Happy New Year!

I'm writing this at 8.30 pm Seattle time - which is where I arrived back today.  It is 4.30 am UK time - and that is what it feels like.  So no long blog entry today.  Happy New Year!

Media Consumption

An average day - 3 newspapers, 3 TV news shows, and numerous hours of news and news discussion on the radio.  This is far, far too much.  All the same news stories regurgitated and dissected in one form or another, it is nothing short of pointless.  So please cut it down.  And since the news is utterly depressing most of the time, I don't think it is good for mental health.  Which is why I very rarely watch the news in the US - unlike the UK, there isn't any national news on in prime time.  It tends to be on in the early evening, which is when I'm invariably at work - instead I occasionally catch some of the local news at 10 or 11 pm.  But only briefly, since online news and weather is so much easier to consume.  And I have not, and never will, watch the offensive and repulsive people and rhetoric on Fox News.

Royal Borough of Greenwich

Just time for one last excursion into London, and I chose to take a walk around Greenwich - a part of London I haven't been to very much in the past but which I like a lot.  It is a nice little area with some attractions (e.g. Cutty Sark) and a lot of nice views - perfect for the clear and cold day it was today.  So long as I didn't slip on any of the numerous patches of black ice - which made for some tentative going.  And I particularly like the fact that Greenwich is the home/origin of 2 dimensions - longitude and time.  That makes it a surprisingly very important place.

After Greenwich, I took a quick diversion to Oxford Street on the way home.  But the hoards of shoppers/tourists there just did my head in so didn't stay for long.  I don't think I've ever enjoyed going to Oxford Street - it's just not worth it.    

Rugby

So, I went to see Harlequins versus Gloucester yesterday evening.  I had suggested this as something to do after Christmas whilst I was back home, and didn't think any more of it.  Two fairly mediocre sides in the top tier of English rugby with a few players good enough to play internationally - I wasn't particularly expecting much.  So imagine my surprise to find out that instead of the game being played at The Stoop - Harlequin's home ground with a capacity of 15,000 - the game was actually played at Twickenham in front of a crowd of nearly 78,000!  Didn't even realize all this until after the game - we had just followed the rest of the fans out of the train station to the ground (in retrospect, it was a huge crowd and didn't acknowledge the fact that it was actually Twickenham - despite all the signs indicating it as the home of world and English rugby).  As for the game itself - after a fairly forgettable scoreless opening 30 minutes, the game got a lot more interesting with quite a few tries and Harlequins managing to hold on for a tight win.  Squeezed into our seats, we were a bit unlucky to be seated in the corner where not a lot of the action took place - but still good to go and watch a top tier club rugby game for the first time in nearly 20 years.

More Celebrity Deaths

As has been commented upon, a celebrity who I remarked as being alive in a blog post just 4 days ago is no longer with us - sorry Liz Smith.  Jeez, what is going on with 2016.  Just the last few days has been shocking what with George Michael and Carrie Fisher.  Simply yet more names added to the noticeably long list of celebrities - many from the upper echelons of celebrity - who have passed away this year.  Is this unusual, or is this going to happen more often as the pool of celebrities exponentially grows each year?  We still have a few days left in 2016 - enough time for at least one more a-list celebrity.  I won't try to predict who it will be, though I wouldn't particularly mind or care if it is one of these definitely not a-list and extremely unfunny yet inexplicably popular British comedians: Michael McIntyre, Peter Kay, David Walliams, Alan Carr, Graham Norton or especially the Keith Lemon guy.  

Boxing Day

An old-fashioned Boxing Day - leftover Christmas dinner, family arguments, a game of cards, overindulgence on food and drink, rubbish TV.  Just like every other year I've been around!  Classic.

Christmas Day

An old-fashioned Christmas Day - Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, Queen's speech, family arguments, a game of cards, overindulgence on food and drink, rubbish TV.  Just like every other year I've been around!  Classic.

For my 250th blog entry, that is pretty lame.  Sorry!

