I'm finding life a little disorientating at the moment. I've landed firmly in the word of Twitterdom with emails coming in from strangers declaring that they're delighted to be following me and with Tweets coming at me from all angles, or so it feels. Four pages this morning on top of seven unchecked hanging over from last week. Add to this the fact that sometimes I'll say something to someone and it's clear that what I'm telling them is already old news. I don't know whether this is because I'm getting old and have forgotten what I've told someone barely two hours before or due to the fact they've read my blog.
Praziquantel is the name of a drug that prevents a rather horrid infection manifesting itself in all those that have swam in Lake Malawi. This includes me last December. Wikipaedia says of it "Praziquantel is not licensed for use in humans in the UK; it is, however, available as a veterinary anthelminthic".
You have to take Praziquantel some four months after your last dip in the lake and that for me is now. The pills were purchased in Malwai and came with no instructions at all. I think I remember being told you had to take them all at once (all five of them and sizeable at that). If I've got this right from lunch time today I should be immune from the worst this lake can throw at you or, if I haven't, thank you for reading my last blog.
I say the worst this lake can throw at you but I guess that's not entirely true. It's full of crocs and some rather unfriendly hippos not that they troubled someone who rarely swam further than the safety of 3 meters from the shoreline. I'm of the Jaws film generation afterall when me and all my classmates kept out of the waters off the Devon coastline for a good part of the late 70s after seeing that terrifying film.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
Friday, 17 April 2009
Day 35 17 April 09
Stopped this morning at our local centra for to buy loads of lemons for my "juice of half a lemon" drink as recommended by Mens Health magazine supplement. They had none. Looked for the manager Rob but unable to find him.
Over the past few months we've been trying to get Rob over to the office as part of our meet local business people campaign because you never know what they might bring to the party. I think Rob is convinced we're trying to sell him some training so he's yet to take us up on the offer of a walk up the road, a visit and a cup of tea (not juice of half a lemon). Now staff are on the case and am looking out for him too. I wonder if the poor guy thinks that I've issued some sort of "Fu Manchu" style diktat leaning foward on my throne over long nails declaring "bring me the boy who calls himself Rob from Centra".
Can't decide whether to climb Slemish tonight or go to the dog racing or indeed just stay in and chill with Chekov. Twittering is going well but I've still to work out a sensible strategy for all this Tweeting I am doing.
Over the past few months we've been trying to get Rob over to the office as part of our meet local business people campaign because you never know what they might bring to the party. I think Rob is convinced we're trying to sell him some training so he's yet to take us up on the offer of a walk up the road, a visit and a cup of tea (not juice of half a lemon). Now staff are on the case and am looking out for him too. I wonder if the poor guy thinks that I've issued some sort of "Fu Manchu" style diktat leaning foward on my throne over long nails declaring "bring me the boy who calls himself Rob from Centra".
Can't decide whether to climb Slemish tonight or go to the dog racing or indeed just stay in and chill with Chekov. Twittering is going well but I've still to work out a sensible strategy for all this Tweeting I am doing.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Day 34 - 16 April 09 Ben Clarke & 1 Hairy Biker
Go Ben. Go! Go on my son all the way. Mighty impressive performance last night in the Boardroom. We all know Sir Alan wants you Mr Ben Clarke Ok you did leave with something of a final verbal warning from the big man last night but we know he didn't really mean it.
Paula said she couldn't "shit" on her friends in the business world. Paula wake up and smell the coffee. You're not in the business world. You're in a game show - or at least you were.
I woke up this morning and sniffed Fennel Tea over porridge and bananas whilst listening to the BBC World Service. It seems two big things have happened already in the world today. First, the French fisherman have been offered €5 million Euro effectively as a reward for blocking ferry passengers. They're angry at EU fishing quotas which are affecting their living standards. Secondly, 100 Hells Angels have been arrested in Quebec for among other things murder and peddling drugs. Apparently there are for some reason 101 of them in that city which means one poor old chap is left to tour and scare the life out of the neighbourhood all on his own. Not even enough of them left to shoot their own "Hairy Biker" series.
Working on a new strategy plan for this year. Seeing Joanna from Cherry PR for lunch then off for a game of tennis after work.
