Please pray for Ian.

Most of you won't know him, but life has just chucked him one of the most difficult things imaginable.

Monday I get my head tested

well, my eyes actually. I could hold out a little longer, but distance vision is no longer great, and I don't like struggling to read road signs before they get close. Old age here I come - now, where's that walking stick?

Today I was described as

"working like an ant".

I think that means I pull above my weight, rather than being a simple part of a hive-mind.

Tonight I have >500 sample IDs to tabulate out. Not a task I'm looking forward to, but better than doing it all at home. I want closure and delivery on this job.

*edit*

About 350 completed. It's just gone 10.00pm here. Time to do my expenses claim now before bedtime, as I'm meeting the man who can sign off my bill tomorrow at 8.15am.

Really pooped tonight.

I've worked from 8.15 to 5.00pm with 20 min for lunch and no coffee breaks, just to get everything done. What started out as a comfy 400 samples has grown to about 520, requiring me to work to the limits of 'normal' productivity. Tonight I shall start the enjoyable task of tabulating results, after a rest and some dinner.

What fun.

At least I know I'm really earning my money here.

*edit*
Just finished a marathon 'EXCEL' session, inputting yesterdays rather unsatisfactory appearing data. The data reduction software used in this lab was once (and may still be) THE industry standard, but it's way too clever by half while hiding everything it's doing. The results as generated yesterday didn't look at all correct, and now I have proof they were not. This makes me feel a lot better too, as I want to give the best possible data to the lab, and the way it was going, a few 'explanations' were going to be needed.

There's still a lot of work to do, tabulating results with samples, but I feel much happier now about the reliability of the assays.

Solitary pleasures this evening.

Today was hard work!

The good thing is that I'm gradually coming up to my usual speed for lab work, having been allowed to break in 'gently' yesterday. So today I had to complete the process I set up yesterday, plus set up a further 152 samples for tomorrow. The samples are all higgledy piggledy with labels that are hard to read, duplications and absences. A lot of care is required to ensure each one is identified clearly and the various numbers required are recorded correctly.

My back just aches from working on the bench all day, from both the effort of holding that position and the tension that precise working generates.

So what solitary pleasures?

Eating, of course.

There is a large immigrant population in Stockholm, and this has resulted in proliferation of kebab houses. I got off the bus half way back from the lab in order to walk, explore and find food. Maccy D was available, but I'll need to be really desperate before I sink to that subsistence level. A kebab house provided seating in the warm and quantities of tasty and enjoyable food. It wasn't exactly salubrious (distinct overtones of kebab houses in Croydon 30 years ago, actually) but it also wasn't (relatively) too expensive either.

I finished off with a lemon flavoured muffin from another 7-eleven. Good heavens, how DO they get so much grease into flour based food? Nice flavour, but I HAD to wash my hands afterward.

I could usefully work for a couple of hours this evening, both on the data from the lab and on homework from the pastoral training course. TBH I'm so tired I may just stick on 'I am leg end' for a couple of hours mindless entertainment. TTFN (or see you on your blog in a bit).

The cookie I am munching

Came from a seven-11 just down the road. Makes Tesco cookies look like REALLY good value.

Snow flakes were drifting down gently while I was out in the dark. The temperature will probably drop overnight, which is fine by me, although the locals don't like it. There is an edge to the wind, but without the clammy British damp it doesn't suck heat from your bones within moments.

I like this city and so far, I like the people.

Tonight I was taken out for an excellent dinner of grilled sausages served on a bed of boiled potatoes covered in a creamy sauce with chives, plus a side of slightly pickled beetroot and a great local beer on the side. My hosts were great conversationalists, and all the more amazing for being so fluent in English, yet without losing any of their Swedish character. We talked economics, politics, business, the effect of the large numbers of immigrants to Stockholm was having and how they were being integrated. We talked about boating (a deeply Swedish thing) and skiing, about travel and farming. I didn't talk about Jesus, as this is the first time I've met Bo and you can't drive a 10 ton truck across a 1 ton bridge unless you're told to try.

Interesting place outside tonight.

Several bars had sofas outside, usually occupied by people in thickly padded jackets.

I walked all the way down the Birger Jarlsgaten (staying in the crystal plaza hotel) to Dramaten and Berzelii park, before heading back up. I'm unlikely to get much time for photos on this trip compared to last time, so instead looked for opportunities in shop windows. Not sure any were worthwhile, but it's better than complaining about it.

Guess bedtime should arrive soon. TTFN.

Stockholm looks cold and damp this morning.

According to the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute it isn't going to get any better.

