The BPS (British Psychology Society) are here today, assessing the course to see if we'r still worthy of their thumbs up - which, in the long run, means that everybody graduating with a degree in Psychology here at Hull will automatically gain "GBR", graduate basis of registration. That clear now? Excellent. ;-)
Seriously though, it's all hands to the pumps for collective positive chit-chat. I've just come back froma bit of lunch and a natter and it's an hour until we get our feedback about what's good, what's bad and who's ugly. I'm assuming it won't be me as while I was at the first meeting, no-one asked me anything!! I got to keep completely quiet. There were some good questions and some good answers though, so my hunch is that Hull will be able to keep on trucking.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Here as promised...
... is a picture of Eddie!! Maybe not *the* picture of Eddie, but definately a picture.
I'm pretty sure he'll hate this one, but what the hey. The man has got engaged however, so good luck to you, Sir!
I'm pretty sure he'll hate this one, but what the hey. The man has got engaged however, so good luck to you, Sir!
Monday, November 27, 2006
Time for some sweet, sweet blogging
Lots has happened again, as always.
Perhaps the most important of which is that my friend Eddie has got himself engaged to Yvonne. Embarassing picture of the man to follow at some point... I was in Hudders again this weekend - with a not very nice cold either - though Sally and I got out to our usual restaurant and watched a few episodes of Alan Partridge.
"Aha!!" Note, this is *not* a picture of Eddie. ;-)
I actually felt sorry for him in this week's episode. That's quite something as he's supposed to be tow-curlingly awful, after all. I wonder if they'll ever do another series of him. Probably not, as Steve Coogan's gone off to do a different series with a different character - that wasn't as good.
A shame. Alan Partridge, you're sorely missed.
Perhaps the most important of which is that my friend Eddie has got himself engaged to Yvonne. Embarassing picture of the man to follow at some point... I was in Hudders again this weekend - with a not very nice cold either - though Sally and I got out to our usual restaurant and watched a few episodes of Alan Partridge.
"Aha!!" Note, this is *not* a picture of Eddie. ;-)
I actually felt sorry for him in this week's episode. That's quite something as he's supposed to be tow-curlingly awful, after all. I wonder if they'll ever do another series of him. Probably not, as Steve Coogan's gone off to do a different series with a different character - that wasn't as good.
A shame. Alan Partridge, you're sorely missed.
Friday, November 17, 2006
It's been a long time, stranger...
Yep, once again with the ages.
I have been *so* busy. I really have. I still have oodles of marking this weekend, and I'm getting a little fed up of it all. Still, all has to be in - ro rather back - very soon, so perhaps next week will be a lot better.
I still have this Higher Education Training course to go to every Wednesday afternoon - for three hours of fun and frolics - and one of these people is assessing my lecture this afternoon so I'm hoping it'll go well. Here's a random thought, though. The room we were sat in - a different one to the normal - had a big flipchart pad on a stand in the corner. It had "FLIPPY" written on it in huge letters. Weird, I thought. There the lecturer was, going on about the importance of feedback and such, and I was sat there imagining an Australian in cork-ridden hat and shorts standing next to the flipchart, with his hand to his eays saying: "What's that Flippy? There's been a room change and little Timmy has fallen down the well? Strewth!!"
I have been *so* busy. I really have. I still have oodles of marking this weekend, and I'm getting a little fed up of it all. Still, all has to be in - ro rather back - very soon, so perhaps next week will be a lot better.
I still have this Higher Education Training course to go to every Wednesday afternoon - for three hours of fun and frolics - and one of these people is assessing my lecture this afternoon so I'm hoping it'll go well. Here's a random thought, though. The room we were sat in - a different one to the normal - had a big flipchart pad on a stand in the corner. It had "FLIPPY" written on it in huge letters. Weird, I thought. There the lecturer was, going on about the importance of feedback and such, and I was sat there imagining an Australian in cork-ridden hat and shorts standing next to the flipchart, with his hand to his eays saying: "What's that Flippy? There's been a room change and little Timmy has fallen down the well? Strewth!!"
Monday, November 13, 2006
Webmail
Hmmm....
My university e-mail isn't working. The good news: nobody else's is either. This means I cannot answer queries and I cannot contact others. I sense a coffee break coming on. :)
My university e-mail isn't working. The good news: nobody else's is either. This means I cannot answer queries and I cannot contact others. I sense a coffee break coming on. :)
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Heya
Heh.
