eleyan's Journal

7:22pm: Cue the vampire jokes
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-05-infusion-young-blood-recharges-brains.html

...in mice though.

2:02pm: Observing a thing changes it.
On the top, unreachable, unseeable shelf in my study is a load of Stuff. Looks like mostly magazines, fanzines, in those cardboard boxes especially designed to store such. I don't remember what they are, and I have not looked at them in, oh, seven or eight years.
But I know that if, having decided to throw them out, I climb up on the step stool and look at them, they will instantly transform into something precious that I must keep. Dammit.
(ETA) Yup, sure enough. Lots of old comics I used to buy, including the complete first run of V for Vendetta. Wondered where those had got to.

10:50pm: Superfluous cat
We are lately much plagued with an excess of cat. His name is Oscar, he lives in the next street and, boy, is he persistent. He is currently wandering between our first floor windows, having climbed up a wisteria to get to them.
Here is a recent photo of him. Oscar is the one on the left; our two are variously pretending he's not there and glaring at him.
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But I am not sure what we can do to discourage him - his owners have been round a couple of times to take him home, we don't feed him now that we know he has a home to go to. He just wants to be around here. If he sneaks into the house, he's likely to do little more than find one of ours' sleeping places and curl up in it.

5:52pm: Why we love junk food
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/magazine/the-extraordinary-science-of-junk-food.html?pagewanted=all&_r=2&
A lot of very clever people go to incredible lengths to basically make it as addictive as possible. Fascinating article.

8:22am: Ignorance is definitely bliss
On Monday, the weather in Reading wasn't nearly as bad as it was in the rest of the country - wet and miserable but that's all. Luckily, I was sufficiently busy that I didn't read about the storms until I looked at a free paper on Tuesday morning...on the plane to Aberdeen. It was an hour late getting to LHR from Newcastle but they didn't tell us why.
Then, on the approach to Aberdeen, we were re-routed to Edinburgh. The explanation was that the automated instrument landing software (or something like that, from the garbled announcement) at Aberdeen airport had failed. Bit of a bumpy landing, waited for a couple of hours for them to re-fuel then we tried again. I phone the office to tell them to let the client know I'd not be there in time for the presentation I was meant to be giving at 1.30: apparently they had already deduced that and cancelled it, but I was doing it two more times the following day so hopefully some delegates could re-schedule.
Aberdeen was a litter of branches and green leaves pasted all over the roads where they'd been ripped off trees. Hanging baskets hanging in shreds. I landed half an hour after my presentation had been meant to start then took another hour to get to the office. Again, only realised after the event how bad the weather had been. The place with all the foam, Footdee, was apparently in walking distance of where I was staying but I only found out about it the next day.
Back last night, only an hour later than I was supposed to be. Nothing much interesting ever happens to me, which is one of the reasons I don't post that often, and in this case I think it was probably a good thing.

5:04pm: Anyone need a microchip catflap?
We just bought one of these
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SureFlap-Ltd-Microchip-Door--White/dp/B003EGIM3O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347292878&sr=8-1
and, sad to say, one of our cats is too fat to go through it. When everyone stops laughing, do any of you need one? Would need to be someone we can deliver it to - at a con perhaps - or who can collect it. Would let you have it for 50 quid, paid 70.

8:44pm: How the bored amuse themselves, part 1
From Guo Pei on If Style Could Kill, via Song Zuying and jewellery, to Chinese music videos on Youtube. Some of these ladies make a bevy of Disney Princesses look like underdressed scullery maids. Go look at The Dancing Phoenix, Li Hao, for an example. Also, we can haz computagraffix...

7:36pm: Plumptious pussycats
Or not. I take our two cats to the vet once a year, around now, for their vaccination and general checkup. For years, I was told that they were a bit on the porkulent side. Coincidentally, once I lost weight myself, the vets stopped telling me off about the cats, though they still weigh pretty much what they always have. No longer policy to worry unless cats are real blimps, or getting vaster every year, they said.
What I was wondering though, if other cat owners have experienced this: do your cats seem a bit off-colour for a couple of days after their flu vaccination? Ours do, going off their food a bit, being a bit touchy, just wanting to sleep. They are cat flu carriers, and get a killed vaccine rather than a live one. The whole going to the vet business is pretty stressful anyway, and I don't suppose the cats enjoy it much either.

