Thursday, September 30
dns disaster
Last night, and into the early morning hours PST/PDT we had some technical difficulties with the Nameservers.
For at least the last 12 hours this site has been offline, or rather, inaccessible. In a rather poor advertisement for my well-recommended new webhosting provider, their Domain Name System servers went down overnight. For some reason, my domain was worse affected than some others, and remained down until I finally telephoned their technical support directly this evening.
It took them all of five minutes to resolve the issue once I prioritised myself in this way, which would have made the cost of the call to San Francisco well worth it—had I had to pay. When I went looking for their number I discovered that not only do they have toll-free support in the US, they have a UK access number for the service as well. Their managers will probably be dismayed that what I have learned from all this is to forget their sophisticate online ticket support system, and just pick up the phone—more expensive for them, but much faster response.
The outage will have affected some email on the domain too, depending on when it was sent. If you don't get an error back, that means I've received it, and any lack of reply is merely laziness on my part! If you do get an error, please just re-send that message. Anything from now on should be fine... unless it all crashes again. Ah the joys of the wired life.
Sunday, September 26
update on david
A brief update on David taken from an email Jenny sent out three days ago, for any of you not on Jenny's email list.
David moved to [another ward at the hospital] yesterday and began his chemo treatment. The doctor will see him tomorrow and depending on how he is he may come home. The next treatment will be in 3 weeks' time. Once the cancer has been dealt with they will do a hip replacement as at present his left leg is shorter than his right. We don't know how his body will react to the chemo and there are a range of side affects to choose from! The least worry to him is the hair loss...
Since then David has indeed returned home, and he'll be able to stay there for the next three weeks. I know how good it is to get someone home from hospital. We're glad he's home.
moving
Please excuse the mess... we're in the process of moving.
It's the blog that's moving, that is—changing to a new hosting provider. This is requiring some under-the-hood tinkering for a few hours (to upgrade to a MySQL database from Berkley::DB). In the interim, some users will see this blog hosted on our old server, under the kiwisinlondon url. Don't worry: we'll be back to the usual babbage.tv soon!
The move is the fulfillment of a long-held desire to get full virtual hosting of the babbage.tv domain, rather than the frame forwarding we've been using. It also means we're freed from the current connection this blog has to our particular broadband provider, which will cease to exist at whatever point we eventually move out of this flat...
I'll keep you posted!
11:07pm update: Well, the migration is completed, and as far as I can tell everything is working correctly! Only a few minor hiccups along the way, which is better than might have been expected... Welcome to our new home!
Wednesday, September 22
test results
A call this morning from Jenny, Bronwyn's mother, communicated the news. She rang just after 7am our time, but missed Bronwyn who had left for work only minutes before. The Doctors have reported back on the results of the biopsy that Bronwyn's father David had last Tuesday. We are sad to report that the biopsy of David's femur (the thigh bone) and bone scan indicates he has a Primary Osteolymphoma.
Primary Osteolymphoma (also known as Primary Bone Lymphoma) is a particularly rare form of cancer; so rare that even the largest multi-year studies published from major specialist hospitals have included only 20–60 people. The major hospital in Sydney, Australia, sees on average two cases of this condition a year. A benefit of working in the NHS is electronic access to the literature: I've been reading a number of articles and abstracts on the condition from medical journals today. The good news is that, as the Doctors have told David and Jenny, the condition is treatable, and outcomes are positive. Chemotherapy (combined with prayer!) is the treatment of choice, with radiotherapy used as well in some cases. One web information source notes: "Lymphoma of bone has the best prognosis of all primary malignant bone tumors."
David and Jenny, our thoughts and prayers, along with those of many others, are with you tonight.
encouraging
I had an extended, productive, and encouraging conversation regarding professional developments on the telephone with someone this evening. In time, it will be appropriate to go into details. For now, I wished merely to make a note in this, my personal historical record, that in some ways it started today...
Saturday, September 18
£2,346.72
A while back, in our electronic-transfers only savings account that can only receive money moved to and from our cheque account, we found the following transaction:
18/06/2004 CRED REC/D BY POST 2,346.72 CR
We eventually abandoned the “anonymous benefactor” hypothesis! And while an extra £2,000 or so would always be useful (did someone say iMac g5?!), we thought the bank might want it back at some point. (Especially given similar recent publicity, admittedly on a grander scale.) Well after almost three months, at least two phone calls and most recently a letter, we heard back yesterday. The amount had been “incorrectly applied", the bank reported. The team leader wanted to “take this opportunity to thank [us] for bringing this to [her] attention..."
Jesus was once asked about paying taxes to occupying Roman authorities, an unpopular usury. Asking to see the coin used to pay the taxes, the image and name of the Emperor were found displayed on it. And Jesus said, “Give the Emperor what belongs to him and give God what belongs to God.” (Read it in Matthew, Mark, or Luke.)
