tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47689513198638243012024-03-19T08:02:10.216+00:00Margot's BlogMargothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.comBlogger4371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-35011053295525526222024-03-19T08:01:00.001+00:002024-03-19T08:01:30.240+00:00Another book read: a Waugh<p>I think I'm on a roll now! I finished yet another book. My ostentatious ‘to read’ pile in the living room is getting smaller. After <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/another-book-read.html?m=0" target="_blank">the non-fiction of the previous book</a>, I decided to go fiction again. And a friend had lent me a book by Evelyn Waugh when she heard I had never read anything by him. She offered me ‘Vile Bodies’. The cover suggests it is the British answer to the Great Gatsby. </p><p>As soon as I started reading I disagreed. The author starts introducing a lot of characters to you, and the majority has completely ludicrous names. Mrs Ape? Mr Outrage? Lady Metroland? That sounds a bit facetious to me. I also didn't think he was making them anything other than superficial sketches.</p><p>I did see the Great Gatsby connection, of course; the characters in this book are continuously skint, but in a way, always rich. They have the connections. They can just borrow some money from a gullible rich friend. They rarely seem to need to work, they seem permanently drunk, and food is something other people cook for you. It is very upper class.</p><p>Something that is quite different between the two books, other than the jokey tone, is that in the Great Gatsby, of course, the main story is driven by an obsessive infatuation. Nobody is obsessively infatuated in Vile Bodies. The protagonist has a love interest, but he is decidedly half-hearted about it. And so is she. The sparks entirely refrain from coming off the page.</p><p>The whole book is some privileged young people being feckless and drunk, all the way until on page 265 of 271, the First World War breaks out. And then the final pages are dedicated to the protagonist, who is in the middle of the war zone. It is quite a contrast. It does lend a bit of gravity to the whole book. But, of course, even in the devastated wasteland of trench warfare the implausible encounters continue.</p><p>I don't think I have a big urge to read more of his work. But now at least I have read one, and I know what it's like! And it read rather fast. The next one will be non-fiction again!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE5ngj9XIptuLI_Uih3dcbj22-RJVoHK1OddX3Kk-yYPJsk4rOH5oWYY02S6M7tZb-ohvkfDkmYTdhg9x_SzlBqKotF2r5zvWVi8i4F1-9j24kzf7AbhWOEY55WwfUQD1mG44PKDSojqdcmnTwyb3bk3qFM313oRNxS84KuQataVnTMy9nqjNNH9UEGGP/s4032/IMG_1230.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitE5ngj9XIptuLI_Uih3dcbj22-RJVoHK1OddX3Kk-yYPJsk4rOH5oWYY02S6M7tZb-ohvkfDkmYTdhg9x_SzlBqKotF2r5zvWVi8i4F1-9j24kzf7AbhWOEY55WwfUQD1mG44PKDSojqdcmnTwyb3bk3qFM313oRNxS84KuQataVnTMy9nqjNNH9UEGGP/w300-h400/IMG_1230.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-41165745467278680152024-03-18T08:19:00.000+00:002024-03-18T08:19:32.008+00:00Renewed family links<p>Every year, <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2022/06/family-reunion.html" target="_blank">we have a family reunion with all family from my father’s side</a>. I try to make it; it’s special to spend time with people you have either known your entire life, or their entire lives. But I don’t only have a father, of course. What about my mother’s side of the family?</p><p>That family meets every year as well. It’s a bigger group; my dad has only two siblings, while my mother has eight. I remember attending these meetings as a child. And I once went as a teenager. But my mother herself hasn’t been going since my childhood, and then you get into the habit of not going yourself. And when you don’t go, you lose connection. So hence that you won’t find a report of such a family gathering on this blog. </p><p>Then my sister phoned, and said she had connected with a cousin of that side on LinkedIn. And that had lead to them, plus an additional cousin, going for lunch. They all live fairly close together. That helps! </p><p>I had told my sister that I was interested in jumping on the bandwagon, and not much later, I got an invite from my cousin, Jennifer, as well. And we started exchanging messages. The plan is that we will go for lunch next time I'm in the Netherlands. I'm quite excited about this! I feel there is some untapped connection there, and who knows what will come from it…</p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-57469391227628078302024-03-17T07:06:00.000+00:002024-03-17T07:06:00.205+00:00Field days battling tides and weather<p>It's another fieldwork tradition: <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/03/students-on-secluded-beach.html" target="_blank">a day on the beach with the first year students and my colleague Lynda</a>. This always falls in February or March. The weather can be interesting! This year, though, our first concern was not the weather. It was the tides. They would be unusually high. And low water would be at awkward times. And that led to an unusual situation: we would go out on two afternoons, rather than one whole day. Normally, we split the group in two; half the group first go surveying at Gallow’s Point, and after lunch join us on the beach, and the other half does it the other way around.</p><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/AVvXsEgkvh5rrRHcKKbc_eon9qFOel9nUkysXEI8wIpNnjLzZEZTIBCQHpECOzHwaGRBrlb1QkpPmUSMPWUzT9wnquP2v72Emof9NO84nhVtq3Eo5EIYzzOtW5s_s6eqPtEDtPZZ2n7sa3JxTZ78pA1-B_YwDL9xnFQHkRj55HZNCXrtwgFbk1xSb0tuOsdshvc4/s1334/IMG_1208.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1334" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkvh5rrRHcKKbc_eon9qFOel9nUkysXEI8wIpNnjLzZEZTIBCQHpECOzHwaGRBrlb1QkpPmUSMPWUzT9wnquP2v72Emof9NO84nhVtq3Eo5EIYzzOtW5s_s6eqPtEDtPZZ2n7sa3JxTZ78pA1-B_YwDL9xnFQHkRj55HZNCXrtwgFbk1xSb0tuOsdshvc4/w225-h400/IMG_1208.png" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not looking good</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>My task is to get to the beach before the students do, and demarcate nine sections on the sediment cliff they will have to log. So I travel independently.</p><p>This year I had kept an eye on the forecast. It looked absolutely awful! Luckily, the first day, which had initially been forecast to be rain, rain and more rain, became a bit drier. So that was good news. Regarding the tides; I knew that the students would reach the beach while water would still be quite high, so I depended on Lynda to do a sizeable introduction, while I would do what I needed doing.</p><p>An hour before I would get there, a student who would drive himself sent us a picture of the flooded road. Oh dear! But I would travel up in a big truck that isn't scared of a bit of flooding. But by the time I arrived, you could tell the road had indeed been flooded in places, but no longer was. Good enough for us! And together with that student I waited for the coach to arrive.</p><p>The plan worked! By the time we had given all the students the materials they needed, the tide had dropped so much it was physically possible to get onto the beach. And I could go around and create my sections.</p><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/AVvXsEg3MigLO3oZREyjBSnT0J_jvGdQXv6f7XJqJCPrFWnrBvp3kovwhJAevHhkr4zYzUUZzsuVLS6ua6_u5Qg04mUjfkcyLupMg5SghnJ2zXv8Cw2_lvEzXSWZ0hyphenhyphenEVSLYNxgSdgaP4ei_o5YW72BObjbhqo4Di55KY0-en4CwdvgJxtA1wo71WqHlnF4VLC4d/s4032/IMG_1210.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MigLO3oZREyjBSnT0J_jvGdQXv6f7XJqJCPrFWnrBvp3kovwhJAevHhkr4zYzUUZzsuVLS6ua6_u5Qg04mUjfkcyLupMg5SghnJ2zXv8Cw2_lvEzXSWZ0hyphenhyphenEVSLYNxgSdgaP4ei_o5YW72BObjbhqo4Di55KY0-en4CwdvgJxtA1wo71WqHlnF4VLC4d/w400-h300/IMG_1210.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access (or lack thereof) to the beach, looking back </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEhs_W8SiJl9D49XwQN2yU_Azhi_VPVPPRPmhOPi9FCIth6vZ0JWRPOEJ-Dv8cIlTrjmFtEgZlsy7F_s4GeQ_oz91v06KXpSX1pCFdPgGTR751mDFyJWQHqKb4V9uwFYRVgQi2y1YvLSGSicIj6jxOobrlmhJW3VvPrxZXnZZe0Dz6FKgw442shL0CQZIO-d/s4032/IMG_1211.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_W8SiJl9D49XwQN2yU_Azhi_VPVPPRPmhOPi9FCIth6vZ0JWRPOEJ-Dv8cIlTrjmFtEgZlsy7F_s4GeQ_oz91v06KXpSX1pCFdPgGTR751mDFyJWQHqKb4V9uwFYRVgQi2y1YvLSGSicIj6jxOobrlmhJW3VvPrxZXnZZe0Dz6FKgw442shL0CQZIO-d/w400-h300/IMG_1211.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the crazy sediment </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEh2-hz71HfKfcOzOQtg9RiL3zJjxofIHXtKgE_u13Fh0tQmoXE1ACWZ0w3AxdTMsEa4ndSeM5BlUKVfgY8nLG7HQnuL5NEf16TepP6xpAN4aejzFbrCIztj-zEdmfsYNQA1Et5pfCaoqx2lvjfXY830lLKBdqpjnSnFs1MMxXo7T41sREYSSaOrvQRGMRBU/s4032/IMG_1212.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-hz71HfKfcOzOQtg9RiL3zJjxofIHXtKgE_u13Fh0tQmoXE1ACWZ0w3AxdTMsEa4ndSeM5BlUKVfgY8nLG7HQnuL5NEf16TepP6xpAN4aejzFbrCIztj-zEdmfsYNQA1Et5pfCaoqx2lvjfXY830lLKBdqpjnSnFs1MMxXo7T41sREYSSaOrvQRGMRBU/w400-h300/IMG_1212.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The students listening to Lynda’s spiel; notice how far out the tide already is </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>It was mainly dry and not particularly cold, but there was a rather chilly wind, and if you were out in it, you would get cold sooner or later. But the students were in fine form, and promising logs were created of the nine sections. When we noticed the first group had done them all, though, we got ready to gather everyone for a bit of a spiel at the end. This was not weather to hang around doing nothing! And I left the sections as they were.</p><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/AVvXsEhu6oTKkQWRg08ZlIFreB26eZn6znEWjBvzJLvBFftHYfIbAEvUiRN6mTQga_8Xl9wtcqnWSdh69jyxsE-cghnFTwmeCivuzBu_3CHdYYE_CiElcwrvZQnRv7gRmjskTVIgDvQO51Wi6d3ENNem00QiX3oswVMVbRgspJWZ-lr7n6KIKDR043AlKO5d6YhZ/s4032/IMG_1214.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu6oTKkQWRg08ZlIFreB26eZn6znEWjBvzJLvBFftHYfIbAEvUiRN6mTQga_8Xl9wtcqnWSdh69jyxsE-cghnFTwmeCivuzBu_3CHdYYE_CiElcwrvZQnRv7gRmjskTVIgDvQO51Wi6d3ENNem00QiX3oswVMVbRgspJWZ-lr7n6KIKDR043AlKO5d6YhZ/w300-h400/IMG_1214.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynda talks to a student while a fossil coral attracts my attention </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The next day I would pick up a student who had reasons to not travel on the coach with the other students. We left a bit after the coach. The coach would get there when the water levels would be even higher than the day before. No point getting there before them. But that did complicate things!