Who ya gonna call?

Working at home this morning trying to finish the presentation I have to give next week. One of the kids is having a halloween party tonight for all the grandkids and their freinds and the wife has been asked to put together some music for it (her being the Queen of the downloads). She's 6 feet away playing things like Time Warp and Ghostbusters and got me dancing in my seat. By the sounds of it the wife is having a more productive morning than I am! I'm off to sort out an invite to the party.

Bad News

The first thing I do when I get up is make tea and put the TV news on and the first thing I heard this morning woke me up good and proper. One of the headlines was that scientists Down South have succeeded in doing what I am attempting to do in my work and the way the news was delivered I was convinced that my project was now redundant. When I got to read the original research article however it was far from 'problem solved' as the BBC had led me to believe. While interesting, it really is nothing new and although they claim to be using this "cutting edge" approach, the methods they're using are about 30 years old and they haven't implemented the more recent modifications which would make it a much more powerful technique*. What really bugs me about this though is the way it is being reported in the media. The research is interesting but really not "a breakthrough in the fight against the debilitating disease". It happens all to often that news is overhyped to the point that it becomes inaccurate and misleading (okay, so not just in science reporting). Take the case of the MMR fiasco for example, the story about the MMR vaccine causing autism. But the fact that the research was repeated and found to contain a fundamental error hardly made the news at all because it wasn't nearly so catastrophic. Rant over.

*Yes the vagueness is deliberate since it wouldn't take much fishing to work out my true identity (not that anyone could be bothered I'm sure) and that's something that I, perhaps even the world, is not quite ready for!

Don't be Sad!

Firstly we had the singing sheep ringtones, now there's the escape line.

"The special telephone line has been launched to help those who retreat into hibernation mode at the official end of British summertime on October 29. Callers can listen to seven inspiring and comical sounds aimed at encouraging them to make the most of the precious available daylight this winter".

This site is great if you've ever wondered what fresh air sounds like!
The sound of Lake Windermere lapping against a jetty is however pretty special since that's where the wife and I spent our first holiday together shortly after we met.

Time Flies

It can't be Tuesday already! I spent the weekend trying to be domesticated by grocery shopping (twice because I'm not very good at shopping), cooking good food, scrubbing floors and tidying up the garden. Everything has died back out there apart from the roses which have been going all summer and are still surprising us. The lady who lived here before loved her roses. I'm trying to get some flowers flowering over winter but it's all a bit experimental (i.e. I don't really have a clue what I'm doing).

Work is busy at the moment, projects which need me at my desk have landed at the same time as work in the lab is keeping me busy and I've been given the task of introducing the new guy to the equipment. While he has far more experience of the techniques than me he has never used the type of equipment we have so I'm never quite sure if I'm not going into enough detail or going into too much detail. And then there is always the chance that actually I'm talking a load of bollocks and telling him the wrong thing entirely. At least he seems like a nice guy and it will be good to have someone else working on the same sort of project as me for a change. Up until now it's just been me and I feel like I'm expected to know everything but now I'll have someones brains to pick.

My Piece of Earth

I may be a bit slow but I've recently discovered Google Earth. This sort of thing fascinates me. I can spend ages just looking at maps and this is like a giant map with knobs on. I can see hours of procrastination ahead of me. One of these roofs belongs to my house:

Surprises

Working from home today because I discovered a large puddle of oil underneath my car this morning. My car never gets sick, I'm gutted. Working at home does have it's advantages however, for example the dog sits on my feet and keeps them warm, the loo is just across the hall rather than down the stairs and at the other end of the building and the wife makes me delicious sandwiches for my lunch. I also get to look out over the garden rather than the city rooftops.

I've been working on a presentation I have to give in a few weeks and in trying to liven up the story of how genes produce proteins thought I'd put in a few pictures. A search for a double helix to represent DNA surprisingly produced something which really would liven up the presentation - a rather graphically demonstrated sex toy. And that's why I'm glad I was working at home today because you never know who's looking over your shoulder at work!

Music to my Ears?

Again the little person is staying with us tonight and has just come in from school where today she was at music club. She's been learning to play the ocarina and her enthusiasm is lovely but I think it might be a long evening.

All together now (for the fifth time already): twinkle, twinkle little star...

Revenge?

