Moment of pure perfection

Exactly.

You know when people bite into an apple in a film or a cartoon, and it's always accompanied by that 'scrunch' sound? (or 'scrotch', if you read Asterix books!). Particularly guilty being the Le Crunch people.....and it's never actually the case? Always something is a bit off about it. Well......

I've just had a perfect Scrotch.

A small exhale, and a little moment of pure pleasure!

*more* flamin' knackered

Today seems to have been even longer than yesterday. Fiddin' about with bloody coupling constants, what an arse. Still have a load of them to do tomorrow, but I think I'll maybe feck 'em off for a bit and just get on with something else! There's nucleotides to be fiddlin' with......

Still no word on the bike. I'm going to be ringing them tomorrow. Seems rather an excessively long time, no?

And that's yer lot for today. As it says - flamin' knackered!

Flamin' knackered

That's what I am. Absolutely tired out! No real reason, but the wet feet arent exactly pleasant. I've been too used to wearing my bike boots out in the wet, that I've forgotten all those years I trogged to school and spent a whole day with wet feet. Probably worked wonders for my soles - I never used to get hard skin - but it doesnt do to be reminded of it. Hopefully my shoes will air tonight.

Anyhow, I havent seemed to stop all day, which I suppose makes a change, huh? Plenty to be doing tomorrow as well, does you good to keep busy. I really, really want to finish up all this stuff pronto and get on with other things - but I doubt I'm going to be allowed to.

Some gossipy news though: housemate who is never here and comes home at weird times in the morning and never speaks to anyone - had a woman over last night! Wow! This is quite momentous, though she did fail miserably to sneak out of the front door at 7 this morning (and a sunday night it was too, tut tut tut). She reminded me a bit of Kath in Oxford actually, but obviously wasnt. And it also raises the issue of why people lock the door at all times of the day, when everyone is in. Most inconvenient.

Loving my Maureen Lipman book, but I've nearly finished it already! This is not so good. I'll be back on the cookbooks again soon.

A sad day

Well, I think I'm turning on the bathos here, but.....

Mourn ye, mourn ye, for Jon-ster is no longer his own google hit number one; bloody professor of medicine with the same name has published something, so he's got the top spot now......*dark mutterings*

Have to do something about this, no? What will get me onto news headlines pronto? Suggestions on back of a postcard, or left in the comments box, please!

Odd little sunday

It has indeed been an odd little day today. Let's take it slowly with all attendant musings, yes?

Woke up not too early in a totally dozy mood. When did I stop being a morning person? Any rate, got up to have a lukewarm shower - one thing to be said for having to wait to use the bathroom, the water comes through nice and hot! - and then a bit of a rushed breakfast. Loving my little pain de brioches, shame I dont have the time every morning. Out for the first train of the day into town, for which a surprisingly large number of people were waiting at Headingley station (with suitcases, no less) and on the train itself. More strange was the return ticket to Headingley from Harrogate stuck into the back of my seat, for today. Why would you buy a return and then not keep the ticket? Most odd.

Trogged over to the WYP in the hope of some very nice cake, only to find out they were closed. Not too surprising for a sunday, huh? And certainly before 11 o'clock. Well, best laid plans of mice and idiots. Trogged back into town for Starbuttocks substitute, otherwise necessitated a much longer walk. Bang go principles in the face of Shank's Mare and a load of rain.

And now a note on the superfluous bathroom facilities. Borders/Starbuttocks evil twin-headed corporate nightmare, of course have toilets. And they are quite the most enormous gents you'd ever hope to find. I'm not talking here about cavernous jobbies in a railway station or concert venue - we all know they can be massive - but this is for a humble coffee shop facility. Normally you get a tiny little room with barely enough space to turn and shut the door, no? This place is big enough such that you could easily fit a four-poster bed into it. This in itself is no ground-breaking news, until you realise this church-like capacity is all for the benefit of one single urinal. Seems overly ambitious, no? Yes, there's also a single cubicle, but you'd have thought that some outfitter or other could have thought 'well, there's buckets of space, lets have another space to pee, saves people queueing. But no. Funny, huh?