Local Celebrity

Godalming's most famous celebrity:

The Royle Family

I watched a 10 year old episode of The Royle Family last night that I don't think I've ever seen before (the one where Nana dies), and it made me cry.  That's the sign of a good episode.  And The Royle Family is a quintessentially British show - shot simply, but with some fantastic characters and dialogue and references that only the British will get.  You just don't get that kind of show in the US, where comedies are generally played for broad laughs and no subtlety (a good recent example, which I saw a trailer for on UK television recently, is The Great Indoors - which despite starring Stephen Fry is quite frankly a dreadfully unfunny typical American comedy - I can only think that Fry is in it for the pay check).  Also, it's sad to think that whilst Liz Smith - the 95 year old actress who played Nana - is still alive, Caroline Aherne is not.  2016 - a terrible year for celebrity deaths in addition to the death of American politics.

Wisley

RHS Garden Wisley.  For the under 7's, paradise.  For a childless, middle-aged man - my idea of hell.  But at least I can derive some pleasure from my nephew and niece's pleasure.  Why you'd want to come here without children is beyond me - this is a place geared exclusively for kids, and there were an awful lot of them here today, along with an awful lot of stressed out parents.

Quizzing

What is it about the British and quizzes?  It seems to be an obsession.  From Sudoku and crosswords in the newspapers, to the obscene number of quiz shows on television - you cannot seem to get enough of them.  Thankfully, it's not the same in the US.  Jeopardy is the only long-running quiz show I can think of on American television, whose closest equivalent is Fifteen to One.  I can't think of any others that require even a modicum of intelligence or general knowledge (I'm not even sure that something like Who Wants to be a Millionaire is on any more).  I think the New York Times Crossword is also a well known challenge, but I imagine only a handful of people tackle that; I used to get my Sudoku fix from an app, but I hardly use that any more.  Perhaps this all goes to explain why the vast majority of Americans are perceived as "stupid" - I don't necessarily think this is due to a lack of intelligence, more just a lack of general knowledge (and lack of education in logical deduction - why do you think so many Chinese/Indians immigrate to America for jobs like mine?).  I'm sadly noticing that I can't answer general knowledge questions nearly as easily as I used to - I'm not sure if this is due to my age or my "Americanization"!  This also makes the vast majority of Americans gullible, which is why someone like Donald Trump can rile them up with lies and exaggerations with horrifying consequences.  

Hampton Court

First time visiting Hampton Court Palace today - and again, somewhere I could easily spend more time at and make more effort at taking and composing some decent shots.  Kind of disappointing that there are places like this, and many many more, that I haven't visited before that were a hell of a lot more convenient for me to visit in years past than they are now.  It's amazing how much we (I) take for granted. 

British Comedy

I think most of my recent exposure to British comedy has been through various comedy podcasts - so it is very surreal to watch some British comedy panel shows (which don't even exist in the US) and actually put some faces to names who I've never seen before.  A lot of the people look nothing like I was expecting, some excessively so.  Although I do find certain British comedians very tedious (I'm particularly not a fan of BBC Radio 4 comedy), there are definitely some good ones out there - and whose sense of humor I enjoy on podcasts, and which I can now also enjoy on TV if I'm lucky to catch them whilst I'm here.

Winchester

Some of the day spent at the very pleasant cathedral city of Winchester - a place I could easily go to again to see more of the sights (and spend some time actually composing some decent photos), preferably with nicer weather and less people (the last weekend before Christmas is not a good time to go to avoid the crowds).

Parenthood

A tip of the hat to all the parents out there.  Although it sometimes makes me feel a bit sad, I don't have any regrets about not being a parent, and probably never being a parent - it's not something I could do well.  I don't have the patience, demeanor or mindset to make a good job of it.  I've accepted that, and I'm fine with it.  Life can take some strange twists and turns, so who knows what's in my future - so I guess you should always expect the unexpected.  But parenthood is one of life's great responsibilities that I'd rather not have - and I salute those of you (with a touch of envy thrown in) that are able to succeed at being good parents.