I haven't updated in a little while, have I?
Well, I have had an excuse the last couple of days. Sally and I decided to take a long weekend so I went over to Huddersfield first thing Friday morning, and didn't get back to Hull first thing Wednesday morning. You should have seen my inbox. ;-)
Still, it was a good break. We even squeezed in a trip to Castle Bolton and an overnight stay in a lovely little hotel nearby - The Wensleydale Heifer. Sally managed to blag a much cheaper room that the advertised price since it was the Monday night and so we went, and we very much enjoyed it. Even the little waterfall just outrside the window. Bit of a hefty drive for Sally though, so we needed a hotel room if we were to stick to the plan, and it was good to get something decent-plus. Check out the rooms on the website. They're pretty good. It specialised in seafood too - not my usual thing, but they did it well.
Castle Bolton was good too. Right out on the hilltops, it must have been very cold in the olden days. Belonged to the Scropes, it did. Fabled for being decent sorts, much honour in battle and so on, *but* with a nasty habit of being on the wrong side in every conflict. War of the Roses: York. The Civil War: the King. And numerous other disagreements. The Scropes were on the losing side every time. :)
I haven't updated in a little while, have I?
Well, I have had an excuse the last couple of days. Sally and I decided to take a long weekend so I went over to Huddersfield first thing Friday morning, and didn't get back to Hull first thing Wednesday morning. You should have seen my inbox. ;-)
Still, it was a good break. We even squeezed in a trip to Castle Bolton and an overnight stay in a lovely little hotel nearby - The Wensleydale Heifer. Sally managed to blag a much cheaper room that the advertised price since it was the Monday night and so we went, and we very much enjoyed it. Even the little waterfall just outrside the window. Bit of a hefty drive for Sally though, so we needed a hotel room if we were to stick to the plan, and it was good to get something decent-plus. Check out the rooms on the website. They're pretty good. It specialised in seafood too - not my usual thing, but they did it well.
Castle Bolton was good too. Right out on the hilltops, it must have been very cold in the olden days. Belonged to the Scropes, it did. Fabled for being decent sorts, much honour in battle and so on, *but* with a nasty habit of being on the wrong side in every conflict. War of the Roses: York. The Civil War: the King. And numerous other disagreements. The Scropes were on the losing side every time. :)
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
A history lesson
I got sent this today. I've seen it before, but it's a curious set of facts, so I thought I'd share them with everyone.
*LIFE IN THE 1500'S*
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so bride carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other elder sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) liv! ed in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors That would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a ...thresh hold.
(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon..
They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..
Those with money had plates made of ! pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the locals started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be saved by the bell, or was considered a... dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now , whoever said History was boring ! ! !
*LIFE IN THE 1500'S*
The next time you are washing your hands and complain because the water temperature isn't just how you like it, think about how things used to be. Here are some facts about the1500s:
Most people got married in June because they took their yearly bath in May, and still smelled pretty good by June. However, they were starting to smell, so bride carried a bouquet of flowers to hide the body odor. Hence the custom today of carrying a bouquet when getting married.
Baths consisted of a big tub filled with hot water. The man of the house had the privilege of the nice clean water, then all the other elder sons and men, then the women and finally the children. Last of all the babies. By then the water was so dirty you could actually lose someone in it. Hence the saying, Don't throw the baby out with the Bath water..
Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) liv! ed in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence the saying, It's raining cats and dogs.
There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.
The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence the saying, Dirt poor. The wealthy had slate floors That would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they added more thresh until, when you opened the door, it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a ...thresh hold.
(Getting quite an education, aren't you?)
In those old days, they cooked in the kitchen with a big kettle that always hung over the fire. Every day they lit the fire and added things to the pot. They ate mostly vegetables and did not get much meat. They would eat the stew for dinner, leaving leftovers in the pot to get cold overnight and then start over the next day. Sometimes stew had food in it that had been there for quite a while. Hence the rhyme, Peas porridge hot, peas porridge cold, peas porridge in the pot nine days old..
Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man could, bring home the bacon..
They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and chew the fat..
