Zo te zien is Pluk naar Plymouth verhuisd!
06 September 2011
Death row for plants
Ending up in my window sill must be one of the things potted plants fear most. Provided they know fear. I’m not very good at caring for creatures that do not voice their needs. I remember the cunning ways in which my cat, back in the days, would persuade me to feed her. Very effective! She lived to a ripe old age. But most plants wither in my care.
About a year ago I bought some plants for both the office and the house. And they’re still all there! But three of them won’t make the full year. I discovered two of my plants at home have been attacked by some fungus or mould of sorts, and I’ll chuck them, and one of my office plants, which needs lots of water, couldn’t cope with my INQUA-inspired absence. All are still alive, but I think I’ll commit euthanasia. The good news, though, is that the other 6 are still alive, and most of these are even positively thriving!
About a year ago I bought some plants for both the office and the house. And they’re still all there! But three of them won’t make the full year. I discovered two of my plants at home have been attacked by some fungus or mould of sorts, and I’ll chuck them, and one of my office plants, which needs lots of water, couldn’t cope with my INQUA-inspired absence. All are still alive, but I think I’ll commit euthanasia. The good news, though, is that the other 6 are still alive, and most of these are even positively thriving!
These white spots don't belong there! On neither cactus.
And this poor bugger just suffered from thirst.
The academic year will start soon, and I assume there will be another plant sale on campus. I’ll go and get me some more victims… perhaps I should buy more of the plants that have proven to be Margot-proof!
This is more like it; see the light youg leaves! This one thrives!
05 September 2011
Freecycle
I'm really English! I have much more stuff than I should. It seems to be quite an British thing; the BBC claims the UK has as many self-storage facilities as the rest of Europe added together. I don't have stuff in storage, but I do have too much: I already blogged about my attempts to get rid of some stuff, by both throwing away and selling on eBay. The latter was not such a success; you have to indicate what the postage will cost, and there's no way of knowing that until you know where you're mailing your things to. But then I heard of Freecycle.
Freecycle is a sort of local eBay for free. If you want something or want to get rid of something you post that, and when some match is made between a giver and a taker they arrange exchange, and Bob's you uncle. I tried it with a book, and it all worked out well. I may do more of this! The only problem with freecycle is that it's not just a message board. You get every single email of someone offering something, of someone wanting something, something having been claimed, and something having been received. Instead of cluttering you house it clutters your mailbox! One day I'll find an equilibrium in all this...
Freecycle is a sort of local eBay for free. If you want something or want to get rid of something you post that, and when some match is made between a giver and a taker they arrange exchange, and Bob's you uncle. I tried it with a book, and it all worked out well. I may do more of this! The only problem with freecycle is that it's not just a message board. You get every single email of someone offering something, of someone wanting something, something having been claimed, and something having been received. Instead of cluttering you house it clutters your mailbox! One day I'll find an equilibrium in all this...
04 September 2011
Second 10K race: Saltram!
Aren’t we easy to please? I like running, but I like running better if there’s people in reflective vests clapping and shouting encouragements at me. Last Saturday I ran about 10K after work. This Saturday too, but this time it was a race. I stumbled across it on internet, and figured this would be quite splendid. So close by I could go there on bicycle, a route through pretty park land, and starting at 6PM. What more do you want!
I had gotten distracted at home before leaving, so I was getting a bit nervous about making it in time, but I got to the table where they did registration, and beholding the scale of things I figured all was going to be OK. It was the first 10K race in this park, and it may not have made a name for itself. So I registered, paid, pinned the number to my shirt, locked my bike, dropped my bag under a tree (there were no facilities for luggage, strangely enough; maybe they figured everybody would come by car. How English), went to the lady’s room and was ready to go.
There were only ~80 runners, and the start was downhill, so very soon the runners were quite spread out. The route was nice, the weather good, and after a few kilometres I had found a nice rhythm. Not a very constant one; there were quite steep bits in the route, including a flight of stairs to go up, and some thunderous slopes down. But it was fun! And the marshals with the vests that showed the way were very encouraging. And such things make me happy, so at the finish I already got comments on my Cheshire cat smile all along the way…
The route was two laps; I liked that, as the second time I knew what to expect. And they, quite unlike the Totnes 10K, had a sign every kilometre. (In Totnes they had one every mile! Tsk.) So I knew when I could run myself empty. The finish, like the start, was downhill, so I came hurtling down the last few hundred metres. And a few more; I was stamping so hard I lost my camera, and I had to run back to retrieve it. This was the second time that happened, but within sight of the finish it’s a bit more spectacular. And even with dropping it twice I was still 5 minutes faster than I had been in Totnes: 51.33! Not bad at all, if you ask me. I’m liking this! When’s the next race?
