More work on documents, translation for UK partners, interspersed with generation of a version of Mr Straus' logo suitable for Word documents. A telephone call also established that the printing of four photographs for my Open Studios as still proceeding according to plan, with delivery next week.
A short diversion was the e-mail conversation with S Jinks of the Creative Network re site design. I have submitted an application to join for the trivial annual sum of £25.
The rest of the day's work was directed to putting on paper the structure for the workshop that I will be presenting, on effective networking, at tomorrows HBN. Tomorrow morning will then be devoted to aspects of delivery.
The strike day by some teaching unions and other public sector unions was significant but remarkable for three reasons. Firstly, It was not supported by the Labour party. Second, it was less disruptive than anticipated and finally, there was none of the violence from small groups reported, that had been a feature of the major demonstration earlier in the year.
From a biologist's viewpoint, the interesting news was the disruption of two Scottish nuclear reactors at Torness Power Station, by a jelly fish swarm that clogged up the water intakes temporarily. It took a bit of a search on the internet to reveal that these were “moon” jelly fish or Aurelia aurita and that significant numbers had been washing up on Scottish beaches off East Lothian (http://scottishnatureboy.blogspot.com/2011/06/nature-wins-again-plankton-1-nuclear.html).
According to the British Marine Life Study Society (http://www.glaucus.org.uk/Moonjell.htm), the are incapable of stinging humans. A native coastal species, they regularly form large swarms in late summer, with the society recording two particularly large swarms in Shoreham harbour in 1999 and Loch Nevis in 2002.
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Document OCR and impending public sector strike
A circuitous series of tasks took up most of the day, starting with an initially simple task, converting photographs of a contract into readable text by OCR. This required installing up to date software, so a considerable amount of time was spent waiting for the installation to progress. Then a period of re familiarisation with the slightly different interface, and then at last the relatively quick task of conversion to text which could then be annotated with relevant translations.
The intervening time was however used productively in the preparation for the workshop on Effective Networking that I will be presenting on Friday.
The evening spent collating screen captures of file conversions into e-books.
The Greek government has, with the narrowest of margins, agreed to the adoption of the austerity measures to combat its national debt. According to Mr Preston, the Financial Correspondent of the BBC, this will permit a controlled collapse of the economy, as opposed to an anarchic one. From the broadcast pictures from Athens, the streets there are full of rioters and looters amongst the peaceful demonstrators.
In turn, the public sector unions are coming out in a day of action, initiated by proposed changes to their pension plans. Already tonight, some of the airport workers are not appearing for work, promising disruption to travellers. Tomorrow morning we will see how great the impact of strike action by teachers and lecturers is. Almost tempted to go to a school and help out!
The intervening time was however used productively in the preparation for the workshop on Effective Networking that I will be presenting on Friday.
The evening spent collating screen captures of file conversions into e-books.
The Greek government has, with the narrowest of margins, agreed to the adoption of the austerity measures to combat its national debt. According to Mr Preston, the Financial Correspondent of the BBC, this will permit a controlled collapse of the economy, as opposed to an anarchic one. From the broadcast pictures from Athens, the streets there are full of rioters and looters amongst the peaceful demonstrators.
In turn, the public sector unions are coming out in a day of action, initiated by proposed changes to their pension plans. Already tonight, some of the airport workers are not appearing for work, promising disruption to travellers. Tomorrow morning we will see how great the impact of strike action by teachers and lecturers is. Almost tempted to go to a school and help out!
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Posters, ebook conversions and irises.
Mr Beal had facilitated the uploading of audio files to the Cambridge Open Studios website, so the edited interview recording was made pubic on the COS blog this morning. With less than 9 working days till Open Studios, also designed two posters for my exhibition, one on publishing and the other, to be produced in a limited run of 20 copies, with stereo-images. Digitally ordered, I await digital proofs in two days, followed by a next day delivery.
An interesting diversion this evening, trying to photograph the iris of an eye close up , intiated by some excellent images seen elsewhere. We achieved a fair success but were hampered by low light. This suggests that another trial could be attempted during daylight.
Continued the research into the various ways of transforming documents into e-books and finding interesting differences between those generated from plain text, Microscoft Word and Open Office and converted using different programs.
Late news: Large forest fires in New Mexico close to nuclear facility at Los Alamos. 12000 people evacuated.
An interesting diversion this evening, trying to photograph the iris of an eye close up , intiated by some excellent images seen elsewhere. We achieved a fair success but were hampered by low light. This suggests that another trial could be attempted during daylight.
Continued the research into the various ways of transforming documents into e-books and finding interesting differences between those generated from plain text, Microscoft Word and Open Office and converted using different programs.
Late news: Large forest fires in New Mexico close to nuclear facility at Los Alamos. 12000 people evacuated.
Monday, 27 June 2011
Mr Straus' cards, routes to e-book creation and the hottest day of the year so far
Today marked the completion of the business card designs for Mr Straus and his new venture, The Wine & Spirit Training Consultancy International (WSTC International). The design had evolved through a number of permutations and corrections – but today it was off to the printer.
The pleasurable was mingled with the difficult. Talking to and writing to two clients for whom we had not been able to find contacts in the UK, despite considerable effort expended. The one consolation is that this is a phenomenon in the minority.
We have permission to use the audio recording that I made and edited of Mrs Evans' interview on the Cambridge Open Studios website and I will address this possibly tomorrow.
Late afternoon and evening was directed to trying to convert both Word and Open Office documents into e-book formats via a variety of routes and with the use of different program sets. Examples were use of Mobipocket Creator and Calibre to convert either Word processing formats directly or via conversion to the internet language HTML. The test-ebooks generated in their myriad forms were then tested both on Kindle emulators and on the Kindle itself. I feel that I am getting a much better grasp of the process and possibilities.
Todays temperatures reached 30 degrees centigrade in the shade. The news claimed this to be the hottest day for years. Working in my windowed office afforded me the opportunity to practice dealing with heat up to 35 deg C whilst working, in preparation for an Egypt trip later in the year.
The pleasurable was mingled with the difficult. Talking to and writing to two clients for whom we had not been able to find contacts in the UK, despite considerable effort expended. The one consolation is that this is a phenomenon in the minority.
We have permission to use the audio recording that I made and edited of Mrs Evans' interview on the Cambridge Open Studios website and I will address this possibly tomorrow.
Late afternoon and evening was directed to trying to convert both Word and Open Office documents into e-book formats via a variety of routes and with the use of different program sets. Examples were use of Mobipocket Creator and Calibre to convert either Word processing formats directly or via conversion to the internet language HTML. The test-ebooks generated in their myriad forms were then tested both on Kindle emulators and on the Kindle itself. I feel that I am getting a much better grasp of the process and possibilities.
Todays temperatures reached 30 degrees centigrade in the shade. The news claimed this to be the hottest day for years. Working in my windowed office afforded me the opportunity to practice dealing with heat up to 35 deg C whilst working, in preparation for an Egypt trip later in the year.
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Editing sound recording and e-book TOCs
Today, I finally achieved the formatting and sizing of my remaining four photograph files, ready for printing. The completed file was placed in a secure online location for Mrs Mauders to retrieve and print.
A quick interlude was provided by the recording and editing of an interview by my Chinese Brush Painting Tutor, Mrs Evans, on Radio Cambridgeshire last night. Fortunately, I was able to listen to the recording on i-player and record the relevant section, then editing out all extraneous material. Again, this file was made accessible online, this time for Mrs Evans to approve.
The last conundrum of the day, which I eventually solved, was the final textual structure of a document translation into an e-book. As ever with computing related matter, it required an inordinate amount of time and research for hidden answers to find a trivial and retrospectively simple appearing solution.
A quick interlude was provided by the recording and editing of an interview by my Chinese Brush Painting Tutor, Mrs Evans, on Radio Cambridgeshire last night. Fortunately, I was able to listen to the recording on i-player and record the relevant section, then editing out all extraneous material. Again, this file was made accessible online, this time for Mrs Evans to approve.