Last year I had a paper published and the following week got a snotty email from someone who obviously had too much time on their hands and wanted to point out what I should and shouldn't have included and in particular that I should have cited his work. I actually couldn't see why he should have been included but politely thanked him for bringing these issues to my attention.

Today I have been asked to review an article. Its author just so happens to be that very same person who pissed me off and I just happen to be the annonymous reviewer who has to comment on, among other things, its suitability for publication. It's not that I would ever be anything but professional but it's nice to let my inner bitch influence just a couple of my comments!

Transformation

Four and a half months after moving in we have finished the second room! This is the first one that we have stripped back to the bare walls and started again (the living room we just painted over the paper that was already up). In fact in removing the paper from the chimney breast the plaster came off too so that bit was down to bare brick. But, a bit of patience and several layers of plaster later (and a few quid saved) the wall was as good as new and with the new wallpaper on you'd never know anything had gone wrong, much.

And just incase you want to admire our handywork, here is a before and after shot of the fireplace.

**Pics removed**

We kept the wood surround but stripped off the layers of varnish and replaced the old, cracked 1930's tiles with marble. We couldn't have a gas fire because the chimney flue is knackered so had to replace the old gas fire with electric, it's sooo cosy, even if the heat isn't on. However, the carpet has been the biggest transformation.
The after shot doesn't actually show off the colours, the room was painted white but is now is a lovely warm colour with a pattern on the fireplace wall. Those are our lovely comfy new armless armchairs and the old welsh dresser is there full of things that need to be re-housed. Although the room isn't huge it also houses the dining table and the wife's desk as well as the old TV, making it the room in which we spend most of our time. Those chairs also push together to make a really cozy sofa!

Friday the 13th

I should have known when I made the appointment that going to the doctors on Friday the 13th was a bad idea. At least she didn't take my blood pressure, I think after the readings two weeks ago she's realised that she will never get a sensible result from me in her office - instead we will review it in three months. All of the blood tests I had done last week came back normal (including the Guilbert's screen so she still can't decide if I do or don't have it) but my cholesterol is at the higher end of normal. She also made me get on the scales, complete with boots, jeans, chunky jumper and pockets full of junk like keys, purse, phone then told me that if I'm 5'6 I'm overweight, if I'm 5'8 im normal weight (she didn't want to measure my height). I'm certainly not 5'8 and even 5'6 might be debatable. So she sent me packing with instructions to drink less, eat a low fat diet, exercise more and to come back just after christmas to see how I'm getting on. I think the woman likes to see me suffer!

There is Hope!

In my work today I came across two bits of research that prove (well as much proof as I need) that at least two of my habits aren't really bad ones. Firstly, five cups of coffee can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. I never could see the point of decaf anyway. Secondly, cabernet sauvignon can also reduce the risk. I'm hoping that Shiraz has the same effect.

I just mentioned these studies to the wife and pointed out that the article about cab sauv says "one drink per day...". Her response: "yes but they don't say if that's one glass or one bottle". At least there's a chance that her liver can be fixed!

New Shoes

Approximately 50% of the meetings that have been scheduled between me and my boss never happen, usually because I turn up but he doesn't. Apparently today he's at the other end of the country. Usually I don't mind too much because it's a nice walk across campus but today it's pouring with rain and I have discovered that my shoes leak. So I'm going to go shoe shopping. Now. This is not a pleasure, I hate shoe shopping, but my socks are wet and I need new shoes.

You Make Me...

For the first time in weeks we had nothing that had to be done in the house this weekend. Yes, there is still some painting to do, the walls in the bedroom and kitchen are still bare plaster but these can all wait a little bit longer. This weekend was for us, not for the house!

Yesterday we went to a local market to see if there were any bargains and then just as we were about to find a pub for lunch decided on a picnic, even if it was blowing a gale and threatening rain. So after a quick run around Tescos we took our crusty bread, pate, quiche, paper plates, plastic cups and miniture bottle of wine and settled ourselves beside the lake in a local country park. It felt like the sort of thing we used to do, before the life took over. (I know that this weekend is what life should be, the rest is just the shit that gets in the way).

