The title of my thesis is “Structural determination of horseradish peroxidase activities”. Or something.

Only 70,000 words to go. Or something.

My brain may explode.  I’ll try not to be too messy.

Thomas has pointed out that I’ve not done a blog post in over 3 months, which rather suggests that I’ve been neglecting my blog. Oops. Sorry about that, blog readers.

Gosh, well that was most of the summer, wasn’t it?!

Rob has done rather good blog posts about some of the exciting things I’ve done since I last blogged. Two of the highlights involved holidays - we spent 10 days avoiding the rain in Derbyshire (a great holiday, though two hill-climbs with four thunderstorms between them were interesting and wet!) and for our wedding anniversary we spent a totally splendid weekend in Prague. Prague was stunning and I really would like to go back there some time. We did quite a bit of sight seeing and I can heartily recommend the Black Light Theatre which was great.

Last week we took the youth mob to Soul Survivor.  There was so much going on it would be possible to recount everything here.  Highlights include at least one of the group dedicating their life to God and one re-committing, lots of quality group time and the delicious food (which I didn’t have to worry about, hurrah!).

My personal highlights was a real confirmation about my new job.  The girls and I went to the Soul Sista seminars, which are always very well done and are rightly aimed at the teenage girls that are there.  Which tends to mean that I enjoy the teaching but I don’t get much out of it on a personal level.  The session that was run on “Purpose” was fantastic and such a timely word for me.  They asked a series of questions:

• When do you feel most fully alive?
• What stirs your emotions when you think/hear about it?
• What subjects keep you chatting into the early hours?
• Who inspires you and makes you want to do what they are doing?
• What are you naturally good at doing?
• What would your friends say that you are passionate about?
• What do you hate seeing done badly?
• What roles do you keep finding yourself in?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Some will know that I’m starting a new job (officially on 1st September, more on 1st October but unofficially on 27th August).  And those questions were so timely.  I am so excited about my new job (so excited that it will probably get a blog post of its own when I’ve actually started), because it is exactly what I am passionate about.  It involves communication, children & young people, science and enthusiasm.  Today I went in to the office after visiting Personnel to give them my details so they can pay me (hurrah).  I have a desk (yay), though it is covered in boxes at the mo (not a bad thing, we’re getting bookshelves and I don’t actually start in the office until 1st October), a great small team of people working around me and a job that I can’t wait to start.

Oh yes, and they’re being ever so very flexible while I write my thesis, which is so lovely of them.  When I applied for it I thought that they wouldn’t be able to employ someone part time (even for a few months), but they can.  And it’s me.  Yay!

Now just have to not be ill so I can finish the lab work in a timely fashion

Colossians 3 v 17 says “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Thank you God, this new job is going to be fabulous.

P.S. The weather for us at Soul Survivor was great.  Hallelujah!

Notting Hill is on. Oops. It’s 11:10 and it’s just started. Which means I will probably go to bed and snooze with it on in the background.

The reason for this is that Rob has gone away to Devon for three days to camp, learn to surf and surf. I think at least one and a half of these will be done. I hope he does get the hang of it because that will make him happy.

In the mean time I’m going to do lots of marking, have a picnic lunch with friends, maybe have dinner with my cousin, do two quite long days at work, run an advanced presentation skills course and play with the cat. I may also do washing up and laundry, but to be honest I don’t hold up much hope for too much of that.

And in other news, well there really hasn’t been too much going on. Or rather there has been too much going on since the last time I blogged to recount it here.

In brief:
a) I’ve got a thesis to write
b) I don’t have to have it written until February, but I want to have it written before that if at all possible, but at least we won’t go hungry in October as I will continue to be paid (possibly I am the only person to benefit from the falling value of the pound?).
c) We bought a new tent which appears lovely. Hopefully Rob is going to put it up and sleep in it in Devon.
d) I’m organising a conference because otherwise it wouldn’t get organised. I think I’m enjoying doing this more than I’m letting on.
e) I’m making lots of stuffed hearts which I’m hopefully going to sell at an arts & crafts & gifts fair in June. If it works then I’ll make more, and if not then I’ll give the ones I’ve made away. They really are quite fun to make.
f) We went on holiday to Wales to stay in the cottage with the peacocks, doves and the red kites. Lou and Owen came too and it was splendid.

And that is really it.

Now I’m going to bed with Notting Hill and the cat. Bye.

Today is my Mummy’s birthday.

Happy Birthday Mummy!

Jo at Chocolate and Other Things has set the task for Fun Monday this week.

She asked [since March 2nd is her Mum and her Mum's Mum's birthday]…

For this week’s Fun Monday, tell me something fun about your mother and/or her mother. What fun, weird, laughable memories do you have of your Mom or your Grandma?

I guess the first thing that springs to my mind is that I really quite rarely call my mum “Mum” [I have never called her Mom either!].  For as long as I can remember she’s been Muzzi, or Muzz.  I can’t remember the origin of this, except for the fact that Muzzy is a green monster that was used in my primary school (age 8ish) French club.  I’m not sure how Muzzy ended up as what my brother and I call our mother, she definitely isn’t a big green monster.  Maybe she can shed some light on it.  Anyway, Muzzi it has stayed.

