Holiday Hiatus

Laura and I are heading off to France for two weeks, so there will be a hiatus from blogging during that time. I've left a few new pictures for you to look at over at the flickr page, including some from Laura's birthday. There are many more of these, which we were hoping to have shared by now. Alas, as is customary whenever Laura tries to do technological things, events conspired against her: Blogger mysteriously crashed and ate up the post. In understandable despondency she has elected to leave reconstructing the post until after the holidays. Maybe after a relaxing fortnight I'll be able to persuade her that blogging really can be fun.

Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest

The results are out for what is usually the most entertaining award ceremony of the year, and this year is no exception. My favourite passage is probably this one from the romance category, though they are all tremendous examples of really, appallingly bad writing.

“Despite the vast differences in their ages, ethnicity, and religious upbringing, the sexual chemistry between Roberto and Heather was the most amazing he had ever experienced; and for the entirety of the Labour Day weekend they had sex like monkeys on espresso, not those monkeys in the zoo that fling their faeces at you, but more like the monkeys in the wild that have those giant red butts, and access to an espresso machine."

Dennis Barry, Dothan, Alabama

You can read a few more here.

My Mum's Retirement Party

As promised some news and pictures from this weekend's trip to Scotland. Laura and I had a lovely time. We were on the catering staff for much of the Sunday, which was mostly quite good frantic fun, although only because the majority of the food was provided by Marks & Spencer.

(Apologies for the strange layout errors, it seems that Blogger's handling of images is only partly fixed.)

My dad and my sister did an amazing job arranging a number of lovely surprises for my Mum, one of which was the treble clef cake. The guy who made it did a bang-up job except for failing to notice there are five lines on a stave and not four.

My Dad holding my nephew Gregor. I was really struck by the different colours and textures of their skin (less obvious in this copy than in the original, which I might post on Flickr). I think it makes for an aesthetically pleasing contrast.

Laura spent lots of time playing with Gregor, as did we all since he's so much fun at the moment, but I think they formed a special bond.

Gregor in a gigantic chair. I think it speaks for itself.

Ruth and Laura in a spare moment - when we weren't running around refreshing drinks or organising food - having a natter.

Infuriatingly, I didn't manage to get many decent shots of my Mum, this one is the best I can muster (and I had to modify it a bit). This is partly because she was darting around talking to so many people, and partly because I found myself shooting into the light all the time. I still have so much to learn about photographing people.

Back Issues

(I think there might be an endless supply of puns involving the word 'back').

For those of you who care or are at least slightly interested in the continuing medical saga of my back pain, I thought I would post the latest, closest thing to a diagnosis I've received, from a large Swedish chiropractor. I am sending this theory around every expert I know, hoping for some reassurance that the several hundred pounds this will all cost might end up being worth it. If any of you know enough about physiology to tell me if this sounds plausible (although I realise it's a little bit sketchy), I would be hugely grateful for your feedback.

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The chiropractor writes...

"I believe that your problem is essentially one of lack of strength in your spinal supportive musculature. Partly due to chronic deconditioning because of your long term back pain and partly due to the inhibited nerve supply to your lower limb and pelvic musculature. Therefore I do not believe that stretching is useful at this stage - it may even work against you. The more mobile you are - the more your weak muscles will struggle to support you at the end range.

We first need to restore normal mechanics to your spine which should get your nervous system firing again. Then, it is a matter of a fairly intensive rehab regime in order to build your supportive muscles up again.

4-6 treatments in phase 1 should get the mechanics pretty well sorted out and then we switch to phase 2 which is the intensive rehab. Phase 3 is then to increase the 'self-management' and reduce the need for treatment."

New Stuff on Flickr

Sorry all, but the Blogger technical woes continue. You can find some more recent sights and inconsequential tidbits on the Flickr page, featuring summer chillies, self-portrait, new fish for old fish, a mystery door and traditional Yorkshire confectionery.

I am swamped with thesis work at present - I'm now officially behind schedule, alas, so I haven't had time or inclination for more detailed musings. Laura and I are heading up to Scotland again on Sunday, and Laura's birthday is next Thursday, so there should be news and pictures aplenty from the end of next week or so.