updates, Summers, bikerides, smoking slugs and much much more
Seeing as I tend to frequently berate people for their lack of blogging activity, I thought I should probably grace stroppy blog with some fresh material.
Since the last post I have been to Montreal, which was fantastic (despite the crustacean (with a prawn for a C) festival, would you believe it?), started a couple of new research projects, worked in Bath for the OU (yes, like every Summer), acquired a bike and played a lot of computer games. Hectic times.
Today I decided to make the most of a 5 minute break from the torrential rain and give the cycling a go (incidentally I only managed to get the seat down to an appropriate height yesterday - I haven't been totally lazy for the past week). It was much harder than I remember. Going up a hill almost killed me. I had chest ache from the cold air (NB: where is the Summer?) and didn't recover for ages. I much prefer going downhill. I am upset by this as I thought my fitness wasn't too abysmal. I went swimming a reasonable amount in Montreal and in Bath (where I braved the Olympic pool) and I still walk quite a bit. I even did a little jog when I took a dog out from the RSPCA place in Bath (and I returned it - most unlike my usual pet thieving activities). But the cycling was tough. As a kid/teen I had racer bikes, which were obviously extremely light, and my new bike is a hefty mountain thing. Maybe that's why. Any reassurance would be welcomed.
I had a great time whilst in Bath, which was a lovely surprise as work has been so busy lately that I was viewing it as a chore on the way (the journey might have contributed to that*). Sleep deprivation from excessive socialising takes it toll though - tutors and students alike descend into a giggling frenzy over just about anything after spending merely hours at a Summer School. Evidence of this is posted below. Every night on the way back to the halls in which we were staying, was a mass slug exodus. Quite often you'd be able to spy slugs spooning (prompting the popular game, "slug or slag?") Below you will see a mighty slug having a cheeky smoke. And I found it hilarious.
(Apologies for the usual video quality - I mean in terms of darkness (as opposed to the fact it's of a smoking slug), which I cannot understand as the files are always fine pre-bloggering.)
Hopefully I'll get some sun soon though - am off on a girly holiday to Paros (Greek island) next week. Hurrah!
* Let's blog about train journey's then, seeing as it's been a while.
Leeds to Bath Spa: Should take about 4 hours, with just one change at Bristol Temple Meads. It's usually a fine journey on a Virgin train. However on this occasion I was delayed by 70 mins before setting off (apparently the result of overhead cable theft - I've been delayed for this reason about 3 times recently. What's so wondrous about the stuff? Copper or something?) so the trainy types decided to give up on the journey and terminate at Birmingham. Always a pleasure. So the station was especially busy. Needless to say the next train was delayed however it was surprisingly quiet. So when a man asked if he could sit next to me, I actually politely told him I'd prefer it if he sat elsewhere, as I was working on my laptop on the adjacent seat (the rest of the carriage was only half full so this shouldn't have been a problem for him). The man shouted at me, "Excuse me Madam but you have no right to tell me where I can and cannot sit..." blah blah blah. Not sure why he asked, really. He smelled. He sat down and started stroking my hair. Yes, he was a nut. He proceeded to chat/shout at me/himself for the next 90 mins. I couldn't get out as he had trapped me in the seat. I received endless sympathetic looks from fellow passengers. When I eventually arrived at Bristol, I somehow ended up on a delayed slow train to Bath which should have taken 10 mins, but instead took 45. I missed my briefing meetings and the week didn't start off optimistically. Luckily it all picked up from there. See why I find smoking slugs highly amusing?!
Since the last post I have been to Montreal, which was fantastic (despite the crustacean (with a prawn for a C) festival, would you believe it?), started a couple of new research projects, worked in Bath for the OU (yes, like every Summer), acquired a bike and played a lot of computer games. Hectic times.
Today I decided to make the most of a 5 minute break from the torrential rain and give the cycling a go (incidentally I only managed to get the seat down to an appropriate height yesterday - I haven't been totally lazy for the past week). It was much harder than I remember. Going up a hill almost killed me. I had chest ache from the cold air (NB: where is the Summer?) and didn't recover for ages. I much prefer going downhill. I am upset by this as I thought my fitness wasn't too abysmal. I went swimming a reasonable amount in Montreal and in Bath (where I braved the Olympic pool) and I still walk quite a bit. I even did a little jog when I took a dog out from the RSPCA place in Bath (and I returned it - most unlike my usual pet thieving activities). But the cycling was tough. As a kid/teen I had racer bikes, which were obviously extremely light, and my new bike is a hefty mountain thing. Maybe that's why. Any reassurance would be welcomed.
I had a great time whilst in Bath, which was a lovely surprise as work has been so busy lately that I was viewing it as a chore on the way (the journey might have contributed to that*). Sleep deprivation from excessive socialising takes it toll though - tutors and students alike descend into a giggling frenzy over just about anything after spending merely hours at a Summer School. Evidence of this is posted below. Every night on the way back to the halls in which we were staying, was a mass slug exodus. Quite often you'd be able to spy slugs spooning (prompting the popular game, "slug or slag?") Below you will see a mighty slug having a cheeky smoke. And I found it hilarious.
(Apologies for the usual video quality - I mean in terms of darkness (as opposed to the fact it's of a smoking slug), which I cannot understand as the files are always fine pre-bloggering.)
Hopefully I'll get some sun soon though - am off on a girly holiday to Paros (Greek island) next week. Hurrah!
* Let's blog about train journey's then, seeing as it's been a while.
Leeds to Bath Spa: Should take about 4 hours, with just one change at Bristol Temple Meads. It's usually a fine journey on a Virgin train. However on this occasion I was delayed by 70 mins before setting off (apparently the result of overhead cable theft - I've been delayed for this reason about 3 times recently. What's so wondrous about the stuff? Copper or something?) so the trainy types decided to give up on the journey and terminate at Birmingham. Always a pleasure. So the station was especially busy. Needless to say the next train was delayed however it was surprisingly quiet. So when a man asked if he could sit next to me, I actually politely told him I'd prefer it if he sat elsewhere, as I was working on my laptop on the adjacent seat (the rest of the carriage was only half full so this shouldn't have been a problem for him). The man shouted at me, "Excuse me Madam but you have no right to tell me where I can and cannot sit..." blah blah blah. Not sure why he asked, really. He smelled. He sat down and started stroking my hair. Yes, he was a nut. He proceeded to chat/shout at me/himself for the next 90 mins. I couldn't get out as he had trapped me in the seat. I received endless sympathetic looks from fellow passengers. When I eventually arrived at Bristol, I somehow ended up on a delayed slow train to Bath which should have taken 10 mins, but instead took 45. I missed my briefing meetings and the week didn't start off optimistically. Luckily it all picked up from there. See why I find smoking slugs highly amusing?!
posted by Moon @ 3:41 pm
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