Today we ended up toy shopping - no, not that sort of toy shopping! It seems that there is some important event around January/February time since most of the grandkids birthdays occur within the next few weeks. Needless to say, it was great fun and regardless of our respective ages, our inner-children came out to play. In fact, I haven't stopped grinning all weekend. The following song was on the radio in the car today and couldn't be more appropriate;

You make me feel so young
You make me feel like spring has sprung
Every time I see you grin
Im such a happy individual

The moment that you speak
I want to go and play hide-and-seek
I want to go and bounce the moon
Just like a toy balloon

You and I, are just like a couple of tots
Running across the meadow
Picking up lots of forget-me-nots

You make me feel so young
You make me feel there are songs to be sung
Bells to be rung, and a wonderful fling to be flung

And even when Im old and gray
Im gonna feel the way I do today
cause you make me feel so young


You Make Me Feel So Young - Frank Sinatra

Who'd Have 'Em

Yesterday I wrote about jealous kids but the dog is even worse. Half the time if I try and give the wife a cuddle he jumps up in between us and always thinks that if theres any kissing going on he should be included. He is absolutely banned from the bedroom at bedtime but if he thinks there is anything going on in there he starts howling. It can be most off putting at the time and I often wonder if the neighbours have worked out whats going on!

Fun and Games

Last night I was once again kicked out of our bed to make way for another girl. The 6 yr old GrandKid stayed with us for the night meaning I was relegated to the spare bed. I don't mind, she's fab and I love her to bits and what better way to spend an evening than baking chocolate cake - although I don't know what got covered in the most chocolate, the kitchen or us (it certainly wasn't the cake). One thing we have noticed however is that she is jealous of the closeness between me and the wife (her nan). The wife has a habit of calling everyone 'darling', including family members, shop assistants and anyone else who hasn't upset her and the GK is the biggest darling of all! Often when the wife calls me darling the GK gets stroppy and asks "why do you call her darling and not me?" Of course she's always calling her darling. The GK has no idea of the true relationship between me and her nan but has always sensed, and been jealous of, the closeness (the first time I met her she was 18 months and she climbed up on the sofa between me and the wife, cuddled in to her nan and gave me a filthy look). At the same time she loves the fun we have and the attention she gets, which I don't think she gets at home and the place is a mad house when she's around (okay, so not just when she's around). If I have to sleep in the spare room for anyone I'm glad it's her, and not just because it gives me an excuse to do what six year olds do and give up being a grown up, just for a few minutes.

Umph

I'm suffering from a complete lack of energy today. It took me nearly an hour to drag myself out of bed this morning and that was after nine hours shut-eye. I then spent the morning 'working from home' before mustering the energy to get to work (only to get here and want to disappear under my labcoat and sniffle and sob quietly for no apparent reason). I just want to be at home curled up on the sofa in sloppy clothes, with a big plate of comfort food - the wifes yummy cottage pie would do nicely - and watch a nice easy going film (something like When Harry met Sally or Dirty Dancing would suffice) whilst getting sympathetic looks from the dog.
 
There is no reason for this behaviour and I'm simply going to pull myself together, stop being feeble and get on with some work, then go home and pamper the wife who has had a hellish couple of days and is the one who deserves the sympathy.

Bloody Carpets

The carpets were fitted on Saturday. Twenty minutes after the fitter left the wifes' son came stumbling through the door with a gash in his head, dripping blood and looking like he was about to collapse in a heap on the floor. He made a beeline for the living room with the new beige carpet and I wasn't really being unsympathetic when I diverted him into the kitchen, (with the wipe clean tiled floor)! I really wasn't unsympathetic because I did spend half the evening in A&E with them.

Deep Breaths

This morning I had to go to the doctors for a review of my medication (I'm taking meds to control my blood pressure). One of the drugs I'm on shouldn't be taken in pregnancy so every time I see the doc she reminds me of this and asks me what form of contraception I use. When I reply that it's not an issue she assumes I'm 'not sexually active' and that if that changes I should go and see the nurse about contraception. Why I don't just come out to her I don't know, but at least she didn't start asking about smear tests. Is it any wonder that every time I enter the surgery my BP goes rocketing up. Systolic started off topping 200 (ideally it should be below 120). After five attempts it was coming down but still far too high considering the meds I'm on. Trying to stay calm at the docs has become such an issue for me that the complete opposite happens and now I'm betting that they won't let me go antoher year before I have to go back and be tortured some more.