9:14pm: Odds'n'sodds
I got to spend today on the top floor of the former Adelphi Hotel near Embankment. Fabulous views. Off to Wimpole St tomorrow and St Mary Axe on Thursday so I hope to get to the 'tun.

Tequila was hauled protesting to the vet, where she received three jabs and a thermometer in a very unladylike place. She is still not herself, but is eating a bit and seems to have stopped throwing up. The jabs were an anti-emetic, an anti-biotic and a pain killer, poor little muffin. I am not her favourite person any more, and I still have to give her a worming tablet. Going to wait another day for that, I think.

And summer's last gasp seems to have wheezed out. I suppose the only consolation is not having to fret about whether to rush in the morning to get the washing on so it can go out on the line. Now you can do it any time of day or night because you have to hang it inside anyway. Then again, I suppose not everybody frets about this kind of thing. Actually, my washing-hanging behaviour is the clearest indication I have of mild OCD.

8:40pm: Uxbridge bead fair today
I can't remember the last time I posted anything so as I actually did something interesting today, I thought I'd mention it. The Bead Society of Great Britain has an annual bead fair and it was today, so I and a group of others from Berkshire Beaders went. It's now held at Uxbridge College (was in Harrow for years) and I may have bought some stuff, the odd bead and book. And yet another way to try to compensate for my increasingly decrepit eyesight, a large magnifier you sort of balance on your bust while you bead. Will let you know how it works.
We had a display table just inside the entrance and took a lot of pieces showing the projects the club has done this year. Lots of people came to admire and express interest - we do gain members this way, it was how I joined many years ago.
In other news, Tequila the cat is having another bout of going off her food and throwing up, to the point of bringing up nothing but blood and spit so unless she makes a miraculous recovery overnight, she's off to the vet tomorrow.

12:12pm: Why, yes, I am on holiday now.
Catlets back from the vet, not as porky as feared. They are both slightly heavier, particularly Sahara, but not enough to get me a telling off. And they did both have very full bladders, due to reluctance to go out into the Cold! Wet! Snow! this morning.
I have consoled them for their trauma by giving them some celebratory gooshy food, which they had not had for over a month due to impending weigh-in. Tequila fell on hers and has now retreated under our bed. Sahara keeps climbing into my lap and trying to bury her face in the bend of my elbow.
Have had a post delivery but no Amazon parcels.

7:39am: New personal weather recond
Minus 9.2 under our covered back porch this morning and the cold water pipes have frozen.

9:08pm: We've been watching on DVD stuff you probably all saw on the telly years ago, including "Look Around You", a send-up of 60's tv science shows for schools. It reminded me of something we had on tv down under, an amazing American gentleman called Professor Julius Sumner Miller. A few years ago, I did look to see if he had been put onto DVD but sadly not.

However, someone has put a load of his shows onto Youtube, and I think you would find them great fun. I meant to post this the other week, and forgot - go to Youtube and search for Julius Sumner Miller. Don't start with the Cadbury's ad, though, he did that a bit later in his career.

9:09pm: We got back from Australia early Friday afternoon, but still feeling sleepy at inappropriate times. Himself is working at home tomorrow but I'm in the office with a pile of editing scheduled. Don't like my chances of staying awake.
We had two days in Singapore (hot and humid, nice hotel, lots of shops), then Melbourne for the worldcon. Lots of healthy walking about due to the layout of the exhibition centre. Then Tasmania, where it was Cold! and they don't have central heating! or double glazing! I have gotten very soft after 20 years over here, had to have electric blanket.
The Catlets seemed glad to see us again, and the wisteria had almost engulfed the back of the house. Much pruning ensued. Damn that healthy exercise. At least it was warm in the sun while we did it. Picked up five and a half buckets of fallen apples and pears from the lawn before it could be mowed.

9:21pm: Beadwork at Plokta.con
I'll be doing a workshop on basic bead and wire work if anyone is interested. We will have beads, wire and pliers, but if anyone wants to come and has their own pliers, please bring them. Also bring along any beads that you would like to turn into earrings or charms for a charm bracelet. This is a good way to use those odd beads that aren't enough for bigger items but that you want to keep for sentiment or plain 'cos you like them.

7:04am:



didn't think I'd do that well...

9:24am: job going for tech author in Netherlands
My company is looking, on behalf of a client, for a Technical Author with a GeoScience degree, speaks Dutch and is willing to relocate to The Netherlands. If anyone knows anybody who fits this, leave me a comment with some sort of contact info.

