Alarm bells

A few weeks ago, my mobile phone skidded out of my handbag when I put it on the floor. It appears I damaged it, but it worked normally until this week, when the speaker on it died. It means the phone doesn’t make any sounds so I don’t know that folk are calling or texting me. It seems it is unrepairable, which is a pity as this model phone is no longer available and I really like it. What is worse is the alarm no longer works, and that was vital to getting me out of bed. That is, until this morning.

Living where we do, we have on average ten earthquakes a day nationally – most are too deep to feel at surface level. Our town is on a fault line, so when the earth trembles in either the north or south Island, we often get the tail end of shiver. A bit like being on an old fashioned party line – one telephone line, several voices chattering.

This morning, at approximately the time my alarm would normally ring, Hanmer Springs had a very shallow 4.1 quake.

Sorry folks, but even Nokia doesn’t wake me up that efficiently.

Technoklutznik

Allow me a two minute boast. I’m amazed how far I’ve come technically for someone who failed maths at school and had no interest in any scientific discipline. I am a complete klutz in anything to do with DIY, I simply don’t have the talents to problem solve when it comes to things physical.
In 1985 I used a computer for the first time. I have been using them daily ever since. I have no interest in all the whirly gig things they are capable of, or the languages the programmes are written in. I love them because I can type fast and get ideas out quickly. My computer is my window on the world and the way I have cups of tea online with friends far flung.
A few days ago, I decided to try set myself up with a new blog. The format and way to add things was completely different to Blogger, but I cracked a number of problems and figured my way around some HTML code which was proving difficult.
This from someone who doesn’t know how to operate the DVD or Video and is still navigating buttons on her mobile phone.
More about the new blog later.

An unmissable academic opportunity

We live in a weird town for jobs. Because it is the seat of government, most of the top jobs are Policy related. We swim knee deep in Policy Analysts.

But now and again, a vacancy comes along in the Job Market section of our national rag which is too good to pass up. On Saturday, the following was advertised:

"Post Doctoral Fellowship in Biophysical Applications of Optical Tweezers".

Hmm, I just pluck my eyebrows with mine! I wonder if I qualify?

Duster Stations

Ever find yourself doing or saying things like your parents? Today I was trying to restore the house to its normal organised/tidy/clean self, after at least a week of neglect. We have old friends coming tonight for a fish and chip supper. I haven’t seen them for 10 years, and “properly” to sit down and chat for 14.

I remembered when I was small and my folks were having friends over, saying to my mum “They come to see you, not to see how clean and tidy the house is.” It was pointless chiding a duster waving, vacuum driving whirlwind. Clean and scrub and tidy she did – to the point of collapse.

Well, here I am, after an active morning washing/ironing/tidying/organising, collapsing in front of the computer with a LARGE mug of coffee, cranking myself up for the dusting marathon. I feel after two weeks of the house being surrounded by a mud flow that I have lost the battle already. And that’s without the FIVE times the cat threw up over the newly cleaned carpets!
“Oh mum, I see what you mean!”

"May you live in interesting times"

Last night we had the marvellous experience of hearing the NZ Symphony Orchestra with a Macedonian soloist playing Rachmaninov’s “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini”. I have never heard this piece played so well or so passionately. Simon Trpceski is only 29 and has had eight years already on the professional concert circuit. He got four ovations.

The symphony of the evening was Shostakovich’s 12th, written the year I was born. It is an extraordinary piece, the composer playing musical “hangman” with his Communist Party bosses. It was written for the 22nd Party Congress and interestingly, in order to perform it, Shostakovich had to become a Party member (for the first time). It seems that the “Powers” missed the subtleties of the themes, intended to scream out the injustices of the times. Instead it was declared a triumph. I left the concert hall feeling the composer’s despair. He was cursed with living in “Interesting Times”

The art of reusing the eclectic

I belong to one of those “Free Recycle” yahoo groups for my area. I just received a request, I quote “wanted - big preserving pan and an old mesh style satellite dish,”

The mind totally boggles. Does the satellite dish get used for straining fruit for jam made in the pan?

What other unconnected items might have a tenous link I wonder? Here’s my request “balls of double knit wool and a Morris Minor steering wheel”.

Go figure.

Another suitcase

Our Brazilian lodger leaves today. We are really sad. He has been such fun and I’ve enjoyed feeding his seemly endless appetite. His joie de vivre has been infectious and his humour a delight. He’s been considerate, tidy, polite and gracious. He is also mature beyond his years.

If the Foreign Affairs Department of Brazil needs a new candidate to train for diplomat, just let us know, and we’ll send a reference. But the fact is, you won’t catch him. He has his heart set on working in the Third World; to make a difference.
So, we will soon have an empty spare room. I wonder which “angel” we will be entertaining next?