Dionne Matthews, my PhD student, defended her thesis successfully and the examiners decided to award her degree without any changes - something that I have never experienced in a scientific higher degree before! She has also been recommended for Coventry University's Best Research Student Prize.
The evening was spent being the MC and bluffer for a Call My (Wine) Bluff evening to raise money for the charity SchoolAid which sends children's books to schools in Africa. The Rotary Club of Jordan's and District raised about £700 and everyone seemed to enjoy the eight different wines we tasted over the evening.
Saturday, 23 November 2013
Sunday, 13 October 2013
Royal Parks Half Marathon
Sunday October 6th 2013 was the day that we celebrated Jo's 40th birthday by Jo, Luke, Tom and me all running a half marathon to raise money for Scope, a charity that gives mentally disabled people a better life. Jo had an amazing time for her first half marathon of 2.08 which included two pit stops and a stop to talk to Megan, Lou and Ella. Tom did a great time of 1.48.04 and I came in just 40 seconds later, which is pretty good for someone of my vintage. To recover we felt the need to fly to Spain and spend 12 days with Tom, Lou and Ella, and to date the weather has been just great.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Activity Day - June 2nd 2013
Started the day by walking the dog.
Then after a drive to Marlow, I ran the Marlow Radio 10k starting at 09.30.
Running conditions were good and I turned in a very satisfactory time of 51.40.
Not bad as it included styles and kissing gates.
Then on to the boathouse for a 75 minute row with the boys.
After that it was lunch at Jo's and on to play cricket against a Sunday league side at Knotty Green Cricket Club for four hours.
Following a cricket tea to celebrate coming second, I then went home to play bridge with friends until
10.30 pm.
After a quiet day like this, I hope I can get a little busier tomorrow!
Then after a drive to Marlow, I ran the Marlow Radio 10k starting at 09.30.
Running conditions were good and I turned in a very satisfactory time of 51.40.
Not bad as it included styles and kissing gates.
Then on to the boathouse for a 75 minute row with the boys.
After that it was lunch at Jo's and on to play cricket against a Sunday league side at Knotty Green Cricket Club for four hours.
Following a cricket tea to celebrate coming second, I then went home to play bridge with friends until
10.30 pm.
After a quiet day like this, I hope I can get a little busier tomorrow!
Tuesday, 2 April 2013
Holiday of a lifetime
Have recently returned from a most amazing holiday which involved visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. People ask us to name the highlights and it is just impossible as the whole trip was a blast. We spent three weeks driving a campervan in New Zealand which was great, seeing all the sights, including whales and walking on glaciers. I even caught an elephant fish off the shore near Pancake Rocks in the South Island. Angor Wok lived up to its must see classification as did Milford Sound
Monday, 7 January 2013
Christmas in Norway
Enjoyed a a very different Christmas experience in Norway withTom and Lou.
White Christmas was guaranteed and we enjoyed walking in the snow locally and around the peninsular. The house renovations in Sandefiord are complete and all seems ready for an exciting 2013
White Christmas was guaranteed and we enjoyed walking in the snow locally and around the peninsular. The house renovations in Sandefiord are complete and all seems ready for an exciting 2013
Sunday, 18 November 2012
Nepal Update
I have just returned from two weeks in Nepal.
The main purpose of the trip was to activate the new programme to distribute iodised salt to remote and mountainous places.
The reason for this is that iodised salt prevents a tragic condition called iodine deficiency disease, which causes goitre, cretinism, stillbirths, premature births and mental retardation.
We managed to collect about 150 urine samples to test for the incidence of the disease and distributed 200 containers of iodised salt. The places for collection and distribution were 3-5 days from the nearest road, so we had no option but to trek by foot to the remote and mountainous areas. The salt was carried by three porters.
Fortunately the weather was superb, the views magnificent, the food better than I remember from before and the accommodation in tea houses quite adequate. The major bonus this time was that I had with me three companions (hopefully friends by now!) who made the whole experience far more enjoyable than previously when I walked alone.
I also met up with Bill Kyte who will be running a similar salt distribution programme in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, Northern India through his many contacts there.
My next task is to find a big grant to roll the programme out to other parts of Nepal.
They say there is no peace for the wicked, so I must be pretty wicked.
Keep on trekking!
The main purpose of the trip was to activate the new programme to distribute iodised salt to remote and mountainous places.
The reason for this is that iodised salt prevents a tragic condition called iodine deficiency disease, which causes goitre, cretinism, stillbirths, premature births and mental retardation.
We managed to collect about 150 urine samples to test for the incidence of the disease and distributed 200 containers of iodised salt. The places for collection and distribution were 3-5 days from the nearest road, so we had no option but to trek by foot to the remote and mountainous areas. The salt was carried by three porters.
Fortunately the weather was superb, the views magnificent, the food better than I remember from before and the accommodation in tea houses quite adequate. The major bonus this time was that I had with me three companions (hopefully friends by now!) who made the whole experience far more enjoyable than previously when I walked alone.
I also met up with Bill Kyte who will be running a similar salt distribution programme in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, Northern India through his many contacts there.
My next task is to find a big grant to roll the programme out to other parts of Nepal.
They say there is no peace for the wicked, so I must be pretty wicked.
Keep on trekking!
Nepal Iodised Salt Update
Just returned from two weeks in Nepal.
The primary purpose was to start the process of distributing the iodised salt to remote and mountainous areas. This is to prevent the dreadful condition of iodine deficiency disease which causes goitre, cretinism, stillbirths, premature births and mental retardation.
We took urine samples from about 150 children to establish the incidence of the disease and gave out 200 containers of iodised salt to children and teachers.
The areas of distribution and collection were from 3-5 days from the nearest road so it necessitated us trekking there on foot. Fortunately the weather was superb with clear sunny days and cold nights. The views of the mountains were excellent with views of the whole Annapurna range including Dhaulagiri and Fishtail. Food in the tea houses was far better than expected. The real bonus for this trip was that I had three companions (now friends - I hope) from England who made the whole experience much more fun. Geoff Thompson, James Hyslop and Crispian Collins all brought with them skills and experiences that really added to the trip.
Before the trek started, we also met up with Bill Kyte, who is to extend the programme into the Nubra valley of Ladakh in North India, which is really good news.
I will now be seeking a large grant to try to roll out the iodised salt distribution programe throughout Nepal
The primary purpose was to start the process of distributing the iodised salt to remote and mountainous areas. This is to prevent the dreadful condition of iodine deficiency disease which causes goitre, cretinism, stillbirths, premature births and mental retardation.
We took urine samples from about 150 children to establish the incidence of the disease and gave out 200 containers of iodised salt to children and teachers.
The areas of distribution and collection were from 3-5 days from the nearest road so it necessitated us trekking there on foot. Fortunately the weather was superb with clear sunny days and cold nights. The views of the mountains were excellent with views of the whole Annapurna range including Dhaulagiri and Fishtail. Food in the tea houses was far better than expected. The real bonus for this trip was that I had three companions (now friends - I hope) from England who made the whole experience much more fun. Geoff Thompson, James Hyslop and Crispian Collins all brought with them skills and experiences that really added to the trip.
Before the trek started, we also met up with Bill Kyte, who is to extend the programme into the Nubra valley of Ladakh in North India, which is really good news.
I will now be seeking a large grant to try to roll out the iodised salt distribution programe throughout Nepal
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