Paula said she couldn't "shit" on her friends in the business world. Paula wake up and smell the coffee. You're not in the business world. You're in a game show - or at least you were.
I woke up this morning and sniffed Fennel Tea over porridge and bananas whilst listening to the BBC World Service. It seems two big things have happened already in the world today. First, the French fisherman have been offered €5 million Euro effectively as a reward for blocking ferry passengers. They're angry at EU fishing quotas which are affecting their living standards. Secondly, 100 Hells Angels have been arrested in Quebec for among other things murder and peddling drugs. Apparently there are for some reason 101 of them in that city which means one poor old chap is left to tour and scare the life out of the neighbourhood all on his own. Not even enough of them left to shoot their own "Hairy Biker" series.
Working on a new strategy plan for this year. Seeing Joanna from Cherry PR for lunch then off for a game of tennis after work.
Day 33 15 April 09
Skipped out of a swim today on grounds that I had arrived too early anticipating at 7.45a.m. rather than 8.15a.m. opening and that wasting 30 minutes was not good time management.
I promptly fired over to the office and wasted more than 30 minutes checking my Twitter account. I now have so many followers that it takes an awful long time to shoot through the messages on my TweetDeck. Most of them I have never heard of and am never likely to meet but I guess that's the whole point of Twitter...
Full compliment of staff back in today so looking forward to a real day's work packed full of meetings and business coffees and lunches.
I promptly fired over to the office and wasted more than 30 minutes checking my Twitter account. I now have so many followers that it takes an awful long time to shoot through the messages on my TweetDeck. Most of them I have never heard of and am never likely to meet but I guess that's the whole point of Twitter...
Full compliment of staff back in today so looking forward to a real day's work packed full of meetings and business coffees and lunches.
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
Day 31 - 14 April 09 - Late last night
Yes! Veggie hotpot was a huge success. All in attendance remarked (and genuinely I think) what a damned good job the whole affair was whilst I did my best to wear a face of complacency to suggest that this was one of a repertoire of many rather than raw beginners luck.
Went to the cinema last night and saw "Let the right one in". This is a Swedish vampire-horror-drama-coming-of-age type film so great if you're looking for something a little unusual. The 12 year old actors were superb but I can't make out if the film was rubbish or a masterpiece.
On the subject of masterpieces hows this from Chekov's "On the Road" last night:
"There was a storm raging outside. Something furious and ill-tempered, but deeply unhappy, was tearing round the inn with the frenzy of a wild animal, trying to break in. Banging the doors, knocking on the windows and the roof, and scratching at the walls, it by turns threatened, cajoled, and subsided briefly, only to throw itself down the chimney the next moment with a joyful, treacherous whoop; but the logs in the stove were blazing, and the fire confronted its enemy with the ferocity of a chained dog - a fight began, then after it came sobbing, screaming, and an angry growl. You could also hear in all this a resentful sorrow, an unsated hatred, and the wounded powerlessness of one formerly used to victory..."
Late last night I finished Daniel Goleman's "Working with Emotional Intelligence". He makes the case well as to why most of the training in companies is a waste of time. He puts a strong case too as to the importance of Emotional Intelligence but never really draws the threads together to provide anything close to an action plan for companies. Or may be he does but you have to read the whole book thoroughly and carefully to be able to grasp it. May be I want it in short Twitter like summaries over every few pages or so and judge his omissions accordingly.
Went to the cinema last night and saw "Let the right one in". This is a Swedish vampire-horror-drama-coming-of-age type film so great if you're looking for something a little unusual. The 12 year old actors were superb but I can't make out if the film was rubbish or a masterpiece.
On the subject of masterpieces hows this from Chekov's "On the Road" last night:
"There was a storm raging outside. Something furious and ill-tempered, but deeply unhappy, was tearing round the inn with the frenzy of a wild animal, trying to break in. Banging the doors, knocking on the windows and the roof, and scratching at the walls, it by turns threatened, cajoled, and subsided briefly, only to throw itself down the chimney the next moment with a joyful, treacherous whoop; but the logs in the stove were blazing, and the fire confronted its enemy with the ferocity of a chained dog - a fight began, then after it came sobbing, screaming, and an angry growl. You could also hear in all this a resentful sorrow, an unsated hatred, and the wounded powerlessness of one formerly used to victory..."