But not so funny as the fact that, despite there only being a single urinal, there are in fact two sinks. Now, does this strike anyone else as odd? Seems rather excessive on the washing when only one person is allowed to pee at a time. Surely there isnt a bottleneck of people wanting to wash their hands, I'd have thought it'd take far longer for people to pee that rinse their fingers - and if I'm honest, most guys dont even bother (this from astute observation). Yes, it could be for the extra person coming out of the cubicle, but the rate of turnover of crapping vs peeing must be minimal, such that you'd ever need a second basin. Weird. Or is it just me noticing crazy stuff again?

By this time I felt compelled to make book purchases, so I did. Totally superfluous. But I am liking this one, anecdotage by Maureen Lipman. Funny lady, who I've actually seen on stage. Long time ago now, mind.

Into work, only to discover that my journey was in fact totally pointless, as NMR spectrometer had decided to crap out whilst trying to shim my samples, what an arse, and the one it managed to run was in fact so totally dilute or crap that there was nothing to be seen. Bugger. Determined not to have a wasted journey, I started collecting IRs, until that too decided to throw a wobbly and crash. Though in this case it's the software at fault, and I cant reboot the comp myself because I dont know the password. What a pisser. Still determined not to waste my time, a reaction was thrown on and a recryst of my suddenly-brown nucleoside was attempted, but my heart wasnt in it. Tomorrow will be a more hard-working day, methinks.

And as an aside, I've noticed that I'm grinding my teeth a lot recently. Why is this? Some odd disturbance to make me want to keep my mouth shut? Mad. Maybe I should do some proper relaxation thing, but I dont know what!!!!

The magic is back!

Well, I'm most surprised. Momentous news is afoot!

I learned the perfect way to cook potatoes a few years ago, and had the magic for an age.....till for some reason I suddenly lost it. No explanation at all, I just could no longer cook perfect potatoes and ended up eating a lot of mash by mistake (not that this is a problem, since mash is veritable heavenly manna). This was most upsetting.

However, I now seem to have the knack back again! Hooray! No explanations for this either. I'm loath to believe it's the batch of spuds I've been using, since they have been the cheapest possible variety (and none of your perfect Pink Firs here), but it could be.....at any rate, I may suddenly turn into potato-man again, which is probably not a good thing either for my waste or for the seasonal vegetable thingy.....we're heading for new potato season! Have to start making salad again, if I've re-mastered my perfect cooking ability, what excitement.

Solanum tuberosum. Fabulous. I shall have to start investigating possibilities again, and maybe pinch the spud book back off auntie Joan....

End of the week

Once again we have reached Friday night! I feel like I need to do a little more work this weekend though, so I shall be pootling into work come sunday for a blitz on my characterisations, hopefully I'll be able to get them all done and it'll work out very dandy. At any rate, I'm coming to the end of this little project, in terms of chemistry at least and certainly for a while. Only a few more things to do, and they should work out fine. If only I could put on a reflux this weekend though, would hurry things along somewhat! And just a reminder to myself - maybe I could try the electron rich heterodiene with a Michael acceptor? Might work out! Worth a try......

Anyhow, Saturday was going to be a day of getting-things-done, but at the moment I'm feeling rather lethargic. What I will do however, is clean the oven and do the remains of my laundry, because otherwise I'll feel bad again come next week! Fascinating stuff, huh? But I never claimed to be more than pedestrian (and you can all spot the huge lie, I know).

Getting to miss my bike like I always do when I cant ride it, and all for the sake of an indicator. Bloody annoying it hasnt turned up yet, but there's not a lot I can do. Think I shall be giving them a call on Monday if I havent heard anything by then; and it's a bit of a bugger that I cant go riding tomorrow, really could do with a day out! Actually, maybe I should just say 'fuckit' to myself and bugger off somewhere pleasant anyways.....worth a try?

