Sitting here with Harry wondering what we should do in the future.
Harry has concluded that climbing is good, piano is good, and making furniture is good.
And a later remark... Women and beer are good.
From my seat, mmm, sleep is good, wine is good, lavender is good (Harry agrees with this), chess is good (for E)....
Sloe Gin is good....
It's been a strange time. News that E's boss is heading to Oxford has sparked up our desire to gaze into the future and attempt to direct and control probably the uncontrollable.
We've been searching our selves, our relationship and the Internet for answers. Attending career seminars on life out of science, which revealed to both of us, independently that we would rather drop out of the rat-race all together than leave fundamental research science.
So here we are, back where we started trying harder than ever to make this work. At times it seems dark, really unbelievably dark. We both have moments where we are lost in consternation, worrying about it all. It is the only thing I've ever wanted to do- ever! E says it is the only thing he wants to do too. Somehow it just has to work out. We keep fantasizing about it.
Currently it looks like we will be seperated across the UK- him in Oxford, me in Cambridge, paying through the nose to live in horrible little rooms somewhere dreaming of a future where man and wife can live together both working as scientists, hopefully close to our families...... I never thought once we were married that we would be seperated like this. It is sad, but it looks like since we are desperate to do science and we dream of coming home (which looks further and further away than ever), that this is the most likely path to enlightenment.
And every day more and more of our peers leave.... and when we talk to the rest who haven't, most say they hate it and they want to get out. I don't feel this. E doesn't feel this. Why?
It is confusing. We feel pulled in many directions, and pressured to abandon our dreams to adopt a more 'fundable' pathway.
So far we stand true......
Oh, and three good things:
1) E did 6 lovely Westerns yesterday that worked beautifully, making him very happy. Him being very happy makes me very happy. So, we are still feeling happy when we don't think further than next week. Feeling happy is good.
2) It is Saturday and I am planning some ME time to read, do some craft and maybe go and buy a book.... I am looking forward to it.
3) Last weekend I bought a 'moon' light from Habitat's VIP collection for children. It was designed by Buzz Aldrin and is a replica of the moon, with all the correct craters etc. I am currently enjoying very much lying in bed at night watching it..... I love the moon.
Three great things that happened today.
1. The sun was shining, and the sky was blue. It felt wonderful.
2. Dinner was good. Late though at 10:30 pm, but good none the less!
3. Had an email from one of my friends asking to join a recipe swap. While it's a little like a chain email, I'm kind of keen to recieve mystery recipes in the mail. I enjoy cooking and a new recipe recommended by someone else is normally fun to cook. I hope some people join up the chain (tacky nasty things that they are) and send a few recipes.... I'm also keen to try one of these blogging crafters swaps. They should be fun. Mystery packets and parcels, I love getting things in the post!
Our friends from Sydney arrive tomorrow with baby Chloe. We will be visiting Scotland together which show be fun. I'll post more after the weekend.
Hey out there!
I miss you all friends.... Cambridge can be lonely sometimes.
One of my friends has just had a baby girl!
It's so exciting!!!!
I'm happy for you Jen, and for Dan, Dante and Atticus.
Meanwhile Cambridge is rainy. And I'm getting over a nasty cold (so is Hubby, and he is a bit grumpy about it!).
This weekend I should finish the book chapter I'm writing, ready for the final proof reading.
Oh, and I'm planning a new quilt... just waiting for the fabric to arrive in the post.
So little time, but so little to say as well.....
But, hello!
We've just returned from a quick little jaunt around South Wales. Great little spot it is as well. The event was our first wedding anniversary. People said I was mad planning a trip to Wales in winter, but we had a great time, good accomodation, good food, nice people, sunshine, snow, sea 
and fossils....
It doesn't get any better for 3 days away! Felt like a week.
i've posted some pics, but i've gotta go now and get some work done.
It is always great to get out of Cambridge- not that Cambridge is bad, just that it is nice to get away!
So, a quick trip to the Cotswolds (which is out near Oxford and surrounding shires) with two lovely couples and gorgeous little Alice!
We were staying in Broadway. A cute little town- what I expected England to be like. We had fun cooking, drinking, playing games and walking all weekend, as well as a few trips to the pub.
Here are a few pics!
