-jQV9BmmUx6v3b-silTFl6czfMvW54T1LCGJtL4pZV6Ybpn0Gr7bafSTQtpexgl8JqQajIzQUN_5B6EXVYhqgbhkwSfRqQDw_y_LB0rvqpc/s4032/IMG_0661.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil0Dy-ppdca7NHZRUzhNjAu_bj0HeG3CAo3_5u8gzRS2vVjrT9clEU8VSImaxmOIR_qkIqvct7APV7epqF-jQV9BmmUx6v3b-silTFl6czfMvW54T1LCGJtL4pZV6Ybpn0Gr7bafSTQtpexgl8JqQajIzQUN_5B6EXVYhqgbhkwSfRqQDw_y_LB0rvqpc/w640-h480/IMG_0661.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQacQPX9tByMYXcrm8rKRZbkOo1aJC4YnE_ZcXoyn6JXvFOKDfqD5Uoih65mQgiPRUfn_PZ0Q9KomziCrsf7FdbWGY7D2-3vt4e3Timzht696vsaIuwfoEsWJT8XaUwuNt7MSXqCc8teNVr9e7sni2AeWUL2G5OU4rtrQstg2Eb6IPWIJQLGXwis2K00/s4032/IMG_0663.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQQacQPX9tByMYXcrm8rKRZbkOo1aJC4YnE_ZcXoyn6JXvFOKDfqD5Uoih65mQgiPRUfn_PZ0Q9KomziCrsf7FdbWGY7D2-3vt4e3Timzht696vsaIuwfoEsWJT8XaUwuNt7MSXqCc8teNVr9e7sni2AeWUL2G5OU4rtrQstg2Eb6IPWIJQLGXwis2K00/w640-h480/IMG_0663.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Thanks for all your kind messages, wishing me well. What a miserable week of ear infections and acne woes that was. You'll be pleased to read that I am much better. My ear infection has cleared up. My acne treatment is ongoing but it will be some time before this becomes apparent. <p></p><p>In the meantime, I am trying to look less red on my Zooms. I found a filter that achieves that but makes me look like a three day old corpse. I have yet to decide what I find less disturbing - ruddy red or cadaverous pale. I'll play with lighting next. Maybe a ring light I can attach to my large screen? Back in the days when I was teaching in the lecture theatre, I never worried about stuff like that. All I needed to feel confident was good notes and my Doc Martens Mary Jane heels. Now, with everything recorded, I am less confident. I don't just worry about my appearance, I also spend a lot of time editing my audio recordings. On a positive note, on a visual representation of my recorded voice, I recognise intakes of breath with precision. Also the door bell and dog barks. A useful skill, yes? I'll add it to the skills section on my CV.</p><p>The first week of term is going well. I think. A few hiccups with our newly updated virtual learning environment and the usual proportion of students that do not read messages or announcements, or would prefer for these to be hand-delivered to their their homes, preferably written on parchment and sealed with wax. Maybe accompanied by an expressive dance. One student (a few years ago) asked me to communicate with their PA. I am not kidding. It may be not surprising that I often feel the urge to scream. Alas, the vast majority of students are really keen and engaged.</p><p>In other news, I am agonising over paint colours and degrees of matt-ness. "Deep fossil" or "natural slate"? On the colour chart, these are very similar shades of medium dark grey. The last time I saw a fossil, it was brownish beige and we have a slate roof, which looks nothing like "natural slate", it is a deep dark grey. To think that someone is probably paid to do market research on paint names. I assume the name is about the market appeal, rather than the actual colour. Me, I like HEX codes or RGB codes or descriptors like medium dark grey. The paint is destined to adorn our hallway walls. </p><p>Finally, Jack has learned to levitate. I find him in all sorts of high places, looking for food. Unfortunately, he has not mastered coming down from high places yet. Imperfect levitation! I wonder if he is developing dog dementia, manifesting, for now, with stubbornness. Richard of course ridicules this idea, saying that trying to steal food is nothing new. That is true, but not to the extent he does now. Right now Jack is having