</p><p>Shortly outside Beaumaris a man was blocking the road. He said there was a flood, and we couldn't go on. I didn't think my car would struggle with that. And he said he had let the coach through! If a coach can go through, surely my rugged big-wheeled pick up truck would be fine? But I think the point was more that I could physically take a detour over narrow windy country roads, and the coach couldn't. So that's why he had made an exception for Lynda and her crew. I would have to go around.</p><p>Me and the student then hit the tiny little back roads. And it wasn't long until we hit a logjam! These roads are not made for traffic going in two directions. Normally, you wouldn't get so many cars there it would be a problem. If you encounter another vehicle, someone just reverses into the nearest passing space, and the problem is solved. But get too many cars in a heap and it doesn't work anymore! So it was a bit of a struggle to make it. But in the end we did.</p><p>Lynda had to start talking on the part of the beach where there isn't an exposed cliff face, because we couldn't yet get to the next part of the beach. I splashed through; I've practised this, and I was wearing welly boots. Quite a lot of the students were wearing hiking boots. Not a good idea to wade through seawater with those!</p><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/AVvXsEiDi6JYXjNHm8YV_Qc6apCKXAd_F4HILyg4VOUGfEkyCsgmosIfe-2rWzmQJRE8K0HtOZSW3PRdbAMP-0hr0hpJIMhBjB93IyOtft7vmvp9E49Snx2dbL41QBg0jHxOe1mAz46fbcBktpbdrefB1dOuV4Bh-eJZ49kCyKIozaFHPRQ4PSRunBozkIoDUSGj/s4032/IMG_1220.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDi6JYXjNHm8YV_Qc6apCKXAd_F4HILyg4VOUGfEkyCsgmosIfe-2rWzmQJRE8K0HtOZSW3PRdbAMP-0hr0hpJIMhBjB93IyOtft7vmvp9E49Snx2dbL41QBg0jHxOe1mAz46fbcBktpbdrefB1dOuV4Bh-eJZ49kCyKIozaFHPRQ4PSRunBozkIoDUSGj/w300-h400/IMG_1220.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Access to the beach: day 2</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>I could check the state of the first three sections, and then I had to Wait a bit before I could go around the promontory. Then I could check two more sections. Some needed touching up. And then I had to wait several minutes to make it to the last part of the beach. It was not even unpleasant. The sea is quite mesmerising. I was just standing there, looking at the misty hills of of Gwynedd, listening to the lapping waves. Could be much worse!</p><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/AVvXsEhpFHbStWQ1Hp7pVt9MXZ1RqRIzHlc7CPKCNy08OHvaSrKr6QQ0LmWb73racLS69FSJAvr9OWNMUo1j5LG-WXCVEiEPxHSwD44_VVEuADv6HBCZFMHbRPuHBwwJlJOj757HxzYLIcHZ2pMsta3XAScS_bHezNVkXzAikznb9Llitp-NAhyphenhyphenFRKty6HXYKcWS/s4032/IMG_1221.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpFHbStWQ1Hp7pVt9MXZ1RqRIzHlc7CPKCNy08OHvaSrKr6QQ0LmWb73racLS69FSJAvr9OWNMUo1j5LG-WXCVEiEPxHSwD44_VVEuADv6HBCZFMHbRPuHBwwJlJOj757HxzYLIcHZ2pMsta3XAScS_bHezNVkXzAikznb9Llitp-NAhyphenhyphenFRKty6HXYKcWS/w400-h300/IMG_1221.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second bottleneck; I had to get past that promontory with the flat rock on top</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>I then checked the last sections and went back. It turned out I had failed to notice one section had completely vanished. Oh dear! I quickly improvised new one. </p><p>Because the weather would be a lot worse than the day before, we had told the students to only log half the sections, and then do a bit of a data exchange. So we were quite fast this time! Which was great. When Lynda did her spiel, it was raining. So we were glad to get away while we were still relatively warm and dry.</p><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/AVvXsEjs1BwrZGIJNAITVbxpkZKthXWohFQi495lFFZCFNGHcLWni0r2MIemumBZ00BhwnYcPptPqimLtO54uUvqIz8goy3ealHNOIYyeMxc_7dc3RqYIj0-xt6iBPcMaD90_ImScDojAMWKCBWNiDUzFKHkPdMiVco7-75GPlgtwEK4x8d5A0N6FTO6XU7dF5YV/s4032/IMG_1227.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1BwrZGIJNAITVbxpkZKthXWohFQi495lFFZCFNGHcLWni0r2MIemumBZ00BhwnYcPptPqimLtO54uUvqIz8goy3ealHNOIYyeMxc_7dc3RqYIj0-xt6iBPcMaD90_ImScDojAMWKCBWNiDUzFKHkPdMiVco7-75GPlgtwEK4x8d5A0N6FTO6XU7dF5YV/w400-h300/IMG_1227.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloomy skies</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>We got back without traffic hassle, as by now it was getting closer to low tide.</p><p>I must say, I quite liked doing it two different days. Both us and the students used to get quite tired in the morning, and then had to do and afternoon session as well. And for me the challenge always was to bring enough water for the entire day. Maybe we will do it on two different days again next year. We'll see! But at least I was glad we had somehow managed to pull this off in spite of the spring tides and the awful weather forecast. And of unexpected travel challenges…</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-64590191535703959282024-03-16T07:50:00.000+00:002024-03-16T07:50:07.465+00:00Promotion application progress<p>It was somewhere when I last spoke of my intention to <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/08/senior-lecturer-application-making.html" target="_blank">apply for promotion to senior lecturer</a>. These things take time, and there is little! So I took the opportunity of the summer lull to write the bulk of the application. In early December I sent it off to the Head of School and Dei. HR had said there would be a January promotion round. But in January they declared it would open in February, and close in March. Fine! It's a bit awkward that the deadline is about a week before the deadline for the Athena Swan application. I think I feel like how the students are feeling when they have bunched deadlines!</p><p>Both John and Dei are very busy, so it was difficult to get any feedback out of them. Until one Friday evening. I had seen John's car when I left to go home; he was clearly still at it. (I would work a bit more that evening, but at home.) And he had got around to having a look. Great! It took me a while to get him to support me, but he is doing it.</p><p>My intention had been to work on t<a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/draft-new-action-plan.html" target="_blank">he Athena Swan application</a> that weekend, but I only did what I needed to do in that context to prepare for a meeting I would have Monday. The rest of the time when I wasn't doing weekend necessities such as shopping and cooking and dishes and the recycling and repairs and cave rescue admin, I incorporated his comments.</p><p>That Monday I was seeing John about matters of Athena Swan. While I was there anyway, we also discussed my draft application. He said it was all very factual, but that I did a poor job of emphasising what it was I had done. Where I had taken initiative, where I had shown leadership, where I had made a difference. I do mention in the application, for instance, that I am in the University Senate. But he said that I was only the second woman in history to represent the School in that body, and that presenting the results of the Senate meetings to the School is a big responsibility. I should shout that off the rooftops! So after that peptalk I spent a few evenings trying to pump some adrenaline into my application.</p><p>Soon I will have to submit it. And then I can only keep my fingers crossed!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-56142391074034426852024-03-15T07:07:00.000+00:002024-03-15T07:07:15.792+00:00International Women’s Day 2024<p>When I saw the announcement of the Bangor University International Women's Day celebration, I was a bit underwhelmed. It was basically just one hour in a big lecture theatre; there would be a talk by two speakers, and then the opportunity for questions. The speakers were fabulous; they were both from the School of Oceans Sciences. They were one <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/06/female-professors.html" target="_blank">of our new professors</a>, and one of the students. And they would talk about encouraging diversity in science. So as the EDI lead in the school, and as a person who finds this sort of thing important, and as someone who likes to stand by her fellow female ocean scientists, I decided to go.</p><p>When I was looking for a place to park my bike I saw the lady from HR, which is the one <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/athena-swan-old-action-plan.html" target="_blank">who is helping me with my Athena Swan application</a>, approach the building. She had organised the event, so I knew where she was going. So a bit later I walked into the lecture room. I was a bit early, but that was okay. But I was a bit shocked by the big echoing hall, with up until then only two people in it. Ali from HR, and pro vice chancellor for EDI: Andrew Edwards. Only these two! That was not very promising.</p><p>Soon a few more people appeared: one of the speakers, the EDI lead of the College, the Head of School… all people who basically couldn't not be here because of their function. And after that, a few people came in who were just there because they had chosen to. But this was one of the biggest lecture theatres in the university!</p><p>Something unexpected happened; Andrew is not only the highest authority on EDI in the university, but he is also the father of t<a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-maternity-cover-just-in-time.html" target="_blank">he colleague who had recently gone on parental leave</a>! And he was bursting with pride when he showed me a picture of the baby asleep on his lap. That was so sweet.</p><p>When it was time, Andrew opened the event. Bilingually, of course. Then Morag, the EDI lead of the college, introduced the two speakers: <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/first-one-of-three-inaugural-lectures.html" target="_blank">Yueng</a> and Kodi. And Yueng went first. By that time, there were about 25 people in the whole room, and that included everyone who was part of the organisation. I'm not quite sure how many staff and students we have, but my guess is about 1600 and 10,000.</p><p>Yueng basically talked us through her life, with her youth in Singapore, her PhD at Scripps, and her landing in Wales. And how her career progressed there. And she talked us through the composition with regard to gender and ethnicity of the communities involved, and what that had meant to her.</p><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/AVvXsEh7cM-U17CdGjXe7FZb5NBFrmnXzriAFQuZasCjaAYWLwwOKlG6HzdZ7zgkmKD-wbXvwxdPh5HyK8HK99lJau4nBBgGCp_m2VkriD7TxTQbDn1NDCdNXeF4JKhbzMfqhzXG78S4DuhEmiOOTPbXwD4FVLuqnMYkTX8LgfI6fksSdfHKCvsufTSPTdHRLlnb/s4032/IMG_1170.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cM-U17CdGjXe7FZb5NBFrmnXzriAFQuZasCjaAYWLwwOKlG6HzdZ7zgkmKD-wbXvwxdPh5HyK8HK99lJau4nBBgGCp_m2VkriD7TxTQbDn1NDCdNXeF4JKhbzMfqhzXG78S4DuhEmiOOTPbXwD4FVLuqnMYkTX8LgfI6fksSdfHKCvsufTSPTdHRLlnb/w400-h300/IMG_1170.