Rain forest (but there was no rain!) - Peru update
Well as Annette stated, I am back and all is well.
The holiday away was definately something I needed, work was getting on top of me but this has brought a calming effect (soul calibur 4 aside - damned tower levels! I swear it cheats like a big cheating cheater)
The visit to Peru was amazing, I may put up some selected photos once I have been through them. The inca trail, in particular the cloud forest and manchu picchu was great. Lake Titicaca and the island stop overs were really eye openers. But the Amazon was probably the highlight and I can't believe that I almost missed out on this because I was looking at other companies that didn't offer this section of the holiday. From travelling up the Tambopata river in a moterised canoe to staying in a small lodge in the middle of the amazon jungle, the whole thing was so different that I have relearned to appreciate the things I have here whilst at the same time experience things that most people will never experience.
I could go on but I will leave some of the finer details for when I post some of the pictures.
In other news, I was informed of a potential job offer at my place of work just prior to me going on holiday. It was in my current field of expertises with people I enjoy working with so I was all ready to revamp my CV and apply upon my return. Well, you know that saying, the law is an ass? The job is no longer available because UCL policy dictates that anyone in the last three months of their contract automatically gets first refusal on any upcoming job within UCL. So the job that was perfect for me has been given to another who has no experience in this area of research. Sure, I'm dissappointed as there was some exciting stuff proposed in the research, but some of the lecturers and supervisors on the grant are not at all happy about the situation has they have been forced to employ someone they consider less suited for the position. Looks like I'll have to move away from UCL for my next postdoc when my current contract ends because the likelyhood of us having another grant funded project in this area in the next 6 months is slim at best.
Still, I suppose it won't be that bad. It may be beneficial to move to another lab and learn from different people. Maybe even change disipline slighly. The main concern is trying to stay in or near london.
Anyway, I'm now more relaxed and ready to start again at work. Kilik is also a calling. Really need to continue with that particularly given the strict quality control I place on myself.
More updates may follow soon.....
The holiday away was definately something I needed, work was getting on top of me but this has brought a calming effect (soul calibur 4 aside - damned tower levels! I swear it cheats like a big cheating cheater)
The visit to Peru was amazing, I may put up some selected photos once I have been through them. The inca trail, in particular the cloud forest and manchu picchu was great. Lake Titicaca and the island stop overs were really eye openers. But the Amazon was probably the highlight and I can't believe that I almost missed out on this because I was looking at other companies that didn't offer this section of the holiday. From travelling up the Tambopata river in a moterised canoe to staying in a small lodge in the middle of the amazon jungle, the whole thing was so different that I have relearned to appreciate the things I have here whilst at the same time experience things that most people will never experience.
I could go on but I will leave some of the finer details for when I post some of the pictures.
In other news, I was informed of a potential job offer at my place of work just prior to me going on holiday. It was in my current field of expertises with people I enjoy working with so I was all ready to revamp my CV and apply upon my return. Well, you know that saying, the law is an ass? The job is no longer available because UCL policy dictates that anyone in the last three months of their contract automatically gets first refusal on any upcoming job within UCL. So the job that was perfect for me has been given to another who has no experience in this area of research. Sure, I'm dissappointed as there was some exciting stuff proposed in the research, but some of the lecturers and supervisors on the grant are not at all happy about the situation has they have been forced to employ someone they consider less suited for the position. Looks like I'll have to move away from UCL for my next postdoc when my current contract ends because the likelyhood of us having another grant funded project in this area in the next 6 months is slim at best.
Still, I suppose it won't be that bad. It may be beneficial to move to another lab and learn from different people. Maybe even change disipline slighly. The main concern is trying to stay in or near london.
Anyway, I'm now more relaxed and ready to start again at work. Kilik is also a calling. Really need to continue with that particularly given the strict quality control I place on myself.
More updates may follow soon.....