The last conundrum of the day, which I eventually solved, was the final textual structure of a document translation into an e-book. As ever with computing related matter, it required an inordinate amount of time and research for hidden answers to find a trivial and retrospectively simple appearing solution.
Battling with the conversion of documents
Friday, 24th June.
The resolution and de-escalation of the previously mentioned conflict appears to be progressing, as judged by the e-mails still circulating
It being a Friday, the accumulated work and urgency combined with a minimum of a couple of hours to progress, before setting of to HBN for a relatively quiet meeting . This was followed by a Tutorcloud session, where we progressed with practical procedures and instructions for potential users.
My battle of the day was getting an understanding of the finer points of converting a word processor generated text into an e-book. This being part of an exercise in trying to generate my own book on the subject in a form far more comprehensible than this document. Effectively, the conversion means translating a text from one electronic dialect to another, via an intermediary language. It required time and learning by trial and error, to gain an understanding of how different routes worked, their successes and their pitfalls. It was a very late night.
The resolution and de-escalation of the previously mentioned conflict appears to be progressing, as judged by the e-mails still circulating
It being a Friday, the accumulated work and urgency combined with a minimum of a couple of hours to progress, before setting of to HBN for a relatively quiet meeting . This was followed by a Tutorcloud session, where we progressed with practical procedures and instructions for potential users.
My battle of the day was getting an understanding of the finer points of converting a word processor generated text into an e-book. This being part of an exercise in trying to generate my own book on the subject in a form far more comprehensible than this document. Effectively, the conversion means translating a text from one electronic dialect to another, via an intermediary language. It required time and learning by trial and error, to gain an understanding of how different routes worked, their successes and their pitfalls. It was a very late night.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Positive turn to reconciliation after a shaky start and preparation for a workshop
A sixth day of waking with a migraine in the making and quelled.
I was prompted into a first and sharp response to another message by e-mail, a continuation of the debate mentioned on Tuesday, only to find that the subject of my ire was actually the first step in a more conciliatory approach by one of the protagonists.
A flurry of calls and e-mails was initiated throughout the wider circle of interested parties as well as between myself and the now offended letter writer. It did look however as there was a new mood to compromise and find an equitable route out of the conflict. There is a glimmer of hope.
A series of other calls and e-mails trickled in during the day relating to specific design work for Mr Straus' business cards. The afternoon was devoted to collating feedback from questions to UK contacts for a German client
With my workshop on networking effectively, for July 1st at the Huntingdonshire Business Network, just over a week away, I put in place two strands in support. Rather than just relying on what I though might be questions that attendees would like answering, I submitted a request for feedback from a variety of groups within the business social network LinkedIn, for their questions and opinions on networking effectively.
The second strand followed previous advice by Mr Howell, on using preset timed microblogs on Twitter. I chose a series of phrases and questions from my publicity text for the event and spread them, three to a working day (morning, midday and afternoon) starting today through to next Wednesday. Already, one friend kindly retweeted one of the first messages.
The writing of my e-book, on using free software to prepare e-books, is progressing. Last night I completed the intitial advice on formatting text whilst writing, with advice for experts, experienced digital writers and novices. Started the next session on reviewing and proof reading a manuscript.
I was prompted into a first and sharp response to another message by e-mail, a continuation of the debate mentioned on Tuesday, only to find that the subject of my ire was actually the first step in a more conciliatory approach by one of the protagonists.
A flurry of calls and e-mails was initiated throughout the wider circle of interested parties as well as between myself and the now offended letter writer. It did look however as there was a new mood to compromise and find an equitable route out of the conflict. There is a glimmer of hope.
A series of other calls and e-mails trickled in during the day relating to specific design work for Mr Straus' business cards. The afternoon was devoted to collating feedback from questions to UK contacts for a German client
With my workshop on networking effectively, for July 1st at the Huntingdonshire Business Network, just over a week away, I put in place two strands in support. Rather than just relying on what I though might be questions that attendees would like answering, I submitted a request for feedback from a variety of groups within the business social network LinkedIn, for their questions and opinions on networking effectively.
The second strand followed previous advice by Mr Howell, on using preset timed microblogs on Twitter. I chose a series of phrases and questions from my publicity text for the event and spread them, three to a working day (morning, midday and afternoon) starting today through to next Wednesday. Already, one friend kindly retweeted one of the first messages.
The writing of my e-book, on using free software to prepare e-books, is progressing. Last night I completed the intitial advice on formatting text whilst writing, with advice for experts, experienced digital writers and novices. Started the next session on reviewing and proof reading a manuscript.
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
A morning of calls and three middle eastern conflicts in the news
A hectic morning of telephone calls, with potential and current collaborations.
My conversation with Mr Heker via Skype was interrupted twice, however we managed to pursue the possibility of another publication with a prestige journal in his field of expertise. The existing publications (see http://german-smile.info/Publishing/publishing.htm) now generating interest in both China and Russia.
The first interruption was from another business friend, Mr Burt of Jamy limited with news and also the opportunity to touch base about work for Mr Straus. The second call was from a Suffolk author, asking about the options for assistance with publication, which also digressed on the benefits of using pectin versus Jam sugar for strawberry jam making and on sourdough cultures.
A third and enjoyable call was to Mrs Maunders, a renowned botanical illustrator. Mrs Maunders had printed my photographs in the past and offered to do so this year; this call was to check whether this was still the case as I have four outstanding images for printing prior to framing for the Cambridge Open Studios. Fortunately, printing was possible – I now have to prepare the digital files to permit printing at the correct size.
The afternoon was spent in completing design work, for embroidery on corporate garments, name tags with two different affiliations for three people and a revamp of a business card design, again to be used as a template for three people.
The news is full of middle eastern conflicts, starting with planned troop withdrawals from Afghanistan over the next few years from the longest conflict that Britain has been involved in for a century or more. The cost of innocent lives – children and wives, through allied air attacks in Libya was also in the forefront of media interest. What is less visible is the overall level of casualties, which are now estimated around 10000 with at least 3000 being civilians. The brutal repression of the uprising in Syria also grips the media in a conflict where the the world is watching from the sidelines.
My conversation with Mr Heker via Skype was interrupted twice, however we managed to pursue the possibility of another publication with a prestige journal in his field of expertise. The existing publications (see http://german-smile.info/Publishing/publishing.htm) now generating interest in both China and Russia.
The first interruption was from another business friend, Mr Burt of Jamy limited with news and also the opportunity to touch base about work for Mr Straus. The second call was from a Suffolk author, asking about the options for assistance with publication, which also digressed on the benefits of using pectin versus Jam sugar for strawberry jam making and on sourdough cultures.
A third and enjoyable call was to Mrs Maunders, a renowned botanical illustrator. Mrs Maunders had printed my photographs in the past and offered to do so this year; this call was to check whether this was still the case as I have four outstanding images for printing prior to framing for the Cambridge Open Studios. Fortunately, printing was possible – I now have to prepare the digital files to permit printing at the correct size.
The afternoon was spent in completing design work, for embroidery on corporate garments, name tags with two different affiliations for three people and a revamp of a business card design, again to be used as a template for three people.
The news is full of middle eastern conflicts, starting with planned troop withdrawals from Afghanistan over the next few years from the longest conflict that Britain has been involved in for a century or more. The cost of innocent lives – children and wives, through allied air attacks in Libya was also in the forefront of media interest. What is less visible is the overall level of casualties, which are now estimated around 10000 with at least 3000 being civilians. The brutal repression of the uprising in Syria also grips the media in a conflict where the the world is watching from the sidelines.
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
From mental washout, inevitable conflict to a positive delivery.
Washed out from a sudden onset of migraine overnight, plus sporadic attacks of hay-fever with the high pollen count.
The consequence of a severe migraine, even if countered with medication, is a curious state of mind. There is a sort of disconnection, impressions still come in via the senses but you look at them from an inner distance. Ironically, it is a good time to try to do cryptic crosswords as lateral connections come easier.
