Back in October, I was asked by my postgrad-supervisor-to-be, Polly (McMichael), and her colleague Monica (White) if I'd like to do something about reenactment in Russia as I'd been to the 200th Anniversary of Borodino: just a casual presentation, talk, that kind of thing, for a thing called Re-makes in Russian Culture. Of course, I said yes: when ( Read more... )

I was inspired to write this post by this article in the Vulcan newsletter. 10 years ago yesterday, I was about 2 months into my second year at uni. In early September I had passed my driving test and seen Concorde land at Heathrow for one of the last times ( Read more... )

Let's face it, 'fat fighters' just doesn't sound as good as 'flab fighters', does it?! Anyway, a brief update on my weight-loss/trouser-retrieval programme ( Read more... )

Last weekend a massive new bridge was put in over the A52 at Dunkirk, linking the University and QMC. It's for the new tram line between the station and Chilwell. We could have gone to watch it but had more pressing things to do (play High Frontier and sleep). There's a nice timelapse video here though, so we didn't feel like we missed anything ( Read more... )

Here's my latest entry for Pictonauts. This is August 2013's offering, picture entitled Voyage to the Planets.


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I am at work, waiting for a CD to do something. Anything, to be honest: I've tried going through and opening series of images (which is why I've got it, to upload brain scans to the database), but it takes forever and then they won't load because they're just 'files' not a particular format. The downloaders supplied on the CD, either of them, ( Read more... )

I rang my parents last night to find out how they got on on holiday a few weeks ago: it was during the Central European floods and they were, you guessed it, in Central Europe! Well, they were pretty much OK except when they were going on their only direct train, from Graz to Innsbruck. They were told they'd need to get off and get a bus the rest ( Read more... )

I've been very busy failing to finish my Khador cavalry army for Warmachine: I was trying to get it done for the Student Nationals but managed less than half. Depressingly, it wasn't even the least painted army there... Still, I had a lot of fun and even managed to win 1/5 games, leaving me in place 9/10! Even better though, Matt won the Open ( Read more... )

I came home yesterday to find that the downpipe at the front right of the house had fallen out of the hole at the top in the gutter, spun about on its only solid axis and was seemingly dangling precariously. I had a go a moving it but I couldn't, so I reckon it'll be OK until the weekend ( Read more... )

Christmas in Burnley
Christmas was good: the drives in the driving (oh dear) rain weren't too bad, and there were some spectacular waterfalls in the Peaks. Nothing much to report: it was simply a nice relaxing time.

Post-Christmas and New YearJacques came to visit an help out with painting etc. We actually finished it this time (although a week ( Read more... )