The Book of Na'Lon

Oxonmoot ~ The Report (Second attempt)

I have been very busy with my portfolio of which more at another point and so haven’t got round to doing the report thing until now. But since I want a break from learning and teaching and not being able to find the references that I want to find, here’s my Oxonmoot report instead.

( Hobbitish Endeavours )

Tuemi and friend made a fantastic breakfast for me this morning: boiled eggs, German bread, hazelnut yoghurt, candles (not to eat! ;-)). They also sang Viel Glück und viel Segen for me. :-) Got lots of cards, too, but prezzies I have to wait for until tonight. But I got a bookmark in the form of a sheep from Tuemi and a bracelet from my sister-in-law.

The Marquis called to sing happy birthday to me and then Steele's the removers called to say they were coming past to pick up the boxes from the move (YAY! at last).

When I got into the office, Nix had put up banners with "Happy Birthday" on them and got me flowers and another bracelet (which incidentally matches my turquoise t-shirt). She also found some Kinder Country chocolates and bought them for me, because I mentioned that I really liked them and hadn't seen them in this country yet.

So far this has been one of my most birthdayish birthdays to date! :-D

I have finally this evening started my yoghurt making endeavour. I have had my yoghurt maker since before we moved house in August 2002. I have also bought many cartons of UHT milk and live yoghurt, to actually try making some. A few weeks ago I finally bought the thermometer to go with the whole mess. Because if you heat the milk to more than 45 degrees C, the heat kills of the bacteria in the yoghurt... By bedtime i should know whether tonight's attempt was successful.

Apart from yoghurt making and more laundry, I have been in creative writing land all day. This in principle should have been a good thing, but I am not making much headway. TK is difficult -- got a space action scene to write anf that's tough. The emither started yesterday is shaping up to be quite grim and tough. An old idea has re-impinged itself on my brain: will have to decide what to do about that. Oh, and it's my turn to draft the next section of GoN-WiP.

On the positive side... Pellegrina and I wrapped up Chapter 2 today, and the Marquis has read it and seems to have enjoyed it :-). Now we just need to get our website sorted out...

On Friday morning the_marquis and I spectacularly failed to missed out train to the South by about 30 seconds. ( Read more... ) Suffice it to say, we caught the next train without hitch, it got to our destination almost without delay, and for some reason known only unto those who plan the journeys of trains, it took an hour less to get from home to destination on this train, than it would have done on the ‘correct’ train.

parrot_knight picked us up at the station and while the Marquis dashed off to the building society, the Knight and I parked the car. We met up again a little later and had a cup of tea in a café that has opened in the place in which I bought my favourite pair of shoes (to date; now sadly deceased). Odd experience, that!

( The rest of the evening… )

Saturday started fairly slowly, and once we’d made it into town, the Marquis had to rush off to the committee meeting of Society T’s big cousin. The Knight and I were charged with a quest for some latex for hobbit feet. We found some in the end…

Soon after the latex had been acquired the Knight and I also parted ways: he took foradan to his flat to help him sort out his computer, while I headed off to meet Viala and eudesia for a long afternoon of chatting. I also saw my godson, his little sister and his big brother in the process of the visit, which was rather nice!

( Talking with Viala and Eudesia )

Then, in the evening, took place the event for which we had travelled more than half-way down the country: ( Society T’s Banquet )which was not only a great event in its own right, but also provided a chance for many of the old members of Society T to meet each other and for us all to meet our very worthy successors! Eglerio!

Sunday’s journey home was remarkably straightforward, despite the replacement bus service which the Marquis and I had been dreading as two people who were a little over-tired and delicate after the previous evening’s excesses ;-). Once at home, I quickly prepared the lecture-notes for tomorrow’s sessions in Lancaster. And then I spent ages writing up this report of the weekend. Time for posting and bed, methinks…

This is just what it says on the box...

( Na'Lon's Saturday )