Category Archives: Canada

Expat: a musical in three acts

Posted on August 18, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Setting: Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom Act I: 54-40 (A whole room full of drunken Canadians is jumping up and down in ecstasy, singing along with every word of every song. Within the crowd is a group of friends, most of whom … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, embarrassing fan girl, music, personal, UK, Uncategorized, Vancouver, videos | 23 Comments

Victoria Secrets

Posted on May 21, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

One of the things that makes you feel a long way from home when you move to a foreign country is that you have no idea when the long weekends fall. We get a pretty good deal here in British … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, English language, fun with language, grant wrangling, personal, silliness | 8 Comments

UPDATED Linked into Vancouver science

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

As I’ve mentioned in a few recent posts, the interconnectedness of the (small and young but growing nicely) Vancouver science sector continues to amaze me. At most large work-related meetings and at every sciency social event I attend, I run … Continue reading →

Posted in blog buddies, Canada, career, communication, personal, science, technology, Vancouver | 9 Comments

Somewhere there’s a village…

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Just in time for the playoffs, a song from CBC’s The Irrelevant Show for all the Canadian hockey fans out there – or indeed anyone whose team, in any sport, has lost any final game in any competition. Awesome.

Posted in Canada, music, silliness, sport, videos | 9 Comments

Radical reform of peer review and research support, or rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic?

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

OR More on the proposed reforms at the CIHR, which I first blogged about last month after taking my first look at the discussion document they published. I’ve since read the document in much greater detail, and also attended an … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, career, grant wrangling, politics, science | 6 Comments

“What’s the difference between Mick Jagger and a Scottish farmer?”

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Thus begins the last really good joke I heard, several years ago now; answer at the bottom! I recently realised that I never hear new jokes any more. I had an actual joke book as a small kid, and my … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, communication, family, fun with language, furry friends, personal, silliness, UK | 33 Comments

On having a heart and using my voice

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

I recently updated the photo on my UK drivers license, and had the new card sent to my parents’ address. They received it a few weeks ago and couriered it back to me (along with the original marriage certificate I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, bad people, Canada, current affairs, family, medicine, personal, photos, politics, Vancouver, videos | 8 Comments

CIHR: Canada Innovating to Help Review?

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) is this country’s major source of government funding for biomedical research – the equivalent of the US NIH. They’ve just released a document describing some proposed changes to their grant mechanism portfolio and … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, career, current affairs, grant wrangling, politics, science | 4 Comments

Question About “VWXYNot?”

Posted on January 30, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

Thus read the title of an email in my inbox this morning. The message continued: Hey, I consult for a Canadian immigration lawyer who is looking to expand her presence online.  I am  interested in having a mention within one of your … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, cancer research, communication, idiocy, meta, personal, science | 16 Comments

Pacific surf, the coast by starlight, and the Cascades: San Diego to Vancouver by train

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Cath@VWXYNot?

or: what you gain when you’re not too vain to deign to let the train take the main strain. As I said in my last post, a meeting with collaborators in La Jolla last week probably represented my last chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, embarrassing fan girl, food glorious food, fun with language, nature, personal, photos, snow, technology, travel, Vancouver | 10 Comments