Flat hunting in Oxford

Spent a whole day looking at accommodation in Oxford last Wednesday for Ceri and Helen. Ceri starts his job as a trainee Clinical Photographer at the John Radcliffe on 1st September, so it was fairly urgent to find somewhere. Looked at some truely awful dumps, but we had found 2 possibles, when we went to see the last one on the list...perfect. They filled in the forms there and then, and heard yesterday that they have the flat. 5 mins walk away from the JR, buses every few mins into Oxford for Helen to get to the station to go to uni - but the price...omg, I knew it would be expensive, but... Glad its not me having to pay it!

Jobs

I am still looking for a new job. Have done some consultancy work for another university during the summer term, which I enjoyed very much, and I hope they want me back next term. In the meantime, at least I have half a job...

Bath pigs

Bath has been invaded by pigs! They are all over the place - up on the royal crescent, inside the Roman Baths, on top of the entrance to a cinema, over shops and this one - Bubbles - is outside the Thermae Spa. You can even get a map to enable you to see them all...

Haddon's

Celebrating Ceri's success at his graduation from University of the Arts, London [Camberwell], at Central Westminster Hall, London on 14 July 2008

Afternoon Tea

Before my French visitors returned to Paris, I decided to do 'Afternoon Tea' on the lawn. The weather co-operated, my friends came and we all sat on the lawn eating poached salmon and cucumber sandwiches, home made cakes, scones, strawberries and cream and drinking Pimms. Great fun. All my hard work baking and preparing it all was certainly worth it.

Graduation

The day finally came - 14 July 2008. Ceri graduated from the University of the Arts London [Camberwell] with a BA[Hons] in Photography. A fantastic sunny day in central London. His grandad came, my dad's second wife came from Paris and his girlfriend came. Wonderful. I just wish my mum and dad had been there as well...

Will there ever be an Aids vaccine?

Disturbing news that scientists are now doubting if a vaccine against Aids will ever be available. The latest trials ended in failure, and scientists are now wondering whether to move away from clinical trials to understanding the basic biology of the virus and its effects on the human immune system. I just hope that they don't give up totally, as so many people are infected, and need that hope that one day, there will be a vaccine, as well as new drugs to treat the current strains.

Is it time to give up the search for an Aids vaccine?
After 25 years and billions of pounds, leading scientists are now forced to ask this question

Albert Khan

A book of the photographs commissioned by the French banker Albert Khan is coming out soon. I visited the Albert khan museum in Paris last summer and was totally blown away by the photos. I am certainly going to get the book - as the photos are just exquisite.

Albert Kahn’s early colour photographs

Financial crunch

Shocking to hear that Credit Suisse have suffered even more losses than originally thought. Is part of the reasons behind the current financial crisis just sheer greed on the part of certain individuals who were happy enough to take millions of pounds in bonuses - now the banks are in trouble because of the behaviour of these 'rogue traders', why dont the banks ask for the bonuses back?

Credit Suisse posts £1bn loss

A bad hair day

Yesterday, I spent all day talking to employers, trying to recruit them onto an online graduate recruitment fair. Following the telephone calls, I sent emails, complete with material to explain exactly how the online fair would operate. Today - I was working elsewhere, and on checking my emails, I found one from a colleague. Apparently, yesterday, I forgot to attach the attachments - and this HUGE national employer has rung back today - so my colleague had to send out the attachments. What a idiot I am. I just hope they are SO mega impressed with the idea, that they sign up! Definitely a bad hair day yesterday! Lets hope tomorrow, I am a bit more on the ball...

Chickens

My friend has had some chickens delivered. She ordered TWO - and when they arrived, complete with a really posh plastic hen house with an integral shit tray, there were 2 others in the van who were having to go back to the farm, as the person who had ordered them had changed their mind, so now she has FOUR chickens! Now, at work, I am the one who always seems to have 'sucker' written in big letters on my forehead, but today, I think I handed over that mantle to Jackie. So, welcome to Henny, Penny, Pippa and Peg! I am sure I will be having weekly updates on the progress in house training, garden etiquette and where not to plop... I am looking forward to some fresh eggs as well!

Culture vulture

Spent a few days in Paris over my Easter break from university. Went to exhibitions and museums. Bliss. So, what did I see?

'Vlaminck - l'instinct fauve' at the Luxembourg
'Patti Smith - Land 250' at Fondation Cartier
Montparnasse Museum
Postal Museum
Lovis Corinth' - at Orsay
Exhibition of work at Ateliers de Paris - Faubourg St Antoine
Gregor Schneider - Maison Rouge


oh, and I bought some original artwork from the exhibition at the Atelier!