I called Ms Ekblom to see if she could stand in for me, as the representative of the Huntingdonshire Business Network, at the afternoon meeting of the Economic Skills and Prosperity Meeting, organised by Huntingdonshire District Council. Fortunately, she was able to oblige. In return, I offered to assist with a computing malfunction that she was experiencing. Of course, by virtue of having turned off the computer and having left it for a little while, the fault chose not to reveal itself, leaving us non the wiser as the the cause of the original erroneous behaviour.
My continuing work at the computer was interrupted by a call from a member from another group I'm associated with. A misunderstanding, a miscommunication, had, with incredible rapidity, exploded into full scale hostility between two members. I had seen the opening salvoes as electronic communications and, in my naivety, thought that the situation might still be in the early stages and salvageable. An hour or more later of separate telephone calls with the protagonists had shattered my illusions on the matter. It now only remains to watch from the sidelines over the coming days and weeks and see the sad spectacle play itself out, with the forlorn hope that the damage arising is limited in some form.
The positive event of the day was the arrival of a package from moo.com. This contained the postcards and greetings cards that Miss T. had prepared as an online order for me. These materials are further support for my upcoming open studio.
The consequence of a severe migraine, even if countered with medication, is a curious state of mind. There is a sort of disconnection, impressions still come in via the senses but you look at them from an inner distance. Ironically, it is a good time to try to do cryptic crosswords as lateral connections come easier.
I called Ms Ekblom to see if she could stand in for me, as the representative of the Huntingdonshire Business Network, at the afternoon meeting of the Economic Skills and Prosperity Meeting, organised by Huntingdonshire District Council. Fortunately, she was able to oblige. In return, I offered to assist with a computing malfunction that she was experiencing. Of course, by virtue of having turned off the computer and having left it for a little while, the fault chose not to reveal itself, leaving us non the wiser as the the cause of the original erroneous behaviour.
My continuing work at the computer was interrupted by a call from a member from another group I'm associated with. A misunderstanding, a miscommunication, had, with incredible rapidity, exploded into full scale hostility between two members. I had seen the opening salvoes as electronic communications and, in my naivety, thought that the situation might still be in the early stages and salvageable. An hour or more later of separate telephone calls with the protagonists had shattered my illusions on the matter. It now only remains to watch from the sidelines over the coming days and weeks and see the sad spectacle play itself out, with the forlorn hope that the damage arising is limited in some form.
The positive event of the day was the arrival of a package from moo.com. This contained the postcards and greetings cards that Miss T. had prepared as an online order for me. These materials are further support for my upcoming open studio.
Monday, 20 June 2011
On networking, on the phone, in print, in person
The run of three consecutive days of migraines is thankfully over and this mornings e-mail box was not too onerous. I was blessed with two calls, one from Mr Straus, on his way from Thetford to Huntingdon, whom I invited to drop by for a quick coffee, and Mr Heker. The latter was more a quick social call, curtailed by the arrival of Mr Straus, whom I introduced via Skype before the call ended.
Mr Straus was in need of a strong coffee as he was currently running on 120 percent due to the confluence of several projects, Sri Lanka being a major feature in his plans. Fortunately I had not started revising some of his designs as his febrile activity had already moved on to further changes.
With less than a fortnight till I present a workshop on how to network, It was imperative to complete the electronic poster to be mailed out by Ms Ekblom from the Huntingdonshire Business Network. I perceive the event as an interactive one, with some structure and key elements to include but also drawing heavily on the needs and feedback of the participants attending. Whilst many are still taking the first steps into physical networking, the influence of new technologies had also brought on changes on how to follow up contacts using the multiplicity of online social tools. Our corporeal selves also have to be augmented by our own ethereal presences in the wider internet.
The day rounded off with an initial short answer to a prospect's question, of what services were included in my provisions for authors as a publisher. When I had finished, the result extended over three A4 pages – and not due to excessive verbosity on my part!
Evocative phrase from this evenings Eurythmics track “I was dreaming like a Texan girl. A girl who thinks she's got the right to everything.” And so she should!
Mr Straus was in need of a strong coffee as he was currently running on 120 percent due to the confluence of several projects, Sri Lanka being a major feature in his plans. Fortunately I had not started revising some of his designs as his febrile activity had already moved on to further changes.
With less than a fortnight till I present a workshop on how to network, It was imperative to complete the electronic poster to be mailed out by Ms Ekblom from the Huntingdonshire Business Network. I perceive the event as an interactive one, with some structure and key elements to include but also drawing heavily on the needs and feedback of the participants attending. Whilst many are still taking the first steps into physical networking, the influence of new technologies had also brought on changes on how to follow up contacts using the multiplicity of online social tools. Our corporeal selves also have to be augmented by our own ethereal presences in the wider internet.
The day rounded off with an initial short answer to a prospect's question, of what services were included in my provisions for authors as a publisher. When I had finished, the result extended over three A4 pages – and not due to excessive verbosity on my part!
Evocative phrase from this evenings Eurythmics track “I was dreaming like a Texan girl. A girl who thinks she's got the right to everything.” And so she should!
Saturday, 18 June 2011
An pleasurable excursion to Kings Lynn
Mrs T, Miss T and I set off by Rail from Waterbeach station to distant Kings Lynn for a days outing. The 39 minute journey was a refreshing change to the drive by car and deposited us at the terminus station just off the Town Centre.
Miss T garnered a guide of walks through Kings Lynn and we set of at a measured pace in the occasional sunshine. The photoalbum with some of the sights that attracted my interest can be found here https://picasaweb.google.com/miltoncontact/ExcursionToKingsLynn# .
In the more modern shopping centre of Broad Street, I learnt how the Fent shop that the ladies dived into to view fabrics and related craft materials derived its name. Fent used to be a term for fabric remnants and was applied to the original market stall that then developed into the current well situated and stocked shop now present on the street.
We wandered into increasingly picturesque parts of the town, with the Pilots Lane and the St Nicholas' Chapel affording some considerable interest. One of the houses (a licenced premises till 1906) was named Pilots Hoy. The term hoy used to apply to a small sloop-rigged coasting ship or a freight barge and perhaps gave the feeling of a land based home from the sea to the busy mariner.
St Nicholas' Chapel is currently being lovingly restored with the help of its friends and the Churches Conservation Trust. Once the country's largest chapel, the south porch was well decorated externally. Inside, the beamed ceiling was adorned with an impressive array of large wooden angels and two other figures, very reminiscent of the All Saints Church at Landbeach. I spent some time photographing the 19th century stained glass windows in detail, with the possibility of a separate article again as for Hereford Cathedral – if I find the time.
We progressed to the Quays, and it was there that I learnt about the strong connection of Kings Lynn with the Hanseatic league, something still recognised by the German Government. Indeed, the Hanseatic league of cities has undergone a revitalisation. The old “Hanse”existed to promote trade between cities and also protect their shipping from piracy though mutual protection. The modern Hanse again has trade and cultural links at its centre.
Purfleet Quay had a derelict looking building that caught my eye, because all the windows had been painted with scenes by local artists. Apparently this was to draw attention to the fact that redevelopment was needed.
The occasional heavy showers were fortunately avoided by lunch and afternoon tea on our circuit of the town. Our last stop was the Red Chapel in the Gardens before we boarded the train back home.
Miss T garnered a guide of walks through Kings Lynn and we set of at a measured pace in the occasional sunshine. The photoalbum with some of the sights that attracted my interest can be found here https://picasaweb.google.com/miltoncontact/ExcursionToKingsLynn# .
In the more modern shopping centre of Broad Street, I learnt how the Fent shop that the ladies dived into to view fabrics and related craft materials derived its name. Fent used to be a term for fabric remnants and was applied to the original market stall that then developed into the current well situated and stocked shop now present on the street.
We wandered into increasingly picturesque parts of the town, with the Pilots Lane and the St Nicholas' Chapel affording some considerable interest. One of the houses (a licenced premises till 1906) was named Pilots Hoy. The term hoy used to apply to a small sloop-rigged coasting ship or a freight barge and perhaps gave the feeling of a land based home from the sea to the busy mariner.