Maybe you can't weigh integrity in pounds.
Wednesday, September 15
discount crianlarich wedding gifts?
Memory is a funny thing. I, for instance, had completely forgotten that when passing through the small Scottish town of Crianlarich last month I had on a whim purchased a large mail-order wedding gifts business.
It was a link from TallSkinnyKiwi that put me back on the case. He noted a new search engine, A9, mostly google-powered but released by Amazon. Interested, I went over and, well, "googled” myself—see the mindspace that other engine holds? Scrolling through the results I was surprised to see on a later page something that was clearly a link to this blog, but in a strange context. I clicked through to discover it was at the time the last link on the first page of a site advertising wedding presents in Crianlarich! Most odd.
Now, I did blog about Crianlarich when we were there just over a month ago. But to the best of my knowledge, I actually decided against purchasing the mail order businesses on offer, focussing instead on the comfortable pillows, cooked breakfasts, and early departures to Fort William... So quite how we've ended up in a retail frontpage is beyond me. Some kind of automatic page creation, presumably, designed to give the impression of content in order to drive traffic and thus advertising revenue. Since the site must be at least partly dynamic, perhaps this blog won't even be mentioned there by the time you visit. But if we can't beat em, we may as well both join 'em and subvert 'em. And this entry should help us keep in the rankings! So roll up, roll up, get your discount wedding gifts right here, in Central Crianlarich. All major credit cards accepted...
Monday, September 13
new media midwife
We spent the afternoon yesterday at the home of Rajesh and Jill, who are about to head out to Hawaii and elsewhere for the next six months. Sounds exotic but they'll be there for the University of the Nations Crossroads Discipleship Training School. They'll be there to explore more about their relationship with God and the place he might intend for them in the world. An exciting opportunity. My small part in assisting this process was to step Rajesh through the initial steps of setting up their new blog, at his request. All enlightened self interest really, since that means I'll be able to read of their progress each step along the way! While it's yet to open its eyes, take a lungful of air, and scream out its first full blog post, this baby has been delivered. Assisting someone to bring their new blog into the world I feel like some sort of new media midwife... And I'm looking forward to seeing this baby grow and mature.
On the subject of bringing life into the world, a phone call from my brother in New Zealand this morning reminded me it is seven weeks today till their first baby is due. This will also mark my transition to uncledom, surely a most veritable land of boyish opportunity, not the least to assist said child to do (quite harmless) things the parents might tend to otherwise discourage.... Wicked.
Friday, September 10
out with the old, in with the new
Hi there viewers, a few words from the feminine side.
I finally went into my old school a couple of weeks ago to clear out my office and also to find out how my kids did in their GCSE results (equivalent to School C).
Music got the best results in the school! 88% got A-C passes. I taught 12 of the 26 students that sat music and they all got their goal grade. It was just a wonderful feeling after all the hard work and the trying to get students on the right track. (If you want to get a feel for what most London high school teacher's day is like, see this website: I was stunned that I had the same experiences—that there must be thousands of us out there dealing with the same inane stuff).
Anyway, I was particularly pleased with one student who needed a C for the college course he had enrolled in and had really flunked one of his assessments. He knew that he really had to pull out all the stops for the final exam. This senior music class was the only reason I stuck out being at Shene for the whole year—I just wanted to get them through—and I/we did! yay! thanks Lord.
And what a day I had today. Pheweee. The only bad thing about it was how long I had to wait for three out of my four buses.
Started off with a Year 5 class (8/9 year olds). Just plain nice and enthusiastic. One "different" child during the lesson asked if he could be an idol at which everyone made noises. He told us he meant the kind that has fire around it and people dance around it—weird! And here we were thinking something about pop idols! In his recorder lesson in the afternoon he got his instrument taken off him because he was flourishing the ends of pieces with 'delightful' squeaks on purpose. I think that was the only piece of active discipline I had to do all day.
Second lesson (these are all half hour lessons—not 50 minutes praise be) I went to see my Year 3 recorder class, told them about the exciting opportunity that they were about to embark on and gave out notices asking for £5 to be brought to school for a recorder. They were again polite and enthused.
Third lesson, I had the four and five year olds for hymn practice—"If I were a butterfly” and that was about all we could cope with. At the end of the lesson, one little sweet heart with golden braided Afro hair flashed me a big smile and gave my arm a little stroke as she filed out in her class line.
Next was morning tea and then whole school assembly where they all sat in silent rows and listened and prayed diligently. We then all sang “If I were a butterfly."
