In the previous post, I mentioned the FlexLeave programme. It looks 90% likely that I will be approved to take FlexLeave, and I’ve officially applied for 6 months leave from work. I haven’t figured out exactly what to do with the time yet, but I’m getting quite excited thinking about some of the options. Thoughts […]
Yet another Lindsey Davis book about a Roman private detective (‘Informer’) during the rule of the emperor Vespasian. One Virgin Too Many has our hero being generally outmaneuvered by any number of different people, including his girlfriend, his client’s family, his ex-partners, and his ma. Formulaic, but briefly entertaining: 2 1/2 out of 5.
Brief note from the Air Canada lounge at Heathrow [amended and appended on Wednesday back in the office]. What a wonderful trip! Chronologically (backwards), I rented a bike yesterday and pedalled 20km north to Edam, a lovely city with a very beautiful church. I managed to catch an organ recital, which was very nice and […]
Amsterdam. Day three. First impressions: Flat. Lots of bicycles, whose drivers have the fearless ‘as a matter of fact I DO own the road’ attitude that only a very well established series of victories over the car can bring. Wide bicycle-only lanes in most roads. A mob of British lager louts off for a weekend […]
At the airport, on my way to Amsterdam. Work got really busy in the last week — spent a few hours on the weekend editing the Commitment to Deliver Product Technical specs for my project, and then worked late on Wednesday this week finishing a first pass of through another version for a different business […]
Ok, it’s official: Ikea rule the world. Not only are they the most convenient place to shop for furniture (which I knew already), they also turn out to be practically the only place you can buy bookcases. I spent a full day last Saturday cruising through the other stores and didn’t find anything practical in […]
Long after it has stopped being a source of water cooler discussion, I’ve finally borrowed and devoured Bridget Jones’ Diary. Yes, it’s funny because it’s true. Yes, it’s light and fluffy. But was it better than Thirtynothing (see below)?… No, surprisingly, I didn’t think so. Still good fun, but only worth 3 1/2 out of […]
A good and useful weekend. The main activity of note was the Trinity reunion (yes, it has been ten years already) which featured get-togethers on Friday and Saturday. Some observations: a LOT of Trinity types seem to have become lawyers, as in, way more than half of those in attendance. Scary. Also, interesting how some […]
It’s Wednesday, but it already feels like it *should* be Thursday. Several things to report: First of all, Exultate business. The concert two weeks ago was a lot of fun, although the Wednesday night rehearsal at Christopher’s turned out to be a Really Good Idea. The music programme–a bit of opera, a bit of Canadiana, […]
Depressing how few books I’ve finished recently! I started about five, and I’m still working on four, but basically without the five-hour flights twice a week I don’t have a clear reading slot in my schedule any more. Bad excuse, I know. So to feel more righteous, I’ve started reading during the sermon at church […]