Monthly Archives: August 2015

Now I am Five*

This week I was stalking people. Professionally of course. As a Trustee of the Science Museum a group of us were invited to do some ‘Gallery Observations’ of visitors to get a sense of how they interact with the exhibits. … Continue reading

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In which I lose my way

An autumn breeze flutters the paperwork on my desk: a credit card bill; a daily report from my son’s nursery (complete with meals, sleep times and nappy composition); a manuscript I’m proofing for a colleague – all held down by … Continue reading

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Choosing an Oxbridge College

As one cohort of students are celebrating (or coming to terms with) which university they’ll be heading off to this autumn, another cohort are considering their Year 12 results. For this latter group, decisions loom about UCAS forms. Which universities … Continue reading

Posted in A levels, academia, admissions, Cambridge, Churchill College, education | Comments Off on Choosing an Oxbridge College

Flushing out the culprit

Over the years in academia, I’ve learned a trick or two about good administration. And here I am, rising to the task: a serial leaver-of-paper on the men’s departmental toilet seat needed to be taken care of. At first, I … Continue reading

Posted in academia, administration, cleanliness, humor, Research, science, toilets | Comments Off on Flushing out the culprit

In which I avoid the topic

I have been downtrodden this week, struggling to stay afloat in this erratic and stormy sea we call academic science. I suspect there is a post in there waiting to get out, but I am too blue (and overworked) to … Continue reading

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TO2015 Tally

And so, that is that. The Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games are finished, and I’ve retired my photo credentials and numbered vest. With as little regret as possible I’ve given back the very nice equipment I borrowed from Nikon Photo … Continue reading

Posted in Hobbies, Pan Am, Parapan Am, Photography, TO2015 | Comments Off on TO2015 Tally

Documentaries – improving and diverting (a wee review)

I am enamored with Netflix. I am still stuck in my infatuation phase with Netflix and have sadly I have reverted to a teenager (OMG I can watch Netflix whenever I want to!). The existence of Netflix is far more … Continue reading

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On the cranes

Apparently it’s (still) #WorldPhotographyDay. To celebrate, here’s a photograph from our bedroom window this morning, not taken with my iPhone.

Posted in Gravesend, Photography | Comments Off on On the cranes

When Did You Decide to…..?

People seem to think that life travels in straight, orderly lines, with everything mapped out from birth. I have never felt that my life was like that and it is always startling when I find other people assume that I … Continue reading

Posted in careers, decisions, experience, interviews, Science Culture | Comments Off on When Did You Decide to…..?

On legends

For most of my first 17 years I lived on, or very close to, one of a number of airbases in England and Germany. Just about every day was airshow day, at least for a somewhat limited and specialist class … Continue reading

Posted in Airbourne, Eastbourne, personal, Photography, Spitfire, Vulcan, XH558 | Comments Off on On legends