a wee snooze after a busy early morning of raiding teen bedrooms, looking for cereal bowls and other assorted potentially edible things. </p><p>I don't have many photos on my phone for the past few weeks, just a few random ones of splashes of colour in our garden. </p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-48885105171334481262023-09-15T08:11:00.002+01:002023-09-15T08:11:33.645+01:00interlude<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zM1Jy3_pzXAMFdbYf9KW4oY5JpuIi_HLSNVwX_JbOAxr-31CAqSjUI5lIXhlH7xOLXuoGQN__MOlu1tG68v3UCaK1-EHmaUwsIdu2P4dQRm9H93NraRF-tGSXlRMovtSdCci1MEoFzsmpNSaOGsAQhipu4f-uOlQGcNNh9o3j2RDWzIDctgWMkPw4tU/s4032/IMG_0672.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-zM1Jy3_pzXAMFdbYf9KW4oY5JpuIi_HLSNVwX_JbOAxr-31CAqSjUI5lIXhlH7xOLXuoGQN__MOlu1tG68v3UCaK1-EHmaUwsIdu2P4dQRm9H93NraRF-tGSXlRMovtSdCci1MEoFzsmpNSaOGsAQhipu4f-uOlQGcNNh9o3j2RDWzIDctgWMkPw4tU/w480-h640/IMG_0672.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It has been a while since I last posted....</p><p>Readers, I am falling apart. Aging gracefully is not how I do it. I am plagued by terrible acne, which really hurts. An infectious disease doctor colleague I had not seen in a year pointed out that I had a painful looking cold sore on my cheeks. Good one, mate. I tried the over the counter acyclovir after receiving this pub diagnosis. It makes no difference. I also developed a double sided ear infection, which means I was popping pain killers at the maximum allowable daily dose, timer in hand to not miss a dose. The pain! I feel it deserves an exclamation mark. </p><p>A GP visit later I now have both acne treatment and antibiotic/anti-inflammatory ear drops. The acne will take weeks to make a difference but the ear infection is clearing up after a few days of treatment and my ears now discharge less ominous matter. I am starting to feel more like myself again. </p><p>I'll catch up with you all soon. Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-39451889681827012762023-08-30T16:01:00.000+01:002023-08-30T16:01:00.973+01:00August ...ing<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJDLJzEbORPtp66WhHEM52pb7ycWtgGFUgdpzliANNd5BCO_9mQ8IDaUxQLdGnSWs1ETAE04KaucKUUn65UwccZtGErKZODSXKOkGYO02qJkNMyYt_EM5NN82WtS6djl7BojHJa9-S-jNxJkS8DchDOiebNsL_wtZihcj36uk2dNVlsniZIdXOZLOK6Q/s4032/IMG_0615.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtJDLJzEbORPtp66WhHEM52pb7ycWtgGFUgdpzliANNd5BCO_9mQ8IDaUxQLdGnSWs1ETAE04KaucKUUn65UwccZtGErKZODSXKOkGYO02qJkNMyYt_EM5NN82WtS6djl7BojHJa9-S-jNxJkS8DchDOiebNsL_wtZihcj36uk2dNVlsniZIdXOZLOK6Q/w640-h480/IMG_0615.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB7JvOtTid5joF70m9q2qsud0pT5N1tO-bw-1vXKTXKtlYhWxqzhjYip-wccX3cDoIWh-Ccvub__45XMjW-7wouAjTlBxTmlcUoyfei2qH7bo5Gvp1aVum0av8UFNasAmkKwh54vYy3XQI6JjTeJRp91nCPD26VaOWSBoWhLswKfQkdCEXKDjz-k0kJ4/s4032/IMG_0644.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB7JvOtTid5joF70m9q2qsud0pT5N1tO-bw-1vXKTXKtlYhWxqzhjYip-wccX3cDoIWh-Ccvub__45XMjW-7wouAjTlBxTmlcUoyfei2qH7bo5Gvp1aVum0av8UFNasAmkKwh54vYy3XQI6JjTeJRp91nCPD26VaOWSBoWhLswKfQkdCEXKDjz-k0kJ4/w640-h480/IMG_0644.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BwgxzwKbuX__f3Jr1EhdAMCZ6FO8KZ_-piJ-82R0MTomgAComlHeEMy6WEIbJIcg3bBEXAyemf49XPiJ3Nq9Yqdlkdg0n873dmoGbSBBONT-c7E8QgOXe8vAP9Hc8kfDnZX72t_MD8PvcE8n0L2DsQtwapxR9jzYZG6_R8oEo1_uEHVHNvaoCiSu2Rg/s4032/IMG_0626.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BwgxzwKbuX__f3Jr1EhdAMCZ6FO8KZ_-piJ-82R0MTomgAComlHeEMy6WEIbJIcg3bBEXAyemf49XPiJ3Nq9Yqdlkdg0n873dmoGbSBBONT-c7E8QgOXe8vAP9Hc8kfDnZX72t_MD8PvcE8n0L2DsQtwapxR9jzYZG6_R8oEo1_uEHVHNvaoCiSu2Rg/w640-h480/IMG_0626.