A bit of Bollywood and Tolkien
Sunday was a very early start, leaving for London at just after eight in the morning. After walking the length of Oxford Street without finding anything except for 'Tie Rack' open (and not wanting any new ties) I headed off for the British Museum.
Anyone would have thought, due to the proximity to where I have lived for many years, that I would have visited it often. Alas, this was but my second time (my first I don't remember, I was in a pushchair). And what a mistake that had been !
The exhibitions of the Greeks and Romans, of Egypt, of the changing faces of Britain, and the Gallery Ceiling and the Reading Room were amazing, I could not have stumbled upon a more interesting and worthwhile venue to spend the morning at. Most highly recommended !!
After eating at a very tasty Japanese restaurant, we went along to the Apollo Victoria Theatre to watch Bombay Dreams, Shakalaka baby !!.
Today (okay, yesterday now as it's one in the morning) was spent shopping in Aylesbury (finally some new trousers !!!) and the final hours in the cinema watching the astounding The Lord of the Rings : The Two Towers. One of the best spent three hours of my spare time. Amazing film, astounding cinematography, gripping plot. I can no longer wait until the next one comes out, I have the book and will read it cover to cover as soon as possible.
Tonight, New Year's Eve I will be up in Birmingham celebrating with friends from Uni. You might get to hear about what happened, but only if I remember it :)
Other thoughts will go out to Javi, however, who will be running the 10km San Silvestre in Madrid from 6pm local time. We wish him speed, stamina, and a good helping of food for when he comes home. You can watch the rankings on the dedicated website and look for number 5294, Javi Gonzalez (should be somewhere near the top).
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Saturday, December 28, 2002
Shopping
A brief overview of what's been happening with me lately. Christmas Day was spent with my family cooking and serving Christmas Dinner to the old people of Great Missenden (the nearest town to my village). The food was great, everybody enjoyed themselves, and at 6pm we returned home just in time to sit in front of the TV for an evening of entertainment (frequently interspersed with a game of cards).
Boxing Day saw us eat some of the remnants of the Christmas turkey, so our own Christmas Dinner was put off until the 27th. Suckling Pig, mmm, need I say more?
Today was the day for shopping. We went off to Watford (another town relatively close by) and spent the day buying clothes, books and a DVD. Coming home a bit lighter in the pocket, but with something to show for it.
Other news from slightly further afield is that at last Javi has received his suitcase that was lost in transit from Germany to Spain. And nothing was broken inside. So someone is definitely feeling relieved this Christmas.
Still no word from Noelia to confirm if she's alright, so we'll just have to wait to see if she turns up at some point. However, the old Erasmosian Pili is alive and in Spain still :) Apart from that, Mavi is going down to Cordoba for New Year, Jordi is staying in Valencia and Laura is going down to Tuscany. I wish them all a great time on this night, and to just think of me stuck here in Blighty.
Back to bed...
A brief overview of what's been happening with me lately. Christmas Day was spent with my family cooking and serving Christmas Dinner to the old people of Great Missenden (the nearest town to my village). The food was great, everybody enjoyed themselves, and at 6pm we returned home just in time to sit in front of the TV for an evening of entertainment (frequently interspersed with a game of cards).
Boxing Day saw us eat some of the remnants of the Christmas turkey, so our own Christmas Dinner was put off until the 27th. Suckling Pig, mmm, need I say more?
Today was the day for shopping. We went off to Watford (another town relatively close by) and spent the day buying clothes, books and a DVD. Coming home a bit lighter in the pocket, but with something to show for it.
Other news from slightly further afield is that at last Javi has received his suitcase that was lost in transit from Germany to Spain. And nothing was broken inside. So someone is definitely feeling relieved this Christmas.
Still no word from Noelia to confirm if she's alright, so we'll just have to wait to see if she turns up at some point. However, the old Erasmosian Pili is alive and in Spain still :) Apart from that, Mavi is going down to Cordoba for New Year, Jordi is staying in Valencia and Laura is going down to Tuscany. I wish them all a great time on this night, and to just think of me stuck here in Blighty.
Back to bed...
Saturday, December 21, 2002
More News
Well, I know what my new-year's resolution will be, to find time to update this site more often !!!