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yueng speaking, with Kodi waiting her turn</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Kodi, who is from the Caribbean, had a (so far) shorter life and career to reflect on, but she also talked to us through it. And then she, Yueng and Morag sat down on stage for a question and answer session. I kept track, and it its peak, we had 30 people in total in the room. It's a bit sad! And the ladies did an amazing job, but few people were there to appreciate it. The university still has work to do increasing its diversity, but I don't think this event made a noteworthy contribution to that!</p><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/AVvXsEj01mMTDgGKWjZh1vP3ABbQcyewE7TGjG2pTdhSZnvlWbHfZGtnCWAlrYRaGj_MWaZUZroFwo56mlw7wRx3Vj-sbk0i5cP_mi2vuG03mRBO2twieJo0uM6SKUr6TYYGGJB46HLhzUJMHEg39HdyDvcyVbJA5uGtHsZakpL96QdtYUvLai_p1wytm0suUvWz/s4032/IMG_1179.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj01mMTDgGKWjZh1vP3ABbQcyewE7TGjG2pTdhSZnvlWbHfZGtnCWAlrYRaGj_MWaZUZroFwo56mlw7wRx3Vj-sbk0i5cP_mi2vuG03mRBO2twieJo0uM6SKUr6TYYGGJB46HLhzUJMHEg39HdyDvcyVbJA5uGtHsZakpL96QdtYUvLai_p1wytm0suUvWz/w400-h300/IMG_1179.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Q&A session: Morag, Yueng, Kodi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEhWKWVKdoDmRqWVRWzzxYjZSwly6dwso14gBtoUqsM70Qkt2VC-wBgZebZYMKcpb10QLlSsYq77BG86jSDe40zEIlXDEpD_5PhbKbBYIU_R3wx5wL2gEMRRYzYe0FB8ZG5KLcR_2uibGQ54MkxUlLsbykVjMZYWy-0o-vSYHRjpS349U-zTJ0VuKln-99JC/s4032/IMG_1181.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKWVKdoDmRqWVRWzzxYjZSwly6dwso14gBtoUqsM70Qkt2VC-wBgZebZYMKcpb10QLlSsYq77BG86jSDe40zEIlXDEpD_5PhbKbBYIU_R3wx5wL2gEMRRYzYe0FB8ZG5KLcR_2uibGQ54MkxUlLsbykVjMZYWy-0o-vSYHRjpS349U-zTJ0VuKln-99JC/w400-h300/IMG_1181.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ali takes a picture of the speakers with Andrew and Morag, with the VC looking on</td></tr></tbody></table>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-89478920011512715292024-03-14T07:20:00.000+00:002024-03-14T07:20:00.837+00:00Checking the exam questions<p>I seem not to have mentioned we have a new tradition in the School. Between uploading our exam papers onto a OneDrive folder, and letting the External Examiners loose on them, we go through them ourselves. We did that for the first time this academic year. Towards the end of the first semester, we got a lot of academic staff together, got split into groups, and then each took a selection of the exam papers under our wing. And the purpose was twofold: firstly, check if there was anything amiss with the questions. Were they clear? Were there accidentally any confusing typos left in them? If they had several sub-questions, was it indicated what proportion of the grade depended on which sub-question? Would someone with dyslexia struggle disproportionately with this question?</p><p>The second objective was to check for questions that would be too easy to answer correctly using AI. However; going through every single exam question in quite a number of exams is quite time-consuming. Pulling them all through AI was a bit much. But at least we could flag up questions of which we suspected it would be too easy to have AI answer them satisfactorily. </p><p>It sounds like a very dull task, but actually, we ended up rather giggly. It can be quite funny to let your full language pedant loose on someone else's exam questions.</p><p>This year we knew the drill. To my dismay, only five people showed up for the session, even though we have about 30 academic stuff! So we split into two groups, and set to work. And, surprise surprise; we got a bit giggly. I was quite enjoyable.</p><p>It is also just interesting to see what other people actually ask the students. There is such a range! Some questions go completely over your head if the topic is not your specialism. Questions about the details of certain geophysical pieces of equipment, for instance. If that's not your thing. I noticed my biological colleagues had no idea what I was talking about if I was asking questions about climatically significant geological events/periods back in time. They don't tend to think outside modern times! But some questions you can just do with a bit of common sense and some basic arithmetic.</p><p>I think the previous semester we ran heavily over time. This time, we were more of a well-oiled war machine, and we got all exams checked by the time we were supposed to be finished. All except one exam, that had not yet been uploaded. One of our staff members is a scoundrel!</p><p>I hope that now we have had a detailed look at all of them, the external examiners won't have that much to complain about anymore. We will soon find out! The exams are in May. And I think so far we seem to be skipping ahead of AI. But will have to keep an eye on the situation and not become complacent. I don't think any of us will be spectacularly increasing our level of skill, but AI is doing just that as we speak! But I'm sure we'll find a way to deal with that. At least for this academic year I think we're fine. And I'm quite happy with this new tradition…</p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-78243651586107586232024-03-13T06:43:00.002+00:002024-03-13T07:21:40.270+00:00Last post of the series filled?<p>After all the other rounds of presentations associated with job vacancies (like <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/07/interviewing-temporary-lecturer.html?m=1" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/08/interviewing-more-new-colleagues.html" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/01/interviewing-for-biological.html" target="_blank">this</a> and <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/a-maternity-cover-just-in-time.html" target="_blank">this</a>), we had one more session to finish it all off. My colleague David, the only geochemist in the School, will be retiring in summer, and we need a replacement. So I was glad to see presentations scheduled. There were only two shortlisted candidates. </p><p>Given the small number of shortlisted candidates I figured we would get an email quite soon about the outcome. But a week later, there still was no news. Nothing still two weeks later. The grapevine had been buzzing frantically since the day of the interviews! The first candidate seemed to have accepted and agreed to start in July. But why was there no official news? Especially with David retiring in June already! Three weeks later: nothing. Now that I post it, it’s been almost four weeks. Still nothing. No idea what is going on...</p><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/AVvXsEgVDDBifVm1sej5_B4PppH7FiAZpZeuNK89qajXW84AfOIcuh6Mqz2bVePWiadx4h53Mkaxw48tbQxKclBF-UDc8QzYZvA3SiFqtMhScTnlvA87_LHVYsiBAx_YSyXrVJMoBSGUpxJ5BZ8_XfBHxJMNAv08o7Wbeqcu7VjDWfBqb8fEIVts3keChuWuz2D9/s1280/IMG_1157.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1280" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDDBifVm1sej5_B4PppH7FiAZpZeuNK89qajXW84AfOIcuh6Mqz2bVePWiadx4h53Mkaxw48tbQxKclBF-UDc8QzYZvA3SiFqtMhScTnlvA87_LHVYsiBAx_YSyXrVJMoBSGUpxJ5BZ8_XfBHxJMNAv08o7Wbeqcu7VjDWfBqb8fEIVts3keChuWuz2D9/w400-h200/IMG_1157.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marine pollution. Pic by Rey Perezoso</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-56494666857410458482024-03-12T07:03:00.000+00:002024-03-12T07:03:38.053+00:00Best possible day for a trip on the beach with students<p>Every year, my Earth, Climate and Evolution module has two field trips; <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/05/red-wharf-bay.html" target="_blank">one to Red Wharf Bay</a>, and <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/05/cwm-idwal-trip.html" target="_blank">one to Cwm Idwal</a>. And I quite like them. But they are a bit weather dependent! The trip to Red Wharf Bay can be a lovely sunny walk on the beach if the weather is cooperating. There are years when it is rainy and windy and altogether not very pleasant. Geologically, there is a lot to see! But it is nicer to see it under comfortable circumstances.</p><p>The Cwm Idwal trip is a bit more spectacular, landscape-wise, and I mind the weather a bit less. But it still really makes a difference. </p><p>This year, the trips fell quite early in the season. And then the risk of bad weather is extra big. But in early March, we embarked two coaches going to the Bay, and the sunshine was glorious and there was no wind! It couldn't possibly have been better. Because we have a very large cohort in the first year, we had rather large groups, so it was quite pleasant that it wasn't windy; your voice reaches groups of up to 20 people a lot more easily on a calm day.</p><p>It was a great day for it! Everyone seemed to have had a good time. The only disappointment seems to have been that Lynda seems to have been reminiscing about buying ice cream after the trip last year, but this year it was so early in the season that no one in the area was selling any. A pity! But otherwise; great trip! There is no way we'll get similar conditions for the next trip two weeks later, but that's OK!</p><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/AVvXsEjopzn-Ce07F2C-QJ8dZc_mascneS5msQbok1wt_vovKI78n0JiTYNEBURHYKROZswPG_HMsWsB_Z3v421wZU3_XX4k6L1wZWdFKkWcVQcFLjYoBLgH8jgAaSKSo6JgN3CY-en1RpCFKQ8LJ9anJUXhqQ-eWZIjZkC82bRdYnvnVoj4BGvM_4zQf7iqQ2vx/s4032/IMG_1146.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjopzn-Ce07F2C-QJ8dZc_mascneS5msQbok1wt_vovKI78n0JiTYNEBURHYKROZswPG_HMsWsB_Z3v421wZU3_XX4k6L1wZWdFKkWcVQcFLjYoBLgH8jgAaSKSo6JgN3CY-en1RpCFKQ8LJ9anJUXhqQ-eWZIjZkC82bRdYnvnVoj4BGvM_4zQf7iqQ2vx/w400-h300/IMG_1146.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Wharf Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEiQ2iOXw-o9alfxObYwcMp8daBmT9-Zp6qtucFmZL7QR0buc4RYuH2q40wTTZbedwWzx4Q0-WEXRjk1JKrmEmf3TylFEgHsthcg6oXOfqgxqeDwW5bk29ZoTaMj7uGA9TV31r2VLEchvpOPpfz-FZAzKTAoVMwC4i6tYb2TB9muZu-MBSQqqQQ3hBiZC2yF/s3632/IMG_1148.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2953" data-original-width="3632" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ2iOXw-o9alfxObYwcMp8daBmT9-Zp6qtucFmZL7QR0buc4RYuH2q40wTTZbedwWzx4Q0-WEXRjk1JKrmEmf3TylFEgHsthcg6oXOfqgxqeDwW5bk29ZoTaMj7uGA9TV31r2VLEchvpOPpfz-FZAzKTAoVMwC4i6tYb2TB9muZu-MBSQqqQQ3hBiZC2yF/w400-h325/IMG_1148.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacial striations on Carboniferous limestone </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEgZNdunOW49LMo7ZUWlPTz_1MLCg5MiPnDQDo_TpUxj_7cpvO5RvPC8vMT7JH3s_qvKfXuCkp0cA7vdiI88yRg5K5o1FVYZBE76njSGKOk3bVZoZ_dLV7TAUYXChdy02btMkO0dRbxsrEeYykiTntzkjhP4ELzbDbXhBVEkbgpmltYhDWu5oSatutIvM5fb/s4032/IMG_1149.