Michael's Meanderings

My little sister H, was visiting my parents in the first week, so I visited them and got to see her. (She lives in Somerset near Glastonbury), we got to chat, and hang out.
The second Monday was Brighton SF Book Club and this month was Random Asimov, we each needed to discuss any SF work by the author. I found a novelette called “It’s a Beautiful Day” and discussed this.
First weekend in February is the UK Filkcon, and this year was the 30th anniversary - and I've been to 27 of them. Guests were Betsy Tinney, The Crookletts & Omega (not a musician).
Ate my meals at the bungalow diner, except for breakfast, which was included in the room rate.
The following week I was a Picocon 35 at Imperial College – The guests were Paul Stewart & Chris Riddell (illustrator), Emma Newman (of Tea & Jeopardy podcast), with a late appearance by Ben Aaronovich.
Due to school schedules the social dance was on the same day so had to take my dance shoes to London and get back to Crawley for 7:00. J still unable to dance, so I only danced a few ballroom dances. I did get to dance all the sequence dances with different partners though.
Had to go to the dentist to get a filling repaired. It was fairly painless and quick. (i did have to leave work early though).
I finally found a new Line Dance Class (nearer work than home) and went for my first class, even though it was touted as Beginner / Improver it was hard work, if I hadn't done this before I would have given up. I will however continue.
Toward the end of the month we hit a cold spell, with a little snow, despite the forecast for blizzard condition and piles of snow. I only got about 2cm locally, other parts of the country were less lucky.
The worst of the weather was due on Wed 28th, the day I'd booked to go to London to see ABBA: Super Trooper - The Exhibition! Despite blizzard predictions I got to London without too much trouble, and first went to Forbidden Planet to get a few books. (The latest Seanan McGuie inCrypted novel).
Then caught the tube to Festival Hall at the South Bank Centre, (got covered in snow while walking from the tube) arrived very early so ate lunch, had a hot chocolate, before making my way to the exhibit.
This was not an exhibit of items behind glass with nicely printed labels providing background (though there were a few of these). But it was more of an interactive immersive experience.
It was made up of eight "rooms" which attempted to evoke a particulate location, which was important to the evolution of ABBA. Unfortunately photography was not allowed & and no souvenir booklet was available (and I forgot to make notes - phones all off - until afterwards) so I'm not 100% of the order of the rooms.
So the first room we entered was dark and when the door slid closed it was pitched black. Then the lights came on to show a Super Trouper spot light, we then played name that tune with ABBA tracks (the same lady got all of them correct!)
We then went into a 70's style living room, it felt like my Great Aunts' lounge. We saw TV clips on an old style TV (including questioning if we should enter the EU!)
From there we entered a Brighton hotel bedroom, used by Benny & Agnetha after their Eurovision win, there was a replica of Benny's guitar and Agnetha's original skull cap.
The exit, through the wardrobe was to a Swedish forest where they sang together for the first time (at a folk festival).
From this point on I'm not certain of the order in which we passed from room to room. So in no particular order we visited the Polar recording studio with the original mixing desk and multitrack recorders. I was able to mix together the various parts into a recognisable tune. All of the group then did a singalong in the recording booth.
We entered the toilet of a club from the early 80s, with graffiti and posters peppering the walls.
Then to Australia in the pouring rain and the caravans used for changing rooms
the penultimate room was Lasse Hallström's apartment, which was used as a stand in for Agnetha's apartment in "One of Us", I was asked to open the door to the final room, a first class section of an 80s airplane, with video windows showing take off and some videos, we also did a sing along!
And then we exited the experience and left in the snow, with only our tickets and external photos as aid to our memories.
Next stop was the Science Museum as there were two illuminating India exhibits, exploring 5000 years of Indian science & technology, and a photographic record of Indian history.
I was intending to stay on for the Lates opening in the evening, but the weather and my exhaustion from being on me feet all day meant I left earlier than originally planned.

This month was a bit more exciting. I've been using the Time to Talk phone counseling, regarding possible depression due to losing my job. It has helped to talk, though I don't think I was ever clinically depressed.

On the 7th of April my Mum fell and dislocated her hip! She was admitted to Worthing Hospital, the following Sunday my Dad and sister collected me to go an see her. This put a spanner into plans for a party for my 50th birthday (and my sister's 48th). So we returned to their home for a reduced birthday tea and cake.