The last week has seen many people disappearing back to their countries of origin, which is why there has been less and less things to do here recently. However, the news still happens; In Birmingham, in a popular (depending on who you ask) electronics store, a father bought a CD-writer as a Christmas present for his family. When they ran the CD that they found in the box with the equipment, however, they were in for a shock. Child pornography is not normally associated with family electronics stores, but...let's just say that there's a lot of apologising going on at the moment.
In California a 15-year old student hacked into his school's computer system and changed his grades. For the worse! Nobody quite knows why he did this, but he got an award for his 'project'. Just goes to show which way the education system is going...
When you are driving along the roads in your new BMW or Merc (possibly a Christmas present?) just hope you're nowhere near a military base. As TheRegister reports, they are using an increased surveillance system that demobilises these new cars. Wait to see what happens if they up the power a bit more...
Well, after the departmental party on Thursday, the final Erasmus party in Mainzer Kolleg of the year was visited, where I have to admit I had probably the best night of this semester, thanks to messers Smirnoff, Blue Caracau, Gluehwein, Hefeweizen, oh and of course, the impeccable company of Laura, Giulia, Ramsy, Paco, Carlitos and the many others that I don't remember if I saw or not ;)
Will be heading back to blighty on monday, so no more dirty phonecalls on my german number, alright :)
Have a great Christmas !
Well, I know what my new-year's resolution will be, to find time to update this site more often !!!
The last week has seen many people disappearing back to their countries of origin, which is why there has been less and less things to do here recently. However, the news still happens; In Birmingham, in a popular (depending on who you ask) electronics store, a father bought a CD-writer as a Christmas present for his family. When they ran the CD that they found in the box with the equipment, however, they were in for a shock. Child pornography is not normally associated with family electronics stores, but...let's just say that there's a lot of apologising going on at the moment.
In California a 15-year old student hacked into his school's computer system and changed his grades. For the worse! Nobody quite knows why he did this, but he got an award for his 'project'. Just goes to show which way the education system is going...
When you are driving along the roads in your new BMW or Merc (possibly a Christmas present?) just hope you're nowhere near a military base. As TheRegister reports, they are using an increased surveillance system that demobilises these new cars. Wait to see what happens if they up the power a bit more...
Well, after the departmental party on Thursday, the final Erasmus party in Mainzer Kolleg of the year was visited, where I have to admit I had probably the best night of this semester, thanks to messers Smirnoff, Blue Caracau, Gluehwein, Hefeweizen, oh and of course, the impeccable company of Laura, Giulia, Ramsy, Paco, Carlitos and the many others that I don't remember if I saw or not ;)
Will be heading back to blighty on monday, so no more dirty phonecalls on my german number, alright :)
Have a great Christmas !
Sunday, December 15, 2002
Catch-Up
Ok, a quick resume of what's been happening here recently. Firstly I have been really busy with work, homework, and numerous other little things, which is why there hasn't been an update for a long while (ok, five days feels like a long while for me, actually it's a lot longer since I've written anything in English...).
Last Saturday was spent in Nuremberg with the italians (Laura, Giulia, Alicia and Silvia) visiting the Christmas market and a bit of the city itself. All had a good time, but were relieved in the evening when we got back to our warm rooms.
The last week has seen the temperature plummet, and has not gone above -2 degrees for 6 days. Today, however, everything changed. It is no longer so cold (about 1 degree I think) because it is now raining. What lovely weather we have here. As for those of you in Spain, if anyone even mentions what the weather is like over there again, I'll...
By the way, to check out the actual weather here at the University of Mainz, visit this page.
Other things that have happened recently; the italians had to lead a discussion in class about Shakespeare's Sonnets. After two hours of talking, the teacher congratulated them, so it must have gone well.
A brief for a nameless person just to say that trying to do the washing-up drunk, and thereby using olive oil instead of washing-up liquid, is not recommended :)
Friday night saw Jordi and Miquel take to the stage in Hechstheim Bar playing guitars and singing various populour Spanish tunes. The serving of cold beverages was seen to by myself and the man known as "Mit Scharf". The evening went with great success, seeing 102 litres of beer drunk (it wasn't all me, honest) and various sing-alongs by members of the audience.
At 4am today Jordi had his shift with the Nuclear Physics Experimental Group, and at midday I took over. So all in all quite a tiring weekend.
Lastly I have to mention that the fabulous sister of Laura (Chiara, or "mongolona") is here on holiday at the moment (why anybody would swap Bologna for Mainz is beyond me...) and hopefully enjoying herself a lot.