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNdunOW49LMo7ZUWlPTz_1MLCg5MiPnDQDo_TpUxj_7cpvO5RvPC8vMT7JH3s_qvKfXuCkp0cA7vdiI88yRg5K5o1FVYZBE76njSGKOk3bVZoZ_dLV7TAUYXChdy02btMkO0dRbxsrEeYykiTntzkjhP4ELzbDbXhBVEkbgpmltYhDWu5oSatutIvM5fb/w400-h300/IMG_1149.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking back to the coaches</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-52587624941066713162024-03-11T07:11:00.000+00:002024-03-11T07:11:25.690+00:00Spreading the Athena Swan love/work<p>It was me <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/draft-new-action-plan.html" target="_blank">writing the Athena Swan action plan</a> so far. I had also been the one defining our priorities in the first place. I had spent several meetings trying to drag priorities out of the other people in the Self Assessment Team and the working groups, but that didn't really work. But the whole application is supposed to reflect the whole School. Secondly; ideally it would be successful, and if you spread the work over several people they are less likely to get overloaded, and produce substandard work. So basically, it would generally be a good thing to involve more people in the actual writing of the application.</p><p>We had a meeting of the Self-Assessment Team, and my main aim for it was to get the others on board that we would try to spread the load. And they were up for it! So we basically took our six priorities, and thought of a person who would be best place to finalise each one. And we ended the meeting agreeing that I would write a draft email asking them, because I know precisely what it is that needs to be done, and where the necessary resources are, and then the Head of School would send out the emails, as adding his position to the request might increase the chances that people say yes.</p><p>Several responses have already come in, and they were all positive. So I hope that has kicked the whole process into higher gear. Watch this space! </p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-25972454902555387882024-03-10T08:22:00.000+00:002024-03-10T08:22:39.301+00:00Car ecosystem <p>My car is known among my friends as ‘the Ecosystem’. I suppose it is an abbreviation of the original ‘mobile ecosystem’. And there is a reason for that. I don't see the point in washing that car. Maybe letting algae liberally grow where they want might not be good for the car, but I have no illusions that it will be the panels that in the end will spell the demise of the vehicle. The engine will give up before anything else.</p><p>The algae on the boot of the car are, in my eye, not very decorative. But I have several species of moss growing in the windowsills. And I think these are beautiful! They make me smile. And recently one species of moss went into flower in its mossy way. So if I'm driving now, I have three fruiting bodies cheerfully waving around in the corner of my right eye. I thought I'd share that!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafzLF-P0rTYRgzbvBtvnkcms0nRP0D-se2y2t92BuQzyuSooESpiyH303O6V22XzUvUow3NcJfC-LvhUPXFUcm5gh-dav9tBMoXCZSYTKlxsVuZa4DA3HeF5d_-wHbsP15rFuDyLI47FfEGd90KU_LlcIk0lEzb_-Ag8wlyc9M9WXDcK63w05HcSZhyphenhyphennS/s4032/IMG_1153.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafzLF-P0rTYRgzbvBtvnkcms0nRP0D-se2y2t92BuQzyuSooESpiyH303O6V22XzUvUow3NcJfC-LvhUPXFUcm5gh-dav9tBMoXCZSYTKlxsVuZa4DA3HeF5d_-wHbsP15rFuDyLI47FfEGd90KU_LlcIk0lEzb_-Ag8wlyc9M9WXDcK63w05HcSZhyphenhyphennS/w400-h300/IMG_1153.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-72010564160087585462024-03-10T08:21:00.000+00:002024-03-10T08:21:59.353+00:00Winter views soon to be lost<p>It’s meteorological spring! And it has been feeling like spring for a while. Soon the trees will have leaves again. I really like the longer days, but I always regret losing the beautiful view on the field on the other side of the river. I think trees are really really beautiful when they have no leaves. I'll just make sure to enjoy them while I can.</p><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/AVvXsEjFa3Ei36_dxkkZCE4dStLc0VEP-vPVWAQvY2TPqrCQLxn9-M2fyV5tTzqc8I4_Vlt-EGvx8omPlxOOf5InzS14_KpZ_KeLrAYi7i3b3ctWzQDJyxSmz4UzbKNnq7ryPzN2V8EyleABBJumfrPd8DIegbhz8LgIMi-p7EFd0YzpYsRRa9Ls24mLxwKQ_zsP/s4032/IMG_1139.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFa3Ei36_dxkkZCE4dStLc0VEP-vPVWAQvY2TPqrCQLxn9-M2fyV5tTzqc8I4_Vlt-EGvx8omPlxOOf5InzS14_KpZ_KeLrAYi7i3b3ctWzQDJyxSmz4UzbKNnq7ryPzN2V8EyleABBJumfrPd8DIegbhz8LgIMi-p7EFd0YzpYsRRa9Ls24mLxwKQ_zsP/w400-h300/IMG_1139.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unobstructed view, soon to be gone</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-35111332265089691972024-03-09T08:21:00.000+00:002024-03-09T08:21:09.677+00:00Late February resolution <p><a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/12/bike-maintenance.html" target="_blank">When your standard commute is almost 15 miles and has 1400 foot of ascent, you wear your bike out rather quickly</a>. The bicycle repair man had already told me that if I would just keep it clean, I wouldn't have so much wear and tear. But when I get home from my commute, I just want to put the bike in a corner and not think about it anymore. I see his point, though; having grit stuck in it is not going to help a bit.</p><p>When I realised I had almost run out of bike oil, I knew I had to buy some more. Not cleaning your chain is one thing; not oiling it is another! But when I was in the shop that sold the bike oil, I saw they also sold a chain cleaning device. And I bought it. I don't think I am going to use it on a daily basis, but I think I could manage a weekly rinse. It might give both my chain and my cogs a longer life! And that is a good thing.</p><p>“Keeping my bike clean" sounds like a New Year's resolution. It isn’t New Year anymore! It was February when I bought the device, and it is already March now I have used it for the first time. But I hope I can convince myself to make this a fairly regular habit. Maybe then I can space out my visits to the repair shop a bit more. Could I manage twice a year? I'll find out!</p><p><br /></p><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/AVvXsEi9Clx5FYVd8C0kJgTuNQXBURilhK-te6sT2Tdnwo2DSqDg_-JruZ8ir-nJDasi9Xj82YCBvRFsIgvYZui08U-k6qJP04F3cZo0C8GMSLW7MGUfOKrFRr00Tr_88BKrB_fVmKeDgjKTtyhah8YHmnLo0hOl7I-dRLpFBcEZ4wPhDq_qzOUdc0rJuz7Z9ShA/s4032/IMG_1103.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Clx5FYVd8C0kJgTuNQXBURilhK-te6sT2Tdnwo2DSqDg_-JruZ8ir-nJDasi9Xj82YCBvRFsIgvYZui08U-k6qJP04F3cZo0C8GMSLW7MGUfOKrFRr00Tr_88BKrB_fVmKeDgjKTtyhah8YHmnLo0hOl7I-dRLpFBcEZ4wPhDq_qzOUdc0rJuz7Z9ShA/w300-h400/IMG_1103.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEgMKrvFd-yWiFUDImatIC29lPlH5AP_PmzYvDuHLfgSo58BKy3VFVpdP5Vda-Z-3y9y75t5gdHpWuhVp5Lyh33gsv-Tsi8TdemwwcDNeLZ6XJOuwuaWfAQ0QVvPWgQjsioc-D-z_hItDpfzbqrYMQVJ8UwhGrvzqb3hkUr8NyrwpEVXMsfzKyOCSlFu2TCG/s4032/IMG_1130.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMKrvFd-yWiFUDImatIC29lPlH5AP_PmzYvDuHLfgSo58BKy3VFVpdP5Vda-Z-3y9y75t5gdHpWuhVp5Lyh33gsv-Tsi8TdemwwcDNeLZ6XJOuwuaWfAQ0QVvPWgQjsioc-D-z_hItDpfzbqrYMQVJ8UwhGrvzqb3hkUr8NyrwpEVXMsfzKyOCSlFu2TCG/w400-h300/IMG_1130.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for action!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEg-IVIwlJBTyhBTaIKQ5vrmowdf9tPxsbuQJj-Sl9xozkaFr-pGlzsOsVqRUqs4xINj4iQqvooGkajm9usOmDzQ0jd1kkk7euJWGKlynGZuvp8opKliutSv4qI0R69MLyXc7RPPrRuNN26SOpr_6WNNoQsgxpRtsD8HM0aWUzbiltYnYvaoBFDgmnDHQS_2/s4032/IMG_1131.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-IVIwlJBTyhBTaIKQ5vrmowdf9tPxsbuQJj-Sl9xozkaFr-pGlzsOsVqRUqs4xINj4iQqvooGkajm9usOmDzQ0jd1kkk7euJWGKlynGZuvp8opKliutSv4qI0R69MLyXc7RPPrRuNN26SOpr_6WNNoQsgxpRtsD8HM0aWUzbiltYnYvaoBFDgmnDHQS_2/w400-h300/IMG_1131.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clean chain, dirty kit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-27000025521278855092024-03-08T07:28:00.000+00:002024-03-08T07:28:29.018+00:00Plant overhaul <p>I don’t really have time for plant care! I have to write an <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/draft-new-action-plan.html?m=0" target="_blank">Athena Swan application</a>. But plants are living beings, and they have needs. I had neglected them a bit! But it was weighing on my conscience. Several were in pots that were by now too small, and some had ended up leaning against the window, and couldn’t stand up unaided anymore. And one seemed to be needing more support (from sticks) than it got.</p><p>On a Sunday morning I gathered all the plants I thought needed an upgrade. And I cut some rampant stems from overgrown sedums. I put it all in my conservatory. A material to do list. </p><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/AVvXsEg2aCIbadWSrBbUNGzi2quihUUR86yoGvKNQMLt6C-uKdd36mKPCsaJYYyEX8J3ttGdOxt74GFiUGLJ2Lw2hjWjKjlnnWsd1zqT2ufc1jv-kAFBfa_pDgw2FVBUQYqDKwAfcs4bA1isp3vA6RFvbiNv8IVViK5dJ6gwkxrcG44o8zjd5Sclmv6r8-N39ZYb/s4032/IMG_1125.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2aCIbadWSrBbUNGzi2quihUUR86yoGvKNQMLt6C-uKdd36mKPCsaJYYyEX8J3ttGdOxt74GFiUGLJ2Lw2hjWjKjlnnWsd1zqT2ufc1jv-kAFBfa_pDgw2FVBUQYqDKwAfcs4bA1isp3vA6RFvbiNv8IVViK5dJ6gwkxrcG44o8zjd5Sclmv6r8-N39ZYb/w400-h300/IMG_1125.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The plants that needed attention </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEiZzn6HUJfsRZZnybgBuCvpne7Qtj3abnuRD8zjQnBuiomyGwEjby4e_038MZoah46i6h1URBAGtmMpaTE4UbQnRdOsoxK-fPyoKfcHyV3lkPn3BAhF9zDN6BIHcSX1BPDjZw-sEDvhtJ0F4Hnin-rfV2X1jTnj4EHu7riwOuU9GED45UxFMnhG7e0zfO2b/s4032/IMG_1128.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZzn6HUJfsRZZnybgBuCvpne7Qtj3abnuRD8zjQnBuiomyGwEjby4e_038MZoah46i6h1URBAGtmMpaTE4UbQnRdOsoxK-fPyoKfcHyV3lkPn3BAhF9zDN6BIHcSX1BPDjZw-sEDvhtJ0F4Hnin-rfV2X1jTnj4EHu7riwOuU9GED45UxFMnhG7e0zfO2b/w300-h400/IMG_1128.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A strange succulent with climbing tendencies </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I repotted several money plants, an aloe vera, and an unidentified plant. The aloe vera also yielded three babies! I hope they all survive. One of them should go and live in my office. I propped the succulent above with more bamboo rods. (It’s a strange plant! Why can’t it support itself? And bits broke off - should I grow these into more plants that look weird and need help? Philosophical questions!) And I cleaned the windows sills they came from. </p><p>I’m really happy with the results! My plants look better-housed, and a lot healthier. My window sills look good again. And one should sometimes just do stuff like that, and not work. </p><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/AVvXsEinCzsvSdwzDbbgP2xqp0d0qw-yYN-YQmwLQ7yXNTmGWxV9RINy68v1hG10Y1s-gUbx5wTpXkfU-uTEILizxAgncT9GFENds6pn0MKzY2Wcemsc2NqPqhS-qXhs4Vxb_lWKQfA5zysOVBnQkIhy8ucxPh1P_k_1COxAAz3K-gQQJn_3KJqKOnC5BtI_tLd5/s4032/IMG_1129.