...I tried to do the pictures but no joy, I need better internet than that here in the library.

...in the zoo, where I spent most of yesterday. On the spur of the moment, I introduced myself to the conservation people who work there - getting an interview with one of them (who'd been working with a girl from my course who was also doing Biology Overseas - I don't know the girl in question, though), plus arranging an interview with a nature ( Read more... )

So here I am, in sunny Canada at last. After a hour's sleep I spent 23 hours travelling by train (x3), plane (x2) and automobile (x2) yesterday - everything went smoothly (except I fell asleep in Newcastle departures lounge next to a clock which was stuck on 9:50am, so every time I woke up and checked it I thought I had 20 mins left...I realised ( Read more... )

Hello Internet, I just thought I'd tell you the happy news: I'm engaged! Yesterday I took the most lovely girl I've ever known to the Yorkshire Dales, where we looked at waterfalls, had a picnic and generally enjoyed the day. On the way home I stopped us by a secluded forest, took her into a quiet glade (under pretence of wanting to eat chocolate ( Read more... )

I've now spent about 6 hours playing with data on computers and am ready for bed. So this is short - but today has been good, never fear. Spent the morning getting the last results from the field, nice sunshine plus sun cream equals no burns, hurrah ( Read more... )

Okay, so the first thing I should do is mention that I'm NOT in the midge-infested computer portacabin writing this - having had enough of the little blighters I have holed up in my room, whence I shall make my last stand. Or, failing that, write up today, put it on a memory card and nip through to the midge-bait computers and pop it on t'internet ( Read more... )

Well, it's been a mixed day. First off, there were many good developments in the field with Al and I deciding on our project and even finding a site for it and so on, only a few minutes from the labs so all good. Next I got to talk to my lovely lady friend for half an hour, I loves her I does so that is good too. AND then we had a zoology pub ( Read more... )

It's two years since I was in Africa. In fact, exactly two years ago I was either in Tenerife or sailing to Livepool, probably you can see which by looking in my archive, odds are I talk about sailing across the Irish Sea and so on. And so it was somewhat moving when I found myself on the ferry crossing over from the mainland - the first time I' ( Read more... )

Just a wee detail or two about life on the island: we travel everywhere on bikes, which is cool. Well actually it's very hot, but nice for riding leisurely-like. The bikes are hired from the inestimable Bremner's Cycle Hire, and are little better than death-traps (would that be 'seriously wounded-traps?), mine having one handlebar longer than the ( Read more... )

Currently on the Isle of Cumbrae (off the west coast of Scotland, in the Firth of Clyde) doing a residential fieldcourse for a week. First day is today, so Al and I killed some time by going for a walk over the top the island. Having climbed up through a few brambles on the way up we decided to come down the other side soa s to avoid them... ( Read more... )