9:43pm: It's snowing in Reading
Just wafty little flakes, and they're not settling, but they're blowing down pretty quickly and looking very pretty in the orange glare of the streetlight over the road.

8:18pm: Pruning cats’ bottoms
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7:12pm: Shinies AND Books!
If you aren't busy on 9-10 June, try visiting the rock and gem show at Kempton Park. On that weekend, there will also be a book fair and the same ticket gets you into both. I buy a lot of my materials there, and there is also an increasing amount of made-up jewellery, costing way less than it would at a shop--because these are the sorts of places the shops go for their stock, which they then mark up. (Of course, unless you buy wholesale you won't get it as cheaply as they do, but you'll still see prices much lower than they'll be charging.) For example, I paid a pound for a little woven choker to hang a pendant from. The same was selling for a fiver at that nice little shop in Alresford that one of you knows about.
To see more, the link is http://www.rockngem.co.uk/, select show dates on the left and you'll find details and directions for 9-10 June.
I'll be going on the 10th, Sunday, and hopefully dragging miramon along. Am trying to talk a few fans into going as well. If you aren't a jewellery fan, bear in mind that it's predominantly aimed at rock hounds and has loads of fossils, crystals, mineral samples, lapidary supplies and generally cool stuff.
And there are books next door.

8:45pm: Things you don't expect to overtake on the motorway: a Dalek's nether regions
Was going east on the M4, just past junction 13 at about 17.45 today when I went past a dark blue station wagon (aka estate car) containing the bottom half of a large gold Dalek. In two horizontal sections, it looked like. I was past too quickly even to wave, and the driver was a little man hunched resolutely over the wheel. Probably sick of having people honk horns at him.

7:41pm: We have cats!
Yesterday, we acquired two new cats from Newburycats.org. In fact, if you go to the website, http://www.newburycats.org/adopt.html and scroll right to the bottom, you can read about them: Tequila and Sahara. No doubt they'll update the info soon: several of the other cats listed as reserved have in fact gone.
Shadow is deeply miffed. He has revealed a hitherto hidden ability to hiss like a dragon and yowl like an air-raid siren. But Steve observed that his tail and back remain sleek and un-fluffed up when he does this, so we hope he's just going through the motions of putting them in their place. He has not shown any indication that he's about to attack them physically, so far.
Tequila, now known as Tequila Warrior Princess, is particularly daring. She sneaked up on him from behind and sniffed at his back. Shadow got such a shock he practically levitated, let out an almighty hiss, more like a roar, and immediately lapsed into the kind of major coughing fit you see in cats trying to bring up gigantic hairballs. Major loss of dignity: luckily for him, Tequila fled immediately so didn't see it.
The only drawback is they're both permanent carriers of cat flu and will never be cured of it. Relapses occur in times of stress, and Tequila particularly has weepy, semi-opaque eyes. Our vet tells us that as long as Shadow's shots are up-to-date, the risk of infection is negligible.
So. Cats. Pictures to follow in due course.

7:57am: Hugo!
We won the best fanzine Hugo! I am indescribably chuffed about this! I mean, last year was fantabulous, but I kind of felt there was an element of, well, on our home turf, sympathy vote (poor old PLOKTA, always the bridesmaid, never the bride,) it was a thank-you for running the fan lounge, lotsa stuff, but we won again! In LA! Wheee!
*Blink*
Right. Time for breakfast.
ThankyouThankyouThankyou to everyone who nominated and voted!
Ok. Really going now.
Wheee!

9:41pm: work avoidance
Aren't I the sad git...don't post for ages and then this is the best I can do.

9:37pm: The exciting life of a trainer
Off to Monaco tomorrow, back Thursday evening. As far as I can tell, the weather is a bit warmer than here, so have packed accordingly. Am optimistically taking my camera (and a bit of beadwork and a couple of books,) but as I will be giving six courses to a total of 90 people while over there, I don't know that I'll have enough energy to do much sightseeing.
The hotel and the client's office are in the middle of town, not far from the harbour. Have been mentally rehearsing my 25-year-old French...ou est-ce que se trouve cet'hotel? Y-a-t'il quelque magazin de perles presqu'd'ici?
And will worry about Shadow, who has been a bit off his food lately and lost a bit of weight.