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R5OZsRM8XAIAX1XM7gkyL28YtdsOjssaduqsQKR5VP5C2njGInucPmldR2ZNNgLmVtSIlymG_AmD4vxrzeOfhb63Ra8osksumXM_5IAE32vP_ppzl2GVUt_oTPvWVOYJcb17-fVPynN5UbMhei5kA9b_EWGL6en4yZHogn0CmWmSy8AY_DIn77bFKys/s4032/IMG_0576.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0R5OZsRM8XAIAX1XM7gkyL28YtdsOjssaduqsQKR5VP5C2njGInucPmldR2ZNNgLmVtSIlymG_AmD4vxrzeOfhb63Ra8osksumXM_5IAE32vP_ppzl2GVUt_oTPvWVOYJcb17-fVPynN5UbMhei5kA9b_EWGL6en4yZHogn0CmWmSy8AY_DIn77bFKys/w640-h480/IMG_0576.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack on his 9th birthday</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGltj_gZIGJe0oZHbqq8UbwWsks4Swmg4I9l5w372sdXCYN-XEPmkoN5EGom6zBk7N6FFlrlZ8mY5R9YdoBAVoNZ0zKAM3qHs1uVR57IGZ4Np45BflHGws5TSdUOl8qI76kJ-hkt0U4k_P9YcYEbjufkl9kOBw4_MpCviqccPysBNdoTmdiUARo2yKRo/s4032/IMG_0638.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGltj_gZIGJe0oZHbqq8UbwWsks4Swmg4I9l5w372sdXCYN-XEPmkoN5EGom6zBk7N6FFlrlZ8mY5R9YdoBAVoNZ0zKAM3qHs1uVR57IGZ4Np45BflHGws5TSdUOl8qI76kJ-hkt0U4k_P9YcYEbjufkl9kOBw4_MpCviqccPysBNdoTmdiUARo2yKRo/w640-h480/IMG_0638.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldjfQGhON7B__y-02pZERRh3h8sJbkQYDCrn-LxsI5_bZWfmNKYrYcW2EUGY1tst8NFKkVwjenTcNBUjncHNV_CZOULemwrGTggGEcG8vV1NnA_AaRhOwhJj6nfnYu-SHslz1oZQrlTax8roxvyEU8o2bFmFceobyJbmR4Csq3NF4hWnYeqhXB4d1DRQ/s4032/IMG_0640.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgldjfQGhON7B__y-02pZERRh3h8sJbkQYDCrn-LxsI5_bZWfmNKYrYcW2EUGY1tst8NFKkVwjenTcNBUjncHNV_CZOULemwrGTggGEcG8vV1NnA_AaRhOwhJj6nfnYu-SHslz1oZQrlTax8roxvyEU8o2bFmFceobyJbmR4Csq3NF4hWnYeqhXB4d1DRQ/w640-h480/IMG_0640.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FLfUNriZsOeQ1OMOXXQFdXrY9nxF2SsZX51cn8pmIEMAftyVSKyVck15x7CL7TnNEUIRzxBSBNePmqcZeU8V-z6YABboUo8ag4mOFqfWIvlsD0227KqJHHw6cDrMeIw1ADUsvmYztC4cBuPU9VAVp9O_vtq-AsZHXQMATc_Bpu1BlZvgU9zPrF5fENo/s4032/IMG_0643.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FLfUNriZsOeQ1OMOXXQFdXrY9nxF2SsZX51cn8pmIEMAftyVSKyVck15x7CL7TnNEUIRzxBSBNePmqcZeU8V-z6YABboUo8ag4mOFqfWIvlsD0227KqJHHw6cDrMeIw1ADUsvmYztC4cBuPU9VAVp9O_vtq-AsZHXQMATc_Bpu1BlZvgU9zPrF5fENo/w640-h480/IMG_0643.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9xQsZFzEP-wS7L2Z9dw8ABcEDG1AJkW0tVkL0wPe6HpsT6I6YsdyY9PgfrTOP_ipqRS38bo2jBoRic6CFVG33CI83aMDsnpIjlq9ttKJM2GBazNWCp2ki7qOHB-wNscpZSatCHE70OV92VUi9GXXZqxoy868pMKTkp0oXZq2bugaUUtdzoHRlV8QwNg/s4032/IMG_0636.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9xQsZFzEP-wS7L2Z9dw8ABcEDG1AJkW0tVkL0wPe6HpsT6I6YsdyY9PgfrTOP_ipqRS38bo2jBoRic6CFVG33CI83aMDsnpIjlq9ttKJM2GBazNWCp2ki7qOHB-wNscpZSatCHE70OV92VUi9GXXZqxoy868pMKTkp0oXZq2bugaUUtdzoHRlV8QwNg/w640-h480/IMG_0636.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking home after ballet, chiffon skirt and all</td></tr></tbody></table><b><br /></b></div><div>Time for another round-up of random news happening all through August.</div><div style="font-weight: bold;"><b><br /></b></div><b>Eating</b> porcini mushroom risotto with roast courgette and courgette fritter sandwiches. The courgettes are going wild in the garden and I expect I'll have a few more courgette based meals in the near future. When not eating variations of courgettes, I might have poached eggs and some kind of salad. <div><br /></div><div>Also <b>eating</b> and <b>loving</b> cherries. It is peak cherry season in the UK and I am planning to eat as many as I can every day for as long as possible. <br /><div><br /></div><div><b>Listening</b> to the Prophet by Helen Macdonald & Sin BlachΓ©. In short - boring with characters that are poorly developed and irritating. My fiction experience has been a bit disappointing lately, with the exception of Wandering Souls by Celine Pin, which was set in the context of the post Vietnam war refugee crisis. I really enjoyed this book and learned more about the aftermath of this conflict, too. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Enjoying </b>my first and second ballet class. I bought black chiffon wrap skirt instead of the tutu. For now. In my head I look graceful and elegant in class but I suspect I look exactly like a woman counting out the beat of the piano in her head. Teeth and buttocks clenched in concentration.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Witnessing</b> the successes of my children and <b>feeling proud</b> of their achievements. In August, Sam started a full time job after graduating. Annie moved to Norway for a term of study abroad. James completed two National 5 qualifications and successfully applied for Senior Phase College course, which enables him to experience further education part time while still at school. Alistair secured a place on a local football time and has scored his first goal. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Feeling</b> like the Rudbeckia flower you can see above looks. A bit tired around the edges and maybe still a little fabulous in the middle.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to <b>volunteering</b>, after a three week break. We are done fighting Himalyan Balsam for the year. There comes a point where the seed pods are ready to pop and it is really counterproductive to pull it up. We returned to a slope we partially cleared of another invasive, snowberry. We'll have to dig up the roots over in autumn and prepare the ground for wildflower meadow sewing. We planted hedging around the area and it is looking good. We also built a dead hedge in the back to create habitat for small creatures in the winter.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Wondering </b>about the impact a green-blue algae bloom in our local pond has on aquatic biodiversity. The pond water is an irridescent lime green.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Celebrating</b> Jack's 9th birthday. His special birthday dinner was a raw beef burger decorated with cat Dreamies, both woolfed down at the speed of light. I am glad Jack Russells are a long lived breed.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Preparing</b> to freshen up walls and stairs in our hallway, a major job. Richard already removed the carpets and underlay from the stairs, including a million of staples and nails that held them in place. I am choosing the paint colour. Admittedly, not the biggest job but absolutley the most important one.</div><div><br /></div><div></div><div>Absolutely<b> dreading </b>the new term. I have a feeling this might be the term that breaks me. There used to be a time in academia when summer could be used to catch-up with research and professional development but with year round teaching, this is just a beautiful, distant memory. I have failed to meet my personal development and research objectives this year. I'll just have to carry them over to the next review period. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Looking forward</b> however to travel to Chicago for a conference in October. It is not all doom and gloom.</div><div><br /></div><div>On this cheerful note, I'll leave you to finish your cup of coffee in peace. Thank you for visiting π</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div> </div></div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-32948690833748741942023-08-24T11:02:00.002+01:002023-08-24T11:02:38.045+01:00all better<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEXiZewuiRTpZpof9126iv4JH99xE4HC-t_btWn5f2EnIFXr9X75OUy8_sLLIvzaEaQDOsPuasdFCq9QcH4Ozd2ilGvqSuP2XIj9I8hC1z0hzJSdC0lFA7Xhvc0-6FszLJeTBPNmKA_kdtvtTOJYP0WVyaMXF5S3fzP4PV81jtYi4PIBwuXAVmXXOlt4/s4032/IMG_0594.