Late last night I finished Daniel Goleman's "Working with Emotional Intelligence". He makes the case well as to why most of the training in companies is a waste of time. He puts a strong case too as to the importance of Emotional Intelligence but never really draws the threads together to provide anything close to an action plan for companies. Or may be he does but you have to read the whole book thoroughly and carefully to be able to grasp it. May be I want it in short Twitter like summaries over every few pages or so and judge his omissions accordingly.
Monday, 13 April 2009
Day 30 - 13 April 09
A really poor Secret Millionaire last night. Just didn't press any buttons for me I'm afraid.
Thursday night I took the Lady Captain of the Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club to the Bingo. We were on our way to see Grand Torino at Yorkgate but muggins got the time wrong by a good hour. Rather than return to the Pizza Hut we piled into the Bingo Hall next to the cinema found out what to do at the reception paid our £10, was assured we wouldn't win and took our seats.
Apparently you don't shout "Bingo" anymore if you do win but "Jack". It's all changed since gran dragged me along to her MCN bingo opening nite to claim free rashers of bacon zonks ago. The caller doesn't shout two fat ladies 88 anymore. This might be because there's an awful lot of them in the audience nowadays. I've never seen so many rotund people in the same place in my life. The two sat at the table to our right told us they come twice a week spend an estimated £30 and never win!
We left with the guy on reception glancing us a "I told you so" smile and watched Gran Torino. This is a good movie with a great actor (Clint Eastwood) on superb form. Problem is surround a man giving a masterclass and all else look very ordinary and occasionally inept. I wonder if he ever thought during the movie he'd have to play it down or spoil his own film.
I spent much of the weekend cycling with neighbours to various parts of the Antrim globe. Currently reading a selection of Chekov short plays - another master of his profession.
About to race home now to master the kitchen and a good veggie bake.
Thursday night I took the Lady Captain of the Hilton Templepatrick Golf Club to the Bingo. We were on our way to see Grand Torino at Yorkgate but muggins got the time wrong by a good hour. Rather than return to the Pizza Hut we piled into the Bingo Hall next to the cinema found out what to do at the reception paid our £10, was assured we wouldn't win and took our seats.
Apparently you don't shout "Bingo" anymore if you do win but "Jack". It's all changed since gran dragged me along to her MCN bingo opening nite to claim free rashers of bacon zonks ago. The caller doesn't shout two fat ladies 88 anymore. This might be because there's an awful lot of them in the audience nowadays. I've never seen so many rotund people in the same place in my life. The two sat at the table to our right told us they come twice a week spend an estimated £30 and never win!
We left with the guy on reception glancing us a "I told you so" smile and watched Gran Torino. This is a good movie with a great actor (Clint Eastwood) on superb form. Problem is surround a man giving a masterclass and all else look very ordinary and occasionally inept. I wonder if he ever thought during the movie he'd have to play it down or spoil his own film.
I spent much of the weekend cycling with neighbours to various parts of the Antrim globe. Currently reading a selection of Chekov short plays - another master of his profession.
About to race home now to master the kitchen and a good veggie bake.
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Day 29 9 April 09
It's 7.30a.m. and it's still dark and miserable. It's raining again. It was a really poor Apprentice last night and my mobile phone broke for the third time in about 6 months. Apart from all of the above the signs for the Easter weekend are good.
Even Sir Alan looked bored last night ditching one of the candidates merely on the grounds that he hadn't made enough mistakes. I thought Ben Clarke played a blinder last night and is my hot favourite to win.
Off to the flicks tonight but can't find a film I really want to go and see. Why isn't the Sound of Music still showing anywhere?
Even Sir Alan looked bored last night ditching one of the candidates merely on the grounds that he hadn't made enough mistakes. I thought Ben Clarke played a blinder last night and is my hot favourite to win.
Off to the flicks tonight but can't find a film I really want to go and see. Why isn't the Sound of Music still showing anywhere?
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