This coming week sees many people returning home for Christmas, in particular Noelia and Jorge on Monday, Alberto on Wednesday, and me on the 23rd. To everybody go out Christmas Greetings, and wishes for a Happy New Year.
Enjoy yourselves !
Ok, a quick resume of what's been happening here recently. Firstly I have been really busy with work, homework, and numerous other little things, which is why there hasn't been an update for a long while (ok, five days feels like a long while for me, actually it's a lot longer since I've written anything in English...).
Last Saturday was spent in Nuremberg with the italians (Laura, Giulia, Alicia and Silvia) visiting the Christmas market and a bit of the city itself. All had a good time, but were relieved in the evening when we got back to our warm rooms.
The last week has seen the temperature plummet, and has not gone above -2 degrees for 6 days. Today, however, everything changed. It is no longer so cold (about 1 degree I think) because it is now raining. What lovely weather we have here. As for those of you in Spain, if anyone even mentions what the weather is like over there again, I'll...
By the way, to check out the actual weather here at the University of Mainz, visit this page.
Other things that have happened recently; the italians had to lead a discussion in class about Shakespeare's Sonnets. After two hours of talking, the teacher congratulated them, so it must have gone well.
A brief for a nameless person just to say that trying to do the washing-up drunk, and thereby using olive oil instead of washing-up liquid, is not recommended :)
Friday night saw Jordi and Miquel take to the stage in Hechstheim Bar playing guitars and singing various populour Spanish tunes. The serving of cold beverages was seen to by myself and the man known as "Mit Scharf". The evening went with great success, seeing 102 litres of beer drunk (it wasn't all me, honest) and various sing-alongs by members of the audience.
At 4am today Jordi had his shift with the Nuclear Physics Experimental Group, and at midday I took over. So all in all quite a tiring weekend.
Lastly I have to mention that the fabulous sister of Laura (Chiara, or "mongolona") is here on holiday at the moment (why anybody would swap Bologna for Mainz is beyond me...) and hopefully enjoying herself a lot.
This coming week sees many people returning home for Christmas, in particular Noelia and Jorge on Monday, Alberto on Wednesday, and me on the 23rd. To everybody go out Christmas Greetings, and wishes for a Happy New Year.
Enjoy yourselves !
Friday, December 06, 2002
Birthdays and some News
Yesterday saw both Pili (in Valencia) and Fernando (here in Mainz) become a year older. Best wishes to them both, and let's hope they celebrated accordingly :)
Now to what's been happening lately. Yesterday saw two demonstrations take place in this otherwise quite town. One in Schillerplatz by the Police, Dustmen, Gasmen (still don't know what the protest was about though) and the other one at the Hauptbahnhof by students to protest about student fees for education.
Elsewhere, a fridge has been developed that cools its contents by using sound. Something to teach youngsters not to swallow things they're not meant to, a woman had to jump-start her car by pressing her toddler against the steering wheel after he swallowed the de-mobiliser chip. And for those of you who get really annoyed with those pop-up ads that look like error messages, the company who invented them is being taking to court for misleading millions of workers to disturb their jobs in order to visit this site.
Apart from that, it's just left for me to welcome Jen from Birmingham, who will be coming to visit for the weekend, and also Soph and Beecs who will be coming Sunday til Tuesday. Just remember to bring your coats ladies, because it's freezing here now !
Hi-ho, and back to work I go.
Yesterday saw both Pili (in Valencia) and Fernando (here in Mainz) become a year older. Best wishes to them both, and let's hope they celebrated accordingly :)
Now to what's been happening lately. Yesterday saw two demonstrations take place in this otherwise quite town. One in Schillerplatz by the Police, Dustmen, Gasmen (still don't know what the protest was about though) and the other one at the Hauptbahnhof by students to protest about student fees for education.
Elsewhere, a fridge has been developed that cools its contents by using sound. Something to teach youngsters not to swallow things they're not meant to, a woman had to jump-start her car by pressing her toddler against the steering wheel after he swallowed the de-mobiliser chip. And for those of you who get really annoyed with those pop-up ads that look like error messages, the company who invented them is being taking to court for misleading millions of workers to disturb their jobs in order to visit this site.
Apart from that, it's just left for me to welcome Jen from Birmingham, who will be coming to visit for the weekend, and also Soph and Beecs who will be coming Sunday til Tuesday. Just remember to bring your coats ladies, because it's freezing here now !
Hi-ho, and back to work I go.
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