St Nicholas' Chapel is currently being lovingly restored with the help of its friends and the Churches Conservation Trust. Once the country's largest chapel, the south porch was well decorated externally. Inside, the beamed ceiling was adorned with an impressive array of large wooden angels and two other figures, very reminiscent of the All Saints Church at Landbeach. I spent some time photographing the 19th century stained glass windows in detail, with the possibility of a separate article again as for Hereford Cathedral – if I find the time.
We progressed to the Quays, and it was there that I learnt about the strong connection of Kings Lynn with the Hanseatic league, something still recognised by the German Government. Indeed, the Hanseatic league of cities has undergone a revitalisation. The old “Hanse”existed to promote trade between cities and also protect their shipping from piracy though mutual protection. The modern Hanse again has trade and cultural links at its centre.
Purfleet Quay had a derelict looking building that caught my eye, because all the windows had been painted with scenes by local artists. Apparently this was to draw attention to the fact that redevelopment was needed.
The occasional heavy showers were fortunately avoided by lunch and afternoon tea on our circuit of the town. Our last stop was the Red Chapel in the Gardens before we boarded the train back home.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Milton to Cambridge to Huntingdon and back by bus.
My car has developed an interesting knocking noise. Mr Godden, our very competent repair and garage owner, suggested I drop by so that he could listen. He instantly identified a defective venting flap motor and suggested, that due to the fact that this was deeply hidden in the depths of the car behind the dashboard, one could decide to live with it to save a larger bill. Fortunately, one solution to quieten the noise was to turn on the recirculation function. However, this is not ideal.
How difficult would it be to go to the Huntingdonshire Business Network meeting by public transport? I set out at just before 10:30 and purchased a Dayrider Plus ticket on the Number 9 bus into Cambridge. I arrived in time to catch the No 55 bus and gain a seat at the top of the doubledecker bus, right at the front. The journey was quite enjoyable, with excellent views due to the elevation. I was even able to keep up the occasional commentary on Facebook on Mr Harpers Radio Show friends page.
With scattered clouds and sunshine, the countryside had greened. St Ives glowed in the sun as the bus crossed the bridge across the flood plain, with cattle chewing the cud next to the picturesque lock on the river.
I was led into a false sense of success, when the bus passed Mr Wishart in Hartford, on foot to the Huntingdon Indoor Bowls Club to the same meeting. Till the bus route took a sudden diversion through a range of twisting roads in a residential development, returned to the ring road around Huntingdon and proceeded to the other side of town to the bus station. Arriving shortly after midday, I walked for quarter of an hour to reach my destination, to find Mr Wishart already in conversation with Mr Williamson.
The meeting progressed well. Mr Foster kindly gave Mr Wishart and myself a lift to the edge of the town centre and we made our way along the High Street. Parting halfway along, I entered a branch of my bank to resolve the early repayment of yesterdays credit card expenditure. Fortunately, this was achieved relatively painlessly.
On the way back to the bus station, I purchased some cream cake and a drink carton, with a view to enjoying the scenery on the way back. Most notable in Huntingdon, on the convoluted route out of the town, was Buttsgrove Way. Here, there were scattered what looked like wooden huts or bungalows. Many obviously boarded up with forlorn TV ariels still here and there, yet a selection were obviously still inhabited. See the Google map reference link here. Was this the last remnants of post world war II prefab accommodation? Surely a heritage feature worth preserving.
From door to door, the return journey took about two hours, similar to the outward trip. The cost was approximately a third of that of using a car and had the advantages of no driving stress and event the possibility of WiFi and working on board the longer bus drive. It would have taken a similar two hours to hire a car and drive, then return it, though as double the cost of driving oneself.
Back home, a delightful message from Mrs Green greeted me on the answerphone – that an introduction to Ms Fryer, met last week at Mrs Hawkins' TiG event, had rsulted in a very favourable and mutually beneficial outcome for the two ladies.
How difficult would it be to go to the Huntingdonshire Business Network meeting by public transport? I set out at just before 10:30 and purchased a Dayrider Plus ticket on the Number 9 bus into Cambridge. I arrived in time to catch the No 55 bus and gain a seat at the top of the doubledecker bus, right at the front. The journey was quite enjoyable, with excellent views due to the elevation. I was even able to keep up the occasional commentary on Facebook on Mr Harpers Radio Show friends page.
With scattered clouds and sunshine, the countryside had greened. St Ives glowed in the sun as the bus crossed the bridge across the flood plain, with cattle chewing the cud next to the picturesque lock on the river.
I was led into a false sense of success, when the bus passed Mr Wishart in Hartford, on foot to the Huntingdon Indoor Bowls Club to the same meeting. Till the bus route took a sudden diversion through a range of twisting roads in a residential development, returned to the ring road around Huntingdon and proceeded to the other side of town to the bus station. Arriving shortly after midday, I walked for quarter of an hour to reach my destination, to find Mr Wishart already in conversation with Mr Williamson.
The meeting progressed well. Mr Foster kindly gave Mr Wishart and myself a lift to the edge of the town centre and we made our way along the High Street. Parting halfway along, I entered a branch of my bank to resolve the early repayment of yesterdays credit card expenditure. Fortunately, this was achieved relatively painlessly.
On the way back to the bus station, I purchased some cream cake and a drink carton, with a view to enjoying the scenery on the way back. Most notable in Huntingdon, on the convoluted route out of the town, was Buttsgrove Way. Here, there were scattered what looked like wooden huts or bungalows. Many obviously boarded up with forlorn TV ariels still here and there, yet a selection were obviously still inhabited. See the Google map reference link here. Was this the last remnants of post world war II prefab accommodation? Surely a heritage feature worth preserving.
From door to door, the return journey took about two hours, similar to the outward trip. The cost was approximately a third of that of using a car and had the advantages of no driving stress and event the possibility of WiFi and working on board the longer bus drive. It would have taken a similar two hours to hire a car and drive, then return it, though as double the cost of driving oneself.
Back home, a delightful message from Mrs Green greeted me on the answerphone – that an introduction to Ms Fryer, met last week at Mrs Hawkins' TiG event, had rsulted in a very favourable and mutually beneficial outcome for the two ladies.
Thursday, 16 June 2011
Planning for the Nile trip and e-book formatting
In addition to the current days tasks for a variety of parties, including Mr Straus with further ideas and inspirations for design modifications required to his branding, there were three elements of interest today.
The first was the complex decision making leading to the decision for me to accompany Miss T on a Nile trip to Egypt's antiquities. The country had been featuring in the news during its revolution during the earlier part of this year, with concern about security and safety therefore being uppermost in my mind. I consulted with my Insurance Brokers to ensure that we could get appropriate travel and health cover for the trip later in the year. This was complicated by the fact that a prophylactic medication that I take, which retains me in the good health that I enjoy, meant that the medical health insurance element resulted in a higher premium for me (still providing an overall premium a good 15 to 20% below that from other sources!). Once the steps were put in place, it was then possible to book the tickets with the reputable travel company Thompson.
The second point was an idiosyncrasy arising from payment. I had paid with a credit card. The sum, despite the heavy discount, was not inconsiderable and I wished to transfer funds from my bank to the credit card. In all other instances, I make payments over the internet to other accounts. However, I could not transfer monies from my bank account to my credit card! Ah, the impenetrable and inscrutible financial services – no dount there will be a charge involved in the final solution to my problem.
The third element of interest was a discussion with fellow author and interested party in e-book publication, Ms Ekblom. We had an interesting exchange of information on the use of software such as Sigil for the editing of the formatting in the underlying HTML language of texts and the subsequent formatting in Calibre. Ms Ekblom had an eagle eye as a proof reader that complemented my knowledge on the formatting language as we shared a common view of a screen through the medium of Skype internet telephony.
A pleasant diversion was the arrival of the empty picture frames for my Cambridge Open Studios exhibition. Miss T was instrumental in carefully opening the frames and then mounting selected pictures, after I had signed them. It now remains for me to arrange the printing of four outstanding images and also painting two images using the newly acquired art of Chinese Brush Painting.
Ms Riches, our publicity officer for COS, also contacted me over lunchtime via Skype and we exchanged text comments whilst listening to a short interview on the Peterborough Open Studios of circa 40 artists. COS was also mentioned and we were pleased that this year we were starting public awareness of Cambridge Open Studios early.