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinCzsvSdwzDbbgP2xqp0d0qw-yYN-YQmwLQ7yXNTmGWxV9RINy68v1hG10Y1s-gUbx5wTpXkfU-uTEILizxAgncT9GFENds6pn0MKzY2Wcemsc2NqPqhS-qXhs4Vxb_lWKQfA5zysOVBnQkIhy8ucxPh1P_k_1COxAAz3K-gQQJn_3KJqKOnC5BtI_tLd5/w300-h400/IMG_1129.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One succulent, two money plants and one window sill looking tidier</td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-73242215917208161132024-03-07T07:24:00.000+00:002024-03-07T07:24:04.627+00:00Sophie Kilburn and Melys<p>Neuadd Ogwen was back in business! Does that mean <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/11/neuadd-ogwen-makes-space.html" target="_blank">the renovation</a> is finished? No, of course not. But they have already celebrated their reopening. And since then there was a Palestine support gig, and a Saint David's Day concert. That was spread out over two days.</p><p>Martin had messaged to see if anyone wanted to come with him to the Saturday gig. There were three musicians playing; I didn't know any of them. But I have my Spotify working these days, so I could easily do something about that.</p><p>The main act was a band that harked from nearby Betws: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melys" target="_blank">Melys</a>. I wasn't aware of them, but they had quite a big back catalogue. And I liked what I was hearing! So I said I would go with him.</p><p>After that I also checked out the support acts. There were two: <a href="https://www.sophiekilburn.com/" target="_blank">Sophie Kilburn</a>, and <a href="https://focuswales.com/artists/pys-melyn/" target="_blank">Pys Melyn</a>. The former only had a few EPs out, so it was easy to get up to date with her oeuvre. I really liked it! This was going well. I then checked the latter. That really wasn’t up my street. But two out of three is fine!</p><p>When Martin showed up he said there was nothing going on yet. If any of the acts would have already started, he would have been easily able to spot that from outside my house. As a matter of fact; I would be easily able to hear it inside the house. He was right; there wasn't anything happening yet. So we had a small chat before we headed in. We ordered drinks, and not much later Sophie Kilburn appeared. I dragged Martin to the front. I wanted to be close to the action! And he let me.</p><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/AVvXsEg3g3i9YrZpePXL5zMSdTM6rasAPrzgCsSWoCSo_da9x86OlyyItH-eER4YBafTZG8NlJcq_1KfRJNeHecEGAAj8btp6bUi09F7MmY80lZQzm5QUb16OAWySiN4EgYz_nuGoOsK_1zvzlItUMYzwruZiLFNHw8a50sHI36oY3YlahfAJmXC2QRu4NWuEr8m/s4032/IMG_1120.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3g3i9YrZpePXL5zMSdTM6rasAPrzgCsSWoCSo_da9x86OlyyItH-eER4YBafTZG8NlJcq_1KfRJNeHecEGAAj8btp6bUi09F7MmY80lZQzm5QUb16OAWySiN4EgYz_nuGoOsK_1zvzlItUMYzwruZiLFNHw8a50sHI36oY3YlahfAJmXC2QRu4NWuEr8m/w400-h300/IMG_1120.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sophie Kilburn </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>She was great! It was just her and a guitar, but that was all she needed. And I felt I already know the songs. I hadn't spent that long listening to them, but for now she doesn't have that many. It was fab! If anyone is curious now gone check her new single "Body on the inside".</p><p>A few minutes later the second band, Pys Melyn, was ready to start. I knew I didn't have high expectations. I knew Martin had no idea what to expect. So when they were about a minute into their first song I just looked sideways. What was his judgement? He turned his face towards me and I had the answer. I suggested we get another drink and just sit down in the space by the bar. He thought that was a good idea. So we spent the while on a sofa just having a chat. Briefly interrupted by a very drunk guy desperate for a chat. Until we figured the main act was about to start. We went back in!</p><p>Melys is a much bigger setup than Sophie Kilburn; it is a five-piece band (maybe not always, but that night they sure were). The singer showed up in a beautiful shimmery dress. This was going to be a bit more showbiz than a lady in denim with a guitar. And they said they had had a five-year break and might be a bit rusty. But I wouldn't notice!</p><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/AVvXsEj4tq-cd4GHVphQGShLiOng4xl96rbzvHcSs51ea3YuSF1g3mIXT9fedPbEwKEUju666FCseRSRzT-6R12LN3Fxs0zpy_ma7wBptiRNTp9aVMMrcesLHZo4y4E2OflWWcGCP8ysSeDY0uJg7jH5sHBrPccsel7qA28lKWNMRmV_MpvO8VgFmcBHaWgx-nb5/s4032/IMG_1122.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4tq-cd4GHVphQGShLiOng4xl96rbzvHcSs51ea3YuSF1g3mIXT9fedPbEwKEUju666FCseRSRzT-6R12LN3Fxs0zpy_ma7wBptiRNTp9aVMMrcesLHZo4y4E2OflWWcGCP8ysSeDY0uJg7jH5sHBrPccsel7qA28lKWNMRmV_MpvO8VgFmcBHaWgx-nb5/w400-h300/IMG_1122.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melys</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>I don't find it easy to categorise the band. Quite often, they contrast the somewhat ethereal voice of the singer with a sound that has hints of the industrial in it. I think it works well! And I also liked it when they combined the much deeper voice of the rhythm guitarist with that of the lead vocalist. It became clear they are also a married couple. Extra important the combination works well!</p><p>I recognised several of the songs as I had been listening to their Spotify page. But they have a sizeable back catalogue, so I didn't know everything. And they also played a new song. That was quite good! So they clearly still have it. If anyone is curious; check, for instance, their song "Chinese whispers".</p><p>By the time they did their last time they went all out. I was really glad I was in the room, and not in my bed, trying to sleep! That wouldn't have worked. I really hope one day Neuadd Ogwen gets doors for its porch. I think the whole building malarkey started with them trying to become better sound-insulated! And building a porch over your outside doors helps, but only if that porch has doors itself. And it still doesn't. I had been forced to listen to that concert before from my bed. And now I was in the room, at least in the position to enjoy it, but also wondering if maybe I should have worn earplugs.</p><p>When the band left Martin and I decided to skedaddle. Neither of us is a veritable nightcrawler. But it had been a good gig! And I'll keep an eye out. Maybe these bands will return…</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-1706590570095394862024-03-06T07:07:00.000+00:002024-03-06T07:07:47.454+00:00More firewood: birch this time<p>The neighbour had mentioned to me before that he thought some of the trees lining our little street are getting so big they are taking the light away from his windows and his solar panels. He was thinking of doing something about that. And one day I came out of my house and saw him busy doing just that. And he asked me if I wanted some logs. Of course I did!</p><p>He is not a tree surgeon, so he couldn't reasonably cut down the biggest birch there in its entirety, but he cut off some sizeable branches, and took down a smaller tree entirely. So now I have, in addition to the processed willow and walnut wood already there, some birch in the garage that I need to cut, split, and let dry for a while! I'm always happy to replenish my stock. And I must say; just like <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/willow-gets-haircut.html?m=0" target="_blank">that far corner of my garden</a>, the end of our street now looks a lot tidier than it did before. And I'm sure my neighbour now has to make a smaller appeal on fossil fuel reserves. Everybody wins!</p><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/AVvXsEgyNxjuLPR-YjygMNJwJzm0TlNwLWn0tjbE862A7FTPJYlf5hceaZFho3mnuxnSClRNZPfNgeVrM3VCnXMcLOS0YK748Q_5-DVAkPikIliz-wszQbW4epNuPsCB7E2v-UP6Z_8z7LXm6QgY4FQ3wwMR_EH0uWGKsFat43zeYDYyxXfEts7ODjMSrIUeSycj/s4032/IMG_1111.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyNxjuLPR-YjygMNJwJzm0TlNwLWn0tjbE862A7FTPJYlf5hceaZFho3mnuxnSClRNZPfNgeVrM3VCnXMcLOS0YK748Q_5-DVAkPikIliz-wszQbW4epNuPsCB7E2v-UP6Z_8z7LXm6QgY4FQ3wwMR_EH0uWGKsFat43zeYDYyxXfEts7ODjMSrIUeSycj/w300-h400/IMG_1111.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The biggest piece; we needed to carry that together</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEi4GPz7rKMhjU1D1LFNerUpRg2uxZDeVtXSHKkuGHJ3gUFx6pIfA1VV9HU65DwJ3lCDdJ86RR8JkOZU-Gj_meCspkdKLw5b55jV5bvYHN4E42qvwr9R5bKXk_2H7ubKvZpbeaeFfbUTddNUyRuj5WAztvgPag82GbnsV6PZcwu_9-BTVANXGBmN1iM44ppi/s4032/IMG_1113.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GPz7rKMhjU1D1LFNerUpRg2uxZDeVtXSHKkuGHJ3gUFx6pIfA1VV9HU65DwJ3lCDdJ86RR8JkOZU-Gj_meCspkdKLw5b55jV5bvYHN4E42qvwr9R5bKXk_2H7ubKvZpbeaeFfbUTddNUyRuj5WAztvgPag82GbnsV6PZcwu_9-BTVANXGBmN1iM44ppi/w300-h400/IMG_1113.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rest of the wood</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEjVUv6lBI0MINQmnlY1yPe4O_L20r-Gv32sBSELxuyZIzI9PhPm6ZvPh0W_joE5Qn2sVu40yhjP0w877pmwDgoBeAaueSVIxVgoCcQJaKAnykWsDUItnHoEGXOvbUyPd35Cqk48INFk1EZsDqAubEuQpAoZPt8DECweLq227HrdLniGj_AW0JU64hs706dF/s2100/IMG_1112.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="1576" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVUv6lBI0MINQmnlY1yPe4O_L20r-Gv32sBSELxuyZIzI9PhPm6ZvPh0W_joE5Qn2sVu40yhjP0w877pmwDgoBeAaueSVIxVgoCcQJaKAnykWsDUItnHoEGXOvbUyPd35Cqk48INFk1EZsDqAubEuQpAoZPt8DECweLq227HrdLniGj_AW0JU64hs706dF/w300-h400/IMG_1112.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tidy! </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-67952631982160193492024-03-05T07:41:00.000+00:002024-03-05T07:41:12.196+00:00Annoying lamp issues<p>When I bought the house, <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2018/09/rewiring-done.html" target="_blank">I had it entirely rewired</a>. I figured that would mean everything would be OK. But I am not entirely sure if that's true. Would it be <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/03/contractor-vanished.html" target="_blank">another case of me not being critical enough</a>? Not that I have any idea how I would keep an eye on the quality of what an electrician delivers. What do I know about that stuff? I hire a trade person for a reason! But anyway; I noticed that it so happened a lot lightbulbs would either break, or otherwise only radiate very dim light. They're not supposed to do that! A lightbulb is supposed to have a pretty long life. </p><p>There is one lamp in the living room that I have practically given up on. I have replaced the bulbs so often! I don't want to spend my monthly salary on lightbulbs. I will just do without.</p><p>And then, suddenly, the light in the storage space next to the kitchen did the same thing. It only emits such weak light you can't really see what you're doing. If you're looking for something you know exactly where it is, you can still find it, but sometimes retrieving something from storage require some rummaging. And there is no light to do that by.