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEXiZewuiRTpZpof9126iv4JH99xE4HC-t_btWn5f2EnIFXr9X75OUy8_sLLIvzaEaQDOsPuasdFCq9QcH4Ozd2ilGvqSuP2XIj9I8hC1z0hzJSdC0lFA7Xhvc0-6FszLJeTBPNmKA_kdtvtTOJYP0WVyaMXF5S3fzP4PV81jtYi4PIBwuXAVmXXOlt4/w640-h480/IMG_0594.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN_t3789l-9S6JgMsTMHP8TdgfEk1VN7dr6C75NoQiA9qmONeGnoAc7pyYhlHKff7JR40-wOmtfOvcaUcsJ7XS1YQjGdrC3UmVY0UebnLFSGw8W7KTP-I6YJrLsKOARsqbVrDTX5VSjV3EVDh7qCpTYjv360GR7gX0ZA0LzoKIqaZmSbVYTAvVMK0cwU/s4032/IMG_0613.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifN_t3789l-9S6JgMsTMHP8TdgfEk1VN7dr6C75NoQiA9qmONeGnoAc7pyYhlHKff7JR40-wOmtfOvcaUcsJ7XS1YQjGdrC3UmVY0UebnLFSGw8W7KTP-I6YJrLsKOARsqbVrDTX5VSjV3EVDh7qCpTYjv360GR7gX0ZA0LzoKIqaZmSbVYTAvVMK0cwU/w640-h480/IMG_0613.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUetBjMO74vgWK5NG6Uxf-aq74nquoYc5QGJl65O_nYl2BPHU-Wi1tXH0KHAM0KpdmH4r1jP5t_SfJtvPE6FMzGkfWvC_uQPDmOSwfm4ewZU7kngKIC8Tpw-U0NisxatLMy9iYDiOkUbEHF3b_YacV7oW3PU8a42wRS6IUR5ywUlNKdyKQ6zOrgpE3ef8/s4032/IMG_0617.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUetBjMO74vgWK5NG6Uxf-aq74nquoYc5QGJl65O_nYl2BPHU-Wi1tXH0KHAM0KpdmH4r1jP5t_SfJtvPE6FMzGkfWvC_uQPDmOSwfm4ewZU7kngKIC8Tpw-U0NisxatLMy9iYDiOkUbEHF3b_YacV7oW3PU8a42wRS6IUR5ywUlNKdyKQ6zOrgpE3ef8/w640-h480/IMG_0617.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>It seems like a long time ago... I have fully recovered from the Covid but I must admit, I felt really crumm. For three days, I felt like I had been through a hot wash with a high spin cycle. The coughing was tiring. I worked a bit, watched a lot of telly, listened to books and generally didn't move about much. Now I have sciatic pain or a muscle spasm on my lower right back and down my right buttock. It comes and goes. Inactivity is bad for the body, no doubt about it. After four days of barely moving, I made myself go on gentle solitary short walk. </p><p>When sick, I was wearing a well fitted N95 mask in the house, keeping a distance from my housemates. Nobody succumbed to the plague. James felt crummy but consistently tested negative so probably a back to school kind of cold, but still unpleasant for him. He is also much better. </p><p>After a few days, I felt energetic enough to do some housework and then I spent a leisurely hour sorting through my garment fabrics. It is such a pleasure. Some, I decided to donate to charity for someone else to sew something special. I told myself I wasn't to buy more fabric until I made a couple of garments but I know I'll be weak. Sewing garments and buying fabric are two different hobbies. </p><p>I also looked up exercises to help with the intermittent pain in my buttock and have started doing those. I am back to my normal walking routine.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gmZdZ6VPrn_hNo6cMxxToDbweR13FSRRHSqqEFmBlVoj391Wr1h59CASRoCzNWTlTSBmebJz9FZbF-uYfB9jb4l94MaDkrVz9X8rJRj23hE4n1xQVmY-Oi9XwYzpL8yymnYVbZbdc27oAVzi8LIcyKby34sITKMoEasPkcAbVUpAJK0sadij8HznrXs/s4032/IMG_0614.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2gmZdZ6VPrn_hNo6cMxxToDbweR13FSRRHSqqEFmBlVoj391Wr1h59CASRoCzNWTlTSBmebJz9FZbF-uYfB9jb4l94MaDkrVz9X8rJRj23hE4n1xQVmY-Oi9XwYzpL8yymnYVbZbdc27oAVzi8LIcyKby34sITKMoEasPkcAbVUpAJK0sadij8HznrXs/s320/IMG_0614.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Then I went to my first ballet class. I thought this would be good for my aging body. It was fun! The class has a set structure, which appeals to me sense of order. I loved the teacher and the pianist. Imagine that, a chap who plays the piano so we can do our <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #202124; text-wrap: nowrap;">pliΓ©</span>s</span> and get our heads around first position and coordinating left and right side of the body. I am tempted to get a tutu now but maybe that would be overkill. There were a couple women in the class wearing dance wear, for example a chiffon skirts but mostly it was leggings and t-shirts. Maybe I can wear a tutu around the house instead.