Doctor of Science

David is very pleased to have been awarded a DSc by Coventry University .
"The Doctor of Science degree is awarded for published work of an exceptional standard, containing original contributions to the advancement of knowledge and learning which has given the candidate international distinction in their field. Candidates must be able to demonstrate a sustained contribution to their subject, as evidenced by seminal publications." - quoted from Imperial College's website.
The graduation ceremony is on November 26th - quite a Christmas present.

BACR Conference in Liverpool

David went to his final BACR (Cardiac Rehabilitation) conference in Liverpool in October where he was presented with an engraved hip flask (cannot understand why!) for his work as the Association's Scientific Officer.  Impressed by the regeneration of the Liverpool 1 shopping area and the new flats on the dockside.  Good to see Liverpool on the up.

Canada from East to West

Megan and I travelled to Toronto where I gave a lecture as Visiting Prof at McMaster University.  We stayed with ex colleague Gavin Andrews at his lovely lakeside house and also visited his cottage on another lake.  Went to Niagara for a few days and enjoyed the 'Maid of the Mist' and the vineyards.  Then flew to Alberta, where we spent a couple of days with Winston and Myrtle catching up with them, before flying home.

Visit to Norway in August 2010

Megan and I, with Marjorie and Eric Griffiths spent four days seeing central Norway by train while visiting Tom and Lou.  We travelled to Oslo, then west to Bergen (wet as always, but a lovely city), then on the delightful Flam railway to the fiord at Flam, then back to Oslo.  It was fun and we all enjoyed the dramatic and varied scenery.

Nepal Visit

Just returned from almost two weeks in Nepal.  I was combining a visit to a University Hospital in eastern Nepal, checking on the progress of my two reserach projects on Cardiovascualr Disease Monitoring and Iodine Deficiency Assessment with collecting urine samples in the high mountains of the Annapurna Region.  All went well with 55 urine and salt samples collected over three and a half days.  The results will tell is if there is a major iodine deficiency in the mountainous and inaccessible regions.

Olympic Mission

Met with Janet Binns at the requst of the Bishop of Buckingham to discuss the possibility of chairing a team of people who will be developing a Christian Mission for the Oxford Diocese (Bucks, Berks, Oxon) in association with the Olympic Games.
Met at the venue for the Olympic rowing and canoeing, the Eton College Boat House at Dorney Lake.
Some Leandar oarsmen spent two hours doing very little and I couldn't resist asking them why, to find out that they were filming for the Take That video which involves rowing.

Three days walking in North Wales

Megan and I spent three days with Clive and Lyn Bond and Andy and Pam Worthington expoloring the hills around Mold.  Excellent low level walking in ideal conditions and with great views of the local mountains.