Here's an oddity.

My mate Chris went on a weekend to Cologne recently. While he was there, he come across this particularly weird looking building. They must make ice cream in there, surely?? Still, it all goes to show that Germans really do have a good sense of humour.

**Stress**

Argh. I've had a bit of a nightmare.

I spent Monday and Tuesday writing a lecture, one that I have to give tomorrow (Thursday). Went back to it a little earlier to print out some handouts, and guess what? File corrupted. Huh?? Cut to scene of technicians running around, threatening to pull the hard drive out of my office PC.

Thankfully - and I mean very thankfully - I e-mailed it to the module manager yesterday and he dutifully put it up on the network for the students to read/print out beforehand. So it still exists!! :-)

I've been e-mailed a copy (an hour ago). All I have to do is pray that it eventually shows up.

Crisis over - I think.

Bloody GPs (and their receptionists)

Lately, I've been feeling really tired. Well, for the last few months. Plus, I've been waking up in the middle of the night, unbelivably thirsty. Considering my family history (well, Dad), I've had this nagging doubt for months that I have or will soon be getting diabetes. Finally plucked up the courage to go to the doctors - I have a tendency to dislike GPs for their smug, general all-round rudeness! - and had a blood test. (Once I got into the place, and past the extremely formidable receptionist. The fact that I had changed address and that paperwork was needed did not exactly endear me to her). But all clear. Thing is, the bloody surgery made me ring for the details and I couldn't hear what my glucose level actually *was* - even though I patiently explained I was deaf/hard-of-hearing, I was once again treated like an idiot. I love these people. Grr....

Still, no diabetes for James. That's good. I must simply not be drinking enough water, mind you. Time to break out the Lemon cordial again. :-)

Research Proposal

I've just had a great idea for a research proposal - making it much easier to get funding and hence, a new job. I've just contacted the Department of Work and Pensions. They've got back to me almost immediately, informing me of the 20 day wait for a proper reply. Yay. Government. All I can think of is that there is somebody out there with a crazy pile of e-mails to respond to, most of them complaints and insults (not mine, I hasten to add).

Plus, gave another lecture today. Non-compulsory turnout: LOW. :-)

Time for a think?

Fact is, the most important thing for my career right now is to finish my paper and send it off to the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research (some good reasons for choosing that one) for a ritual handbagging. Thing is, I refuse to tinker with it unless I get a good two hours free to lavish on it and it alone. Yes, two hours. 180mins of uninterupted thinking time. When did that last happen? I think it was three weeks ago. *sigh* (EDIT: Julian pointed out 2hrs is 120mins. Quite right too!)

Heh, I'm even getting undergraduates getting up and walking out of their tutored workshop - walking *past* the two postgraduates on duty - and then climbing two flights of stairs to knock on my door for help. Great for the ego - don't get me wrong - but I'll never escape "Teaching Assistant" and become a Lecturer at this rate.

Dr. James Jackson, Teaching Assistant. Sounds a bit rubbish, eh? lol. Professor The Lord Jackson sounds much, much better. I'll have to get working on my charitable good deeds!

And that paper. :-(

Murphy's Laws

1. If anything can go wrong, it will.

2. If there is a possibility of several things going wrong, the one that will cause the most damage will be the first one to go wrong.

3. If anything just cannot go wrong, it will anyway.

4. If you perceive that there are four possible ways in which something can go wrong, and circumvent these, then a fifth way, unprepared for, will promptly develop.

5. Left to themselves, things tend to go from bad to worse.

6. If everything seems to be going well, you have obviously overlooked something.

7. Nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

8. Mother nature is a bitch.


O'Toole's Commentary on Murphy's Laws
Murphy was an optimist.