The Big Smoke

First trip into London today.  A quick visit to Imperial War Museum (one of my favorite London museums, but maybe not quite as good as I remember), and then braving the hoards of tourists with a walk around Westminster.  It's only over my last few visits that I've actually made the effort to try to photograph some of London's sights, and it has not proved easy.

US vs UK #1

TV: In years past, I would have said that US TV was notoriously awful - terrible comedies, loads of ad breaks, loads of channels showing a load of rubbish.  It seems that the UK has caught up.  I haven't even bothered to look at the Radio Times to see what is on over the holidays, apart from some sports there is absolutely nothing I am interested in.  I'm sure there might be a prestige drama worth watching, but that pales in comparison to the golden age of television currently existing in the US - why do you think all these big name actors are suddenly prepared to appear on US TV?  What does the BBC have - why, Pointless and Eggheads.  It's no contest - the US wins.  

Drive

I haven't driven in the UK now for coming up to 10 years.  I haven't driven a manual car for closer to 15 years.  I think driving an automatic car in the US for so long now has made me soft, because every time I come back to the UK I'm struck by how different, and how nervous, I am being driven around here.  I suspect this is mainly because I'm so used to driving on the right, with the wheel on the left side of the car, so my spatial awareness of car position on the road is totally off.  Also, the roads are noticeably narrower in the UK compared to the US, and although the cars are also narrower, it does not make for easy driving.  This seems to be especially bad on the minor roads in Surrey, where there is so much street-parking that there is barely room for 2 lanes of traffic and guaranteed that my wing mirror would not last if I was driving round here.  Also, the US does not do roundabouts - so I'm struck by how fast people approach and drive round them here because I don't think I could do that now.  And to top it all, most people still drive a manual - which frankly I find quite bewildering because driving an automatic takes so much hassle out of driving, but it does probably make me a less skilled driver (I'm not sure I could ever go back to driving a manual).  I think I'll keep on doing my best to avoid driving in the UK for as long as I can, but at some point I suspect I'm going to have to brave the UK roads for myself again.

Godalming

Godalming, Surrey - my base for the next few weeks, about as white and middle-class as you would expect from an affluent Surrey town.  A few photos from the perfectly bland town centre (it does have a Wetherspoon and a Greggs, otherwise everything is suitably upmarket).  But as with most British towns, I like the fact that there are casually old buildings and old remnants scattered around - the kind of things that would be a huge deal in the US but don't even warrant a second look here.

A blogging break?

After a long, tiring and relatively uneventful flight back, I'm back on home soil.  Hooray!  Since I'm staying with family, and the purpose of maintaining this blog was predominantly for family, I haven't decided yet whether I'll continue to blog daily for the next few weeks.  If I do, I might have to be wary of what I say since I don't want to appear ungrateful or glad to be back.  Sadly, that already eliminates a number of possible topics!  We shall see.

Premium Economy

So, I've checked in for my flight later today and it doesn't look as though I've got an upgrade based on my seat placement.  I shouldn't be disappointed, but I really am - because I've been spoiled by multiple upgrades in the past.  At least I'm in premium economy rather than plain old economy, but I'd much rather be in business because that is a significant step up for a nearly 10 hour flight.  I've been wondering if I've done anything differently that hasn't warranted an upgrade - does it make a difference that I booked my ticket much earlier than usual, that I checked in online not long after online checking opened, that I'm flying on a Sunday, that I'm not flying as close to Christmas as I have in the past?  I suspect that it is more likely that Seattle, and more people in Seattle, are so much more affluent than they used to be, so there are probably less free seats in business.  Shame.  I haven't even got a window seat in the premium economy section because none of them were free.  This, combined with the fact that I've got a nagging headache from yet another restless night, could mean a tough flight...  

Alt-right

I hate the term "alt-right" - that seems to have become increasingly prevalent in the media.  Why don't we call a spade a spade - "alt-right" is just an "acceptable" euphemism for Nazism.  It's a term that is sadly only going to become more common under President Trump - where unpleasant traits like racism, sexism and homophobia are celebrated rather than condoned, and when suddenly it is acceptable to express these beliefs.  It is sad that I now live in a country where people (predominantly white, male, middle-America) are proud and not shy about saying they belong to the "alt-right" - that is not a sign of a progressive country.  