The first was the complex decision making leading to the decision for me to accompany Miss T on a Nile trip to Egypt's antiquities. The country had been featuring in the news during its revolution during the earlier part of this year, with concern about security and safety therefore being uppermost in my mind. I consulted with my Insurance Brokers to ensure that we could get appropriate travel and health cover for the trip later in the year. This was complicated by the fact that a prophylactic medication that I take, which retains me in the good health that I enjoy, meant that the medical health insurance element resulted in a higher premium for me (still providing an overall premium a good 15 to 20% below that from other sources!). Once the steps were put in place, it was then possible to book the tickets with the reputable travel company Thompson.
The second point was an idiosyncrasy arising from payment. I had paid with a credit card. The sum, despite the heavy discount, was not inconsiderable and I wished to transfer funds from my bank to the credit card. In all other instances, I make payments over the internet to other accounts. However, I could not transfer monies from my bank account to my credit card! Ah, the impenetrable and inscrutible financial services – no dount there will be a charge involved in the final solution to my problem.
The third element of interest was a discussion with fellow author and interested party in e-book publication, Ms Ekblom. We had an interesting exchange of information on the use of software such as Sigil for the editing of the formatting in the underlying HTML language of texts and the subsequent formatting in Calibre. Ms Ekblom had an eagle eye as a proof reader that complemented my knowledge on the formatting language as we shared a common view of a screen through the medium of Skype internet telephony.
A pleasant diversion was the arrival of the empty picture frames for my Cambridge Open Studios exhibition. Miss T was instrumental in carefully opening the frames and then mounting selected pictures, after I had signed them. It now remains for me to arrange the printing of four outstanding images and also painting two images using the newly acquired art of Chinese Brush Painting.
Ms Riches, our publicity officer for COS, also contacted me over lunchtime via Skype and we exchanged text comments whilst listening to a short interview on the Peterborough Open Studios of circa 40 artists. COS was also mentioned and we were pleased that this year we were starting public awareness of Cambridge Open Studios early.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Varied tasks, photographic show and missed total lunar eclipse.
A very varied day that included a disappointment, quick modification of a business card design, book chapters to be reviewed, an Icelandic project and planning of a press release!
The evening included a meeting of the Milton Photographic Club, where members congressed for a show and tell of a selection of images. The idea was to review images that could be used for a presentation at the Milton Summer Fair.
Sadly, I missed the total lunar eclipse this evening, primarily due to the cloud cover. However there is the consolation that there will be another on 10th December of this year, though it will not be visible from the UK, as it occurs early to mid afternoon.
The next partial solar eclipse for the UK will be 20th May 2012.
The evening included a meeting of the Milton Photographic Club, where members congressed for a show and tell of a selection of images. The idea was to review images that could be used for a presentation at the Milton Summer Fair.
Sadly, I missed the total lunar eclipse this evening, primarily due to the cloud cover. However there is the consolation that there will be another on 10th December of this year, though it will not be visible from the UK, as it occurs early to mid afternoon.
The next partial solar eclipse for the UK will be 20th May 2012.
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Elusive client and the consolation of brownies
Chasing an elusive German client with regards to UK visits commitment without success. This contrasted with a positive call from a previous visitor to this island who was enquiring about assistance with another visit and related publicity.
Enjoyed a surprise visit by Mr Little, a trainer in the art of surveying and the technologies involved (see article on “From international boundaries to broomsticks”). I prevailed upon him to stay for dinner.
Evening taken up with a three hour meeting of the Management Team of the Cambridge Open Studios, to assess our progress to date against our objectives and budget. All was working surprisingly well, prior to the actual event of 178 studios opening their doors to the public in July. The marathon event was made more enjoyable by the brownies and drinks provided by our hostess, Ms Lichterman.
Enjoyed a surprise visit by Mr Little, a trainer in the art of surveying and the technologies involved (see article on “From international boundaries to broomsticks”). I prevailed upon him to stay for dinner.
Evening taken up with a three hour meeting of the Management Team of the Cambridge Open Studios, to assess our progress to date against our objectives and budget. All was working surprisingly well, prior to the actual event of 178 studios opening their doors to the public in July. The marathon event was made more enjoyable by the brownies and drinks provided by our hostess, Ms Lichterman.
Monday, 13 June 2011
Teaching book formatting and volcanically delayed Australian flights
Just a short note for the day.
Painted a quick Bamboo picture and made it a note to accompany some Cambridge Open Studios booklets, which were delivered to Mr Harper and his colleagues at BBC Cambridgeshire.
I drove onwards for a marathom meeting with Ms Lowry, to assist in setting up her computer and documents for her book. The objective was to make life simpler at this stage and enable a speedier formatting and publishing of her book.
Back home, Miss T used her computing skills to design postcards and greetings cards for my Cambridge Open Studio that I then ordered online.
Have progressed the writing of my own book on producing and publishing an e-book using available free software.
Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted more than a week ago and is now disrupting flights in Australia.
Syria continues its repressive suppression of dissent, causing refugees to flee to the border with Turkey.
Painted a quick Bamboo picture and made it a note to accompany some Cambridge Open Studios booklets, which were delivered to Mr Harper and his colleagues at BBC Cambridgeshire.
I drove onwards for a marathom meeting with Ms Lowry, to assist in setting up her computer and documents for her book. The objective was to make life simpler at this stage and enable a speedier formatting and publishing of her book.
Back home, Miss T used her computing skills to design postcards and greetings cards for my Cambridge Open Studio that I then ordered online.
Have progressed the writing of my own book on producing and publishing an e-book using available free software.
Chile's Puyehue volcano erupted more than a week ago and is now disrupting flights in Australia.
Syria continues its repressive suppression of dissent, causing refugees to flee to the border with Turkey.
Friday, 10 June 2011
Meetings and traditional sausages
Yesterday's The Inspired Group meeting had generated a new idea that continued fermenting in the hours before sleep. Almost the first task of the day was to encapsulate the idea and its ramifications into a document that was then sent off for consideration, in confidence, by both Mr Wishart and a further contact. The internet conspired against me by failing temporarily, thus delaying my departure for the weekly Huntingdonshire Business Network meeting.
Fortunately, my journey to Huntingdon was without incident, though I noted with some concern, the sudden cessation of flow and the rapidly growing queues on the other carriageway once past the Godmanchester exit. Arriving at the HBN venue of the Indoor Bowls Club, I was delighted to see Ms J Buck, a ray of light amongst business people through her radiant smile, dynamism and dedication to her successful Aloe Vera business. Just passing by, I was fortunate to see her before she departed for another meeting.
Today's topics ranged from promoting tourism in Huntingdonshire, over the best e-book reader, including feedback and impressions of yesterday's TIG meeting. I hit a technical hitch trying to convert a document with a colour image into mobi e-book format for Ms Ekblom; a task I tackled in the evening, finding that failure appeared to be the paucity of text in the initial attempt as subsequent trials with additional text functioned perfectly.
After HBN, on to Over for Tutorcloud. Mrs Farndale had brought along the business cards printed according to my design, which had turned out well. Joined by Mr Beal and Ms Heeneman, we progressed through the procedural mechanisms underlying the continued development of the matchmaking site.
I spent some time afterwards in conversation with Mr Beal and minor troubleshooting of the Cambridge Open Studios blog functionality.
On the way home, I stopped off at the Rose farm in Swavesey to purchase sausages from the last batch of pork to be prepared before Autumn, coming away with Lincolnshire and Old English pork sausages to freeze at home.
Volcanic activity appears to the the rage as there were news pictures of increasing lava activity in Hawaii. A detailed article in the Berliner Morgenpost http://www.morgenpost.de/web-wissen/article1668413/Lueckenlose-Indizienkette-weist-zu-Bio-Sprossen.html on the E. coli outbreak reports that the accumulated evidence from epidemiological studies poitns to the bean sprout producer in Bienenbuettel, Lowe Saxony. Infection clusters and photographic evidence of meals in pictures taken by restaurant visitors all contributed to the evidence.