If I'd not known better I'd have said Austria was warmer than England this morning, even though it was -6 at the bottom and as low as -13 at the top of the mountain. Here we've got a steady 4-5'C with rain, and it sucks the warmth from the bones. Think I'll be taking my walking boots and thick socks, especially as they support my ankle (not too good after a fairly fast wipeout).

Just finished printing my travel itinerary so I can check in. Unusually for a BA flight I can't check in online, but as I'm alone it doesn't really matter where I sit.

Packed and ready

Well mostly.

Niederau, here we come.

Would it worry you?

To know that the name of the hotel you were planning to stay in sounded like 'half-wit'?

Halfenwirt apparently means harp player. I'll try not to harp on about it.

And I have to say that software that will 'seamlessly' transfer addresses across between Outlook and Entourage suddenly looks good value. I have spent most of my day correcting contact information that entourage did not import correctly.

Ho hum.

Still, I am getting to play guitar tonight at Heyford Park, and rather looking forward to it - let's hope I don't create a trainwreck.

I am getting used to the Mac now.

There are certain things that have really come to be a huge boon.

For the first time ever, multiple desktops have a reason for existing, and I'm using 3 and 4 finger swipes to move between programs and files. 2 finger scrolling is great, although tap to click is a little hit and miss, and especially right clicking.

I'm noticing the blurry fonts less, except when I get back on windows and am amazed at how sharp and clear everything is.

All the faults remain (blanking screen on VGA output, broken mail client etc). I haven't managed to migrate all my outlook addresses very effectively yet, and much have another go. The phone and Mac sync fine, but because of the limitations of the Mac address book data flow is one way only ATM. I also like the ability to create web clippings (great for ski resort reports etc) even if Safari will never be my browser of choice.

But it is now a fully workable tool, and one that is being made to work for me.

I am a little nervous.

I shall be abroad for 2 weeks on Saturday.

Week 1, as I've mentioned already, is skiing in Austria. Great fun, great snow (they're due a load the day after we arrive) and great company.

Week 2 is making me nervous.

Week 2 is a working week. In a 'strange' lab. In a country whose language I cannot even get by with. With public transport system I've never used before.

I have to travel approx 3-4km across the centre of Stockholm, probably in the snow, and on Monday, carrying a certain amount of kit with me.

I have no doubt it can be done OK, and I'm sure it will be 'fun' to do. But the anticipation right now feels like nervous butterflys in my stomach.

My approach to problems is to dive in, and that feels so much more comfy.

The trip is something to look forward to, but it will require a big dose of 'right first time' and while I don't doubt my ability, I am far from perfect.

It's going to be an interesting 2 weeks.

Hope I don't break a leg skiing!

I'm still here.

And that's it really.

New, expanded housegroup was good last night - it's great when people contribute, especially when they've come for the first time.

Me: I feel very inadequate, which is not a bad place to be necessarily.

On a day of freezing fog

A well behaved wood burning stove is a thing of pleasure and beauty.

This one was a little grumpy to begin, but after asking nicely, it's now making the living room a good place to work.

The phone saga continues, hopefully now to a conclusion.

Well, I've requested T-Mobile take the phone back and cancel the contract. That left only one possible player, so I now have a SIM-only contract with O2 with 30 days notice. If anything goes wrong I can easy just stop the contract, and the deal is pretty good. I REALLY don't care about having a fancy phone, so will probably just pick up a cheap one to replace the rather banged-up Nokia 6131 I'm using now.

That, apparently, has it sorted.

I hope.

Today my T-Mobile phone arrived.

It does not get any signal in the kitchen or livingroom.

This is quite disappointing, but at least I can send it back under thei 'unsatisfactory signal' scheme.

Well, here I am at work.

Who'd have thought it?

A bit of the grace of God to us, I'm installing a piece of equipment up here and training people to use it.

And getting paid to do so, for which I'm truly grateful.

I can't tell you

How much I enjoyed playing for worship yesterday.

Even though the first song was a trainwreck (wrong key, keyboard laying a different song altogether). It was just so good to be back with a guitar playing songs with the right rhythms at the right speed with the right feel for them. One of my favourite strats (they're both favourites) 18 watter, acoustic for a couple at the start.

I've really missed playing for worship this Christmas break.

*edit*
I just feel I need to put some more info into this. We were talking last night, and it seems there's a much wider context to take into account. I think a lot of the fun actually came from God enjoying what we were doing: the slight lack of musicality didn't matter compared to the way everyone was giving themselves. The bible talks about everyone having something to bring when the church comes together, and while not everyone can speak out, everyone can actively participate instead of spectate. There was a lot of participation rather than just watching for what the leader would sing next.