Lesson four, another Year 5 class. Bit more lively than the other. At the end of the lesson while we were waiting for their teacher to collect them I was asking them about songs they liked to sing. One boy named a couple of songs in some European language and the class were most intrigued. “They're operas” he said and everyone went “oh!” Then I said that they were in for a treat because opera was in our year plan for January and I am not kidding, there was a majority “yay!” response. Hayley fell to the floor coughing with laughter when I told this story. By this stage of the day I was starting to get into the whole primary school chant of “good morning class” etc. The response you get in unison at the end of the lesson is “good afternoon and thank you, Mrs Babbage.” And if that wasn't enough, one little girl as she was leaving said “you're a lovely teacher” and gave me a little hug.
Oh and did I mention the largest class I have is 17 children?
Then I had my lunch “hour” that lasts for 110 minutes and actually went to the staffrooooom—oh my goodness!
Finished the afternoon with my two Year 5 recorder sessions where it was a delight to see children excited over a tune with only three notes in it.
Classes finished at 3pm and then I started to journal the day and plan for Monday. No idea what I'm doing with the five year olds but I'll figure it out in the weekend. Left at 4pm (unheard of) to try and beat the rush hour bus problems—no luck. Including a slight detour to my new favourite shop the Manna Christian Centre, Streatham Hill, where I bought a card for my Mum and Dad, it took me 2 hours—but it is worth it don't you think. : )
Thursday, September 9
bittersweet times
In a phone call tonight to Waikato Hospital, Bronwyn spoke to her mother and then to her father, who remains an inpatient there. They had just finished meeting with the Consultant, who told them that their tests so far have suggested there may be some form of growth or tumour. While we will remain positive, this is obviously not a good development and is most upsetting. The doctors plan further tests: a bone scan, a CT scan, a biopsy. The nature of the biopsy apparently means that it will take one to two weeks to get the further results. It is possible any growth may have been related to the cause of the fracture, which was identified when David was admitted to hospital. It is a hard thing to be so far away at a time like this. David and Jenny, you have our love, and our prayers. We place our trust in God, who we know will protect and keep you both in all things, now and always.
Yet in the midst of our suffering, there are also the seeds of life and joy. We are pleased to now be able to extend warm congratulations to Stephanie, Bronwyn's sister, and Michael Chernishov, who have announced their engagement! We long to celebrate with them in person, and will be pleased to extend a warm welcome to the family to Michael—when we meet him! Due to quirks of time and space, though Michael has been on the scene for a more-than-respectable time now, the truth is we're yet to lay eyes on the man. Or more to the point, yet to take the measure of him. You see, it has been suggested that Michael may indeed be taller than my good self. All I can say is: many are called, few are chosen... and I've heard that story before. But regardless, Michael, welcome! We look forward to the many happy memories we shall all create together, as a family.
Then in the midst of all this, after an inset day (teachers only day) yesterday, Bronwyn starts her first day back at school tomorrow. So for Stephanie and Michael, for Bronwyn, for Jenny, and most especially for David, your prayers are coveted tonight.
Sunday, September 5
finished
It may have been a while coming—charting in fact the entire history of this blog—but tonight I completed the last documents for my Statement of Equivalence in Clinical Psychology, meeting I hope the final requirements set for me by the examining committee. This is the process that overseas-qualified Clinical Psychologists such as myself engage in, in order to prove we have the requisite lack of incompetence necessary to continue our practise in the UK. It's quite normal for this process to start before a person arrives in the UK, and continue for quite some time afterwards. It doesn't prevent you working here, but well, I'm glad it's done. It has taken me 18 months since we arrived here to complete this, and it's over two years since my initial application. Admittedly, this was mostly due to a lack of application to the task! So at this late hour, to celebrate having finally completed it's a specially-obtained Marks & Spencer Cafe Mocha Desert (but less than 3% fat... see yesterday's entry) and a Star Trek episode from the housemates' DVD collection. The documents will be signed and posted tomorrow. It is finished.
My uncle Ross visited today, in from Canberra, passing through for work en route to Washington then Geneva... must have got that routing from journey planner. It was great to see him, and to hear first-hand how things are Down Under. There's nothing like family. Nice to see you Ross.
Talking of family, Bronwyn's father David remains in Waikato Hospital, continuing to need hospital-grade pain relief for his hip-leg-knee problems while they figure out what is going on. They've now identified that part (but not all) of the problem is that he has developed a fractured femur. They plan to do further tests including an MRI scan “tomorrow”. With the time difference, that might be happening right about now. Please keep him in your prayers, if you come from that direction...
And then there is other, more happy, news. Make that News... But am I allowed to tell you yet? Hmm, not sure. Better not then!
Saturday, September 4
i am thir...
I declare today to be my Birthday Day.
Now, some people would argue, chronologically speaking, that this day back in July might have something to do with it as well, perhaps. But I've got a new rule. Your Birthday Day has got to be a fun day. This rule I like. It has longevity potential.
