Michael's Meanderings

Yoga class has been reduced to 4 students and last 3 weeks there was no class;-(
On the first Saturday I was busy as in the morning I went to HH Library for a history walk around town by railway.
Then in the evening went to The Drill Hall in Horsham with my sister & J for a dance with the Milestone Big Band, with a basic cha cha class taught by Christopher & Diana Crowhurst
and then demo from same. Danced a number of cha chas with J & C. Went home with C to visit the family.
Two weeks later we all returned to the same location for an afternoon tea dance, which had a better selection of dance styles, and tea and sandwiches, for less than the previous offering. The 3 of us had a better time.
Saw Logan (15) at the cinema after work (met J from work there - unplanned).
Other sister H came to visit, from Somerset, and we went to visit my niece at her new house. Gave my sister my spare copy of "A Natural History of Dragons".
On second Monday went to book club to discuss The Peace War / Marooned in Realtime (had finished the first book but not all the second)
Had a bad cold, such that I lost most of my voice, and fortunately was assigned admin at work (rather than having to answer phone calls). Had more interrupted sleep due to coughing!
Ballroom Dancing classes continued every Tuesday, revised technique on the ballroom style dances.
Restarted regularly listening to audio books, via Audible (after a dip in February). Started listening to the Lady Trent's Memoirs which are perfect audio material.
Got diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, pain in my feet and fingers.
used up my last leave by taking last 2 days of the month off! On Thursday went down to Brighton and bought tickets to see "Thoroughly Modern Millie" at the Theatre Royal preceded by a tour of the back stage area. Something to look forward too.

So a new year and a resolution to update my LJ more regularly than last year, so here is my first months worth.
I stayed at J's flat (in Crawley) after the New Years Eve dance.
We had full English breakfasts (at her insistence) checked out here genre photo collection, chatted generally, left in mid afternoon. raining and trains not going north of TB so train was waiting for me to board.
The main news of the month is that it has been very wet! I don't think there has been a dry day since Christmas, though we have been luckier than some as we haven't experienced flooding. According to the papers is the wettest since records began in 1910 (in the SE 200% normal levels).
I have been listening to audio books from audible, every day on my train journey. I may even get through my back catalogue of purchases (one a month for the last 2 years) though a have listened to a large number of them. Audio books are slower going than word on a page, though you can listen walking through the rain.
I finally was able to send off my hotel booking for SemiBreve (filkcon) in February, and upgraded Loncon3 (Worldcon) membership to attending
Started watching the last series of Dancing on Ice (with Torvill & Dean)
Lost a button from my overcoat, purchased replacements and re-sew on all the buttons that were loose.
First Monday in the month was the SF reading group meeting in the Earth and Stars Brighton to discuss Altered Carbon, managed to find the next 3 months books at the various libraries I visit.
Still dancing on Tuesday, with C & J learnt Balmoral Blues with J, revised Square Tango with C
Revised my LibraryThing collection in particular group edited the "from where" setting.
SugarSync account closed and synced DW and LJ so have both backed up, updated goodreads.com with books I've actually read.
Re-read The Sharing Knife quartet by LMB
D cooked a splendid xmas/new year feast of "Greek Pastitsio - revised by D" which was a w/e eating, and the left overs lasted most of the following week.
Had a couple of power cut at work, the first was just IT, but the second was the whole building.
Friday before the last Saturday in the month was practice dance night, and was also the day the Balcome Tunnel flooded causing train delays. Got to Crawley just after 7:00 and got lift from J to St W by 7:10. Practiced all te dances we knew.
Leading to Social Dance night on the last Saturday. We danced all the dances at least once. We even did a bit of teaching/learning. Bought ticket for social dance / lecture on May 31
I got my hair cut (clipper No4)
Was unable to renew one of my books in a timely manner, and had to pay 60p fine ;(
Finally upload a FAQ to the dendarii.com website sent to my by NB last year!
Season ticket is now over £200 a month but I also go a minor increase in pay so I'm marginally better off (and I don't have to buy a ticket to Crawley either so....)
Bought train tickets to Grantham (for Filkcon) and London (for Picocon).

So I got another call from my Mum last night, a new router had been just bought and some of the IT kit wasn't working could I come over and sort it out. So she came over this morning and I've sorted stuff out more or less.

Since I was last here....
I've been watching more TV than previously (and re-reading quite a lot) in particular the Sarah Jane Adventures and Strictly Come Dancing. A rather odd pairing, but they cover two of my favourite things (science fiction and dance/theatre). I've also been listening to podcasts and a few audio books (on my iPod) I recently finished "Citizen of the Galaxy" by Robert Heinlein, and I've just started "Matter" by Iain Banks (this was a freebie from the guardian). Most of the audio books I've bought previously, have been ones I've got hard copies of. This is the first time where the audio book is the virgin read. I've just bought "Cryoburn" by Lois McMaster Bujold from Audible.com very soon after the hardback was released. Which means (apart from "The Spirit Ring") all her stories are now available in audio format.

I had a meeting with a impartial consultant (set up via jobseekers) basiclly an hour discussion of how I felt and where I want to progress in the job market. It was actually very helpful, but might have been more helpful if it had occurred earlier.

Last Thursday was my medical day... In the morning I got my flu jab then in the afternoon I got a temp filling, and an appointment for a permanant one, which will be fairly costly! (£100) so I don't think I'll be able to get to Novacon after all ;-(

One of the problems of not working is that I don't bother to go out of the house unless I have to. So on Wednesday I decided to get out and went to the Cinema for the first time in months. I was able to wear my new long distance glasses. Bought ticket for "Despicable Me" and discovered that due to half term, ticket prices were reduced, to I also got a ticket for "Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole" both animated features, but the former was a super hero movie, from the villain's point of view, redeemed by [spoilers!]. The latter was almost live action quality and was basically Lord of the Rings (looks) married to Star Wars (plot) with owls!