Scary news

Very scary, in fact.

I've a date for my viva. 22nd September, 1.30pm. Aw heck...

On a lighter note, it's my birthday on Thursday. And no, I'm not saying how old I am. If you don't know, you really should do. ;-)

Back from Exeter

Yep, I'm back, and I enjoyed it. The late nights, the drinking, the conversation, the mind-numbing pre-presentation fear. The lot. Great to see some new people and to see some really nice new people join in the fun. But I know most of you aren't psychologists, and I'm even surer that most of you won't be all that interested in our slow climb up the greasy pole!!


Anyway, here's photo that proves I went! lol. Funnily enough, I was convinced that Exeter was on the south coast. It's not - but most of the others were under the same delusion. I was gutted though. Honestly, FIVE hours on the train and I didn't make it as far as the Channel. Twelve miles short, apparently. If we'd have had the time, we'd have got a taxi down to the sea. We didn't.

I'm away *again*

Yep, here I go again.

In a couple of hours, I'm off down to Exeter for a conference. Over four hours on the train - I even toyed with flying down from Leeds/Bradford but getting there isn't too easy. So the train it is, followed by three whole days of psychology presentations from fellow PhDers - myself included. Yep, the majority of you get to miss out on 20mins of waffle about tinnitus. You lucky people!! ;-)

Nah, it'll be fun! Perhaps only fun if you happen to be a soon-to-submit postgraduate psychologist who enjoys seminars and getting plastered nightly, but there you go. The only thing I regret is all this traveling back and forth and back again. What with rendezvousing with Sally in Huddersfield before flying off to have fun in Corfu - that followed quickly by a stay over in Hull (thanks lads) - I'll have only spent one full day at home in three weeks by the time I get back on Friday!! Who said signing on (three full weeks on the dole now) means you have to stay at home? For the record, I'm beginning to wish it did.

Simon, Craig, Catherine, Dave. See you down there.

Apologies

Some apologies in order, I think. I'm racing about again - I'm sat in Hull at the moment - and I knwo that I owe some people some e-mails. Towa and Alex for definate, and a few other people too. All I can say is bear with me. Normal service will be resumed v.soon.

Until then, here is a picture of the beach at Arillas (NW Corfu) where Sally and I were based. She is actually in this picture, btw. If you zoom in towards the two people standing together in the centre, Sally is the bobbing head doing the breaststroke just behind them and to their left. Yes, Sally swims. Quite well in fact. Just like me. *cough cough*

-ahem-

What is a blog all about?

Good question really.

I've read that Blogs are becoming increasingly common. Some affected the way we look at the world - e.g. the famous Baghdad Blog. Some allow you to read up on the thoughts of your friends. Some read like a diary. Some ponder the meaning of life - granted, this one probably won't!!

Mainly, this blog will be about me. And why not? But today, though we're back from Corfu and armed with photos of everything from me boozing to the Gates of Hell themselves (the entrance to Hades, at least), today this blog is about friends. Or more precisely, friends and how they grow up. For example: this.

Particularly poignant for me is photo number 17. For those that don't know him, here is my oldest friend Jason (blog linked) a new father cradling his new and beautiful daughter. And I'm not just being polite for once. :-)

Temporary detour

Well, not "closed". More on holiday. Yes, that's right, it's almost time for me to pack my bags (I'm doing it after this) and fly out to Corfu for seven lovely days of not-very-much-in-the-sun. I seriously need to recharge. After that, it's the psyPAG conference in Exeter (22nd-25th) and then it's constantly checking www.jobs.ac.uk for suitable positions until I find somewhere foolish enough to let me teach psychology to 18-21yr olds.

So you know, I'm back in the country on the 16th Aug, and I'm back Blogging on the 17th. Until then, take care everyone. :-)

PS. Any of you Hull types remember this sign? It's the one Eddie and Kirsten nicked.

Some paperwork sorted - not all

Ever had one of those days where no matter how much you managed to achieve, something is left hanging? Yep. We all do, don't we? Today's clanger is that I had to sign on this morning, and as it turns out, I didn't quite bring all the required paperwork. More fool me, I only brought in everything they *asked* for, having left my psychic powers behind. Oh, the indignity!! *sigh*

But, I've sorted out my E111 form - which for you non-Europe types, allows me free medical treatment in the European Union. Yep, this Blog is truely international - you know who you are! ;-) So when the nice lady in the Post Office discovered that I was off to Corfu for a week, she told me what a beauituful place it was - she's been all round it. Top Corfu tip: watch out for snakes, stripy ones. Great. :-)

Obligatory Rich/Louise wedding photo. Perhaps 2005's best photo of *me* so far, not many good photos of me out there. Personally, I blame my complete lack of chin. Heh, who'd have believed that? "Chinless Wonder is ex-public schoolboy shocker". lol. But back to the photo. Special guest star: Sally Hugo.