Those with money had plates made of ! pewter. Food with high acid content caused some of the lead to leach onto the food, causing lead poisoning death. This happened most often with tomatoes, so for 400 years or so, tomatoes were considered poisonous.
Bread was divided according to status. Workers got the burnt bottom of the loaf, the family got the middle, and guests got the top, or the upper crust. Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock the imbibers out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a wake.
England is old and small and the locals started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a bone-house, and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be saved by the bell, or was considered a... dead ringer.
And that's the truth...Now , whoever said History was boring ! ! !
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Four long weeks
This may amuse some of you (knowing my student days, though I stress that I did "work" during my PhD), but the last four weeks have been the busiest four weeks of my life. Even before then, I was quite busy. I've had 60 business days to get back to the journal regarding the requested changes to my paper, and I've barely even looked at it in the last two months, let alone do the work. I've still got supervisees to see, I have seminars to take, essays to hand out (and collect in and mark), and I've 200 statistics scripts to mark before Tuesday. But, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Right now, I've found time for a cup of tea - though I have no memory of removing the teabag that now isn't there - so things are looking up.
Jase's Blog has commented on my egg-dropping task. A few people have in fact. My workshop yesterday was great fun, with thirty students in six groups. Four eggs out of six landed intact with some cracking ideas. They were all given carrier bags with: cardboard, some string, two 3x5 cards, four rolled-up newspaper pages, a very small piece of jiffy paper, a rubber, sellotape, scissors and an envelope. [And as Jase pointed out in his Blog, they could use the carrier bag]. Some great ideas. One team spooled their package out of the window with oodles of sellotape, lowering it gently to the ground. My personal favourite - who says girls don't have engineering minds? - was a team of female students who suspended their egg with string, wrapped up inside and suspended from a small cardboard trapezium, wrapping *that* inside all the packaging. The most elegant by far. They were even naming their eggs - though Egwina came to a sticky end...
Now, I'm off to do it again this morning with a different set of students. :)
Jase's Blog has commented on my egg-dropping task. A few people have in fact. My workshop yesterday was great fun, with thirty students in six groups. Four eggs out of six landed intact with some cracking ideas. They were all given carrier bags with: cardboard, some string, two 3x5 cards, four rolled-up newspaper pages, a very small piece of jiffy paper, a rubber, sellotape, scissors and an envelope. [And as Jase pointed out in his Blog, they could use the carrier bag]. Some great ideas. One team spooled their package out of the window with oodles of sellotape, lowering it gently to the ground. My personal favourite - who says girls don't have engineering minds? - was a team of female students who suspended their egg with string, wrapped up inside and suspended from a small cardboard trapezium, wrapping *that* inside all the packaging. The most elegant by far. They were even naming their eggs - though Egwina came to a sticky end...
Now, I'm off to do it again this morning with a different set of students. :)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Time for a quick Blog
Ironic really, as I don't actually have all that much time. :)
But a quick word to prove I'm still alive. Plenty on, including a series of "Problem Solving" workshops that I'm giving to the first year. Their task, with a carrier bag of string, bits of newspaper and card - and the mighty sellotape - is to drop an egg out of a second story window, using their stuff to see if they can stop it breaking. Ought to be a laugh.
Well, I hope it will be!
But a quick word to prove I'm still alive. Plenty on, including a series of "Problem Solving" workshops that I'm giving to the first year. Their task, with a carrier bag of string, bits of newspaper and card - and the mighty sellotape - is to drop an egg out of a second story window, using their stuff to see if they can stop it breaking. Ought to be a laugh.
Well, I hope it will be!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Back to the Grindstone
Well then,
Fresh from a weekend with Sally, it's back to work and blogging. In my absence, North Korea have detonated a nuclear bomb, England sucked badly against Macedonia on Saturday, and there's something in the paper about the Royal Mail getting even worse than I thought possible. There's honestly a story about how in the early 1900s, there were 12 London deliveries a day and you could post a letter form work saying "I'll be home for tea" that would get there before you did. How the mighty have fallen. :)
Elsewhere, Sally's friend Leanne found this. Suffice to say, I can believe it. Still, there are mitigating excuses. Hull Local Education Authority is perhaps the worst in the county. Two years ago, there was a four page story in the local paper saying how wonderful it was that they were now fourth from bottom. Since then, they've slipped a bit...
Ho hum.