Our region of East Anglia has been officially declared to be in a drought, though there was no threat to water supplies as yet.
Fortunately, my journey to Huntingdon was without incident, though I noted with some concern, the sudden cessation of flow and the rapidly growing queues on the other carriageway once past the Godmanchester exit. Arriving at the HBN venue of the Indoor Bowls Club, I was delighted to see Ms J Buck, a ray of light amongst business people through her radiant smile, dynamism and dedication to her successful Aloe Vera business. Just passing by, I was fortunate to see her before she departed for another meeting.
Today's topics ranged from promoting tourism in Huntingdonshire, over the best e-book reader, including feedback and impressions of yesterday's TIG meeting. I hit a technical hitch trying to convert a document with a colour image into mobi e-book format for Ms Ekblom; a task I tackled in the evening, finding that failure appeared to be the paucity of text in the initial attempt as subsequent trials with additional text functioned perfectly.
After HBN, on to Over for Tutorcloud. Mrs Farndale had brought along the business cards printed according to my design, which had turned out well. Joined by Mr Beal and Ms Heeneman, we progressed through the procedural mechanisms underlying the continued development of the matchmaking site.
I spent some time afterwards in conversation with Mr Beal and minor troubleshooting of the Cambridge Open Studios blog functionality.
On the way home, I stopped off at the Rose farm in Swavesey to purchase sausages from the last batch of pork to be prepared before Autumn, coming away with Lincolnshire and Old English pork sausages to freeze at home.
Volcanic activity appears to the the rage as there were news pictures of increasing lava activity in Hawaii. A detailed article in the Berliner Morgenpost http://www.morgenpost.de/web-wissen/article1668413/Lueckenlose-Indizienkette-weist-zu-Bio-Sprossen.html on the E. coli outbreak reports that the accumulated evidence from epidemiological studies poitns to the bean sprout producer in Bienenbuettel, Lowe Saxony. Infection clusters and photographic evidence of meals in pictures taken by restaurant visitors all contributed to the evidence.
Our region of East Anglia has been officially declared to be in a drought, though there was no threat to water supplies as yet.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
Newly published book, QR quilts and inspirational talks
Finalised the data for my Icelandic client and sent of an optimised long list of contacts in readiness for the impending telephone research.
Received a copy of Malcolm Mc Arthur's book that I had published with his dedication today. It was so satisfying to see the final product completed. Ka Sefofane (by aeroplane) the story of Flying Mission was a surprisingly heavy book (600g) yet with a spine of only 18mm in Royal size. The quality silk finish paper and laminated gloss cover giving full justice to the story that Malcolm McArthur, OBE, FRCS(Eng), the founder of the Flying Mission had painstakingly written over the past year. The difference between this, an offset printed book, and digital printing being apparent. This was the ninth book I had published:
Mr Wishart and I had arranged for him to collect me so that we could drive together into Cambridge to the William Art Gallery in Gwydir Street to view an exhibition of quilts, one of which was in the form of the QR code of the artist, Nancy Fève! The remaining quilts were actually more astonishing in their detail, with an excellent combination of fine needlework and patterning matched to the selection of fabrics. Mr Wishart and I engaged in conversation with a number of artists and visitors to the gallery, one of whom would also be going on to the evening's business event at Scotsdales.
We continued on to Scotsdales for The Inspired Group meeting, featuring presentations by Magpas and the inspirational Marcus Orlovsky (see separate articles beginning at http://www.hbn.org.uk/node/2847). This event resulted in a new idea which I discussed with Mr Wishart, who in turn had had his own.
Back home, I wrote late into the night, finishing with this article!
Received a copy of Malcolm Mc Arthur's book that I had published with his dedication today. It was so satisfying to see the final product completed. Ka Sefofane (by aeroplane) the story of Flying Mission was a surprisingly heavy book (600g) yet with a spine of only 18mm in Royal size. The quality silk finish paper and laminated gloss cover giving full justice to the story that Malcolm McArthur, OBE, FRCS(Eng), the founder of the Flying Mission had painstakingly written over the past year. The difference between this, an offset printed book, and digital printing being apparent. This was the ninth book I had published:
- Journey into Solitude by Ann Petre
- Nimrod; A Memoir of Mischief and Mishap by Peter Newman Brooks
- Dear Ruth; A Lament for bygone Africa by Pamela Cotton
- The Lost Priory; A Cambridge Story by Ann Hales-Tooke
- All Saints' Landbeach: The story of a fen-edge church by Ray Gambell
- The Milton Chronicle 1771 - 1901 by R S Tonks
- And Only the Seagulls are Laughing by Norman Setchell
- The Ukraine Carpathians: Europe's last great wilderness by Alexander Stemp
- Ka Sefofane: The story of Flying Mission by Malcolm J. McArthur
Mr Wishart and I had arranged for him to collect me so that we could drive together into Cambridge to the William Art Gallery in Gwydir Street to view an exhibition of quilts, one of which was in the form of the QR code of the artist, Nancy Fève! The remaining quilts were actually more astonishing in their detail, with an excellent combination of fine needlework and patterning matched to the selection of fabrics. Mr Wishart and I engaged in conversation with a number of artists and visitors to the gallery, one of whom would also be going on to the evening's business event at Scotsdales.
We continued on to Scotsdales for The Inspired Group meeting, featuring presentations by Magpas and the inspirational Marcus Orlovsky (see separate articles beginning at http://www.hbn.org.uk/node/2847). This event resulted in a new idea which I discussed with Mr Wishart, who in turn had had his own.
Back home, I wrote late into the night, finishing with this article!
Wednesday, 8 June 2011
Ms Lowry and the Eurythmics
A fresher day than yesterday,with clouds scurrying overhead and threatening the occasional shower. I hurried to the Cafe Diem in the Milton Country Park to meet with Ms Lowry, with whom I had become acquainted at the Huntingdonshire Speakers at the beginning of May. The occasion was an initial exchange of information with regards to book publishing.
We sat on the terrace overlooking the ruffled lake with the wind rushing through the nearby willows, sipping our teas. I had read a short extract from her planned introduction to her book, currently being reworked after editing and found it immediately interesting. Our tentative initial conversation developed as we discussed the books content (to be revealed at a later date perhaps) and explored potential synergies. Indeed, what had initially been intended as a potentially brief conversation continued for several hours until the call of my desk and other work led to departure.
That evening we were also graced with the presence of Miss Shaw, a longtime friend of Miss T, who stayed for a family viewing of the third Harry Potter film, “The Prisoner of Azkaban”.
However, the other delight of the day was the arrival of the music DVD “Eurythmics Greatest Hits”. It formed the background music track of the afternoon and late evening, with the chameleon features of Ms Lennox and manic Mr Stewart underlining the music and reminding me why the alto voice of Ms Lennox, with its incredible range and volume was such a joy to hear when her songs were originally released. “Here Comes the Rain Again” was a solace on gloomy days; “Gloria”, a haunting air; “Women are doing it themselves” an exuberant celebration enhanced by the presence of Ms Franklin. I am ending the evening with the wonderful “Its all right, baby's coming back”.
We sat on the terrace overlooking the ruffled lake with the wind rushing through the nearby willows, sipping our teas. I had read a short extract from her planned introduction to her book, currently being reworked after editing and found it immediately interesting. Our tentative initial conversation developed as we discussed the books content (to be revealed at a later date perhaps) and explored potential synergies. Indeed, what had initially been intended as a potentially brief conversation continued for several hours until the call of my desk and other work led to departure.
That evening we were also graced with the presence of Miss Shaw, a longtime friend of Miss T, who stayed for a family viewing of the third Harry Potter film, “The Prisoner of Azkaban”.
However, the other delight of the day was the arrival of the music DVD “Eurythmics Greatest Hits”. It formed the background music track of the afternoon and late evening, with the chameleon features of Ms Lennox and manic Mr Stewart underlining the music and reminding me why the alto voice of Ms Lennox, with its incredible range and volume was such a joy to hear when her songs were originally released. “Here Comes the Rain Again” was a solace on gloomy days; “Gloria”, a haunting air; “Women are doing it themselves” an exuberant celebration enhanced by the presence of Ms Franklin. I am ending the evening with the wonderful “Its all right, baby's coming back”.
