Category Archives: family

“I always know everything”

^^quote by my youngest nephew, then four years old (he’s now ten, still knows everything, and wants to be a lawyer, FSM help us all). ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I spent Friday in an all-day symposium at my institute, on the subject of … Continue reading

Posted in career, conferences, English language, family, medicine, Rumsfeldian symposia, science, silliness | 4 Comments

Frittering

Friday Twittering – is there anything finer? In other news, while tidying my desk today I found a new and miraculously untouched science puzzle from last year’s desk calendar. I’ll post it tomorrow (or possibly on Sunday) for your geeky … Continue reading

Posted in blog buddies, Canada, competition, family, meta, silliness | 6 Comments

What happens in Vegas…

…gets blogged within a week. I’d been to Vegas once before but I was 17 and with my parents, so it doesn’t count. We were only there as a base for the Canyons (Grand, Bryce and Zion), and didn’t know … Continue reading

Posted in drunkenness, embarrassing fan girl, family, first world problems, food glorious food, furry friends, games, personal, photos, silliness, travel | 7 Comments

Dyed-in-the-wool cheapskate

Being genetically half Irish and an eighth Scottish, I have green eyes and curly brown hair that used to have a fair bit of red in it. The first white hair showed up when I was 19, much to my … Continue reading

Posted in English language, family, first world problems, personal, silliness | 24 Comments

In limbo

Well, the post I’d planned to write next was going to be about how much I’ve learned from blogs written by cancer patients, and how that knowledge has impacted my work in a basic and translational cancer research department. But … Continue reading

Posted in career, education, family, medicine, personal | 43 Comments

Birds of a feather

If I’d been born in the Middle Ages, I would have been lucky to reach adulthood. If I had made it that far, I’d almost certainly have promptly died in childbirth, or from bubonic plague, or something of that nature. … Continue reading

Posted in book review, embarrassing fan girl, exercise, family, furry friends, nature, personal, photos, sport, travel, UK, videos | 15 Comments

Geek tourism

I’m back, and ready to lightly and cheerily distract people from their woes! We had a great time in England – in fact, it was our most fun visit EVAH! I’m not quite sure why it was better than previous … Continue reading

Posted in blog buddies, book review, drunkenness, embarrassing fan girl, family, food glorious food, medicine, nature, personal, photos, science, silliness, travel, UK | 21 Comments

Why do these things always sneak up on me?!

It can’t just be me, surely… This time tomorrow I’ll be on a 10 hour flight to London, where I will see my sister for the first time in more than two years, and meet up with old friends and … Continue reading

Posted in family, personal, silliness, travel, UK | 8 Comments

Germ warfare and sibling rivalry

A few years ago, I witnessed an interaction between two of my nephews that resulted in a moment of pure blinding insight into my own childhood. We were staying at Mr E Man’s sister’s place over Christmas, as were his … Continue reading

Posted in family, medicine, personal | 14 Comments

In teh Grauniad

When I was about 15, our local paper ran a special schools edition. They approached English teachers around the city, asking them to contribute pieces written by local students, and my teacher picked an essay I’d written. The essay was … Continue reading

Posted in blog buddies, education, family, original research, personal, publishing, science, the media, UK | 13 Comments