Fresh from a weekend with Sally, it's back to work and blogging. In my absence, North Korea have detonated a nuclear bomb, England sucked badly against Macedonia on Saturday, and there's something in the paper about the Royal Mail getting even worse than I thought possible. There's honestly a story about how in the early 1900s, there were 12 London deliveries a day and you could post a letter form work saying "I'll be home for tea" that would get there before you did. How the mighty have fallen. :)
Elsewhere, Sally's friend Leanne found this. Suffice to say, I can believe it. Still, there are mitigating excuses. Hull Local Education Authority is perhaps the worst in the county. Two years ago, there was a four page story in the local paper saying how wonderful it was that they were now fourth from bottom. Since then, they've slipped a bit...
Ho hum.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Big Day
Also, it's a big day today.
Curtains up as it's my first ever lecture. Well, not my first, I've given several "proper" ones and hundreds of large (100+) workshops, but it is my first lecture as module manager dictating what needs to be taught. So, I'm in charge as it were - ie. I'm responsible. So, from now, regularly, I can turn up to the lecture theatre at 3.15pm and talk to (at?) 190 undergraduate students about what the hell I like. ;-)
The rest of the time, I have to follow other people's instructions. Boo!
Curtains up as it's my first ever lecture. Well, not my first, I've given several "proper" ones and hundreds of large (100+) workshops, but it is my first lecture as module manager dictating what needs to be taught. So, I'm in charge as it were - ie. I'm responsible. So, from now, regularly, I can turn up to the lecture theatre at 3.15pm and talk to (at?) 190 undergraduate students about what the hell I like. ;-)
The rest of the time, I have to follow other people's instructions. Boo!
Cry for help (Battlestar related)
Hi guys,
A lonh time between blogs and I'm planning for two to come along at once... :-) But this first one is likely to be the most important of the two. Alas, I've had to cancel my Sky subscription as I've moved to a second floor flat. Outside the flat, between me and the Astra satellite are some gigantic trees that will block the signal unless I put a dish on my roof. Alas, it's not *my* roof so I'm not allowed. I'm currently investigating other options but with the added complicated of a Kingston Communication phone line - not a BT one - it's terrestrial TV for me at the moment. Now, I'm distraught at the prospect of not being able to see Battlestar Galactica Series 3. There is hope in that I can get someone else to record it - both Sally and my parents spring to mind - but I have no idea when it starts. Can someone tell me when Galactica Season Three is trasmitted on Sky so I can do something about it? I know that sneaky types can download episodes and watch them, but with my hearing, I need the subtitles - which can be recorded if watched through a Sky digibox. If anyone out there can offer assistance in allowing me to watch Galactica (w/subtitles) in any way whatsoever, I will be very, very grateful - and far less tense. ;-)
I'll make it worth your while!!
A lonh time between blogs and I'm planning for two to come along at once... :-) But this first one is likely to be the most important of the two. Alas, I've had to cancel my Sky subscription as I've moved to a second floor flat. Outside the flat, between me and the Astra satellite are some gigantic trees that will block the signal unless I put a dish on my roof. Alas, it's not *my* roof so I'm not allowed. I'm currently investigating other options but with the added complicated of a Kingston Communication phone line - not a BT one - it's terrestrial TV for me at the moment. Now, I'm distraught at the prospect of not being able to see Battlestar Galactica Series 3. There is hope in that I can get someone else to record it - both Sally and my parents spring to mind - but I have no idea when it starts. Can someone tell me when Galactica Season Three is trasmitted on Sky so I can do something about it? I know that sneaky types can download episodes and watch them, but with my hearing, I need the subtitles - which can be recorded if watched through a Sky digibox. If anyone out there can offer assistance in allowing me to watch Galactica (w/subtitles) in any way whatsoever, I will be very, very grateful - and far less tense. ;-)
I'll make it worth your while!!
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Public Speaking
At the risk of being unsensitive - me, unsensitive, with my reputation? ;-) - what with poor Jase finishing his job soon (see Blog for details), I thought I'd put up a few words today about how much I love my job. I certainly love the public speaking. Maybe it's the buzz that I get after a talk - I've had to talk to three audiences this morning of over a 100 people each (third year registration and first year induction twice - running between next-door lecture theatres) with annoucements and things at 20mins a pop - or maybe it's the fact that since they've all paid £3,000 to be here, that they're all looking so keen to learn. They certainly seem like an interested year this time round. So I've got a real buzz from this mornings work and I'm still on a high an hour or so later.