Fascinating view of Africa and mission

By Matthew Parris in the Times. Via Linea.

Excitement all round tonight.

We had some friends come over. They wanted to see the Macbook, and so we enjoyed some cows bottom to celebrate the event. Cows bum and baked potatoes. YUM.

One of them works for T-Mobile. Their network has reasonable reception in the house - more than can be said for Orange, Vodaphone or 3mobile (none of which work for speech at all). Only O2 is better, but their tariffs are steep and coverage poor elsewhere. Looks like a T-mobile phone is in my (near) future for work.

Hey Canada...

... we're trying to catch up a little.

-7'C according to the car this morning: that's chilly for round these parts.

+7'C in Bicester this afternoon.

Not a facebook fan.

I shall continue to use it.

*snip*

Sorry - I rarely delete posts, but those weren't helpful things to say, and came out of a wrong heart.

It's interesting that the people with most of the worthwhile things to say appear to barely use it.

In a way I guess it's revealing a side of people that is hidden by the need to communicate and live with other adults. On FB the conventions drop, virtual reality takes over. I suspect that having been a net user for a very long time I've developed a strong sense of netiquette, and FB cuts through that. Or maybe I just don't like what's really inside the people I know superficially.

Rant over.

So the lovely Hayley

is now fully installed.

We're putting stuff away now.

Hayley is coming back today from her time with family and friends, so we're industriously tidying the place a bit. I've had to take boxes out of her room clear up the screen and Macbook from the kitchen (so there's space round the table) and the residual presents from the living room.

We often seem to leave gifts in a pile in the livingroom after they've been unwrapped - sometimes they never even get moved far. There's still a copy of Stephen Hawking's A Shorter History Of Time, unloved and unread sat in the corner. While popping a bottle of whiskey away in the larder I came across an empty bottle, now all washed up and clean, with the label 'sloe gin - light Autumn 1999.

The thing that made me stop and think for a moment was the plastic cap.

Coming back from a camping holiday in Southern France probably in '92 or '93 we stopped off in Bordeaux for a wander and dinner before driving through the night to the ferry. We had dinner in a little brasserie (I always want to call them brassieres) in which I ate the famous Andouillete (there's a story) before finding a tiny supermarket to get provisions before the drive. In this supermarket we bought a cast iron fondue set - still in use - and 3 bottles of wine at about 75p a bottle. If the wine was junk then I'd cook with it, but if it was drinkable then all the better.

Well, the wine was excellent. Probably some nearby vineyard dumping their excess production locally. And yes, the cap came from one of those bottles. Somehow it always seems to have found itself on top of things that are good to drink. Long may that continue.

I'm going to put the empty bottle on the wine rack in the loo, where it'll be ready for next autumns sloe gin.

So welcome in : the new year.

I am more than a little nervous at this point in time.

As a couple, we are having to push out further from the shore in the direction we started moving in '08. This is the year when the church switch will be completed. This is the year when I find out if I can get a business going.

They say 'the more things change, the more they stay the same'. I wonder if that will be true?

Well, I can confidently report that.....

..... the bugs reported on the apple macbook forum are consistent on this machine too.

I could previously connect an external monitor, now I cannot. Mail *might* have worked before, but now definitely doesn't.

While windows updates have previously altered setting and installed stuff without asking, I've never had an update that broke the machine, despite using distinctly non-standard hardware. Here I am with a 4 day old computer, exactly as the manufacturer made it, and various functions do not work.

I've never been a fanboy for Microsoft, but I have developed a certain admiration for them, even if they make software that is not as intuitive as Apple.

So at some stage soon I'm going to have to call Apple tech support to find out what the fixes are (I shall not be impressed if they consist of scratch re-installation). I went ahead and installed Office this morning, as I'd fiddled about, quite unsuccessfully to get Mail to work yesterday (and account creation is SO tedious for the first time). Entourage recognised my regular mail account settings in seconds.

Ho hum.

Conversely, I have just configured my 3 newly established email accounts in entourage, and it was just completely painless. I really would have been happy to use the apple software as Entourage is somewhat overkill, but it appears that is not to be.

I AM impressed by the >4 hour battery life of this thing! Hope that will last for a while.

Christmas dinner at our place.

I've wanted to get a reasonable shot of my mother for the last few years, but somehow she never comes out favourably on camera. This combined both happy memories and a pleasing image. Note: Ben's plate!

Boxing day walk.

So this is a little delayed, mostly because we've been busy in a relaxed kind of way all Christmas. Chris and I did a couple of hours on Boxing day to stretch the legs and ease the colon. There are more pix in the gallery.











Sunday school?

OK, so I DID buy a Macbook.

