Rowing Finished!

Finished fours days of rowing (rowed over for three days and bumped on one day). Our crew lies at the highest position in its history. This is good stuff. Now that it's over I've discovered loads of free time. It's a bit like finding your life again in a box that you hadn't opened for a long time. Another first is that the new Men's Vice Captain of the Boat Club is a girl! It will be interesting to see how that works out.

Have been listening to some quality music including "I See Darkness" by Johnny Cash. In addition, I've filled my diary with a load of career related stuff. About time methinks. I made some t-shirts for people of importance from the Boat Club. The plant in my room ain't doing so well. I've got to start talking to it. It needs some love.

An anonymous person has mailed me a book of Irish music! Weired. Maybe somebody out there has been reading my blog... my first stalker - how exciting!

Celebrate a single step forwards (forget the three steps backwards)

Having tried to find a signal in the lab for three weeks, I've finally given up. Didn't know what to do next. Had a very useful brainstorming session with my supervisor and others in my research group. It is always productive to tap upon this great pool of expertise and you guys should give yourselves a pat on the back (you know who you are). The new plan is to recreate an experiment that was done three years ago. I will leverage the superior equipment that is now available to get better results. Hope it goes well. Am gutted to have to take this step backwards, but am resigned to the fact that it is very necessary. Awh shucks.

Summer VIIIs (a rowing competition between all the colleges at Oxford University) begins tomorrow. My college has two men's crews and three women's crews. I am rowing in the men's first crew. We aren't very good this year. I have not been able to find my 'space' in the boat. I really like to sit back at the finish of each stroke so as not to disturb the run of the boat. I'm finding it difficult to achieve that sensation.

As Publicity Rep for the boat club, I have created some posters advertising the racing. We are putting up a bar that sells Pimms and fair trade chocolate. One of my posters says 'After a few pints of this stuff, you'll forget it's raining'.

Today I went to see a friend of mine who has just given birth to a baby boy. Isn't it strange how remarkably infertile humans are? Procreation just doesn't come naturally to us. I like babies - I want a puppy.

Signal from above

I am sitting in lab, slowly turning on the detection plates on the experiment. I ask myself... having tried plan a, plan b and plan c, what the frick am I gonna do if plan z doesn't work? I haven't found my signal yet which proves irrefutably that going to Protestant mass on Sunday didn't work. Damn you Protestants!

Had a double session of Desperate Housewives last night, followed by an early morning outing. I rate the outing 6 out of 10. I arranged for a second coach to watch us row from the launch and record us using a video camera. Coach A is known for getting people to row together and coach B is known for correcting problems with individual rowers. A and B are complementary methinks. Another early morning outing tomorrow. Yippee - I get the chance to push my body's caffeine tolerance even further!

One of my friends has had her heart broken into little pieces :( I had her stay with me last night so that I could check on her.

After missing a direct-debit payment, I decided to get my mother on the case. She had my £38 fine overturned. Nice work mom.

Sunday times

Decided that I needed God on my side this week. Ended up in happy-clappy Protestant mass. It made me want to barf. All the music sounded like the theme tune of a chick-flick movie. It was a 'heart on your sleeve' experience. A dork, who was clearly overcome by the sanctity of it all, was undergoing convultions at the front row of the chapel. Have no reservations in slating it in this blog.

Had a double outing at Godstow. I rate it 7 out of 10. Saw a great display of wildlife on the river bank. Horses, deer, geese, rabbits and ducklings. Observed a guy cow-tipping. Very entertaining. Watched a great dvd. Hitchcock's 'The Rope' comes highly recommended. Went into lab to prepare some mutanagenic liquids. Dangerous stuff. Good to get that out of the way.

Got a stack of stuff sorted today. I emailed three of my exes - one after another. In addition, I spent a bit of time filling my iPod with a load of new music. Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Big and Rich, Waylon Jennings and Kenny Rogers feature heavily. I find myself apologizing to my lab mates about my weird taste in country music. Go figure...

The rise and fall

Found a signal in the lab - this is a sign post showing me where to go next. In science, it is never wise to be too optimistic. One of my colleagues' experiments was out of action for 13 months. However, I approach my doctorate with a renewed ethusiasm. Had a double outing this morning. The sun was beaming down. I rate it 4 out of 10. There is much rumbling regarding who should stroke the boat. I, as always, have taken the role of the diplomat. Surprisingly, that says a lot about me. Am now officially in the position whereby I owe more money than I own. This isn't uncommon for a student, but I thought that I might be able to fend if off for a little longer.

My first blog

Got up at 6:30 am and went for a row. I rate the outing 7 out of 10. In lab I found something interesting after a moment of inspiration from my boss. Enlightenment - you gotta love it. I spent lunch in the College Development Office with Anne Keene discussing the slideshow that I am preparing for a fundraising party in July. I'm looking forward to it. Finally went to a guest night dinner with the College Common Room Executive committee. Took some great photos! A penny landed in my glass several times - and we all know what that means...