I had gotten distracted at home before leaving, so I was getting a bit nervous about making it in time, but I got to the table where they did registration, and beholding the scale of things I figured all was going to be OK. It was the first 10K race in this park, and it may not have made a name for itself. So I registered, paid, pinned the number to my shirt, locked my bike, dropped my bag under a tree (there were no facilities for luggage, strangely enough; maybe they figured everybody would come by car. How English), went to the lady’s room and was ready to go.
All fresh and chirpy at the start
The forecast was rain.
The steps along the route; not popular with everyone!
Me running up these stairs; looking quite sweaty by then... and my ponytail has disintegrated and my earphones won't stay in place. But who cares!
The route was two laps; I liked that, as the second time I knew what to expect. And they, quite unlike the Totnes 10K, had a sign every kilometre. (In Totnes they had one every mile! Tsk.) So I knew when I could run myself empty. The finish, like the start, was downhill, so I came hurtling down the last few hundred metres. And a few more; I was stamping so hard I lost my camera, and I had to run back to retrieve it. This was the second time that happened, but within sight of the finish it’s a bit more spectacular. And even with dropping it twice I was still 5 minutes faster than I had been in Totnes: 51.33! Not bad at all, if you ask me. I’m liking this! When’s the next race?
The finish! Even if that's unreadable...
This is getting a familiar sight on this blog: me with a medal!
03 September 2011
Work, drugs and cleaning
There is such a thing as Providence. And I don’t mean the pub a few minutes walking from university; I mean some higher power that looks after us. Coming back from Scotland I was faced with the unnerving proximity of a conference, a daunting mass of lab work I should have finished long ago, an elusive bloke, and a backlog of maintenance on things such as outdoor equipment. Handling all that, and maintaining an acceptable running shape, requires some dedication and tenacity.
I already mentioned my struggle with one of my water bladders which was taken over by algae. I ordered a new nozzle for it as the old one had been bitten through and was now leaking, and added a cleaning kit with brushes of which I hope they are more effective than my chamois leather solution. And on a day I was working late, trying to get ready for the conference, they arrived.
I got an email saying there was an odd-shaped package for me in the post room. Odd-shaped? What would be so odd with the items I had ordered? I opened it and found that the bulk of the package was not my order, but a promotional gift. A veritable bucket of a mug!
I’m still working long days, including weekends, in order to try to keep up with life, and this mug might very well facilitate such behaviour. What starts with a dirty water bag ends in gallons of coffee in the office! And I blogged before about my attempts to consume less caffeine, but I think that thought has now gone down the drain…
I already mentioned my struggle with one of my water bladders which was taken over by algae. I ordered a new nozzle for it as the old one had been bitten through and was now leaking, and added a cleaning kit with brushes of which I hope they are more effective than my chamois leather solution. And on a day I was working late, trying to get ready for the conference, they arrived.
I got an email saying there was an odd-shaped package for me in the post room. Odd-shaped? What would be so odd with the items I had ordered? I opened it and found that the bulk of the package was not my order, but a promotional gift. A veritable bucket of a mug!
I’m still working long days, including weekends, in order to try to keep up with life, and this mug might very well facilitate such behaviour. What starts with a dirty water bag ends in gallons of coffee in the office! And I blogged before about my attempts to consume less caffeine, but I think that thought has now gone down the drain…
02 September 2011
Casual caving
There wasn’t going to be any mud. Nor any water. One could wonder where the fun is in that! But I saw the advantages in not having to change into cumbersome caving kit, and later change back again.
So what was the attraction in such a clean caving trip? We had found new adits! And exploring the unknown is always nice. Even though we had no reason to believe they would be extensive.
The woodlands that held these hidden treasures were quite scenic in themselves. There’s something about woods at dusk, and these had all sort of overgrown mining relics in them. And we strolled amongst them, in various cross-overs between caving kit and civilian outfits.
By the time we got to the first adit it was almost dark. We had a look; it was just a tiny tunnel. But now we know. By the time we reached the second it was dark; this one was deeper, and had collapsed side tunnels, and Lionel considered a dig. Not that he needs any more of these than he already has lined up; not anywhere soon in any way, but contemplating digs is just what Lionel does.
Dave managed to make some great pics in these small venues, and then we came out. 9PM: beer o’clock!
So what was the attraction in such a clean caving trip? We had found new adits! And exploring the unknown is always nice. Even though we had no reason to believe they would be extensive.
The woodlands that held these hidden treasures were quite scenic in themselves. There’s something about woods at dusk, and these had all sort of overgrown mining relics in them. And we strolled amongst them, in various cross-overs between caving kit and civilian outfits.
An incomplete group picture in the first adit. Notice me in my civilian clothes, and Lionel (with raised rod) without a helmet! Pic by Dave
By the time we got to the first adit it was almost dark. We had a look; it was just a tiny tunnel. But now we know. By the time we reached the second it was dark; this one was deeper, and had collapsed side tunnels, and Lionel considered a dig. Not that he needs any more of these than he already has lined up; not anywhere soon in any way, but contemplating digs is just what Lionel does.