Monday was my 50th birthday and I'd already arranged to go to London, so first I went to the Science Museum again. As a Plus member I'd got a voucher giving me a free Birthday cake from one of the museum shops, which was very nice. I bought a couple of books (Yuri Gagarin: The First Spaceman, and As Easy As Pi: Stuff about numbers that isn't (just) maths). Then off to Forbidden Planet and got a single book there, then had a wander around Covent Garden, where I listened to Lotus Classics a classical music ensemble who dance to their own tunes. I was so impressed I bought a CD! You can hear some material streamed from their website.

I ended my day at Penderel's Oak, High Holborn, where the Science Fiction Book Club met to discuss The Vor Game. I was pointed to this meeting by filkferengi, and it was quite interesting hearing to views of people who had never read any Bujold before. Most had bought the omnibus edition of the Young Miles, so had also read The Warriors Apprentice. I don't think anyone hated the story, and all finished it. There was some issues of story background not being that clear (for those who didn't read TWA). I had a good evening and will probably be back.

The following Friday I had to get a blood test, and delivered a volunteering application to Sussex Oakleaf. The next Monday I had my hair cut, including the removal of my pony tail after 18 year. Later I went to the cinema (on Monday the tickets are cheaper) to see Source Code, a fun romp which combined Groundhog Day with Quantum Leap in a good way. This was underlined by the father of the hero being played by Scott Bakula!

The following day I went to Worthing, mostly to see Mum, but I also visited the Library and the seafront.

I dithered about if I wanted to go to Eastercon until the last minute, (as I was feeling a bit sniffley) but as I'd paid my hotel deposit already and it was going to be very sunny I decided to risk it, and I had a good time (details to follow?)

After Easter Mum was moved to Shorham Hospital, so I went to visit on Thursday after going to see my Chiropractor in Hove (halfway to Shorham-by-Sea) so managed to kill two birds with one stone. Also popped in to Shorham Library! mum was looking forward to watching the Royal Wedding on TV. I didn't bother, and was a bit sad that as someone unemployed I didn't get any benefit of the four Bank Holidays in April!

I've just realised it's been nearly three months since my last posting! I'll try to summarise.
At the beginning of March I had an interview at a local residential home. It was a nice walk, and the interview went OK but I didn't get the job. A couple of days later I had an interview for an IT job in Redhill, this was also unsuccessful.

On the first Monday of the month I went to see "The King's Speech" at the local cinema, It was very engrossing, and a worthy Oscar winner.

On St Patrick's day I visited my chiropractor then walked from Hove to Brighton.

Nearer the end of the month I went to Crawley for a job fair, at which I discovered the Reach project (providing training for unemployed), important later.

Learned that Diane Wynne Jones had died, one of my favourite authors. I did get to meet her at Sadler's Wells at a performance of Witch Week as a ballet.

On the last Tuesday in March I went up to London to the Science Museum, saw the new James Watt workshop exhibition, this was followed by a visit to their archive a Blythe House.

The following day I returned to London, went to Forbidden Planet, back to the Science Museum, and then stayed to the Lates evening.

I keep forgetting to post, my last was just before my last visit to London with my Annual season ticket.

On Friday 16th June, first I went to the Science Museum to see something in the iMAX theatre, I then went over the road to the V & A for a quick look, I don't think I'd ever been there before, and I doubt I'll be back ;-) I then left for Hammersmith Apollo where I was meeting some of my ex colleagues first for Pizza then to the theatre to see Penn and Teller. This was a great show, I thought the best was where Teller cut the petals from a rose, but cutting the shadow of the rose!

I managed to fix the leak from my toilet, it wasn't a major one, but I did feel a sense of achievment when the water stopped.

On Sunday I went to Earls Court for the London Film and Comic Con. It was quite cheap but when I there wasn't much of interest I didn't stay long.

On Monday morning first thing I got a visit from Downs Energy to insulate my cavity walls. They blew stuff like cotton wool in through dozens of holes drilled in the walls. Started suffering with hayfever, and got some drugs after seeing my doctor (he diagnosed the problem without me saying a thing!).

I finally started working on a CV and got a refund on my season ticket.

Just a month ago I went to see Toy Story 3, which was great fun. On Monday 26 went out for lunch in Horsham with my parents to celebrate their wedding anniversary. my sister and brother-in-law also joined us. We mostly had steak and chips and finished with an ice cream sundae. There was an issue with the bill, but we got it sorted. Then back to sort out a few issies with PCs, and then back home.

A week later my P45 arrived, an then went to see The A-Team at my local cinema, which was a fun journey down memory lane (after thr credits was worth waiting for).