</p><p>And that's it all really. Thanks for visiting π</p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-77826306387027337292023-08-14T19:00:00.000+01:002023-08-14T19:00:11.151+01:00a new chapter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrf4-lhOh-MNpIMRPxJq7RAwFLy5AgjKTgAnR_vKRMpqdHJ1TW_XJd8vrkhNWxbfyiR8aIYyDmI4yekiA7HjKZDrdQmeNM4u-RspD_8KFuGLdw93e84X8m5N4FeKaKhegGGorcmMs59eqcd_bGz6CZbyJAD2Omp1gXRde1nFHnhmTZyexYEiEUiHuT4Q/s2560/My%20project-1%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUrf4-lhOh-MNpIMRPxJq7RAwFLy5AgjKTgAnR_vKRMpqdHJ1TW_XJd8vrkhNWxbfyiR8aIYyDmI4yekiA7HjKZDrdQmeNM4u-RspD_8KFuGLdw93e84X8m5N4FeKaKhegGGorcmMs59eqcd_bGz6CZbyJAD2Omp1gXRde1nFHnhmTZyexYEiEUiHuT4Q/w640-h640/My%20project-1%20(2).png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6sNwXQfwE6OURTekGqQyFXG17yX290-EZzFzh1UGZvK_aCBSLgCElgiB_x3aRa46P6o1lxfalVge7TK0nPOgCBzH0YD7b-RuczYYVPdDcNBClRe4j72R1Wvk3URtriaDURINHOhcVW-4xugWa6fWFT1tk4mHM4sSwUnwgk5mNSYCHF2j6yI7ZLfytYQ/s2560/My%20project-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="2560" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6sNwXQfwE6OURTekGqQyFXG17yX290-EZzFzh1UGZvK_aCBSLgCElgiB_x3aRa46P6o1lxfalVge7TK0nPOgCBzH0YD7b-RuczYYVPdDcNBClRe4j72R1Wvk3URtriaDURINHOhcVW-4xugWa6fWFT1tk4mHM4sSwUnwgk5mNSYCHF2j6yI7ZLfytYQ/w640-h640/My%20project-1.png" width="640" /></a></div><p>Yesterday, I returned from Bergen (Norway). I accompanied Annie to help her settle in her new student home. She will study in Bergen until Christmas.</p><p>The trip to Bergen was frazzled. All started fine, we boarded our plane in Edinburgh on time, taxied, increased speed for take-off, but the pilot abruptly aborted due to a fault. Better before take-off than later I suppose. We were returned to the terminal to wait for a new plane, which arrived in due course. Upon arriving in Bergen, we were fatigued and decided to take a taxi to Annie's student accommodation. At the service centre, she was asked for identification. Which was in her backpack. Which was in the taxi, now departed. In her backpack was also her wallet, her iPad, her AirPods and laptop... and a bottle of vodka and some books. The people in the student service were super helpful and called the taxi company for us but of course I didn't note down the taxi number, nor did I ask for a receipt so that was no good. After the first panic was over, Annie activated the lost iPad function, which told us where the taxi went. Back to the airport. We followed by public transport, it was a nail biting 25 minutes. The iPad dot did quiver a bit from time to time but did not significantly move. Remembering the length of the taxi line, we hoped to make it there in time before the driver picked up another ride. As it turned out, the taxi was actually at the heliport, which is just next to the airport, separated by a motorway. This nearly defeated us but there was well hidden underpass and we go eventually go there, out of breath. I recognised the taxi driver who was on break. He was surprised to see us and we were overjoyed to see him. Bag retrieved, we took the tram back to the student place. The driver didn't seem that bothered that we took public transport, he probably understood that I didn't want to spend another Β£56 on a second cab ride (but I took his number for future rides and gave him my last cash as a tip). </p><p>Annie had no bedding so she spent the first night at