Work's winding down rapidly. I doubt I'll have many lectures to cover next week, so hopefully I'll have time to potter about on my several ongoing projects and get in touch with people. If you're reading this and don't hear from me by Christmas, don't assume you've been forgotten. Assume rather that I'm ill-organised and oblivious of what the date is and have once again missed the Christmas post. It's usually a safe bet. Happy holidays to you all.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: None

Haven't felt the need to say much about anything for a while. Still don't to be honest. I've been out of the social loop for so long now that nights out seem far less attractive a proposition than a cup of tea and a good book or an evening spent tinkering with my computers. I don't think much of significance has happened to me that needs to be broadcast either... as you might expect, given such reclusive tendencies.

I have spent some rather pleasant time cat sitting in Kirkstall and I'm scheduled to do it again later this week. I must say that I love that area and would gladly relocate if I could afford to live there. Sadly, a bedsit there costs about £75 per week to rent, whereas my own flat in Hull... a rambling affair with a spare room in the attic has been holding steady at £50 per week for the last few years and it's a mere 20 minute walk from my job.

So, in summary,life's not at all bad at present. My modest needs are met and there's no immediate source of stress.Under such conditions I feel like a very rich and fortunate man.



And now... this.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: None

I started my second week of this semester's work and I'm feeling rather wiped out. Last Wednesday afternoon I came down with the flu and I still haven't regained my strength. I was a little delirious with fever on Friday night. On Saturday I was invited to visit my friends from the dojo and their newborn son in the hospital, but I had to decline so as not to put mother and child at risk of catching the lurgy. I don't feel ill any more but my energy levels plummet as the sun goes down. In fact I'm off to bed now. But first...


1. Think of the first word that comes to mind when you think of me.

2. Go to Google Images and search for that word.

3. Reply to this post with one of the pictures on the first page of results. You may also give the word if you like.

4. Put this in your own journal if you really want to.

Current Mood: drained
Current Music: None

After a long-ish summer I'm finally able to post about things that aren't totally trivial and don't breach any confidentiality. So, what's been happening? Mostly, nothing that concerns anyone reading this. Recent significant developments however include:

Resuming my job in university Disability Services. This semester I will be mostly covering biology lectures.

Having double glazing fitted in my flat. In the same week as resuming work. This made it a bit awkward, as computers had to be turned off and hidden under dust sheets for the week, but it was worth it. The new windows meet with the approval of the Avenues residents' committee (who complained about the last set, demanding that the planning department force the landlord to replace perfectly good newly fitted windows at considerable expense to him and inconvenience to myself).

Helping a friend to relocate to another city in pursuit of peace of mind and a bright new life. All seems to be going well so far and despite initial trepidations I believe it was a good move.

Catching flu from the bloody freshers. I thought I'd last longer than that but it only took a couple of days of exposure to rooms full of coughing students and a single drenching in a rain shower to lay me low this year. Still, I should have recovered by Monday and at least I got it over with.

Two of my training colleagues had a baby son yesterday. Early ultrasound scans showed him apparently performing kata in the womb so it looks like the start of a martial arts clan there. I can't visit however, on account of my having the flu.



That's all the news that's fit to post. I've finished and emailed this week's lecture notes so now I'm free to resume cleaning up after the glaziers.

Current Mood: chipper
Current Music: Abney Park : Airship Pirate

Current Mood: blank
Current Music: Rammstein : Ich Will

I saw an odd sight last night. Something that looked like a Chinese lantern at a moderate altitude was gliding silently in a long curve over my street and away to the north. No idea what it could have been so I guess that makes it a UFO. Yay! I had a close encounter of the second kind!

Feeling rather groggy now and with no honey to put in my tea. Must venture out for supplies and strong coffee.

Current Mood: blank
Current Music: None

It's taken me the best part of a day but I've managed to re-install Linux Mint on my primary machine whilst preserving the home folders and settings of the 2 accounts already on it. Now I've got a 64 bit distribution things are a little perkier and all my RAM can be used.


Feels kinda good to have started and finished a job on the same day (or at least between sleeps). For my next geek project I intend to build a Hackintosh. I just have to compile a list of compatible parts, which could take a while. Still only a nanofraction of the time it would take to save enough money for even a second hand Mac though.


Time for bed.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Music: Jan Garbarek : Aubade

Plans to go to the laundrette postponed, I'm sticking my head out of the attic window to watch the rain and listen to the thunder instead... quite enjoying the slightly disoriented, tweaking feeling the weather brings. I do enjoy summer rainstorms, especially with lightning, even though I'm good for nothing more than aesthetic appreciation until they pass.

Current Mood: calm
Current Music: None

It came as something of a shock this morning to learn that I'm not being offered the mentoring job after all. It seem that I failed to satisfy the interview panel that I have the right personal qualities for the job.

Current Mood: depressed
Current Music: None

I've just had what seemed to be the most successful job interview of my life (not that there have been many). Official confirmation will follow upon a CRB check but it looks like next academic year I'll be mentoring students with mental health issues as well as continuing with the note taking support. The contract is still the barbaric and immoral 'zero hours' variety but the work is incredibly rewarding in non-monetary terms.

I'm tanking up on coffee at the moment. My meds seem to be losing their initial efficacy. I'm increasingly achey and fatigued again. Still, it's all trial and error with these things. I'll try to drag myself out socially tonight, since it went so well last week.

Current Location: The Last Word
Current Mood: lethargic
Current Music: Nothing I recognise