Alas, I've got a lecture that I have to sit in this afternoon, a two hour one about how to teach. Level Two now, since I'm a lecturer not a postgraduate tutor any more. It's ironic really as these teaching lectures are among the most boring ones I've ever sat. A few years ago - Level 1 - even had a lecture about font size.
"This is 12 font - can you see how hard it is to read?".
"This is 14 font. It's a little bigger isn't it? But still a bit hard to read."
"This is size 16 font..."
Arrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! :-)
Alas, I've got a lecture that I have to sit in this afternoon, a two hour one about how to teach. Level Two now, since I'm a lecturer not a postgraduate tutor any more. It's ironic really as these teaching lectures are among the most boring ones I've ever sat. A few years ago - Level 1 - even had a lecture about font size.
"This is 12 font - can you see how hard it is to read?".
"This is 14 font. It's a little bigger isn't it? But still a bit hard to read."
"This is size 16 font..."
Arrggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! :-)
Monday, September 25, 2006
Another burning issue
Well, actually, not a burning issue at all. Quite the opposite. And not that much of an issue as if I really, really cared, I'd check myself, but I thought I'd take the lazy option and ask you guys. Plus, I can't really do this in my own fridge back at the house (And everyone was so helpful with the queries below).
But this morning, I discovered that my "office" milk had gone off several days earlier than it should have done. I blame the fridge we've got here for not being set high enough. So, my question: If fridge controls are labelled from 1 to 6, does turning it *up* - i.e. stronger, cooler - involve turning the controls to six (for more power) or to 1 (for less heat)?
See, if I really cared, I'd crank it up to six and check again later. ;-)
But this morning, I discovered that my "office" milk had gone off several days earlier than it should have done. I blame the fridge we've got here for not being set high enough. So, my question: If fridge controls are labelled from 1 to 6, does turning it *up* - i.e. stronger, cooler - involve turning the controls to six (for more power) or to 1 (for less heat)?
See, if I really cared, I'd crank it up to six and check again later. ;-)
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Your advice please
Two queries, people.
(1) I'm having to write the questions for the First year Pub Quiz. I do it every year, but quite frankly, it's hard to come up with questions that hit the right level. Suggestions please: serious questions that could tax - yet not flummux - 18 year olds. Two or three music questions wanted especially! (That's you Gareth).
(2) I like castles. They're great. Since Sally and I will be managing a bit of time off in a few weeks, we'd like to go see a castle. Preferably one that's not too far away from Huddersfield (so not Edinburgh Castle) and one that's an actual castle (so not Castle Howard - which is nice, but not a castle). I was thinking Nottingham castle. Anybody else have any suggestions??
Cheers in advance. :-)
(1) I'm having to write the questions for the First year Pub Quiz. I do it every year, but quite frankly, it's hard to come up with questions that hit the right level. Suggestions please: serious questions that could tax - yet not flummux - 18 year olds. Two or three music questions wanted especially! (That's you Gareth).
(2) I like castles. They're great. Since Sally and I will be managing a bit of time off in a few weeks, we'd like to go see a castle. Preferably one that's not too far away from Huddersfield (so not Edinburgh Castle) and one that's an actual castle (so not Castle Howard - which is nice, but not a castle). I was thinking Nottingham castle. Anybody else have any suggestions??
Cheers in advance. :-)
Monday, September 18, 2006
Sons (and daughters) of Hull
The thing about this Blog is that I don't think it should be a diary, more a "what's on my mind at the moment" kind of thing. Good job really, as with the moving house business, my weekday life has been very full, yet boring recently!! Luckily, Sal and I have Huddersfield (and occassionally Hull) on the weekends - as you'll see on Sally's Myspace, we did manage to get a few drinks down us this weekend just past. :-) Since I've been quite busy lately getting the flat ship-shape, I haven't had the time to get worked up into my disgruntled-of-Hull frame of mind. There were some mentions of Hull in the news this week though. Hull doesn't have too many famous sons. You can count "The Beautiful South" - the drummer of which owns a lovely little restaurant just round the corner from me - but you're really left with Philip Larkin [the poet for those that don't know ;-)], Amy Johnston [the female flier], John Culshaw [yay!], John Prescott [boo!] and William Wilberforce. Oh, and Dave 'Devilfish' Ulliot, the professional poker player. The latter being a bit of a t*** to be honest.