Back when we were all kids, we employed the rule too, after a fashion. In those days, you knew when your Birthday Day was, because it was fixed, and on that day you reigned supreme. It was an unwritten requirement that events must transpire to your satisfaction, that usually forbidden indulgences should become the staple diet, and preferably that masses of friends assemble to be audience to an event orchestrated just for you.
As we have, er, aged, things perhaps start to turn. There is school, which answers to no birthday. This is the first erosion. No longer are all tolerances extended in all contexts. We shrink our demands, localise our sphere of demanded birthday-influence. Parents will indulge, teachers will not. Later, teachers are replaced by employers, while Freud tells us we internalise those parents. So we know we should indulge ourselves. Perhaps we take leave from work. (Perhaps we go skydiving.) Perhaps it is a day as usual. Who wants to make a fuss of themselves?
My (chronological) birthday fell on a Saturday this year, a promising start somewhat undermined by all the worries associated with Bronwyn being in hospital. We cancelled the bbq... we cancelled the birthday. “I'm staying twenty-mumble", I told people. It wasn't my greatest birthday. (Though this was a good present, soon after.)
So today Bronwyn and I went to Rye Meads, an RSPB wildlife centre north of London. It was a perfect opportunity to put to use my birthday gift from Bronwyn, my first pair of binoculars, a late arrival once we'd sorted out exactly what I wanted. And they are excellent. ("Buy quality and it will last.” Humphrey Babbage, Esq.) We saw 20 species of birds today, including hoped-for Kingfishers and three other species of birds we'd never seen before. It was sunny and 25 degrees. We hung around, out in nature, just spending the day together.
Today was a great day. So I've decided, today is my Birthday Day. Today I have finally celebrated my birthday. So rather than the old way—demanding that things go my way on the chronological day—from this year on no day takes historical precedence. Instead, a day becomes my Birthday Day by deserving the title. And each year that'll be the day I get a year older.
So now, for the first time, I will say it...
I am 30.
[Please note that next year presents may be expected on both dates. Ahem.]
an open letter...
I posted this letter to the Liquid Ledger discussion list this morning. Liquid Ledger is a piece of personal finance software I've been using since we moved to the UK. Itrat Khan is Liquid Ledger's author.
Liquid Ledger's greatest selling point for me is that it has the ability to simultaneously track bank accounts that are in different currencies. Anyway, I felt after writing this Open Letter that there was a little more of me in it than I expected. As the postings to that discussion list are archived on the internet anyway, I thought I'd keep a little ownership of this and post it here too. Reponses are welcome, from Itrat Khan, from other LL users, and from regular viewers. A lack of responses will, as always, be interpreted as a clear diagnostic indicator that you don't love me any more.
When I found Liquid Ledger sometime last year, I was pleased that it seemed to be the only piece of finance software that could meet my needs—it ran on the Macintosh, appeared sufficiently robust, and provided at least basic support for operating accounts in more than one currency.
Since I started using LL, I've become more impressed with the attention to detail in some aspects of the program design. It's also clear Itrat that you've got some kind of background in Accountancy, and you quickly answer queries that users have about how to design their chart of accounts with information that is more than simply software support. That's excellent.
Unfortunately, Itrat, it appears that the development of Liquid Ledger is not continuing either at a pace that is acceptable to me as a user, or, I have to say, at the pace that you have promised to users who have been with the product for some time.
Continue reading "an open letter..."Wednesday, September 1
welcome to... july?
You could be forgiven for thinking it was July all over again... I'm getting birthday presents, and I'm afraid to say that a family member is in hospital again.
Regular viewers will be aware that Bronwyn's father David has been having significant problems with his left leg, with major pain and frequently the leg simply not working properly. They left us a week ago today, arriving home in New Zealand via San Francisco. His leg has been getting worse rather that better unfortunately, and finally last night on medical advice Jenny took him to Waikato Hospital. After waiting seven hours (and only in a waiting room) they were finally seen by a doctor, who—awfully—apparently didn't even know they were waiting. In any case, David has been admitted, and they are planning xrays of leg, hip and spine, with possible MRI spine too. Hopefully he'll be getting much better pain relief immediately, and they'll keep him there until they figure out just exactly specifically what is going on. We're praying for you David.
That just leaves birthday presents. Hard on the heels of the arrival of my shiny (apart from the rubber-encased bits) new binoculars yesterday, today I received a most excellent uber-geek gift from the people who brought you the original launch of the babbage.tv domain, my birthday present last year. Well, this year it is a USB keychain device. Basically, it is tiny and light, will hang on my keyring so will always be with me, and holds 128Mb of data—that's about 89 floppy disks worth. (Quenching every ultramodern's fear: I'll never be caught without my CV again...) Thanks Nick and Hayley!
I have no idea if it's just me who thinks these things, but if you've ever wondered about the deep red backdrop that appears in most of these “studio shots” here on our blog, well, actually, it's our duvet! : )