Ummmm, this is an update just for the sake of it.....

Apple deserve shooting

Dont be fooled by the iPod. It's useless. And Apple's worse-than-useless supporting information is incredibly patronising, despite consisting of nothing much more than 'plug it in and it works automatically' - which is surprisingly unhelpful when it doesnt. And they also are out to rip you off by supplying something which is only half-functional, unless you buy 'extras'....what a surprise.

Plus they demand you register details with them for the use of their stuff, which is not exactly part of contract-to-sell, no? Steer well clear, people - they are a pile of shite.

Rules for a happier world

I've been pondering this, in a 'I wannabe Plato' and create my own Perfect State kinda way.....or actually, I've been making a list of things that irritate me. Plato was a miserable old git who wanted things his own way, I reckon, but that's just me......

Anyhow, here is the beginning of a list to which I may add from time to time;

1) People on local and tube trains shall move down the carriage and not hog the space by the doors when there's plenty of room further in. Stoopid or what, huh?;

2) People waiting to get on the train shall notice the people separated from them by 4mm of glass and thus stand back away from the doors, allowing the second group of people to easily get off the train; why does everyone crowd the doors? They aint getting on till the people get off.....yet they still rush the door like teenagers at a boy band concert;

3) Electronics companies shall moderate all their music devices such that volume output is highly limited. My GOD, but people listen to music ridiculously loud - which is dangerous not only for their hearing, but also their physical wellbeing when they cant hear the cars and trucks....and also piss off everyone around them. Why, why, why? I mean, it's painful anyway, and they surely cant be comfortable.....have they not heard of permanent tinnitus?;

4) Thou shalt do thy washing-up;

That's enough for now.

Dear oh dear

No blog entry for a week! What a shambolic effort. Well, here is one for you now......

Last week scooted by in a haze of sunny days, really gorgeous weather. Started eating lunch outside - there is an undiscovered patch of green out behind the buildings, and shielded from the main road, most calm, quiet and condusive to subathing. And it used to be a graveyard. Triffic. Still, made for good lunches, and the week went by very quickly. I now have about six compounds in pure state which require full characterisation. This is a process that shouldnt take too long, but I dont think I can get away with putting on loads of experiments to run overnight; but hanging around and checking up on them during the day is a pain in the arse. What is more of a pain in the arse is the inability of people to have a bit of care with other people's data and spectra, which get randomly shuffled by courtesy.

Spent a fantastic weekend with Patrick, again with sunny weather and a little bit of catching the sun. The summer always makes me feel better, not least because it's better for my skin. I'm loving the bright mornings and the 'getting home and it is still light' thing. Didnt really do much else, walked up the sea-front and out onto the pier again - biting sea wind for all the sunshine - and back through the town. I'm almost wanting to explore a bit more around there, so much to see. But it appears I have a death wish in P's presence and forget to look for cars and taxis when crossing the road, much to his concern. Never mind, I'm not dead yet!

Five hour trip home on the train was less than fun. It's only an hour to London, but then I'm forced to wait for about an hour for the connecting direct service, or in fact, any service. To be fair, I'd rather wait at Kings X then at Doncaster (hideous, hideous station with bad memories), but it is a bit annoying to have an enforced wait in the middle of the journey, in a place where there is the enticing aroma of baked goods. Not that they are the best baked goods, but you know. And the train trip home with the falling asleep and the dribbling . How embarrassing. Discovered it had been raining in Leeds, and had actually been doing so all weekend, so I'm rather pleased I got the good weather!

A late night was followed by an early morning, but then I couldnt get into the bathroom for ages. For some reason, I seem to time it completely wrong every morning, despite always trying to go at different times. Not best pleased, because I seem to have an inability to just do something else constructive in the meantime; just seem to have to show myself to water first or the day just goes all wrong. At any rate, the day did go a little wrong because I missed the train I was intending to get and had to wait for the next one, necessitating a more hurried start at work than usual. Instead of a leisurely coffee and check of e-mail to start the day, I just had to leap in and get on with it! Doing work at work, how shocking.....

