Just another catch-up – don’t seem to have time to update this these days so I apologise to my non-Geordie readers (the locals know what I’m up to! :P). But then I see that non of my fellow bloggers seem to do so, anymore either. Has the novelty worn off? There’s been a surge in facebook usage throughout the university in the last month and I have no idea why. I’ve been a FaceBook member since about March (?) and not much happened on it – all of a sudden it seems to have exploded and I cannot account for the change. If any staff are interested, Roy has set up a Profile for Newcastle University staff past and present.

Anyway, what have I been up to? I haven’t a clue – all the weeks seem to have melded into one cos I’ve been so busy. I attended the ‘Last Chicken Show’ (final Slice of Life conference) in Utah. The conference was great, I reconnected with a lot of people and got some fabulous photos – it was my first visit to the States; I just wish I’d taken the opportunity to take holiday out there afterwards. It was especially exciting to be in the US for the launch of the iPhone. The country went nuts for them and one of our group came up with the idea of queueing at the AT&T store in Salt Lake City, rather than the Apple store. Excellent idea – there was only about 30-35 people in front of us and they were letting about 6 people into the store at a time.

After deliberating whether or not to buy one for $499, myself and Kim (the only other UK participant on the conference) decided we would.. IF ..we could replace the SIM card, as our own mobiles were automatically connecting to AT&T. Well, of course, the SIM card is embedded and you needed to register the phone from a US address….which we could’ve done but Kim worked out that the phone would cost us $2000 over 1 year and then $1 per minute for calls. Not really practical – so we decided we’d wait for the UK release and hope v.2.0 comes out here 😉
However, Brian (Stanford) and Sebastian (UCLA) bought iPhones so we spent the rest of the conference playing with them – it was an exciting time to be in the US!

This was Sebastian BEFORE with his old phone.

..and then AFTER with his brand new iPhone.

(More Slice and iPhone foolery photos!)

Well since then (I still haven’t caught up on sleep), my roof is leaking with all this horrible weather, been working in York, London and Edinburgh and today bought myself a pair of Chung Shi’s in a desperate attempt to get some exercise. Jools’ Hen Party tonight then it’s their wedding next Thursday at Langley Castle – really looking forward to it 😀

Oo…just booked up or a few days in Prague in September but before that I’m helping out at a conference in Poland. Phew – it’s all go – no wonder the blog is falling by the wayside, I must try to do better!

On saturday I attended my graduation ceremony at the Sage and on Monday it was my birthday. It’s been a busy weekend and I’m completely pooped, however, I must thank everyone who came to wish me luck, gave me cards and pressies – and helped me to celebrate both events – including today’s lunch 😀

Special thanks to Mam, Stivs, Michelle “sneaky” Embleton and Gill Lynch for arranging surprises for both events – and to my David for such a wonderful birthday day!!

Thank you all!

x

Ok, Catherine tagged me so I write 5 things about me then have to tag 5 other bloggers, here goes.

Five things about me

1. I’m off on holiday in Budapest with friends next month! – Yey!
2. As well as my studies in Classics and Archaeology, I have a keen interest in Myths & Legends (i.e. Robin Hood, Arthur and the Pendragon Cycle, Holy Grail, Ark of the Convenant etc.)…
3. I bumped (literally) into Boris Becker the morning of the day he won Wimbledon in 1989 – I walked around the corner (at Wimbledon) and he was doing the same from the opposite direction! He still won, so I can’t have damaged him too much? I also spoke to Kirk Douglas later that day – that was a good day. 🙂
4. I’m qualified to teach dance (primarily tap and modern but also ballet, national, greek, acro, ballroom, contemporary etc.) which I started to learn when I was 5 years old and qualified when I was still in my teens. I don’t do as much teaching now as I’d like to, but I do like to keep my hand in by adjudicating local competitions – it’s always something to fall back on.
5. I just bought this violin (the blue one – cos I’ve always wanted one) and am thinking of having lessons (I can play the flute and I try with the guitar). However, if I don’t master it, I shall mount it on the wall cos I think it’s FAB!

Right, that’s me done. OK, now I need to tag 5 folk, so it’s:

* Gary Davison
* Caleb Racey
* Jon Dowland
* Chris Franks
* Mark Agar

So you all need to tell us 5 things about YOU!

It’s great that the University is closed over Christmas and we get a decent-length holiday. I’ve had a great time; enjoyed Christmas, got some sleep and had a few unplanned nights out – catching up with people. Only one day was a write-off with a hangover from hell – but it lasted ALL DAY until 6.30pm!! 🙁

I also decided to sort out all the junk in my spare room – you know, the kind of stuff that seems to move from attic to attic but you never actually make an effort to sort it out? It’s an ongoing project, but so far I’ve come across all kinds of things from my youth that I’d forgotten I still had – especially books. It’s been great finding authors like Dr Seuss, Raymond Briggs and Richard Scarry. Titles ranging from Andy Pandy and the Gingerbread Man and Brer Rabbit to the Wonder Woman and Bionic Woman annuals from 1981!! Class.

Nostalgia has been the theme of the week this week. Everyone seems to be in a retrospective kind of mood and I find it refreshing. Last night was spent discussing our friends circle from the old gig scene in Newcastle (who else misses The Riverside?!); via Greedsville; Arch Stanton; Roswell; XLR8R, etc.

It’s been a busy year but, I feel I’ve accomplished quite a bit. I got a new job, a degree, travelled to Switzerland and Italy, had a lot of work done on the house, fell in love, few theatre visits, various music gigs, made new friends, caught up with old friends, bought a violin, started kick-boxing last January and kept going all year, etc.

They say a rearranging of the furniture in your room or house can have the therapeutic value of breaking with the past and welcoming the future and, as 2007 is just around the corner, I’m feeling quite optimistic about it. There are many things I feel I should have time to do now, I count my blessings and I fully intend to make a new start on many things. 🙂

Happy New Year, everyone!

xx

To all the bloggers and readers of the system!

Merry Christmas and Happy 2007!

Santa plane

xxx

…I passed my exam, so I am now a Batchelor of Arts – classification not announced yet, though! 😀

Clever use of stop-motion video?

Full story and link

Been back a week but not yet had time to unwind, what with a workshop in York; Congregations (dressing up like Harry Potter!); a “Beer Christmas lunch” at Fujiyamas, a christmas shopping day; 2 nights in the pub and a friend’s early Christmas get-together – I’m pooped!

Anyway, Florence was fab and we fully expect to go back next year. The intention was a girly-christmas-shopping trip – and I did get some presents (well, two!) – but most of the things I brought back were…ahem…for me. I even had to buy another bag to bring everything back. Yes, I’m skint but I had a fabulous time – its already in my diary to go back next year! 😀

All my Christmas shopping in now though, I’m not normally this late but I feel better about the fact that Christmas is looming…14 days and counting…!!

Shin: a device for finding furniture in the dark. 🙁