my hotel. After a hearty breakfast, we took the bus out of town to go to Ikea to get bedding and bedlinen and other assorted bits and bobs that are not provided at the student accommodation. Then we went back to Annie's flat with a blue bag full of essentials. Next up was a grocery shop. Then Annie wanted to unpack and I went back to the hotel for a wee rest. We had argued earlier and we both needed a break from each other. We met for dinner later but Annie decided to sleep in her new digs as she had met the flatmates and wanted to hangout with them. This made me happy, I had worried about her feeling all lonely.</p><p>The following day, we went on a boat tour around the fjords, which was beautiful. The weather was perfect right until we returned to port. Then we wandered around town for a bit, had another argument and went for an absolutely beautiful dinner at a small restaurant near my hotel. The food was divine, I enjoyed every bite and Annie, did, too. We shared a bottle of fizz for good measure. After dinner I accompanied Annie back to her flat, then took the tram back into the centre of town. It was hard to say good bye and I was a bit tearful on the tram. For distraction, I did some more exploring. It stays light long in the north and I wandered through some beautiful neighbourhoods and the old town, which is all wooden and a bit rickety.</p><p>On my way to the airport the next morning, I felt a bit tearful again as I was passing Annie's neighbourhood. I also had a thundering headache and I spent some time trying to find a shop that sells paracetamol at the airport. Here in the UK, every corner shop stocks over the counter medicines but it looks like Norway is maybe more cautious (and rightly so).</p><p>This morning, I felt like someone hit me on the head with a spade, repeatedly. My throat was on fire and my nose blocked. I tested positive for the Covid, which was a surprise. I felt pretty much invincible after more than three years of not succumbing to it. Ah well.</p><p>Thanks for visiting π</p><p> </p>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4515007843975800463.post-71644718987293180772023-08-09T21:03:00.000+01:002023-08-09T21:03:00.967+01:00wardrobe essentials - the Patina blouse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuSGnhLXgv3t08Lef_8l-iUwWEaOeWG_wXSv8yBfpdHZLKLVRTNJ1iTWqKt4hw-Lt1bR3L-RXIV_T-jg5b6P3rTIPQ9D8_a9kMksjZp7EZ-SbAnwS0cSNH6ZUGUK-A26T8geTX9UJTgmYOA4QMHL_2jgIpo2aDH8Nh8fXjts72QDHbMAsK8OIJwIY3SE/s4608/DSCN7949.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="4608" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuSGnhLXgv3t08Lef_8l-iUwWEaOeWG_wXSv8yBfpdHZLKLVRTNJ1iTWqKt4hw-Lt1bR3L-RXIV_T-jg5b6P3rTIPQ9D8_a9kMksjZp7EZ-SbAnwS0cSNH6ZUGUK-A26T8geTX9UJTgmYOA4QMHL_2jgIpo2aDH8Nh8fXjts72QDHbMAsK8OIJwIY3SE/w640-h480/DSCN7949.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIaGfVvbOJTLhlG65QFGHFvy0rZJfjRWw-FAeK4GJ2U3NmPTa7CHlU1xGwYXowoCIDea9o4zqOX68C3lN5sK0hEWeBFCpNGJiZfdGp9kQM71dxBHUVlNogShl0DfSQhsEqyWODP8Xu3UL69IFBJxOR9YP2VieHgxSaODW85A_DTIsbgUlw7QMcPAGsVg/s3792/DSCN7956.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2844" data-original-width="3792" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIaGfVvbOJTLhlG65QFGHFvy0rZJfjRWw-FAeK4GJ2U3NmPTa7CHlU1xGwYXowoCIDea9o4zqOX68C3lN5sK0hEWeBFCpNGJiZfdGp9kQM71dxBHUVlNogShl0DfSQhsEqyWODP8Xu3UL69IFBJxOR9YP2VieHgxSaODW85A_DTIsbgUlw7QMcPAGsVg/w640-h480/DSCN7956.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRiPf4YLkWK2RqbG9N--yZ07XjnVx1cJ2FxM3CDtB5gz6ya4LUzHW1tHOHVZVoaYlq9N8kWxVTBIMyaWQ0_qENft6epHePk6Eno4iH6diInAhTw04y3hzAdVxt1ji_4AJCStKExcZmJFZx5xD-rXKC6cqjvNSDAQH9XhI15rPapdKS7WtBDpD4BiyRS0/s4032/IMG_0387.