Michael's Meanderings

I can't believe it's been 3 weeks since my last post. Anyway the Sunday after Picocon I went to visit my parents, as it was dad's birthday the previous week. His eyes have not improved.... It was raining all day and on the drive there and back we went through some very large puddles.

On Tuesday 2nd I went to the Hawth to see The Moscow State Circus, it's "theme" was Rasputin. My seat was in the middle near the front. Because the performance was in a theatre some of the bigger acts didn't fit, and some had to be reduced in scope (according to the programme). There were some terrific jugglers though.

The following Sunday I walked around Beadlands, very bleak, nothing much in the way of plants or animals. Managed to finish off watching the second series of Chuck which I'd recorded a while back.

The following Monday I saw my Chiropractor then managed to get to the Odeon cinema in Brighton, to see "Alice in Wonderland in 3D". It was nicely re-imagineered so while familiar the story took unexpected twists and turns.

I finally got around to renewing my passport, and my old one was returned in the post this weekend, so I should get my new one in a week or two. Cost £85.50 including PO security.

Last weekend I pickled some onions, I'm not sure if I did it correctly, but a month or so will soon tell.

Last Tuesday I went to the European premier of the new IMAX film "Hubble 3D" at the Science Museum. This was followed on the Wednesday by two hours entitled "Striking Your Own Chord" at the Dana Centre. This included tacks and workshops. I was in the group that sang 3 part african chant, which was very cool.

Last week my watch strap broke, I managed to get a replacement this Saturday.

Been quite busy this last week. At work we had to have 2 tape drives in our tape library replaces, allowing our backups to run successfully again.

Last weekend my niece turned 18, so a immediate family fondue was held at lunch time on Saturday, and a buffet style lunch / tea occurred on Sunday afternoon for less immediate family (L went clubbing on Saturday night to celebrate legal drinking!)

Strictly Come Dancing started up too and I've been watching the Friday and Saturday dancing, with background every evening on It Takes two.

Autumn is certainly here as it's been misty first thing and the leaves are drying out (but not going the proper autumnal shade. I did manage to take a walk around Beadlands last Saturday afternoon, and saw a couple of fungi, but no interesting leaves and just a few dried up blackberries.

The tree on my front lawn, chopped down before I went off to Montreal, has now been moved and I can see the grass once again (under a layer of dead leaves!)

Yesterday I went to the local cinema to see the animated feature "Cloudy, with a Chance of Meatballs" in which mad science really goes to town. Followed by another very short bike ride, Hopefully before Christmas I'll be able to ride it into town. Talking of Christmas, last weekend when shopping I saw my first Christmas cakes, Chocolate money and Christmas puddings. It's 3 months to Christmas wouldn't they be past their sell by date if bought now?

I've managed to install Windows XP in a Virtual PC on my Dell laptop running Ubuntu/Mint. There are just a few things that won't run under Linux (audible.com audio books, Palm Desktop?, Pegasus Mail, Internet Explorer and a few other bits and bobs including remote access to work).

Tonight I hope to see "Moon" at the Prince Charles Cinema, Leicester Square. It's had excellent reviews so hope it'll be good. It's also on on Wednesday but there will be a Science Museum late then. so I'll be in South Kensington instead.