You learn something new every day
... and occasionally you re-learn something you already knew but had forgotten.
Thursday:
Thursday:
- If you're expecting someone to call you back about some work by a certain time and they haven't, call them before the deadline so problems can be sorted out. Don't rely on minions to pass on messages.
- If presented with the opportunity for paying work, seize on it immediately, don't delay.
- A category with a well-pointed endofunctor is the same as a category with a monad isomorphic to the identity monad (and both are the same as an unbiased weak algebra for the trivial theory).
- The centre of a category (ie the endomorphism monoid of its identity functor - this agrees with the usual definition in the case of groups) is always commutative, by an Eckmann-Hilton argument.
- A benefit gig in the middle of the Glasgow fair, at the same night as a Celtic match, and when all the students are out of town, is not a terribly good way to raise money.
- Vacuum space bags are totally sweet.
- Magic Erasers, while not a replacement for all other cleaning products, are a valuable addition to one's cleaning arsenal. They seem to be particularly good on grimy baths and tea-stained kitchen counters.
- Barclays bank in Glasgow do not open on a Saturday at all.
- There is no limit to the complexity of modern rucksacks.
- I can't afford one, even in the sales.
- Natural yoghurt may be low-cal, but it doesn't make a terribly good mayonnaise substitute.
- Steamed spring greens and soy sauce make a quick-to-prepare, tasty, filling snack.
- Try as I might, there is no way I'm going to fit my chest of drawers into my new room.
- The weather in the British hills can go from sun to hail, and from perfectly clear to whiteout, in literally seconds.
- Corollary: I don't care if it's summer, you should take your waterproof trousers. And the compass. And your gloves (d'oh!)
- Posh chocolate makes poor hill food: you actually want the more sugary stuff. The best stuff we've found for hill use is Milka, though Somerfield value milk chocolate is surprisingly good. Cadburys Dairy Milk is too cloying.
- Steamed spring greens in sandwiches = crunchy goodness.
- Gaffer tape can be used to make useful carrying handles for cardboard boxes whose contents weigh less than 7kg.
- The Drum and Monkey, the pub opposite my bank which I'd always meant to check out, is fantastic. Light, airy, cool interior, leather sofas (for which I'm a sucker), some good beers on tap (Caledonian 80/-, Deuchar's IPA, Amstel), Hendrick's gin, good music, nice coffee, good-looking menu. Shame I'm off the booze :-(
- My body is 21% fat. This is a little high, but could be a lot worse.
- Two weeks off from capoeira (unavoidable, due to flooding and moving house) seriously affects your performance in the roda. On the upside, I think I'm starting to get the hang of some of the twistier kicks.