Rob says I have all sorts of similarities with my Mum, probably the most obvious being the words and phrases we use.  And having written that I can’t think of any, but he notices things that I say that my Mum does.  I think that’s quite funny.  Other people say that I look like my Mum… I’m not so sure.  You could definitely see the resemblance between my Mum and my Granny (and my Auntie) but I’m not certain I see it between me and Mum.  But perhaps I’m not one to tell!  You can certainly see the similarities from photos of us both as children [I feel that it should be noted that my picture ~20 years ago, mum's ~45 years ago]

My family has, for quite a long time (nearly 20 years I expect), been involved in the village amateur theatre company, but for nearly 15 of those years my Mum fairly flatly refused to be on stage.  She was very happy to sell programmes, take photos, be the prompt, help backstage, but there wasn’t any chance she would get on stage.

Finally the lure of the boards became too strong and she was persuaded to dress up as a singing nun (previously she had appeared as the back end of a pantomime donkey, but I think “appeared” may be too strong a word).  She’s the one in the middle with her eyes closed (my brother is looking evil over her shoulder).  I wasn’t in this show but it was great to watch!  Robin Hood and the Singing Nun, written by my father and with an unashamed plug for his business can be found online on his pastel coloured website where, should you desire, you can purchase a copy for your own drama group to perform.  You should probably be familiar with the English tradition of Pantomime before you get put off by Kevin (on the left) in “disguise” as a nun.

I chat on MSN messenger to my Mum most days, and actually our relationship has significantly improved since I’ve moved out (probably it does for most?).  I miss it when we haven’t been able to chat during the day, it’s great to be able to pass on news and ask opinions/advice so easily!

I’ll leave you with a photo of my family, where my brother and I are probably about six and four, which puts this at 1990 ish.  In the photo is my Dad (the tall one at the back), his parents (my paternal Grandma with the white hair and my Granddad on the back left).  My maternal Granny is standing behind my brother and me (blue blouse) and my Mum is looking the wrong way on the right (white blouse).  I can only assume that my maternal Grandpa is taking the photo!  This was one of only a very few occasions that my Granny and Grandpa visited our family at home, and, I think, the only time everyone was there together.  :)

Now head back to Jo’s blog to check out some of the other Fun Monday participants.  Thanks for visiting.

I don’t have anything to blog about really. Things are pottering on as usual in an uninspiring and unamusing way!

I have decided what to do for Rob’s surprise birthday treat, but since it’s a surprise, I can’t tell you about it here. You’ll have to wait until after the 16th March (yes, I know I’m thinking ahead, but sometimes these things take planning).

AOJ set this week’s Fun Monday assignment and as I’ve been out of the loop of Fun Mondays recently I thought I’d get back in on it with her assignment:

So for Fun Monday on 2nd February, firstly tell me what book you are reading now. What’s it about? Are you enjoying it and why? If not, why not? And secondly, if you were to be stranded on a desert island, what one book would you take with you.

Part the first… 

I usually have quite a few books on the go, some that I read on the train (tend to be small-ish and easy reads) and sometimes more meaty tomes (in either content or weight), but at the moment I’ve just got one on the go. It’s pretty thought provoking and I’m really enjoying it, but at the same time it’s very readable and so I can dip in to it in my 15 minute train ride twice a day.

And the book? It’s called “The Shack” and is about rebuilding the relationship that a man who has lost a child in a horrible way ha s with God. It’s a fiction book but it is challenging my perspectives on God and the  trinity and is being a thoroughly good read. I’ve got a number of people that I’m thinking of passing it on to when I’ve finished.

Part the second…

Oh gosh, goodness knows!  I would totally struggle to just pick one book to take with me!  Can I stretch it?

I think this may count as it’s technically one physical book, although it’s actually three…

My choice is the City Watch Omnibus which contains “Guards Guards”, “Men at Arms” and “Feet of Clay” by Terry Pratchett.

Pratchett is, by far and away, my favourite author.  I can read and re-read his books over and over and get new things from them each time.  They have so many layers of jokes and well crafted stories.  Plus, I haven’t read these three recently and so it would be nice to have some time to relax on the sand and read in comfort without feeling guilty about things I’m supposed to be doing!

Thanks for stopping by my Fun Monday, now please go and check out the other participants over at AOJ’s blog.

Dear Blog Readers,

If you have the time (and you wouldn’t think of yourself as having a particularly scientific background) would you please consider filling in this survey.

It is a few questions about “Public Engagement with Science”, which is a bit of a hot topic at the moment.

Thanks,

Sarah

P.S. Brighton Science Festival is in a few weeks and it looks fab!

I think this qualifies for a Half Naked Thursday, given that it was on New Year’s Day.

Poor git. But heheheheee. Ouch.

From the BBC website

This weekend I did something that stretched my comfort zone.  Uncomfortable at the time, but it felt worthwhile and good afterwards.

When was the last time you stretched yours?