Tuesday, 7 June 2011
From heat acclimatization to disturbing war footage from 2007
Could not sleep, so returned to work for until 3am, which was sufficiently soporific to induce sleep upon my return to bed. Work for Mr Scholz completed and dispatched over the web, including an excellent recording of Mr Straus's exposition on the United Kingdom's beverage industry at the end of May.
In anticipation of a possible trip to Egypt later in the year, the fear is that the excessive heat there may cause problems without acclimatization. The incident sunlight and its radiant heat in my office certainly raised ambient temperature when the door was closed. This suggested a route to familiarisation with elevated temperatures; I found myself spending the afternoon at a balmy 27 degrees Centigrade on a partially clouded day. No doubt further opportunities will arise as the summer progresses.
The media are still full of the E. coli outbreak in Germany, with some degree of Schadenfreude, as the authorities there seem to bumble from identifying possible sources and then failing to provide evidence. Spain had now been discarded – after a collapse of its salad vegetable industry, a restaurant in Northern Germany and then a bean sprout factory were next. With salad vegetables now off the menu throughout most of Europe, it is the farmer who are taking the economic consequences in drastic losses in what should be their peak period. The news from the UK is that local grown vegetables and salads have not been affected and are safe.
Today saw the broadcast of the first of a series of programs compiled using cameras attached to soldiers helmets in the conflict in Afghanistan. It was gripping and moving to see young men in action in 2007, in a dangerous environment, and the traumatic impact and consequences of a death in battle on fellow soldiers and the family back in Britain. A battle that resulted in 23 deaths in total, 22 of them Taliban.
Volcanoes continue to make their impact worldwide, with the Chilean eruption disrupting flights in South America.
In anticipation of a possible trip to Egypt later in the year, the fear is that the excessive heat there may cause problems without acclimatization. The incident sunlight and its radiant heat in my office certainly raised ambient temperature when the door was closed. This suggested a route to familiarisation with elevated temperatures; I found myself spending the afternoon at a balmy 27 degrees Centigrade on a partially clouded day. No doubt further opportunities will arise as the summer progresses.
The media are still full of the E. coli outbreak in Germany, with some degree of Schadenfreude, as the authorities there seem to bumble from identifying possible sources and then failing to provide evidence. Spain had now been discarded – after a collapse of its salad vegetable industry, a restaurant in Northern Germany and then a bean sprout factory were next. With salad vegetables now off the menu throughout most of Europe, it is the farmer who are taking the economic consequences in drastic losses in what should be their peak period. The news from the UK is that local grown vegetables and salads have not been affected and are safe.
Today saw the broadcast of the first of a series of programs compiled using cameras attached to soldiers helmets in the conflict in Afghanistan. It was gripping and moving to see young men in action in 2007, in a dangerous environment, and the traumatic impact and consequences of a death in battle on fellow soldiers and the family back in Britain. A battle that resulted in 23 deaths in total, 22 of them Taliban.
Volcanoes continue to make their impact worldwide, with the Chilean eruption disrupting flights in South America.
Monday, 6 June 2011
Blogging from my kindle
Through the wonders of technology, I thought to try out accessing my blog and write a short entry using my Kindle. Remarkably, it appears to function tolerably well, though it was slightly slow. Contrary to common perceptions of the male of the species, I was able to simultaneously deal with a long distance computing challenge over the telephone, set by my mother. I proudly present, my first blog via kindle.
Saturday, 4 June 2011
Return journey to Lincoln and the Architecture Students exhibition
This morning was the last foray to let the chickens of our neighbours before the latter returned from their holiday in Yorkshire. I was rewarded with an egg, pristine and still slightly warm, nestling on the hay where moments before a chicken had roosted.
Toast, tea and a boiled egg later, Mrs T and I set off for Lincoln, to collect Miss T for the summer break after her second year at University.
We traversed the dangerous stretch of the A14 to Huntingdon at a remarkable speed and without incident and left Cambridgeshire on the delightfully six-laned and quiet A1 North. Past Peterborough, the road began to undulate on the increasing but gentle rolling hills. The fields were looking greener here, compared to the severely drought ridden Eastern counties.
Twice, we saw red kites with their distinctive forked tails and slightly raffish wings, wheeling above us as we thundered past at 70 miles per hour. At Newark, we turned off onto the A46 in anticipation of having made good time to Lincoln, only to encounter a temporary queue within a couple of miles of the city.
Miss T kept an eye out for us and directed the car to a small hidden car park, a short walk along the quay to her accommodation for a short break. For lunch we dropped in on Prezzos, for salads or soups according to taste. As part of my campaign towards a reduced waistline, I thoroughly enjoyed the lighter option of king prawns on pizza bread with a good mixed salad. The latter enjoyed all the more in the knowledge that the UK has not been affected by the plateauing E. coli outbreak in Germany, now tentatively linked with a Northern German restaurant in Luebeck and another in Hamburg.
Miss T invited us to view the exhibits by architecture students in their third and fifth years. We spent an hour wandering around and I was increasingly frustrated with the presentation of the otherwise excellent and imaginative displays. In most instances, there was little attempt at clearly presenting a story that the visitor could follow. The exceptions were some of the third year students, who added legible labels and had a clear flow in their exhibits for the eye to follow through.
From my experience of attending Ecobuild and accompanying German companies in the Green, restoration and retrofitting sector, I was also surprised by the apparent lack of obvious major inclusion of energy efficient and other green features in many of the works.
We then returned for a cup of tea to the student lodgings and took on the surprisingly simple task of collecting Miss T's packed luggage and possessions. I was even more surprised that the economy of materials to be returned home left the rear windscreen of the car still clear for visibility.
The journey back passed equally well and without problems, with high cloud gradually coming from the West as a harbinger of the meteorlogical change to cooler wetter weather expected tomorrow.
Toast, tea and a boiled egg later, Mrs T and I set off for Lincoln, to collect Miss T for the summer break after her second year at University.
We traversed the dangerous stretch of the A14 to Huntingdon at a remarkable speed and without incident and left Cambridgeshire on the delightfully six-laned and quiet A1 North. Past Peterborough, the road began to undulate on the increasing but gentle rolling hills. The fields were looking greener here, compared to the severely drought ridden Eastern counties.
Twice, we saw red kites with their distinctive forked tails and slightly raffish wings, wheeling above us as we thundered past at 70 miles per hour. At Newark, we turned off onto the A46 in anticipation of having made good time to Lincoln, only to encounter a temporary queue within a couple of miles of the city.
Miss T kept an eye out for us and directed the car to a small hidden car park, a short walk along the quay to her accommodation for a short break. For lunch we dropped in on Prezzos, for salads or soups according to taste. As part of my campaign towards a reduced waistline, I thoroughly enjoyed the lighter option of king prawns on pizza bread with a good mixed salad. The latter enjoyed all the more in the knowledge that the UK has not been affected by the plateauing E. coli outbreak in Germany, now tentatively linked with a Northern German restaurant in Luebeck and another in Hamburg.
Miss T invited us to view the exhibits by architecture students in their third and fifth years. We spent an hour wandering around and I was increasingly frustrated with the presentation of the otherwise excellent and imaginative displays. In most instances, there was little attempt at clearly presenting a story that the visitor could follow. The exceptions were some of the third year students, who added legible labels and had a clear flow in their exhibits for the eye to follow through.
From my experience of attending Ecobuild and accompanying German companies in the Green, restoration and retrofitting sector, I was also surprised by the apparent lack of obvious major inclusion of energy efficient and other green features in many of the works.
We then returned for a cup of tea to the student lodgings and took on the surprisingly simple task of collecting Miss T's packed luggage and possessions. I was even more surprised that the economy of materials to be returned home left the rear windscreen of the car still clear for visibility.
The journey back passed equally well and without problems, with high cloud gradually coming from the West as a harbinger of the meteorlogical change to cooler wetter weather expected tomorrow.
Friday, 3 June 2011
Longlist research and the new compulsory pension provision for UK employees.