</p><p>So now what? Maybe I will just Google if anyone else has had this issue, and if there is something to do about it. I will also and firstly just try to replace the lightbulb to see if that works. It's annoying! I wish I knew more about this topic. But then again, I think that about a lot of topics…</p><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/AVvXsEi1wkKk9RbmT2SpRM72oBxp_o8MHc0_1AM8cMd7i_CSWv4oa1juHICrJFJtDLBA2Kws4zo4M4vCXvyFbUw4NAJwWpH3pY2asJ5pZlOOA3TPq6ZGAJcZhaL1Y9lPH37axq3wD4qYE2gUa3mO6mljuQqyuC2uVr_1-x-IPXZv1BYJlGAZ4Wi-HKDTfpWKWQU9/s4032/IMG_1107.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wkKk9RbmT2SpRM72oBxp_o8MHc0_1AM8cMd7i_CSWv4oa1juHICrJFJtDLBA2Kws4zo4M4vCXvyFbUw4NAJwWpH3pY2asJ5pZlOOA3TPq6ZGAJcZhaL1Y9lPH37axq3wD4qYE2gUa3mO6mljuQqyuC2uVr_1-x-IPXZv1BYJlGAZ4Wi-HKDTfpWKWQU9/w300-h400/IMG_1107.jpeg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not light enough</td></tr></tbody></table>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-63446578004761956082024-03-04T08:19:00.000+00:002024-03-04T08:19:07.977+00:00Contractor vanished<p>I'm not very strategic and I am too trusting! For instance; I <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2019/08/garage-roof-ready.html" target="_blank">had my garage reroofed</a>, and only a few years later I noticed all the cement was already falling out of the roof ridge. That didn't look very sturdy. And I had <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/07/snowdonia-trail-10k-plus-travel.html?m=0" target="_blank">bumped into the roofer at a race</a>, who said he would contact me, but of course he hadn't. And I couldn't contact him either, as I had never communicated directly with him. What I needed to do was contact the contractor. But a voice says "this number is not in use" if I phone him. And if I google his company, I find nothing. I think he has stopped trading! So I can't really talk to anyone who is responsible. I'll have to have this fixed by someone else. Will I learn from this? I hope so! I'm sure that owning a house, I will forever have to deal with three people. Can I avoid any of them going out of business after they deal with me? No! But maybe I should just have acted earlier. Maybe he would still have been in business then. But for now I will just put the roof on the to-do list. It might linger there for a bit!</p><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/AVvXsEiDIq-qlk0-bWJsn_w28jSW4DOUSaBaMicR6ZJ_oM4ZMaqpRG0bDG0UKle4r02vvuFX7LFstK3DfdswO_UokvtR_jQ2z2wBjjuY1Rg2Ucm44eNeksdrxDJTNl2jSwMXmWbPS5BAJLV6DxcgNpKaL6ypz1BFe2n_nPMT2LTAdHalPBBHaV8NDpXFI5kflUQp/s4032/IMG_1110.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDIq-qlk0-bWJsn_w28jSW4DOUSaBaMicR6ZJ_oM4ZMaqpRG0bDG0UKle4r02vvuFX7LFstK3DfdswO_UokvtR_jQ2z2wBjjuY1Rg2Ucm44eNeksdrxDJTNl2jSwMXmWbPS5BAJLV6DxcgNpKaL6ypz1BFe2n_nPMT2LTAdHalPBBHaV8NDpXFI5kflUQp/w400-h300/IMG_1110.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This only makes sense after zooming in</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-15329172516048320252024-03-03T08:06:00.001+00:002024-03-03T08:06:47.910+00:00Sustainable transport after all! <p></p><p>I don't think he reads the blog. But not an awful lot of time after I had <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/03/not-much-sustainable-transport.html" target="_blank">mentioned on the blog I was having my doubts about our Sustainable Transport idea of a local ‘cycle to work’ day</a>, my phone rang. It was Chris, our facilitator! He apologised for not responding to my messages earlier, and said that we could advertise the event through me handing him the necessary materials, and him disseminating that. That works for me!</p><p>I have a lot of commute pictures, and I didn't think sending them by email would be a good idea. So I downloaded a whole lot from my phone onto my computer, downloaded a bunch of maps that represent the various routes I take to work, and put them in a folder on Dropbox. I also included a file where I listed which picture was taken at which section of my commute (I had only some six different sections, so that wasn't too detailed), as I am a bit of a pedant, and I wouldn't want him to plot a map with pictures that were taken somewhere else! And he is a local, but that doesn't necessarily mean he recognises every little part of the local bicycle paths.</p><p>I also added a file with some calculations. How much CO2 do I avoid emitting by not going by car? How much fuel am I saving? How much money does that represent? How many calories do I burn when I do that commute? All sorts of things that might sell the idea to people.</p><p>It's out of my hands now! I don't know where Chris will put this material. If it is places like TikTok and Instagram I will not see it. But I hope it will get spread far and wide. And that it motivates a few more people onto these bicycle paths in country lanes!</p><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/AVvXsEjsSyxJNJ59OpM5SSgeDjhlYuEW1hPDCEH7RUzdUqHMYk7FxcLL0EQDS8-JXmAu64vspEpXFBWnyWJZqHxGEUI5LeHmqJTv3r9VhUOtqcrsJRSVPbQLe9UzA9IXJL5QrNFEx3YDoJwbZvBVAhuhtMDgakGHVVxFalNhuORtBKy5O7-e1tJcIpaCdhXK3bXF/s1649/Bethesda-Menai%20Bridge%20-%20Bangor%20and%20back%20over%20the%20old%20road.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="1649" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSyxJNJ59OpM5SSgeDjhlYuEW1hPDCEH7RUzdUqHMYk7FxcLL0EQDS8-JXmAu64vspEpXFBWnyWJZqHxGEUI5LeHmqJTv3r9VhUOtqcrsJRSVPbQLe9UzA9IXJL5QrNFEx3YDoJwbZvBVAhuhtMDgakGHVVxFalNhuORtBKy5O7-e1tJcIpaCdhXK3bXF/w400-h196/Bethesda-Menai%20Bridge%20-%20Bangor%20and%20back%20over%20the%20old%20road.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the maps</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEjd0gRQZ3CwuBEmUpnTfV7eN_o5PXi7I4pUz55O-ShEra4CqyVQcBaZxaTj4sVgkE_miBDbCy0DoPUNzxRFAr38eF0G1N4ayhjJzUTKUg7KgE4e5i7zP72r-PT423Xkxc59vGjw8Cjbz8lHoudrS-bUCz9ZOXl4ys9tdXXR39VIm5NUofgfdqmME7lICiyD/s4032/IMG_0819.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd0gRQZ3CwuBEmUpnTfV7eN_o5PXi7I4pUz55O-ShEra4CqyVQcBaZxaTj4sVgkE_miBDbCy0DoPUNzxRFAr38eF0G1N4ayhjJzUTKUg7KgE4e5i7zP72r-PT423Xkxc59vGjw8Cjbz8lHoudrS-bUCz9ZOXl4ys9tdXXR39VIm5NUofgfdqmME7lICiyD/w400-h300/IMG_0819.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another two commute pictures</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotsRKpawmEX1_PlmqCKhkfwfSYDWz53P2dFkNyR5gF1Wnre5iQ_9zfMWhpyZYgEa3Iad1Th9F6g-sR-ClKn1Bbbm_M75je5hfTn6465H2fbBYfl7gbFu3tlshDAmgVHQqaT8OB9CJrwi0gXMyX33sQEYFF1nBJSBWsLQsk4brqtQ5X4eHqyau9Unk45V_/s4032/IMG_1038.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotsRKpawmEX1_PlmqCKhkfwfSYDWz53P2dFkNyR5gF1Wnre5iQ_9zfMWhpyZYgEa3Iad1Th9F6g-sR-ClKn1Bbbm_M75je5hfTn6465H2fbBYfl7gbFu3tlshDAmgVHQqaT8OB9CJrwi0gXMyX33sQEYFF1nBJSBWsLQsk4brqtQ5X4eHqyau9Unk45V_/w300-h400/IMG_1038.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-72842195396478096142024-03-02T07:44:00.000+00:002024-03-02T07:44:32.921+00:00St David’s Day: lecture about Mary Jones<p>How many people who read this blog would have heard of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jones_and_her_Bible?wprov=sfti1#Memorial_in_Llanfihangel-y-Pennant_and_legacy" target="_blank">Mary Jones</a>? She is quite famous in Wales, but that only says so much. I had heard of her since a Welsh class in which her story popped up. </p><p>On the 1st of March it's Saint David's Day, and for that reason, on that day there was an online lecture about her and her significance. In Welsh. And I decided to attend. It was chaired by a bloke from Philosophy and Religion that I had seen around at meetings of the Bangor branch of the National College of Wales. And the lady who did the talk was from the Bible society. And that gives you an idea of the significance of Mary Jones.</p><p>The story of this lady is that she was very religious, but also very poor. She had learned to read and write, and really wanted to have a Bible. But that wasn't so easy! For someone who is poor they are quite expensive, and there aren’t many around written in Welsh.</p><p>She just saved for six years, and then, at 15, went for a walk to the nearest shop that might sell them. She was too poor for shoes, and it was 26 miles. Quite a hike! And what happened when she got there is not entirely clear, but it seems that the most likely course of events was that the shop actually sold out in Welsh language Bibles. But not to panic; there was a delivery due, and she seems to have managed to get home with her Bible a few days later. Maybe even several Bibles, to share around.</p><p>Why is this relevant? The shopkeeper seems to have been very moved by her actions, and decided that Welsh language Bibles should be cheaply available to all. And he founded a society to make that possible. And when he was at it anyway, he branched out to include the rest of the world as well.</p><p>And now? The Welsh have largely lost their religion. Those who have been here will have noticed the huge number of chapel buildings dotted around, many of which now derelict, or turned into outdoor shops or cafés or any other secular use someone had for them.</p><p>I suppose, in a way, the story still stands. I can see parallels with Greta Thunberg. If you are 15 and really stubborn, you can do things other people think are weird and not worth the bother, but before you know it you inspire either a few influential, or lots of less influential people, and are at the beginning of a big change. I can imagine why the Welsh have not forgotten her! And maybe now a few more people have heard of her…</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAxdjmsri8pwKJ2hQQ7OY97X8twwdfpYed6tpYnTVaQrkkvJrj4o1bDTvVnNIUSxzcA3UkrPiT5Mn0BAHdgbNVICBIyUh_nqC9poJdmTD3c0hpnJkHayV4IM9vtTFwQBL2XDIx7WYf9TTXtjoOg9MRW3Gg66j8DIk2NSK2knf72ysZ2TR0DKUa5mbL1zB/s1519/Screenshot%20Mary%20Jones.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="1519" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAxdjmsri8pwKJ2hQQ7OY97X8twwdfpYed6tpYnTVaQrkkvJrj4o1bDTvVnNIUSxzcA3UkrPiT5Mn0BAHdgbNVICBIyUh_nqC9poJdmTD3c0hpnJkHayV4IM9vtTFwQBL2XDIx7WYf9TTXtjoOg9MRW3Gg66j8DIk2NSK2knf72ysZ2TR0DKUa5mbL1zB/w400-h259/Screenshot%20Mary%20Jones.png" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-84646573185840963172024-03-01T09:00:00.001+00:002024-03-01T09:00:30.206+00:00Not much sustainable transport <p>I am in <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/03/sustainable-transport-in-valley.html" target="_blank">the sustainable transport group</a> of this valley’s sustainability initiative. We are just a bunch of volunteers with full-time commitments, and one professional facilitator. We try to make a difference with the limited facilities we have.