Nick checking out the woolly pigs, some Christmas berries, our first mole hills (successfully climbed), a cool house in Upper Slaughter (great name eh?), Broadway and of course us lazing around in our top little house!
Thanks Isa!!!
And of course, three great things that happened today:
I got the Oz pressies and cards posted!
My cloning seemed to work last night
I'm enjoying some excellent cheese we brought back from the Cotswolds!
Its Thursday night... but really, its like a Friday! Why? We are off to the Cotswolds for a weekend away tomorrow.
I can't wait.
I'm finishing my cards for Christmas, sitting in the living room. Its cold outside.
This is what I'm drinking.
This is dinner.
Here are the little chaps I made on the weekend.
Here is their home.
And here is my dining room Christmas decoration.
Three good things today are:
1) Wrote lots on my book chapter. I'm almost up to date!
2) Dinner smells spectacular.
3) My boss has taken all my crystals to shoot at the Synchrotron tomorrow!
Hope you are all well. Tell you more when I get back from our weekend away!
K.
After talking with mum and dad this evening, I've heard that scientists have shown that if you think of three good things that have happened to you during the day, then you are likely to be happier. Since Scientists are always right I'm going to give it a try.
So, for today.....
1) Had a long chat with my sister in Sydney today.
2) Found out that my niece liked her Mermaid that I sent for her birthday.
3) Had a chat with my parents- and that they are well, and also happy.
Time to cook dinner. Thai red curry....
Yum!
Well, it has been an eventful weekend- and productive! Saturday I managed to get almost all my Christmas shopping done.
Saturday night was great fun. We went to our friends (AJ and Tina) for a Danish Christmas party. Tina cooked up a storm, and over much eating and drinking we played some very amusing party games. You can see from the photos that some of us were not feeling so well this morning!
Today was also productive. My lovely husband decided to help me out and he baked our Christmas cake. I'm so lucky!
For me though, I had to get cracking since I needed to finish my niece's birthday present. Well, she is finished- not my best, but made with plenty of love. I hope she has a safe voyage to the Blue Mountains, where I believe there are lots of bush fires. Stay safe everyone!
Now I've got to clean up.....
Ciao.
It's Friday night. Thankfully I made it this far.
It has been a week from hell, and I've got to get my head around it before next week explodes. Am I the only person that suffers from this sort of problem? I've a list a mile long (yes, now I'm in the UK I'm talking miles.... sorry). It really is overwhelming when I think of all the things I want to do. I think it is Christmas that is the problem, and the fact that my lovely friends are all overseas.... in the States, in Denmark, and of course in Oz. I miss Oz.
Let me say that again
I miss Oz.
I don't think my friends really believe me. I feel sometimes that my job is a Tour of Duty, but I'm losing focus as to what that duty is.
I think it is the weather..... it gets you down sometimes.
So, being a scientist I should look at all this logically. I'll start with a few 'bits' that are on my list, and then I can sit back and think about it.
1. Get some science done (this is a very long and slow process, it never stops and I always never have enough results to justify any relaxation)... so, lets move on....
2. Organise Christmas.
Christmas is sort of the strangest thing for us here. We spend it in Cambridge all by ourselves since it is so damn far and so damn expensive to go home to see everyone. When I say it like that it brings tears to my eyes. All our friends are growing and changing and we are missing out..... all the babies are now children, I have a trail of changed addresses in my little black book, I don't even know where most people really live anymore, other than on paper..... where do they wak up in the morning? I wish I knew. It hasn't been 2 years yet! I digress- I guess since we are so alone I like to try to make it special. My husband doesn't seem to care but I do the whole thing- last year I cooked a Goose. This year, well, it might be duck.... add that to the list- organise a duck!
3. Organise more Christmas.... I have to be super organised since it all has to be sent well in advance if it is to make it to Oz in time. I've finished making my cards, just got the labels sorted, now I need to find the energy to write on them. I've got a string of presents to acquire.......
4. Write a book chapter. I don't even know how I got bullied into it, but I've got to write a text book chapter on microbial physiology. 12000 words and figures for publication...... it has to be exact. Science is not forgiving. Close enough is NOT good enough.
5. I lost my mobile phone this week. Surprisingly I feel insecure without it, and I barely even use it. I spent 30 minutes on the phone getting a new one organised and all saving my old number and transfering it to my new SIM. At least that worked out. Of course I've lost all the phone numbers I had.