Still, where was I? Ah yes, William Wilberforce. Here's a picture of the 102ft staute of him in the centre of Hull. They decided to light up earlier this month for the very first time - and they keep the lights on every night now. In March 2007 it will be 200 years since since the ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade’ Act. William Wilberforce, son of Hull, led a long and arduous campaign against the slave trade, resulting in the abolition bill in 1807. Since it'll soon be 200 years since we were the first country to abolish slavery - both in Britain and in the Empire at large - Hull is building up to quite the party. Great excuse for a piss-up if you ask me.
Still, where was I? Ah yes, William Wilberforce. Here's a picture of the 102ft staute of him in the centre of Hull. They decided to light up earlier this month for the very first time - and they keep the lights on every night now. In March 2007 it will be 200 years since since the ‘Abolition of the Slave Trade’ Act. William Wilberforce, son of Hull, led a long and arduous campaign against the slave trade, resulting in the abolition bill in 1807. Since it'll soon be 200 years since we were the first country to abolish slavery - both in Britain and in the Empire at large - Hull is building up to quite the party. Great excuse for a piss-up if you ask me.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Argh, I'm so slack
It's been a funny week. One of those back and forth ones with a lot of activity, certainly a lot of leaving/returning to campus three times a day-ness, and I haven't really updated much - as you've surely noticed. I wouldn't mind so much if I'd got a lot done. Which I haven't.
But I thought I'd take the time to point out that I've linked to Sally's Blog, bizarre picture of my dozing on Sunday morning - or something like that - included. From earlier comments, looks like Jase tracked it down himself, but for the less tenacious among us, the link is to the right. :-)
Happy Weekend everybody!
But I thought I'd take the time to point out that I've linked to Sally's Blog, bizarre picture of my dozing on Sunday morning - or something like that - included. From earlier comments, looks like Jase tracked it down himself, but for the less tenacious among us, the link is to the right. :-)
Happy Weekend everybody!
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
A new Blogger
Plus, giving in the inevitable, Sally has a blog of her own now. I'll link us up once she's got the ball rolling - and if she wants me to. :-)
Too much to think about
Ah, lots to sort at the moment.
So much so: boiler, sky engineer, TOC, LTAC, SSC (don't ask), lectures, Fresher's Week, house jobs and so on, that when I came back from a lovely weekend at Sally's, I clambered out of the taxi with my bags - including bathroom shelf and bedroom ceiling lampshade - and I left my wallet behind.
Crap!
Next day, cancelled my cards only to have a generous soul - bit monosyllabillic but you can't have everything - ring the university to let me know he'd found it. I was able to go round to his place of work (a reception at a local hotel) and get it back. Shame about the fact that I don't have any bank cards until Friday, but you can't have everything, eh? But I did get my wallet back, and my Boots Advantage card and my Staff card and the odd rail ticket. Could have been far worse!
So much so: boiler, sky engineer, TOC, LTAC, SSC (don't ask), lectures, Fresher's Week, house jobs and so on, that when I came back from a lovely weekend at Sally's, I clambered out of the taxi with my bags - including bathroom shelf and bedroom ceiling lampshade - and I left my wallet behind.
Crap!
Next day, cancelled my cards only to have a generous soul - bit monosyllabillic but you can't have everything - ring the university to let me know he'd found it. I was able to go round to his place of work (a reception at a local hotel) and get it back. Shame about the fact that I don't have any bank cards until Friday, but you can't have everything, eh? But I did get my wallet back, and my Boots Advantage card and my Staff card and the odd rail ticket. Could have been far worse!
Friday, September 08, 2006
A YouTube experiment
After seeing YouTube videos on Jason's site (and Gareth's, I think), I thought I'd best get to work and figure it out myself. As it turns out, it's a doddle. Plus, I think this is quite cool - though it's a four minute long video. It's a bit of Buffy the Vampire Slayer mixed with the Fighter video from Christine Aguilara.
Very nicely done (by someone with too much time on their hands, I think).
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