</p><p>One of the ideas we had was do a “cycle to work" day. There already are <a href="https://www.cyclescheme.co.uk/cycletoworkday" target="_blank">national</a> and/or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bike-to-Work_Day" target="_blank">international</a> ones; if you google when they are, you get the impression <a href="https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bike-to-work-day/" target="_blank">there are several</a>. But we thought we would encourage some people from our area who normally commute to the Bangor area by car, to try it by bike. The idea would be that we, from the sustainability transport group, get together at a central place in the morning, and would ride to Bangor/Menai Bridge with the people who would show up. There might be some people who would give it a go that way. And we may be capable of sorting out coffee and cake on the other side. There is a small budget for these things! It might draw people in who need a little bit of encouragement, but not much. And we didn't have to stick to an official cycle to work day. We also thought that the winter was probably not the time.</p><p>We agreed on a day in April. We figured we needed to advertise it a bit, to get people interested. I have my <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/11/project-strava.html" target="_blank">project Strava</a>; I make a concerted effort every day to post a pretty picture of my deniably beautiful commute on the platform. If I'm doing that anyway, we might as well publish this far and wide. People who follow me on Strava are already on board with cycling to work! Or at least the possibility thereof.</p><p>We don't need to restrict ourselves to pictures, of course; additional useful information could be maps of how I get to work, and information such as how much CO2 emissions you save if you leave the car at home, and how much fuel money you don't have to spend. I asked Chris, the facilitator, to either think of places where he could put all that, so I could send it to him, or for him to give me access to these places so I could put it there myself. He is paid by <a href="https://www.gwyrddni.cymru/en/" target="_blank">Gwyrddni</a>, sustainability organisation, which has other close ties with <a href="https://www.partneriaethogwen.cymru/en/" target="_blank">Partneriaeth Ogwen</a>. Surely these organisations have pages on Facebook or Instagram or TikTok or any of these places? If I could post on these I would reach a much more suitable audience.</p><p>It is already March and I haven't heard anything from Chris! In spite of repeated reminders. Time is ticking. I am starting to wonder a bit if this will happen. If we don't advertise it, no one will come. And then my fellow cyclist Pete and I would just stand there alone, and then just bike to work as we always do. That wouldn't make much of a change. I hope something will start happening soon!</p><p><br /></p><p>Below some pictures from my Project Strava:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_NFObGYRjsg0fknLgj4fwIn40tWpsFiAi_zoDcPlAga5xW07PepIpvQbnGootIOG6YQ6vd03y1-4bcHurgzYs0DrzUUb-rmSSJ-TE6pbeeWZ5pqGduEXSPf3vtrUY92UNL7QASGV1VWJaJRfAS7r_gIcDPd1vQCcqqeuaWMvMgFjmTRjFJ6bRPj4n7oq/s4032/IMG_0439.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM_NFObGYRjsg0fknLgj4fwIn40tWpsFiAi_zoDcPlAga5xW07PepIpvQbnGootIOG6YQ6vd03y1-4bcHurgzYs0DrzUUb-rmSSJ-TE6pbeeWZ5pqGduEXSPf3vtrUY92UNL7QASGV1VWJaJRfAS7r_gIcDPd1vQCcqqeuaWMvMgFjmTRjFJ6bRPj4n7oq/w400-h300/IMG_0439.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpWy9wwu-tlWkijvGFsOobKXf4C_82iECEL4T3H99F2phWfrV66bsn-HasZv2OZTimk-jKL28Gtkbm6pLKjDBClHusgm6w1aSYNEKv2tEfqPv_g9_RJxi19_g_RG2jeYWdj19XXiVbSvXFRYp7AIRnRyBI6H-9cmjqdRxfBLqZZOoWAA8Q3WWIeT2BHlG/s4032/IMG_0490.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnpWy9wwu-tlWkijvGFsOobKXf4C_82iECEL4T3H99F2phWfrV66bsn-HasZv2OZTimk-jKL28Gtkbm6pLKjDBClHusgm6w1aSYNEKv2tEfqPv_g9_RJxi19_g_RG2jeYWdj19XXiVbSvXFRYp7AIRnRyBI6H-9cmjqdRxfBLqZZOoWAA8Q3WWIeT2BHlG/w400-h300/IMG_0490.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEWFzNqKWPEutIKVDYG9QxHvv9WI85RdjfnKstJKgVDXcx1zlQTC5_rwaf5uXHDV2x9dSYP8rl7cSTDps9FAjG3OntlZ06LP2j36kYmvx9H8XCSy9LJWXqFypn8rpXNqvdlhT_wbNhSXSlS1uQPthTpzj1LkXqjmojJeRO4QK1Z4Yd9ZTpz7zm4nGj_Qg/s4032/IMG_0492.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHEWFzNqKWPEutIKVDYG9QxHvv9WI85RdjfnKstJKgVDXcx1zlQTC5_rwaf5uXHDV2x9dSYP8rl7cSTDps9FAjG3OntlZ06LP2j36kYmvx9H8XCSy9LJWXqFypn8rpXNqvdlhT_wbNhSXSlS1uQPthTpzj1LkXqjmojJeRO4QK1Z4Yd9ZTpz7zm4nGj_Qg/w400-h300/IMG_0492.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvn2s5u_NLrl3P0LTjZKYepJKZnNlrCEaHPvru5VvQnAuI13x1cfdixoJXlhANKArY9pX_f-KqxhrVzLdb9lxR-SctR-moDMvGqIENUqnGDhondk4212RjzyVj_KbhruJK0JH671CTf8_OC73xdT81yIlMFdpI-ZNLrIdgyYI6goWO4D9KMI3HNuru9ah/s4032/IMG_0792.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZvn2s5u_NLrl3P0LTjZKYepJKZnNlrCEaHPvru5VvQnAuI13x1cfdixoJXlhANKArY9pX_f-KqxhrVzLdb9lxR-SctR-moDMvGqIENUqnGDhondk4212RjzyVj_KbhruJK0JH671CTf8_OC73xdT81yIlMFdpI-ZNLrIdgyYI6goWO4D9KMI3HNuru9ah/w400-h300/IMG_0792.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8lxz8bK-ABeZZNhM70cqVuf9W1mnw9OUvBuF5tz-FdSvG3qJFk_VIjVzdouGqdP_nRs3BIY1zpVUAJiZQwjzn1lK7dvhUsNcQnTQ6DLRHSWVi5MLhI35Ss4cPA4OQ-SIYZJZ4HaIiBE13oujQN4rLZL_ZCp8kMPnZPeIUwdG1IgXIX0HYkWBu3BD86Gl/s4032/IMG_0969.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ8lxz8bK-ABeZZNhM70cqVuf9W1mnw9OUvBuF5tz-FdSvG3qJFk_VIjVzdouGqdP_nRs3BIY1zpVUAJiZQwjzn1lK7dvhUsNcQnTQ6DLRHSWVi5MLhI35Ss4cPA4OQ-SIYZJZ4HaIiBE13oujQN4rLZL_ZCp8kMPnZPeIUwdG1IgXIX0HYkWBu3BD86Gl/w400-h300/IMG_0969.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-15233090355451233802024-02-29T08:28:00.000+00:002024-02-29T08:28:54.323+00:00Not quite successful day in the field<p><a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/12/msc-student.html" target="_blank">My MSc student</a> had done a lot of work on the samples that were still available from the earlier projects that her project was built on. But the day came we needed to go and collect some of our own. And I thought it would be good if we could resample some of the locations of her forbears. And I had booked the GPS with which that would be possible.</p><p>Late morning I tried to find out how you can make it navigate you to a waypoint. I know it can be done! <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2022/09/getting-field-ready-for-field-trip.html" target="_blank">I've seen Martin use it that way</a>. But I didn't quite manage to make it work! The technicians in charge of the GPS didn't know how it’s done, but I found a YouTube video that showed it. Unfortunately, you had to give it the waypoints. No problem, I thought; just make a CSV file and put it on the SD card. But my computer didn't recognise the SD card! So that failed. But you can, of course, just keep an eye on the northing and easting as it is shown live on the screen, and make the numbers run in the direction you want them to. I had made sure I had the coordinates ready in that format. </p><p>Then we set off. We drove to the estuary, and I unpacked the GPS. It worked fine! In a way. The GPS part saw a plethora of satellites and indicated it could measure at high precision. The handset had established contact with the GPS. Also seemed to be going well! Except that it didn't tell us our location.</p><p>The previous time I had an issue with this piece of kit I had phoned the technician, and he had recommended I switch it off and on again. I should have managed to think about that myself. But at least it has solved the problem! This time I decided to do the off-on trick before phoning him. We did it twice! But to no avail, so I phoned him. </p><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/AVvXsEj_QS9w4qqNUaulAmF7o54JXYRQHznNJ5bqdykO5MkaIvgsEG-C4XMa0peuIjp827H5EpBq6EVBbrQT9ZLcV5bnazZpO1yfmD__z_mUW_qin5lY-IoXqERD1aFPtb8QAEOJG4coAcZumRO0CLz3OtTO2wb0FjZimf9C65JXQExYpxHScuYgNpKnAD49HfGZ/s4032/IMG_1089.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_QS9w4qqNUaulAmF7o54JXYRQHznNJ5bqdykO5MkaIvgsEG-C4XMa0peuIjp827H5EpBq6EVBbrQT9ZLcV5bnazZpO1yfmD__z_mUW_qin5lY-IoXqERD1aFPtb8QAEOJG4coAcZumRO0CLz3OtTO2wb0FjZimf9C65JXQExYpxHScuYgNpKnAD49HfGZ/w400-h300/IMG_1089.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No easting, no northing </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The technician said he didn't know what the problem was, and couldn't help me from a distance. Now what? We could either go home, or just take some samples while we were here, and hope for the best. We all carried mobile phones; they can also determine position, albeit not as precise as a very expensive DGPS. And we wouldn't have a chance of finding the exact locations of the master students who had come before.</p><p>We decided to sample. It wasn't ideal, but at least it was quick. We already knew that once you get into the sandflat, you don't find much pollution. So if you want to relate foraminifera assemblages to pollution, just a few sandflat samples will do. We didn't have to walk all the way to the far end of the estuary, as one of the earlier students had done. And that was nice, given that it was very cold.</p><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/AVvXsEjjoxsWDkv9-PFJQAzYy3CeITG1HENFPAYSlArlAO4G3rUUhhJ0vQjDE9fJV9wYmHyfKfxeJOj8pwh29FnZ5MwH5e7AuXkgL4qRVpsWHTUcubkBiAZLYj-kjGAjelqjGbgUuxVLEbGBCaYCGGREkp8BP9FAt4rX1_UcJ9t1skjzgzBH57LME-pVrg4rKZ12/s4032/IMG_1092.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoxsWDkv9-PFJQAzYy3CeITG1HENFPAYSlArlAO4G3rUUhhJ0vQjDE9fJV9wYmHyfKfxeJOj8pwh29FnZ5MwH5e7AuXkgL4qRVpsWHTUcubkBiAZLYj-kjGAjelqjGbgUuxVLEbGBCaYCGGREkp8BP9FAt4rX1_UcJ9t1skjzgzBH57LME-pVrg4rKZ12/w400-h300/IMG_1092.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking down the estuary </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><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/AVvXsEh-vW2A2PcGcgKR1J9Te-TkyCOu77wGkn_UumoNQplcD6cxJ0pBbUmVZLFjEiqFEoLiBIG64DtluI4UsOhaubU1TSZnXw4iXoLctcB6F4rCCXVAKgQuUlScsWsHc520At5_YqBvvC3G9fON8kvJLTQI8A2PdLvXJS_iF78-0FZYhE1jqnHkizd6u7bb94Mc/s4032/IMG_1093.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vW2A2PcGcgKR1J9Te-TkyCOu77wGkn_UumoNQplcD6cxJ0pBbUmVZLFjEiqFEoLiBIG64DtluI4UsOhaubU1TSZnXw4iXoLctcB6F4rCCXVAKgQuUlScsWsHc520At5_YqBvvC3G9fON8kvJLTQI8A2PdLvXJS_iF78-0FZYhE1jqnHkizd6u7bb94Mc/w400-h300/IMG_1093.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up the estuary </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>Every time something doesn't work out as planned, such as bad foram preservation, or equipment failure like this, or anything, you lose time. These master students don't have much time! And I think I know how we can speed up this project, but for that to work, the DGPS really has to do what I want. Ideally, I would want a technician (or Martin) with me in the field, to troubleshoot when needed! But I think they are quite overworked. So that might not be feasible. We might just have to keep our fingers firmly crossed!