Michael's Meanderings

I've finally got around tuit, updating LJ that is. I really meant to add stuff sooner but...

Anyway Parents and I arrived safely in Spain, collected a rental car (upgraded for free from the original spec) and got to the villa at Toscamar safely.

First few days were lovely, and then it started raining, and it hardly stopped! We did visit the JCC so we could check email and do a bit of web surfing.

So after a week in Spain I return to discover that in the UK that week was the hottest in recorded history [Wagh!]

I did get to read a number of ebooks including the excellent Little Brother by Corey Doctorow, which is available as a free download, but which has managed to stay in the NYT HC top 10 for 4 weeks! I'll be buying a paperback copy when it comes out in the UK.

I've been visiting my Chiropractor two or three times a week over the last month. It's difficult to judge such a subjective thing, and it's also difficult remembering how you felt a month ago, but I think there is significant improvement in how my back feels. Now I've got to train myself into better habits.

My first week back I had to catch up on all the TV I'd recorded on the Sky+ box while I was away, but by the following weekend I was mostly caught up.

May is the month of the Brighton festival and I usually manage to get to the circus that usually sets up it's big top, in Preston Park. This year it was the Moscow State Circus and there were some really cool acts, juggling, trapeze, magic, acrobatics. the clowns and a unicycling ringmaster!

I've also had a number of my amazon orders arriving this month, some of them made months back. some surprises and at least one duplicate ;-(

I saw Indiana Jones 4, which I thought was Ok, but not as good as the original, Though Harrison Ford still manages to be a believable action hero.

Just under two weeks ago, I got a message from my sister to say that Mum was in hospital in Spain, due to a dislocated hip. Fortunately she was all right and was able to recover with a local friend, before flying home safely last Thursday.

That same weekend a new washing machine was deliver and Dimitri and I had to install it, all seemed to go OK but then we found a leak!. The problem was with the master stop cock so a replacement was purchased and the water supply switched off outside. This seemed to work but then more water was discovered. This turned out to be a poor seal on the hose pipe connecting the mains to the machine. However now the kitchen floor is dry and I have a really cool new washing machine!

As a result of the leak I had to miss last week's juggling class, so with the Bank Holiday I've been off for 3 weeks, I hope I can manage tonight!

Last week was medical week on Tuesday I went for my yearly asthma check, breath volume was a bit low, but that may be due to not using my inhaler this month, my new one is at my sister's house!

On Wednesday was my visit to the dentist to get the temporary filling replaced. He had a new injection and my face quickly went numb, there were no problem and I now have a newly filled tooth.

Nearly up to date now. This weekend, on Saturday I went to see The Return to the Forbidden Planet at the Hawth. Before the performance I had a walk in the woods behind the theatre, I managed to find my way out in plenty of time before the curtain was raised. This was a different interpretation of the story than I'd seen previously. Partly I suspect because the performance was by a Rep Company, rather than a group brought together for tRtFP. As a result the instrumental switching which is a hallmark of the show didn't occur, only one member of the crew played more than 2 instruments. The costumes were also a change, echoing Star Trek and Galaxy Quest rather that the original movie. I did enjoy myself, at least until the right lens of my glasses fell out! Then I had to hold it to my eye so I could see the action.

On Sunday I was guilted into clearing grass and hedge off cuts off the grass bundling then into bags. I got a lift from my neighbour to the Tip to dump them all (I have no car). The rest burnt on a small bonfire, which was still smoldering 5 hours later.