Mundane internet research for an Icelandic client before and after today's meeting of the Huntingdonshire Business Network (HBN). A slow but steady accumulation of companies for a long list.
Today was the monthly HBN seminar, presented as a workshop by Mr Stockdale of RHG. In his inimitable and humorous style, his main topic was the introduction of the new compulsory pension system being introduced for employees and the impact on businesses and business strategies. I recorded the fascinating talk, with audience questions and comments and Mr Stockdale may be able to use it in conjunction with the slide show. Mr Wishart also kept the wider Twittersphere informed by tweeting choice comments that some of us then retweeted to our contacts.
The wide ranging changes will initially add costs to both employees and companies, each having to make significant contributions, unless the employee opts out of the system. Even then, the employee will be again automatically opted in after three years, so must make a renewed conscious decision to opt out if still so desiring.
For the self employed and one man companies, this is likely to swell their ranks as larger companies might feel reluctant to commit to additional costs and instead contract out work. The new system may also create new business opportunities as small or medium sized companies with few employees look for cost effective solutions to manage the complexities of their now compulsory pension provision.
Booked flight tickets for a visit to NRW Germany after Cambridge Open Studios in the evening and then also continued research for writing a simple guide to creating an e-book.
Today was the monthly HBN seminar, presented as a workshop by Mr Stockdale of RHG. In his inimitable and humorous style, his main topic was the introduction of the new compulsory pension system being introduced for employees and the impact on businesses and business strategies. I recorded the fascinating talk, with audience questions and comments and Mr Stockdale may be able to use it in conjunction with the slide show. Mr Wishart also kept the wider Twittersphere informed by tweeting choice comments that some of us then retweeted to our contacts.
The wide ranging changes will initially add costs to both employees and companies, each having to make significant contributions, unless the employee opts out of the system. Even then, the employee will be again automatically opted in after three years, so must make a renewed conscious decision to opt out if still so desiring.
For the self employed and one man companies, this is likely to swell their ranks as larger companies might feel reluctant to commit to additional costs and instead contract out work. The new system may also create new business opportunities as small or medium sized companies with few employees look for cost effective solutions to manage the complexities of their now compulsory pension provision.
Booked flight tickets for a visit to NRW Germany after Cambridge Open Studios in the evening and then also continued research for writing a simple guide to creating an e-book.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
Two meetings and Ion Torrent Sequencing of German E.coli outbreak
The delayed 10.01am number 9 bus took me into Cambridge for a meeting with the dynamic Dr Lorenz in the civilised environs of the Michealhouse Cafe. It was a delight to converse in German again, though both of us stumbled over words occasionally, the penalty of living in the UK.
Dr Lorenz was assisting a technology company travelling to an exhibition in Gemany and she was interested in potential synergies between our international interests in the future. We parted with the full intention to keep in touch as no doubt such opportunities would arise.
Returning to Milton for a short break in the Country Park, I then ventured to the new offices of the Currency Exchange Network, to meet Ms Lockyer in response to her attendance at last Friday's HBN meeting. MS Lockyer was able to inform me in greater detail of the cost effective financial exchange solutions that would primarily benefit larger businesses. In turn, I was able to assist her through familiarisation with the versatile tool that is Linkedin.
Tonight's news was agog with the continuing developments in the German E. coli outbreak, releasing the tantalising detail that the genome of the strain had been sequenced and appeared to be novel.
Immediate research revealed that the genome had been sequenced within three days by BGI-Shenzhen, using a new DNA sequencing technology called Ion Torrent sequencing. I immediately wrote a short article for my miltoncontact blog on the subject which you can read here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/06/ion-torrent-sequencing-technology-helps.html
Dr Lorenz was assisting a technology company travelling to an exhibition in Gemany and she was interested in potential synergies between our international interests in the future. We parted with the full intention to keep in touch as no doubt such opportunities would arise.
Returning to Milton for a short break in the Country Park, I then ventured to the new offices of the Currency Exchange Network, to meet Ms Lockyer in response to her attendance at last Friday's HBN meeting. MS Lockyer was able to inform me in greater detail of the cost effective financial exchange solutions that would primarily benefit larger businesses. In turn, I was able to assist her through familiarisation with the versatile tool that is Linkedin.
Tonight's news was agog with the continuing developments in the German E. coli outbreak, releasing the tantalising detail that the genome of the strain had been sequenced and appeared to be novel.
Immediate research revealed that the genome had been sequenced within three days by BGI-Shenzhen, using a new DNA sequencing technology called Ion Torrent sequencing. I immediately wrote a short article for my miltoncontact blog on the subject which you can read here:
http://miltoncontact.blogspot.com/2011/06/ion-torrent-sequencing-technology-helps.html
Wednesday, 1 June 2011
Translation, E.coli and Hunts Speakers
Started the morning with a German – English translation for a Columbian company, which was completed and returned by midday. Edited, formatted and uploaded a second video, demonstration of painting roses by Mrs Evans before conducting more mundane letter writing and some internet research. Registered Mr McArthur's book Ka Sefofane with PubMed, having established its weight (650g), the last detail required before registration.
Radio news focussed on the E. coli contaminated cucumbers in Germany, which now are believed not to have originated in Spain. Cases in Northern Germany have risen to more than 2000 and the source is still unknown.
The evening was enlivened by attending the Huntingdonshire Speakers group of Toastmasters International. An event full of emotion as two members had recently suffered bereavement and each gave an eloquent and moving speech. My role this evening was to introduce and then evaluate Mrs Ekblom, who gave an inspirational presentation on “Killer Islands”. She was referring to the continents of plastic waste accumulating at mid oceanic gyres, where the detritus is mistaken for food by sea-birds and other oceanic denizens, thus causing lethal damage.
An unusual fact that I was unaware of – the storm drains of Bangladesh were found to be blocked by waste plastic bags, contributing to the devastation caused by floods and this has led to the use of plastic bags being banned in cities in the region and in India.
For the second time in recent time, drawn outside by the noise of a Helicopter circling over Milton for a couple of minutes before departing.
Radio news focussed on the E. coli contaminated cucumbers in Germany, which now are believed not to have originated in Spain. Cases in Northern Germany have risen to more than 2000 and the source is still unknown.
The evening was enlivened by attending the Huntingdonshire Speakers group of Toastmasters International. An event full of emotion as two members had recently suffered bereavement and each gave an eloquent and moving speech. My role this evening was to introduce and then evaluate Mrs Ekblom, who gave an inspirational presentation on “Killer Islands”. She was referring to the continents of plastic waste accumulating at mid oceanic gyres, where the detritus is mistaken for food by sea-birds and other oceanic denizens, thus causing lethal damage.
An unusual fact that I was unaware of – the storm drains of Bangladesh were found to be blocked by waste plastic bags, contributing to the devastation caused by floods and this has led to the use of plastic bags being banned in cities in the region and in India.
For the second time in recent time, drawn outside by the noise of a Helicopter circling over Milton for a couple of minutes before departing.
Wisteria video, painting poppy and migraine
Tuesday - A routine catch up after a long weekend and installation of new software.
Notable was editing, formatting and uploading the video of Mrs Evans demonstrating the representation of Wisteria using Chinese Brush Painting on YouTube.
Today was also the last lesson with Mrs Evans' group, where we tackled poppies and some insects as well as bidding each other adieu until late Autumn. Stopping off in town, I was unsuccessful in finding slightly patterned Japanese papers for Cambridge Open Studios, whilst finding some screw-cap pots for paint.
That evening, migraine gave an advance notice before rapidly developing into a serious attack sending me to bed early.
Notable was editing, formatting and uploading the video of Mrs Evans demonstrating the representation of Wisteria using Chinese Brush Painting on YouTube.
Today was also the last lesson with Mrs Evans' group, where we tackled poppies and some insects as well as bidding each other adieu until late Autumn. Stopping off in town, I was unsuccessful in finding slightly patterned Japanese papers for Cambridge Open Studios, whilst finding some screw-cap pots for paint.
That evening, migraine gave an advance notice before rapidly developing into a serious attack sending me to bed early.
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