6. It is my nieces birthday soon, and I need to finish making her present. I've got a long way to go.... Why do I take on such crazy tasks? I think I need creative outlets to stop me from going mad. I am mad. I know that....
7. Oh, and then it is back to Christmas. There is that big Christmas party we are having at out place..... there is the decorations, the invites and the food/drink to sort out.
8. Organise a trip away with my husbands friends for the first week in December. Well, this is mostly done by one of the other people : ), however I'm kind of double booked and might have to pull a crazy 24hr stunt travelling from the Sychrotron in Grenobel back to London within 24 hrs (non-stop, no sleep, this is what being a crystallographer apparently is all about).
9. Mix the Sloe Gin bottles..... (I'm worried they aren't as good as last year since the colour is being imparted much more slowly). We still have a freezer full of Sloes.
10. House work- washing, cleaning, fix the crack in the bathroom titles that leaks everytime you have a shower into the kitchen below.
11. My glass of wine is empty..... I need to think about it all again.
I hope your mind is more settled than mine. I'll be fine tomorrow, or even if my husband returns tonight for dinner. It is 10.30pm, still haven't cooked dinner but he said he'd be home at around 8-9pm.... I'm used to it. Maybe I'll just go to bed.
Sweet dreams everyone! Maybe it will be better tomorrow.
Adieu.
It's getting dark these days- but since we hired a car this weekend (so we can go Sloe picking tomorrow with friends) we decided to go to Epping Forest because I was desperate to see some trees.
It was fun- great to get muddy, and to smell a forest again.
Enjoy the photos..... the only missing thing were the gnomes.
It started on Friday.... a plan. The boys were in the Peak climbing Grit- meaning the girls were in Cambridge planning trouble. London trouble of the shopping kind! Over some wine and cheese Heidi and I convinced ourselves that we needed to go to London to do some shopping, and the markets seemed like a good place to start.
Today I got a new toy (A HP photosmart all-in-one). I'd been planning to get it for a while.....
Now I feel like I can do anything. (It prints, scans and photocopies)
Tonight I've been testing it out. I have grand plans for it.
It's first job is to make my Christmas cards, and I must say that I'm most of the way there. I just need to test out ways of making it print on to fabric.
So far though I've printed a photo (Mr Henry Gell on his first birthay) that is now adorning our fridge. I've also drawn several designs and scanned them in, combined them and run them through photoshop.... and well, now I just need to check them on fabric before the whole print to kill mood takes me.
What am I listening to:
Crayon Caribou (formerly Dan Snaith's Manitoba)
Diamond Day Vashti Bunyan
Adventure.exe Final Fantasy
Alone In Kyoto Air
Only a Rake Holly Throsby
Chasing Cars Snow Patrol
Who Knows Where The Time Goes? Fairport Convention
Sometimes My Bloody Valentine
Kaze Wo Atsumete はっぴいえんど
Too Young Phoenix
Silence In Space Undertheigloo
Totally Underwater Shelly Poole
Over the Hill Polly Paulusma
If I Piers Faccini
Better Together Jack Johnson
Hype (V. 2) The Hampdens
Autumn in Our Town Dave Brubeck
Souls on Satellite (Acoustic) Borne
Shopping Trolley Beth Orton
Songbird Bernard Fanning
Dig a Hole The Ailerons
Just stuff to cruise to whilst crafting.
Ian and Heidi are flying in from Germany today. Thus, I'm waiting at home to make sure they arrive safely, so I'm goofing off surfing. Love a wireless life.
What mythical creature are you?
Thanks for the link Blueant.
This is me.... pretty good guess actually.
It's Saturday. I'm at work.... always at work. Proteins never rest, they are like small children, it's late nights, no private life, always running them over columns, waiting to see what the result is on a gel, re-equilibrating another column. I'm always waiting.... waiting.... something might happen soon......I 'm currently trying to get over our trip to the Dolomites.
first Via ferrata. I was very happy with the new Petzl gear we had bought before we left. The main hope of the group was that the weather would stay healthy. Iain and Ian were secretly planning an attack on a Grade 5C ferrata called Tomaselli, but that wouldn't come for several days. We ate out at a resturant and slept well with the plan of attacking a 3B the following day, called Strobel, which was a little mountain just out of Cortina.
