Beyond my ken.

I sometimes realise how very little I understand of the work that goes on in the Scientific institution where I am employed. The other day everyone in the institute received this email:
"Sorry for the hinx mail.We urgently need some anti-goat antibody conjugated with HRP for acouple ofWestern blots. Does anyone have some to spare? Thanks a lot"
Now the words are english. The sentences are properly constructed and yet it makes no sense to me. Ah well it keeps life full of mysteries.
There was a visitor at work last week - none other than the Archbishop of Canterbury - rather random really

Here is Brian with the orchestra on Tuesday - taking his bow at the end of the piece!!!!!!

Answers

I will put the answers as a comment. So that you can't see them by accident.

Quiz

Well done, Brian, I look forward to hearing the concert on the radio.
So from the sublime to the ridiculous. I have to set a round for a quiz next week. It is going to be lyrics from musicals and films. I thought I might test it out on my extended family and see if I've pitched it right. Could you let me know how many you get without googling it - I will tell you the answers if you like.

1.A lady doesn't leave her escort
It isn't fair, it isn't nice
A lady doesn't wander all over the room
And blow on some other guy's dice.

2. Is he tough? Listen, Bud! He’s got radioactive blood.

3. Now when you pick a pawpaw
Or a prickly pear
And you prick a raw paw
Next time beware

4. Lots of chocolates for me to eat,
Lots of coal making lots of 'eat.
Warm face, warm hands, warm feet,

5. If it should chance to be
We should see
Some harder days
Empty larder days
Why grouse?

6. Well, you can tell by the way I use my walk,
I'm a woman's man: no time to talk.

7. We're drawin' the line,
So keep your noses hidden!
We're hangin' a sign,
Says "Visitors forbidden"
And we ain't kiddin'!

8. But now these days are gone, I’m not so self assured
Now I find I’ve changed my mind I’ve opened up the doors

9. Don't see lights a flashin'
Plays by sense of smell
Always gets a replay
Never tilts at all

10. There's a sad sort of clanging from the clock in the hall
And the bells in the steeple too

The concert was fantastic

Just to say that the performance of "Points of Decision" last night by the BBC was absolutely fantastic. Hearing it performed by a really wonderful orchestra was amazing. Brian was really pleased with it all - the piece, the performance, the orchestra - everything. A truly magic experience.

That's it really. We will get a cd in a couple of weeks and I'll post the date of theBBC radio performance when we know it

Out and about

Having reached the end of a manic two weeks on Sunday night, I am only just beginning to recover and feel even slightly awake. Having deposited Saffy on mum, first up was an exhibition in London Olympia. This is where Moira works but who I only saw fleetingly from a distance before she had to go home poorly unfortunately - hope you're feeling better if you read this! Following two exhausting days of working, drinking with Dutch people and watching belly dancing (long story) was a trip to Paris for another exhibition. I was lucky enough to get to go out there a couple of days early to get some sight seeing and shopping time in which was awesome, I looooove Paris. Then it was back home for a night before dashing off to Sussex for a wedding. It was the first of my school friends to get married and the weather was unbelievable lovely for February - we had drinks and photos outside in the sun, which was great as Buxted Park where it was held was absolutely stunning. I'd definitely recommend it if you fancied a nice weekend away (although it's not cheap!)

All very exhausting but excellent fun :) And as I got some nice piccies along the way and have actually managed to upload them from my camera for once I thought I'd post them. Next up if I get my way at work are trips to Rome and Barcelona, so Christine I might be paying you guys a visit soon!

Love Kate xxxx

Flowers in winter

This camelia has come into flower for some reason, even though it is warm it is only just February, and it is the first time it has flowered. It is a gorgeous colour but I hope we don't have any frost or it is done for

Here we have Kate explaining to Saffy why she is wearing an elf outfit (because we are cruel and like to laugh at you) on Christmas day too.

Does anyone else get all their text underlined in Blogger or does is just not like me/Macs?

Radio Stars!!!!!!!

Just to let you know that we have found out that Brian's piece will be on Radio 3!!!!!!!!! we don't have a date yet, and it will be hidden in the contemporary music ghetto at 11pm but with listen again you can get it at a more reasonable time (though on the computer which buggers the sound). He is now even more nervous.

Also - just to add to the pressure - the choir is going to be on thePolish equivalent of Radio 3 and we will be singing live ! No time to do it again, get it right, not panic - do it live why don't you - with a bunch of teenagers most of whom hadn't sung a note till 15 weeks ago. Eeek. Other than that we are looking forward to Poland.

love Helen

Book group continued.

Does anyone want my copy of the book? I could pop it in the post if you like. (OK, I admit it. I'm not a fast reader - just a bit of a quitter!)

snow

Just had dinner with Peggy who is doing very well. we had about six inches of snow today, which is a pain if you are driving, but as I was on subway and foot was no problem. The snow in the parks is magical. I still remember the first time I saw real canadian snow at about age 13 and just rushed out and rolled in it.
You really can't believe how beautiful it is.
But then if you live here and it goes on and on and on yuch.

Sea Dog