Got drenched on the way home, though. Supposed to be picking up bike, which is in garage being fixed up and serviced. Took in last Thursday to receive a call saying that they hadnt received the parts in the post and could I wait till Friday? No problems, say I, except it'd be Monday what with my trip to see P. So I go along today walking through the drizzle and eventual downpour, to discover parts still hadnt been delivered with the post, but they hadnt rung. My own fault for not checking, really, but it then meant a further walk home in the pouring rain with no shelter on the way and no change for the bus. On arrival home, to discover that my socks had melted or something, and I had lovely black splodges all over them. The delights of new shoes.

Anyhow, I did get a look at my baby and she's looking good! Chain all nice and new and cleaned and decked out with grease (that is, if it hasnt been replaced - erk!) and all the engine done....I'm getting all excited about having her back so I can get her out for a big run.....though to be fair it'll probably be a trip to Harrogate, as per! Maybe into York too, who knows....not been there since February, and I said I was going to go there quite a bit, which hasnt happened. I suppose it's because I started buckling down with the city here. Still, I do love York and will have to take P there and show him all my favourite places.

Discovered a nice mess back home when I returned, I think we're all a little bit hopeless with the communal cleaning and living. To be fair, I know I'm a mucky bugger but I do try and keep it localised to my room (enormous box of books and cables notwithstanding). But the kitchen should be sacrosanct in my mind, and there's skank left there for ages by a certain person and it's not pleasant. Also, because I know that though he does clean it after a while, the respite lasts barely a few hours before more muck is back! I've gone all anal about it, and I'm not best pleased. Reminds me: need to get some rubber gloves this weekend and scrub out that oven with the sodium hydroxide wash stuff! Hmmm, maybe next time I can just pinch some from work........

Right then, time to sign off. Maybe expect more mutterings in the next week, but then again, maybe not! I dont seem to have the inclination to blog at work like I used to; maybe because I want to write about people there, but not if they are going to read it over my shoulder! Whatever.....

Anything if but a lazy day

Monday. Never the best time of the week, is it? Still, I managed to roll out of bed pretty soon after the alarm went off. I seem to have turned into one of those people who use the snooze function, something that always seemed pointless to me before; if you dont have to get up when you set the alarm, why didnt you just set it a fifteen minutes later? I always used to leap up with the ringing, mostly because I used to wake up before it went off. This I still do, but now I just head back beneath the covers to a more sleepy place. Daft, eh?

Had a shower. Out shower is playing up a little again, sometimes it's nice and normal shower temperature, other times it's just bloody freezing. This morning it decided to be freezing, which though probably helps with the whole 'waking up' thing, is not exactly pleasant. Didnt shave head, that's a pleasure for tomorrow. Because I need to do it on Friday morning too!

Work has been a bit 'meh' today, what with one thing and another. Air compressor pumps have been exploding LR&C, so there's a good chance we'll be without gases at work. This is a bad thing. But in the meantime I got quite a few reactions done and a little bit of evaporation. Sounds great when I explain it, doesnt it? Never mind. Morning zoomed past and I had my (highly inappropriate considering the weather) hot lunch of leftover sausages and mash from last night. Good stuff. Afternoon dragged without pause, and I did a lot of phaff. But then, I've got a lot to do tomorrow now; shame I've got to spend a lot of the time in meetings!

Came home to find friendly crazy lady in the house again. I like her, despite the fact I've completely forgotten what her name is. Shockingly bad form, I know. I'm not even sure who she actually is - in a 'what function you perform in knowing someone in this house' kinda way....I'm tempted to assume she's John's girlfriend, but I'm not sure......curiousity leading to the demise of felines, we'll leave it at that. Though I have now been promised a chilli dinner for tomorrrow, free food we like, we like.