But times are a little tougher here than for the good reverend Friesen, so I didn't get the posher 2.4GHz ali model.

Conclusions so far:

The body is light years ahead of anything else that is being sold in quantity, no matter how much stainless steel is used to skin Tosh's, HPs etc.

The screen quality is lower than the one used for the Macbook Pro. That *might* be a software issue, as the pro has a different graphics chip, and having connected my Macbook to the flat panel I've used with a Lenovo for the last 5 months, I have to say that Mac video output sucks bigtime. I'm trying tweaks to make it better than bearable, but I'm not overly confident as many of the other Macs (including 24" iMacs) at the appleshop displayed fonts poorly too - and the assistant agreed when I pointed this out, and fiddled to try to make them better. He did not succeed.

Following the above, the screen does not have enough intensity or contrast, and normal adjustment is insufficient. The disabled options allows more contrast to be applied, and a small increase improves things significantly.

I bought the USB keyboard, since I plan using a panel with the lid shut, just like I did the Lenovo. The keyboard is GREAT.

I have tweaked the trackpad to my tastes too, and I have to say that this is the first laptop ever where I've not constantly wished for a mouse. Apple's new trackpad is full of win.

Is the OS good to use? Yes, or at least, it will be when familiarity is established.

Did it work out of the box? Kinda, but in a way that leaves Microsoft with nothing to be ashamed of. The security and functionality update (10.5.5 to 10.5.6) was 670Mb, which is bigger than service pack 2 and 3 for XP combined. And on top of that, it asked for another 350Mb of updates to pre-loaded programs (trimmed back to about 130Mb - who needs iTunes?).

Did it work out of the box? Yes, in terms of functionality it did. I would put it on a par with the Lenovos I've used, in that everything was there and working first time.

Finding my way round has been less un-intuitive that the Linux distros I've used. And while it does has a 'Linux' feel to it, everything is designed to help instead of hinder.

I tried various office suits while in the Applestore - wish they'd had OO loaded on a machine. The docs and spreadsheets (from Office 2003) I'd brought on a USB stick were displayed fine in the Office:Mac applications, but were mangled in the iWork apps. Pages lost borders around documents and did odd formatting. Numbers couldn't scale graphs or handle trendlines. This was disappointing, as I'd rather have gone all Apple for the added integration, but TBH they were dismal in actual use. If OO had been available to try then I think I'd have not bought Office there and waited to see if a cheap version came up on the bay. See dilemma below (and comment please). I don't think OO is good *enough* for my needs long term.

I have been reading about the integration between the Apple address book, email and iCal apps. I'm still juggling whether it would be better to use these or entourage. My gut feeling is that the apple apps will be 'nicer' to use and will integrate well together, but entourage will be superior with other office products. And I still have to move my older email across.

Talking of apps. Anyone else out there use Himmelbar? So much better than rooting in a folder for applications, and a confirmation that Microsoft got the start menu very right.

So what have I got? A really well made laptop weighing about 2kg with decent keyboard, small screen that doesn't feel *too small* and decent wireless connectivity. It will sit on my lap comfortably for typing, although I still prefer to sit upright and type on a proper keyboard at a 20" panel. It IS growing on me (and it had better, as I'm sure there's no refunds at this point). Just hope the learning curve won't be too steep.

Now, where's that Mail login.

I have a mild dilemma

Yesterday I bought a copy of Microsoft office home, since in my line of work EVERYONE uses office documents as the standard format.

I doesn't have all the functionality of the full version, but it was about £90 instead of £350.

On the back of the box it says 'licensed for noncommercial use on up to 3 personal computers'.

I KNOW I shall use the computer to work (and hopefully to make money).

I've not previously bought office for home use.

My dilemma is: can I use the software in good conscience, knowing that I've paid M$ money for something with reduced functionality compared to the full version, or is that compromised by using it for any kind of work?

I've looked at Open Office, and found it to be usable, but not as good as the M$ product. I have looked at another suit for which there is a charge, and while it *looks* nicer and would integrate with the computer well, it appears to be functionally blown out of the water by Open Office in terms of handling Microsoft generated documents.

What to do?

There are times

There are times when I wish I had my old cocky strength back. When, if faced with a heavy object in my path I would charge at it to push it out of the way.

I have been changed, for the better, but in becoming gentle I find it difficult to be strong and challenging when I come up against those who are strong. I feel somewhat battered now, and rather than exult in the challenges I have had, instead feel drained and a little disheartened.

This is not, as far as I know, anyone's fault, other than my weakness.

I hope gentleness and love can win people over, because I don't have fight in me to do it the more traditional ways.