The first weekend in August was the Crawley Juggling Festival , I got a lift from I and L Had a fun time in the hula hoop workshop so bought a hoop, and I've practiced since then and have managed over 100% improvement since then. On Saturday evening was the semi-pro Kettle of Fish show in the main Hawth theatre, followed by a fire show and then home. Sunday started very grey, but by lunchtime had turned sunny after misc games in the afternoon we left.

Since then nothing much has happened, though I have been checking the local papers and jobseeker website regularly.

After getting my new ADSL router up and running, I've been listening to podcasts, so far I've listened to:
Robert Llewellyn - Carpool Audio
Full Circle Magazine
The Signal (Firefly/Serenity)
I've had an ongoing listen to "The Dave Gorman podcast" going back to it's inception. The others I've picked over here and there.

Last weekend (not the one just gone but the one before) I had a small Babylon 5 TV mini marathon, and saw 4 B5 movies, one of which "The Legend of the Ranger" I don't think I'd ever seen before.

On Tuesday I had a dental appointment, my 6 month checkup, with my new dentist Mike Hunter. This were mostly OK but I have to have a small filling, so I'll be back next week.

On Friday the Science Museum launched two new exhibits "Who an I" and "Antenna" and had a Friends and Family party from 6:15. There were demos and exhibits to look at and free food and vouchers for 2 drinks. I had two beers, a hot dog, a DIY trifle, rum and raisin ice cream, an a number of one bite snacks, including pizza, baked potato, fish and chips, and a few slices of quiche.

This weekend was particularly sunny so I decided that spending the time at the Hawth for the Crawley Folk and Beer Festival would be fun. So I had to get up early to do my weekly shopping first, then on the train to three bridges. It was a very enjoyable weekend, I'm not entirely sure I choose the correct weekend ticket (I could have given the evening a miss without too much loss but never mind). The only downside was I didn't get to watch the final episode of the season of Doctor Who live in HD. Instead I watched it when I got home on Saturday night. Last week I was wondering how the heck would they get out of that, but with a bit of timey wimey goodness and a hey presto! Sorted!

I may give itemised details of who I saw over the weekend later. I only bought one CD from Zoox, they seems to have a celtic/folk vibe with a flavour of South America (pan pipes). Given the bright and shiny sun I was luck to only get a bit pink!

So Thursday evening, as a benefit of my Science Museum Plus membership I got an invite to view some of the museum's small object collection, held at Blythe House, near Olympia.

When I left work just before five it had started to rain, and when I'd taken the circle line, to High Street Kensington and then changed to the district line to Olympia it was still raining. I got there at about 6:45 and had half an hour to find the building, and to get something to eat. I then realised I'd left my map print out on my desk!

Luckily I remembered the name of the building and there were maps outside the station. I then went looking for somewhere to get food, there were no fast food eateries, but I did eventually find Mirabel Restaurant & Cafe where I bought butterfly pasta and Bolognese sauce to take away. It was very odd eating it as I walked in the rain! Very tasty though.

I got to Gate B of Blythe House at about 8:15 and we were let in to a conference room where squash and biscuits were available. Blythe House was built as the headquarters of the Post Office Savings Bank, and is now shared between the Science Museum, the V&A and the British Museum. There were 24 of us all together and we we split into two groups (I was in group 1) and we headed up the stairs.

First to the transport collection on the forth floor, after being shown around by David, and seeing a variety of objects, from model Concords to spark plugs and ice skates. After half an hour we moved down a floor to the Astronomy and science collection, we saw some very very old telescopes and a copy of the earliest known astronomical drawing of the moon by Thomas Heriot. By eight I'd left and got to the Olympia station, where I had to wait 20 minutes for a London Overground train to Clapham Junction, then to home.

Yesterday it rained, and I managed to leave my back pack on the train home, (more later). I booked my flight to Atlanta for Gafilk and got my visa waiver organised.

This morning I went to see my chiropractor (before it started raining again) then went to Brighton, and found my bag at the station lost and found! Then I went walking around and bought a deerstalker hat (my normal cap kept blowing off). The difference to my ears was amazing!

When I got home I got my travel insurance renewed. Many months ago I bought a side table designed to allow me to use a laptop easily when sitting in a lounge chair. I finally got around to putting it together, it's actually a lot better than I thought.

I'm looking forward to the new episode of Doctor Who tomorrow.

So after my exciting day Out, the following Saturday I saw my chiropractor then went to the cinema, where I say the South African SF movie District 9. It was well made but in a totally un hollywood style. It's filmed in a documentary style and the main protagonist is a very unlikely leading man. It does raise some interesting issues, possible Hugo contender?