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeRiPf4YLkWK2RqbG9N--yZ07XjnVx1cJ2FxM3CDtB5gz6ya4LUzHW1tHOHVZVoaYlq9N8kWxVTBIMyaWQ0_qENft6epHePk6Eno4iH6diInAhTw04y3hzAdVxt1ji_4AJCStKExcZmJFZx5xD-rXKC6cqjvNSDAQH9XhI15rPapdKS7WtBDpD4BiyRS0/w640-h480/IMG_0387.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX6SNLIE2rBkkvMwVx8UZoAEVNQSZKM0OeFAV6Rc0m-WEtFMewd6nK7GZvyZa1P8rygESSVUVVAZSvKfqEz5gtTf4HWZAYMJMj0sCIB9MItHXN08XlLoPWyEeZoA8fJsBOWJGCnemEKuHh9eJH7eQIaKHBtvtBLxmc6sVjBFpPJKqTARtnggRbyh_Im8/s4032/IMG_0388.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfX6SNLIE2rBkkvMwVx8UZoAEVNQSZKM0OeFAV6Rc0m-WEtFMewd6nK7GZvyZa1P8rygESSVUVVAZSvKfqEz5gtTf4HWZAYMJMj0sCIB9MItHXN08XlLoPWyEeZoA8fJsBOWJGCnemEKuHh9eJH7eQIaKHBtvtBLxmc6sVjBFpPJKqTARtnggRbyh_Im8/w640-h480/IMG_0388.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Working at home and teaching online allows for a casual wardrobe. This means mostly t-shirts, hoodies and a pair of well worn jeans. While practical, it is also boring. Boring to wear and boring to make (with regards to the tops at least). To keep sewing fresh, I am making more woven tops, blouses and shirts. Today I am showing you the <a href="https://fridaypatterncompany.com/products/patina-blouse-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Patina blouse</a> by Friday Pattern Company. This is a collared, V-neck, button-up blouse that ticks almost all my boxes. It has two sleeve options, short and cuffed long. The collar is large with pointy corners. I like a big collar. It makes me feel efficient. Don't ask!</div><div><br /></div><div>I used a new to me fabric for this, Cupro, which is a fabric made from cotton linter too small to spin. It is chemically processed to create a fibre that can be spun. I am not sure how sustainable it is but at least it uses cotton waste that is not otherwise processed, maybe making the cotton industry a little less wasteful. I suppose it depends on the diligence of the producers and recycling of processing baths and proper disposal of waste... But let's not worry about this just now. </div><div><br /></div><div>The fabric is dreamy soft and smooth, I really rather like it. I think lighter weight Cupro is used as lining fabric. I bought this from <a href="https://www.fabricgodmother.co.uk/" target="_blank">Fabric Godmother</a>, another independent fabric business I like to shop from. </div><div><br /></div><div>I found the buttons in my granny's button jar. I love them, they are cute. Once I decide that the blouse needs a new home, I shall replace the buttons so I can re-use the little flower ones for another garment.</div><div><br /></div><div>The sizing is inclusive but each size is for a measurement range, for example the XL size is for a bust size of <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">40" - 42". I prefer single size patterns because it helps to create a well fitting garment. The patterns are drafted for a B-cup bust size (which I am not) but based on the finished garment measurements, I decided I didn't need a full bust adjustment. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The instructions are clear and easy to follow. I think the pattern would be suitable for an adventurous beginner, particularly if you follow the sew-along (which you can find on the linked pattern page). </div><div><br /></div><div>I really like the blouse but I don't wear it often. Not because I don't want to but because I procrastinate over ironing. I don't even dislike ironing all that much, it is just always very low on my list of priorities. </div><div><br /></div><div>Ah well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for visiting π.</div>Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11883091348839145603noreply@blogger.com6