Have now spent the rest of the evening doing not very much other than consult wikipedia for green wing factoids. Information at your fingertips can be a bad thing sometimes. But now I can go and have a cup of tea with impunity. Having had only sandwiches for dinner - lots of sandwiches - I'm feeling bloated, yet still have the desire to munch toast. By rights, I should be a twenty-stone heifer, but I'm not, thankfully! Watch as this changes in the next few years......

More than a little bit worried about Patrick, he's not in the best of health (:-( but at least I get to see him this Friday. Miss him totally, really crap that I cant see him more often. *deep sighs* but at least the gap wont be so long next time; and then we'll have to sort out what to do across the summer!

Disjointed, all these blog entries at the moment. Probably indicative of an unfocused life, huh? Never mind. I'm enjoying just drifting for a little bit - for the first time in my life there's no real specified goal on the agenda, which is a bit of a change for me. It's kinda nice....

Funny how things happen!

I thought I'd lost the cover for my flash key this afternoon (flash key - new technology....freaky the advances that have occurred within my lifetime!), sitting as I was in the West Yorkshire Playhouse having that cake....when lo! and behold, I just trod on it now at the bottom of the stairs. It's still intact, and I have protection for my data again. Hooray!

Near brush with death

Nearly had a close collision with some lady's bonnet this lunchtime, and partly my fault and partly hers. Overtaking the queue of traffic heading into town, she was pulling out from a side-street on the left to cross the road, a space having been left by a nice other motorist, and I came up the outside too briskly. Never mind, no actual touching, though did give me pause for thought! I shall be more careful in future, such things I should be spotting before they happen. Though it is immense fan, we more importantly aim for continued life!

Today has been a bit slow so far. Gorgeous morning to wake up to, with the sun and the green grass outside and the whole day to look forward to. Spent a couple of hours lazing about, just because I can, and then a shower and a headshave. Small nick on back of head, but that's because my razor is old! Fresh razors always better, but I'm used to using my Headblade and I've only gone one spare blade cartridge - and they cost me a lot to order in from the States! They havent tapped into the huge market here, which is a shame. And in any case, normal razors are also bloody expensive, no? The trials of masculinity and the removal of hair - because waxing your head would be an unbelievably stupid, not to mention painful, thing to do. Face will need attention this afternoon, but since I'm going for the more rugged look at the moment, I'm using trimmers and just neatening the edges. Which of course leads to small piles of hair on the carpet, but no mind! I may go for some funky-shaped sideburns again, like I did in the past. But this time not let them get too long and lamb-chop-like, because of my genetic dispostion towards ginger beards. At least when they are of length. And I escaped last time with no photgraphic evidence, so I'm damned if I'm going to let people have another shot at the embarrassing picture! Anycase, I think the bit of stubbly stuff adds immense character to my face. Despite the fact I seem to cause Patrick immense irritation with it. Still, that's what you get for being a poof, matey!

And along these lines, it's only just recently that I've looked at myself in the mirror and thought 'wow, you look like someone quite good-looking'. Now that sounds totally vain, huh? I'm a bit mortified by the idea, but I think I've become one of those people who suits age better. Which is good, since I'm only going to be getting older. Certainly when I was younger, I really couldnt ever have thought of myself as even slightly appealing to the same gender, whereas now I tentatively can start thinking it. Not that I'm typically handsome, you understand, or that I want to attract females in the street (god forbid *sprays self with woman-off*), but I'm perhaps heading towards someone I'd like myself. Narcissism, here we come. But to be fair, I only need to take up some kind of masculine sport and actually get some definition on my upper arms, and I'm a gay-boy's wet dream. Or at least my own, which is perhaps the more interesting thing psychologically. I've talked about this with people before, and it's a bit odd. Cue some kind of research effort into gender yada yada yada.