The following weekend I spent watching / clearing my Sky of TV shows, on Saturday 9 episodes of "Legend of the Seeker" not to mention watching Merlin and Strictly Come Dancing live. Then on Sunday 8 epidodes of Dexter (most all of series 3). I finished off the last 3 episodes by Tuesday! I really have to reduce my reading and increase my TV watching to keep up.

Last Wednesday I was back at the Science Museum, for a behind the scenes tour of two new exhibitions, for Plus (and corporate members) only. These were shown off by two members of staff who had worked on creating the exhibits. There were 30 guides to "Cosmos and Culture" and "Measuring Time" and then we had a further 30 minutes to explore ourselves. Unexpectedly free drinks and finger food were also provided, another perk of Plus membership!

On Saturday I saw my chiropractor again, and once more went to the cinema in Brighton, this time I saw Up in 3D. It was pretty effective, though I'm not sure if it really used all the 3Dness it could. Good story and it was different having an old protagonist (ie older them me!)

Yesterday I went for a walk around Beadlands and despite the dropping temperatures most of the trees still had green leaves, though some also had a few brown ones. Saw a few birds and a pair of model airplane flyers!

So I just got to the Science Museum in time to see the 3D IMAX presentation showing the initial building of the ISS, narrated by Tom Cruise. Afterwards I wandered around the Museum, and found the simulators, where I was told to visit the Force Field ride, which as a Plus member I could get on free. This was a 3D animated simulation (including movement) of Apollo 15's mission. It was fairly realistic, especially the touchdown in the sea. I also Had a look at the "Science in the 18th Century" exhibit.

I then went looking for dinner, and had some chicken curry and rice, then back to the museum for the late opening. Doors opened 6:45 and I got back inside by 7:00 so I was able to get to a lecture on "Energy and Climate" then wandered around again until just before 9:00 when I got into the final Weapons of Sound the original junk band, they included a bit of a workshop, where all the audience took part..

After this I left and went home.

As Maria was an official Clerkenwell and Islington Guide, she had a key to the Clerk's well room and we were able to have a close look and read up on the history.

After spending a while there we continued down Farringdon Lane, then turned right into Pear Tree Court, then right down Clerkenwell Close past the Peabody Trust Clerkenwell Estate, until we got to St James Church, we went through the gardens behind the church and out on the St James Walk (turning left). We continued on until reaching Kingsway Place (Sans Walk) which was in a previous life a middle school (now luxury flats), and before that the site of two prisons. We turned left to loop back to Clerkenwell Close where we turned right traveling up to Northampton Road, past the children's adventure ground under re-construction and then past two further gardens to Exmouth Market and Our Most Holy Redeemer of Clerkenwell, built in 1887 on the site of the Spa Fields Chappel. The church is London's only Italian basilica style church.

Then past the old Finsbury Town Hall, and the new Family History building to the park opposite the Sadlers Wells Theatre where the Lillian Baylis Tree is planted, this replaced the previous tree, planted earlier. Lillian Baylis was deemed to have saved the Sadlers Well theatre. At which point the guided tour ended and we went off our separate ways.

I made my way to King's Cross and thence to South Kensington, and the Science Museum, where I had booked to see the IMAX 3D film of the start of the putting together the International Space Station.

End of part two.

As Maria was an official Clerkenwell and Islington Guide, she had a key to the Clerk's well room and we were able to have a close look and read up on the history.

After spending a while there we continued down Farringdon Lane, then turned right into Pear Tree Court, then right down Clerkenwell Close past the Peabody Trust Clerkenwell Estate, until we got to St James Church, we went through the gardens behind the church and out on the St James Walk (turning left). We continued on until reaching Kingsway Place (Sans Walk) which was in a previous life a middle school (now luxury flats), and before that the site of two prisons. We turned left to loop back to Clerkenwell Close where we turned right traveling up to Northampton Road, past the children's adventure ground under re-construction and then past two further gardens to Exmouth Market and Our Most Holy Redeemer of Clerkenwell, built in 1887 on the site of the Spa Fields Chappel. The church is London's only Italian basilica style church.

Then past the old Finsbury Town Hall, and the new Family History building to the park opposite the Sadlers Wells Theatre where the Lillian Baylis Tree is planted, this replaced the previous tree, planted earlier. Lillian Baylis was deemed to have saved the Sadlers Well theatre. At which point the guided tour ended and we went off our separate ways.

I made my way to King's Cross and thence to South Kensington, and the Science Museum, where I had booked to see the IMAX 3D film of the start of the putting together the International Space Station.

End of part two.