Me as a flash monkey in the second adit. Pics by Dave.
Dave managed to make some great pics in these small venues, and then we came out. 9PM: beer o’clock!
01 September 2011
England at its best
"This is for you." Jon handed me an A4 sheet with on one side a large “4” and on the other side an equally large “6”, without any further explanation. And looked like that was a perfectly normal thing to do. I felt like I had landed in a Monty Python job interview sketch. Just hand people absurd objects without batting an eyelid, and just watch what they’ll do! Sounds like fun.
I wasn’t in a Monty Python sketch; I was in a cricket stadium. I had decided that, as I lived in England, I should immerse myself in one of the most quintessentially English activities, and attend a cricket match. And so it happened! Jon is quite hooked on doing just that, and is always happy to chaperone confused foreigners that try to blend in with society. This time he even had a well-focussed foreigner along, for Hugh, our newish Australian, was up for some drinking beer in the sun with cricket as an excuse too.
Soon everything except the two wickets was removed from the field where so far the players had done their warming up, and the real game could begin. Which it did! It was a bit bewildering in the beginning. And wild, as well; after about five minutes the first batman limped off the pitch. More dangerous than football, this! And soon the moment came when Jon said, at what seemed to be an arbitrary moment, that I was expected to wave my A4 in the air. And after seeing my utterly blank face he explained that if the batting team hits the ball to the endge of the pitch they score 4 points, and if that pleases you you can voice that by waving such a paper with "4" on it in the air. If they manage to hit it out of the pitch that's 6 points; fill in the rest. And that made things a lot clearer! I started participating with gusto and felt very integrated.
Cricket isn't all about cricket; it's also about having a chat and a beer and basking in the sun and generally relaxing. In spite of my growing skill with the A4 I sometimes forgot all about the game, all lost in solving all the world's problems with my two commonwealth companions. Sooner or later a spectacularly batted ball, or a shattered wicket, would extract such clamour from the more observant parts of the crowd you would get reminded of why you were here in the first place. Mind you; it's worth paying attention, as the ball does once in a while end up amongst the spectators, and if it hits you on the head you might have a severe problem.
Before I knew it it was 6PM; time to leave. Not that the game was over; there was still about 25% of it to go, but we had to go back as Jon would be entertaining Veit that evening, and it was still quite a drive home. And even cricket fanatics like Jon don't see the point in staying all the way. He was confident his team of preference, Somerset, would win, and that was later indeed confirmed. So with the shape of my sunglasses firmly burnt onto my skin, and the sight of cricket burnt into my soul, I left Taunton. I presume it's more fun to watch if you care which side wins, and recognise more of the intricacies of the game, but I must say I was already quite impressed! This was a very relaxing day, which should get me ready for the hectics of the working week that would follow...
And I have an A4 with a "6" and a "4" as a souvenir! Might come in handy one day...
I wasn’t in a Monty Python sketch; I was in a cricket stadium. I had decided that, as I lived in England, I should immerse myself in one of the most quintessentially English activities, and attend a cricket match. And so it happened! Jon is quite hooked on doing just that, and is always happy to chaperone confused foreigners that try to blend in with society. This time he even had a well-focussed foreigner along, for Hugh, our newish Australian, was up for some drinking beer in the sun with cricket as an excuse too.
All kitted up for some solid cricket appreciation: Jon, me and Hugh
Cricket isn't all about cricket; it's also about having a chat and a beer and basking in the sun and generally relaxing. In spite of my growing skill with the A4 I sometimes forgot all about the game, all lost in solving all the world's problems with my two commonwealth companions. Sooner or later a spectacularly batted ball, or a shattered wicket, would extract such clamour from the more observant parts of the crowd you would get reminded of why you were here in the first place. Mind you; it's worth paying attention, as the ball does once in a while end up amongst the spectators, and if it hits you on the head you might have a severe problem.
Before I knew it it was 6PM; time to leave. Not that the game was over; there was still about 25% of it to go, but we had to go back as Jon would be entertaining Veit that evening, and it was still quite a drive home. And even cricket fanatics like Jon don't see the point in staying all the way. He was confident his team of preference, Somerset, would win, and that was later indeed confirmed. So with the shape of my sunglasses firmly burnt onto my skin, and the sight of cricket burnt into my soul, I left Taunton. I presume it's more fun to watch if you care which side wins, and recognise more of the intricacies of the game, but I must say I was already quite impressed! This was a very relaxing day, which should get me ready for the hectics of the working week that would follow...
And I have an A4 with a "6" and a "4" as a souvenir! Might come in handy one day...
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