Snow

We got some snow overnight - not a lot, maybe a couple of inches at most.  But this is still the first time I've seen something more than a dusting for quite a few years - at least not in the mountains anyway.

As predicted, the morning commute was a slushy nightmare.  But perhaps the worst thing was all the kids playing in the snow right outside my apartment.  It was even noisier than the racket they make during summer.  There was no school, so whilst I was trying to take a teleconference at home, all I could bloody hear was their shouting and screaming.  I didn't have a choice about going into the office.  I hate this place - I have got to move next year.  That is new year's resolution #1.

WFH

Due to the weather forecast, and winter storm warming, I worked from home today.  I didn't need to - it's been clear all day, no colder than yesterday and there wouldn't have been any issues driving to and from work.  The forecast is, again, a shambles.  We were warned that the afternoon commute would be horrible with cold, wind and snow - instead, it just seems to have been horrible due to the normal traffic issues.  The forecasts were off both by when the snow was due to hit - apparently much later in the evening now - and how much snow is actually going to fall - it's come down from a predicted 6'' to less than 2'' now.  I know that with the geography and everything that it is difficult to predict the weather in the NW, and that it is so localized - but this is the second time that they've messed up a big way recently - the other being a major wind event that never materialized.  As I write this in the evening, at 10 pm, it still hasn't started snowing yet - let's see what it's like in the morning, as I do need to go into work tomorrow.  Knowing my luck, that will be when the conditions are at their worse - they predict that the temperatures will warm up to above freezing overnight, but I don't believe anything now.

Holiday Spirit

Probably because I’m going back to the UK for the holidays, I haven’t got into the Christmas spirit at all this year yet.  I haven’t decorated my apartment, and for what feels like the first time in an eternity I haven’t even got a chocolate advent calendar.  Last year, I remember going to see the Christmas ship festival – where you go to one of the Puget Sound waterfront parks and watch/listen to choirs performing on Christmas-decorated ships whilst standing around a big bonfire by the water.  But not this year.  Last year I even went to the church just down the road that does the most ridiculous over the top Christmas light show set to music.  I can even see the lights flashing away from my living room window.  But not this year.  Last year I made the effort to go to one of the downtown malls to watch their evening indoor snow show, where “snow” falls from the ceiling of the mall to musical accompaniment.  But not this year.  I’m going to be away for our department Christmas get-together, and I’m not even going to the company Christmas do this Friday (sadly because that is more of a couples thing, and I feel very conspicuous and awkward going as a single).  I think (and hope!) that I’m saving all my holiday cheer for when I’m back in the UK!   

Company Gift

I'm going to sound remarkably ungrateful, but each employee at work got a gift today.  This is what we got:

Yes, a solar-powered charger and light.  Something I doubt I'll ever use ever.  This is yet another remarkably useless gift our company has handed out.  I should be appreciative of getting anything, but this seems like a tragic waste.  And I don't think this is our company Christmas gift - instead it is something we got for getting another drug approved and on the market - so we might even get something else equally rubbish.  Joy.  What a miserable grinch I am.

Winter Storm Advisory

A “Winter Storm Watch” warning we had has just been upgraded (or downgraded?) to a “Winter Storm Advisory” – cold weather and precipitation is not a good combo in Greater Seattle.  It was snowing this morning, but nowhere near cold enough for it to settle.  But it is getting colder tonight and tomorrow, so may have to cope with icy roads on the commute tomorrow – which will not be fun (there is a bit of a hill up to where I live, and I’ve heard that it can get icy and the police will shut it down to traffic when it gets really bad, though have yet to experience that).  I don’t think I’ve blogged about the “Puget Sound Convergence Zone”, which is an additional risk because now I live close to that.  This is a phenomenon whereby the air flow kind of splits around the Olympic Mountains W/NW of Greater Seattle and converges in a narrow band on the other side – and apparently that convergence zone is often in the vicinity of where my home is.  I’ve experienced it a bit before – so it’s been raining where I am, but clear just a few miles away – so presumably the same thing could happen with snow with worse consequences.  At least I’m not at too high an elevation – I have a friend who lives in Bellevue who lives higher up, and he had to work from home today due to the road conditions.  So, I guess I’m going to have start taking my work laptop home with me most days this week, just in case I need to work from home the following day.  I don’t normally do that (I don’t like to bring my work home unless I absolutely have to – and I think I’m one of the few people left who do that, so I’m very old-fashioned!), and I hate working from home, so the last week before my holidays might not be very constructive! 