I'm most disconcerted by the fact I've run out of coffee. Admitedly it was only decaff, but it was there and it was mine (and a darn sight cheaper than drinking out). So I may have to nip out and get some before tomorrow, so that I can at least have a cup for breakfast. Not to mention the fact I am devoid of bread, fruits, vegetables, and anything that I really want to eat. So a shopping list shall be made and I'll brave the rain. Including picking up a dustpan+brush, since we dont have one, and it'll make sweeping up a lot easier. Having finally gotten around to doing some cleaning, I feel virtuous in the extreme. Nobody bloody else in this house ever does so, which I find more than a bit cheeky. And those kitchen and bathroom floors were, quite frankly, RANK. I feel a lot better for it, both physically, mentally and spiritually. But long gone are the days when I kinda slipped into Zen trances whilst sweeping. Ahum.

So that's your lot! A pedestrian saturday, with a little bit of cake (which turned out to be something quite different from the apple strudel I thought it was - no less nice, but I've no clue what it was!) and a little bit of domestic harmony, and a little bit of sitting about. Mellow.

Back to the world of dreams

Back at work now, at it isnt anywhere near as awful as I was expecting it to be. Obviously I'm the type who needs a job to do otherwise he goes nuts and depressed. Perfect to have around when domestic chores need leaving behind, but stick me near the word 'project' and I'm away. Nice......

Anyhow, it's obviously the case of having had too much time to think over jury service. Or rather, not think in an objectively logical and rational manner, rather create fantasy scenes in my head and then compare them to real life and lo, get depressed when real life cant hold a candle to the tap-dancing mooses and free canapes for all (!). So, far from hitting rock bottom now that I'm back at work, I've actually perked up somewhat and am getting my groove on. Well, at least at the moment, whilst the going is still slow. One thing for a job in chemistry (or experimental sciences in general) is that you cant just dive straight back in at the deep end, it all takes time!

First thing to do yesterday was a nice clean up. We've got the health and safety lot coming round to criticise us, and I have to say, working in a cleaner labspace is so much nicer than a mucky mess. There will be lots of very hard trying to keep it this way, especially since we're all doubling up and rubbish at the moment, I think I'll instigate enforced tidying on myself, such that nothing gets left out at the end of the day.....how long will it last, d'you think?

Not much been going on in life otherwise, I'm getting mildly concerned about my teeth which are more sensitive than usual; this is the highlight. Enjoying the warm weather, but not the sweltering conditions that are now achieved in the lab-cum-greenhouse I work in (badly planned with the windows, there), and still being loved-up with Patrick - a very odd feeling, but a good one.

Nearly the end of the week! So looking forward to the weekend, where I can sleep in and all that; sleeping is so much fun these days.

Tut tut tut

I've not been keeping this up-to-date of late, have I? Shame on me! Well, here we get a little bit more rambling.

The rest of the weekend has passed at a very slow pace. Having gotten home ridiculously late on Saturday night (how DARE other people be queueing for a taxi when I need one), I slept in all of Sunday morning, and woke with nothing more than the desire to go straight back to bed! Still, dragged myself up to perform ablutions and little bits of feeding, but basically spent a lazy day in a small trough of depression, which seem to be occuring with regularity these days. Good job I know they dont last, but it does give me an insight into chronic depression, something I'm very glad not to have. But I did get to do a lot of thinking, which I've now promptly forgotten (;-) but I think I've made a decision to myself that I'll be moving back to the south as soon as I possibly can. And hopefully this will include some form of job. Today however I paid in some money to my account (ooooh!) and spent the middle of the day drinking coffee and reading the noooospaper. Fun. And a little scoot around on the bike, but not much. Also spent money on Bill Bryson book, and roasted myself some dinner - which was not brilliant, but very nice. I miss not having lots of roasting dish space! But I can finally cook parsnips without feeling the need to kizzen them completely - even if it really isnt the season and I should be dining on nothing but spring lamb. I wish.

And so it's back to work tomorrow. Not going to be fun, and I think I'll end up taking at least half a day to get back into the swing of it, and check all the stuff and re-jig myself into a mind-set! Better start getting arse into gear too, with getting things done to my name; and looking for other jobs too! It never ends, it never ends.....