</p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-45955812031876124132024-02-28T09:11:00.000+00:002024-02-28T09:11:01.478+00:00Droste effect podcast<p>On a Wednesday late afternoon I received an email from a student. She said she was making a podcast. She wanted to interview people in the School about their science. Was I willing to be one of the subjects? And I was. I had had quite a lot to do with this student, and I trusted her. We agreed on the next Monday morning. Over the weekend she sent me a list of questions she would want to ask.</p><p>She first briefly talked me through the technology. And then we started! And the first question resulted in more dialogue than I had expected. She just asked me my full name, which I gave. And she then confessed that she had no idea how to pronounce my last name. And that everyone she had asked had given her a different answer. She also said that other staff seem to actively avoid trying to pronounce it! I wasn't aware of that. I thought they would just settle on some Anglicised version.</p><p>From that question, things became a bit more scientific. She asked me my job title, which was easy, but also what I call myself. That varies greatly! I tend to call myself a palaeoclimatologist. It's also sometimes marine micropalaeontologist. It depends on the context. </p><p>We also discussed things such as my last paper, and what it is like to work in a big research project. And how I had ended up in Wales. She also wanted to know about gender issues. She had been to <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/first-one-of-three-inaugural-lectures.html" target="_blank">Yueng’s inaugural lecture</a>! And she also asked about how I managed to combine an academic career with things such as cave rescue.</p><p>Why does she know about cave rescue? It turns out that my blog these days is quite a hit with the students. I think I mentioned before that they seem to have discovered it, but I can't find where. And it's OK they have. I don’t really write it with them in mind, but I know it is a public blog, so anyone can read it. I have been aware from the beginning that if there are things I don't want the entire world to know, I should just not put them there. And in a way, I find that there is something about living your life in public; it makes you extra conscious of your decisions. And I am careful with privacy.</p><p>It is a bit weird to talk about my blog in a podcast and about a podcast on my blog! It is starting to sound a bit like an echo chamber. But it was fun to do.</p><p>We spoke for an hour, and then I went back to my office. It turned out I was her first interviewee. And she gave me the names of some of the people that had already agreed. I think this might be an interesting series. She will let me know when she is finished editing, and makes it public. I will provide a link when it is!</p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-54181871033002139262024-02-27T08:01:00.000+00:002024-02-27T08:01:03.190+00:00Big changes for the neighbour - and the cat<p>There are only four houses in my street. From top to bottom they are inhibited by a man I very rarely see; my direct neighbour, who runs the local chippy and <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2021/04/territorial-wars.html" target="_blank">whose cat is the bane of my cat’s life</a>; then me; and then my neighbour Alan who often looks after my cat, and who has a very charming golden retriever. But suddenly all that changed.</p><p>Within the space of three days I found out that the neighbour, of the chippy, had moved out, and that she had closed the chippy. Her life must be entirely upside down! But she really deserves her retirement. She is somewhere in her mid 70s. And I think it is probably hard work!</p><p>She didn't tell me she was moving out; she was just gone. Maybe she just didn't want any fuss. But I hope she enjoys where she is now, on the other side of the village.</p><p>I am also wondering, of course, if this means my little cat’s life has just become easier. She might have a territory! And she won't be bullied out of my garden anymore! I hope it makes a big difference to her. </p><p>The next thing that will happen of course is that we will find out who the next person in the street will be. Neighbours are important; I hope it will be someone I get along with well!</p><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/AVvXsEjk_XZAQPkUOZ2ZTnlUI-5q3gEPShkSjFx80cawSiNgj1CWuuMYAxzjB5-g_fpIEvaB4owyg72MhmmZNn0DxG9mv-ry7MrRA1bY0rbUnk-tm02svNTz6dEEKDHduI5ZdAUYZoak37dH-dExRohKJHmnpExQqU4dDLKbOPaiW09BDVdqFgZiiplZpKP563cP/s4032/IMG_1080.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_XZAQPkUOZ2ZTnlUI-5q3gEPShkSjFx80cawSiNgj1CWuuMYAxzjB5-g_fpIEvaB4owyg72MhmmZNn0DxG9mv-ry7MrRA1bY0rbUnk-tm02svNTz6dEEKDHduI5ZdAUYZoak37dH-dExRohKJHmnpExQqU4dDLKbOPaiW09BDVdqFgZiiplZpKP563cP/w400-h300/IMG_1080.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She actually sat on my lap the day I found out the other cat has gone. This is only the second time! And only now, after three years, <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/01/cat-discovers-laps.html" target="_blank">has she sat on my lap more often than she has on Martin's</a>!</td></tr></tbody></table>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-19170715096621629082024-02-26T09:03:00.000+00:002024-02-26T09:03:31.736+00:00Another book read<p>I am on a roll! <a href="http://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/book-read.html" target="_blank">Only a short while ago, I blogged that I had finished my second book of the year</a>. And we're not out of February yet and I have already finished the next one. This one was given to me by my sister. It is in Dutch; I hadn't read a Dutch book in a long time.</p><p>The title translates to something along the lines of ‘love scared’. It is basically about the twin problems of being scared to commit, and scared to be abandoned. If you have one of these issues, the book argues you are very likely to perennially seek out people who have the opposite issue. And then some doomed dance begins that is going to inevitably end up in heartbreak. Why did my sister think I needed this book? I'll leave that to your imagination.</p><p>So what does the book do? The book explains why the author thinks people end up like that. She places everything in your youth, in the relationship with your parents. And her message basically is: if you struggled to build a healthy, loving relationship with your parents, that hurts, and you will keep running away from that hurt until you deal with it. So she basically says: give in to it, and then everything will be fine. Am I simplifying this? Yes, of course. But I think that summarising this book in a few sentences, this is what it boils down to.</p><p>Is this a panacea? I don't think so. Is it helpful? I do think so. We'll see! Next time I get into a situation where this is relevant I will certainly keep it in mind. And who knows; maybe it will make a difference!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ8MCq7ljpubj4tFlQHS7norGEvHPhlu6aoPxh3K5W1W3yjDCQ8kZU6VAengCTGA51dCS8xVLHESH7AHVArl39lv85ulw8tB0kFUAAalaWOs-NkUMvePGpPInYwcf1dMzvAL0vfjbZpzFibXoAIYlITrP08uOGfwFwPiiMr-_0IJNMbHb7jfWEWFE5LVg/s4032/IMG_1076.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQ8MCq7ljpubj4tFlQHS7norGEvHPhlu6aoPxh3K5W1W3yjDCQ8kZU6VAengCTGA51dCS8xVLHESH7AHVArl39lv85ulw8tB0kFUAAalaWOs-NkUMvePGpPInYwcf1dMzvAL0vfjbZpzFibXoAIYlITrP08uOGfwFwPiiMr-_0IJNMbHb7jfWEWFE5LVg/w300-h400/IMG_1076.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4768951319863824301.post-3796670511610298672024-02-25T08:54:00.000+00:002024-02-25T08:54:15.198+00:00More ivy removed <p>When I <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/willow-gets-haircut.html" target="_blank">was in the garden with a saw in my hand for reasons of trimming my willow</a>, I figured I might as well make a start on something else I had intended to do for a long time. The western corner of my garden above the river has enormous amounts of ivy, and it obscures the view of the beautiful river. I had been thinking about taking it down before, but I had never come around to it. But then I decided to cut the first branch. Only after I had done that I figured I should have taken a picture.</p><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/AVvXsEjqI6A-1vuezs8FrDj7RrfnCsQy4gxSuujiRwwaUxClI1x7GQNGH3yjX5KBzioDXH1TgWh3c1pHFP5zJdpejHpa9M2WMOpPzaNss4jiUxXI9Hy4DBX-fyf0OA3KKgjbDCELvY4nEm0a-cBCzx-UXpuiXzFVNOhd8K1V9lPpZ0x4Xinp3jDR2LsscVR7-VUv/s4032/IMG_1002.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqI6A-1vuezs8FrDj7RrfnCsQy4gxSuujiRwwaUxClI1x7GQNGH3yjX5KBzioDXH1TgWh3c1pHFP5zJdpejHpa9M2WMOpPzaNss4jiUxXI9Hy4DBX-fyf0OA3KKgjbDCELvY4nEm0a-cBCzx-UXpuiXzFVNOhd8K1V9lPpZ0x4Xinp3jDR2LsscVR7-VUv/w400-h300/IMG_1002.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first bit of ivy cut loose and now lying on the riverbank</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I didn't cut more off then. I was busy enough with the bits of willow! But when that job was done (it is now; it has resulted in a nice amount of firewood), and I still had a saw in my hand, I went for it. So after <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2023/02/finishing-ivy-removal.html" target="_blank">last year's removal of a lot of ivy from my crab apple tree</a>, and the <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2022/09/ivy-removed-from-front-of-house.html" target="_blank">removal of the ivy from the house in 2022</a>, I have made yet another ivy victim. And from the other corner of the garden you now have a much clearer view! I intend to enjoy that when spring comes. <a href="https://mmmmargot.blogspot.com/2024/02/trying-to-find-gardener.html" target="_blank">I still haven't found a gardener</a>, so how beautiful that corner of the garden will be is disputable, but at least it looks a lot tidier than it used to!</p><p><br /></p><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/AVvXsEitdo9kaJ5iyo0JU7cwWT2oXCgCB2HJ2ZJIAO0JDryKkGquc5YOZt3hZFCAiKwLMwvY3lRE6lkB3x0MUV4m32ond-lQpnpCeCuzsc_alKoMPacN6stlvwJtQHEKH0D6rLYcMHk-AIDfNUKvfLC7Ms7mLG9kaXCwq7tJG45ZTIOfTOuuIgUt8z1Pq1XfHJMm/s4032/IMG_1074.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitdo9kaJ5iyo0JU7cwWT2oXCgCB2HJ2ZJIAO0JDryKkGquc5YOZt3hZFCAiKwLMwvY3lRE6lkB3x0MUV4m32ond-lQpnpCeCuzsc_alKoMPacN6stlvwJtQHEKH0D6rLYcMHk-AIDfNUKvfLC7Ms7mLG9kaXCwq7tJG45ZTIOfTOuuIgUt8z1Pq1XfHJMm/w400-h300/IMG_1074.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unobscured view! </td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p>Margothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10069445136489068063noreply@blogger.com0