Westworld Finale

I'm commenting as I'm watching the Westworld finale live - so needless to say, SPOILERS FOLLOW.

Note to self, don't read ANY of the internet coverage of Season 2 - some of the great twists in the series were called early in various internet threads and discussion.  It kind of spoiled the surprises, but I don't think detracted too much from my enjoyment of the series.  In many ways, this show was purposely constructed for internet discussion and dissection.

Jeez, so much jumping between timelines, even in the same scene.  There is going to be a lot of that.

The setting is amazing - makes me want to spend some time in Utah.  Maybe next year.

Dolores is clearly the key to everything - including the "center of the maze".  Consciousness?  And, to no ones surprise on the internet, is she also the mysterious Wyatt?

Interesting fact - I've actually got Jeffrey Wright's autograph (he starred in a Bond film)!

So many good actors, who don't look as though they are just phoning it in.  Always an encouraging sign.

Excellent, looks like we're finally going to get the robot uprising, led by Thandie Newton.  And with a lot of gratuitous nudity.

The Man in Black is William.  That was an early internet theory that was always considered solid.  And now confirmed.  Even though Ed Harris looks nothing like the younger guy.

Classic line - "for f*ck's sake he's one of us and you're one of them"!

Excellent reveal - Thandie Newton escaping was programmed.  Is this Anthony Hopkins' new story line?

These violent delights have violent ends indeed.

Well this just got very crazy - did Anthony Hopkins just unlock Dolores?  Well he certainly seemed to turn off the safety control.  And he didn't seem like the kind of actor who would commit to multiple seasons, so I'm not surprised he was a goner.

Excellent, if a bit pretentious with the whole consciousness, reveries, Michelangelo thing, finale - looking forward immensely to where this is going to go next season.

Downtown

I took the opportunity today to go into downtown Seattle to do a bit of shopping, and to snap a few shots:

Busy

What a shambles is it at work at the moment.  I'm one of a few people who has been pulled in to help on a study deliverable due today - and it's a classic case of too many cooks spoil the broth, as different people do different things resulting in all kinds of inconsistencies.  It's a mess, and I like to think that if I was leading this study then things would be a lot more organized and it wouldn't be such a disaster.  There are so many issues, and so many contractors working on this who are clearly not competent but who have been given no oversight it is shocking.  Sadly, this is not an uncommon occurrence at this company - where everything is left to the last moment and rushed, resulting in all kinds of mistakes and all kinds of stress.  It's a horrible way of doing things - but it seems to happen all the time.  I think I've got the organizational skills to do a much better job of this, but if they don't want to give me that responsibility then that is their loss.  They can work over the weekend, I'm not.

Gobble Gobble Gobble

No, not another Thanksgiving turkey reference.  I’m talking bowling.  I bowled a turkey last night!  3 strikes in a row.  I think that might be the first time I’ve ever done that – at least if you don’t count Wii Bowling.  Actually, really disappointed that in a game where I threw 4 strikes I still couldn’t break the 150 barrier.  That’s thanks mainly to a horrific stretch of frames in the middle.  

Sadly, that was my peak in our first game and my score actually got worse over the remaining 2 games – and I managed to get a big blister on my thumb as well.  So no plans to turn professional.  Good to have an all too rare late night out – though probably shouldn’t have had a burger at 11 pm and typically inopportune timing as I’ve actually had some proper work to do this week for what feels like the first time in months!