Olympic torch relay

Good to see that the free world is not rolling over under pressure from China. I am all for protest along the route of the torch - we have to be able to express our distaste and outrage at the treatment of Tibet. I certainly did not appreciate the sight of Chinese security persons on the streets of London last Sunday, and was pleased to hear the Australians will NOT be allowing these thugs on their streets - to 'protect' the torch. I hope the route through San Francisco is full of protestors. Not good to hear on the radio that the governor of the "Tibetan Autonomous Region" threatening "If someone dares to sabotage the torch relay in Tibet and its scaling of Mount Everest, we will seriously punish him and will not be soft-handed,". Please, please, please - can there be some protestors flown to the top of Mt Everest to thumb a collective nose at this silly, pompous man, as the torch goes past!

Demonstrators converge on San Francisco today ahead of torch relay

Zimbabwe elections

It is about time that Robert Mugabe accepted that the people of Zimbabwe do not want him as their President any more! Before the elections, a friend asked me what I thought the result would be, and I said that whatever the result, Mugabe would not go. I think that so far, I gave been proved right. Hopefully though, the pressure starting to be put on him by other African nations, will make him realise what a fool he is making of himself. Zimbabweans want democracy, not a dictatorship - they have voted for change, they now deserve that change.

Zambia calls for Zimbabwe solution

Dysfunctional families

Reports that the mother of Shannon Matthews has been remanded on charges of child neglect and perverting the course of justice, just go to show dysfunctional some families are. After a 24 day hunt for the child, she was found in the flat of her step-father's uncle. Since then, further members of the family have been arrested, including her step father, his mother and sister. Other press reports tell of family members trying to get money from the Madeline McCann fund. What is happening to the other children who were living with Mrs Matthews? With seven children by five different fathers - it must be a social services nightmare to sort it all out. I know it is very harsh - but how are these children supposed to succeed in life, when their family life is as dysfunctional as this?

Shannon mother in court on neglect charge

Last "Graduate Futures" course

Course 'BB' was held in Manchester, hosted by MMU, between 25-29 February. Seems a long time since the start of course 'A' in the summer of 2005. The university rented a small apartment for me near to MMU, and it was wonderful to be able to walk to and from the course. Makes me think that city living isn't so bad after all. I was close to Deansgate, and was able to walk up into the city centre, as well as having access to trams, trains, buses and free shuttles. It was hard on the last day, and I had to be very controlled and not think about being redundant at 4pm, and to focus on finishing the course on a high for the students.

So now, I have to find a job, as my 0.5, term time only contract isn't enough...funny being in the same boat as all the students that I have delivered to over the past 3 years!

But, as one door shuts, others DO open, and I have had interest from the Head of Careers at a neighbouring university, which I will follow up next week.

Bush Presidential Library

It was announced today that the above would be housed by the Southern Methodist University in Texas - I don't suppose will be very big or exceptional - probably full of paired reading books, comics and spelling books...

SMU Will Host Bush Presidential Library

Biscotti

Having given in and bought a set of measuring cups to be able to make these yummy biscotti, I baked some on Sunday. The box is rapidly emptying - and my husband swears he doesn't eat biscuits!! I sent some down to Ceri in London, and have saved some for P... they taste heavenly.

Close shave...

Driving down my road this evening on the way home, a car reversed at speed out of its driveway in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, and the car stopped about 2 inches away from my front bumper. I parped the horn to show my displeasure, but no reaction. I then realised that the car had no brake lights, no lights at all, and on looking more closely, there was no driver. It had rolled off the drive under its own steam! When I went to tell the people in the house, they didn't seem that bothered at all that 2 tons of Volvo had nearly squashed my car, and was causing a total blockage of the road. It was only when I got home that it hit me that I had had a lucky escape. It makes me glad that our drive is flat - no chance of rolling off it into the path of the oncoming traffic!

Perhaps I am OK after all

An article talking about why some women choose not to blast through the glass ceiling, made me think that perhaps, my decision not to just pursue a career, but to give time to my family, wasn't so bad after all. Even now, with the threat of redundancy looming at the end of Feb, I am feeling quite calm about it all - there IS more to life than work, and perhaps I do need time to rethink my priorities, work out what I want to do, and then in a bit do it.

Are girls wired not to win?