The New Year Looms

I hope everyone who was celebrating Christmas has had a good one. It's the day before New Year's Eve and I've been spending my holidays in London... I've been stuffing myself with the loads of panettone, espressos and hot chocolate! Christmas dinner was lovely! Goose... mmmm...
It's been raining non-stop today. Bah! So much for the snow that was promised. There was a bit of snowing couple of days back... So what to do on a rainy cold afternoon? update blog while listening to my itunes. David Gray is singing about December now...
Anyway, can't wait for the New Year now, though I may just skip going to Westminster for this New Year countdown as the tube will be on strike... again! Nothing new for the new year innit?
May 2006 be a fantastic one for every one of you. Hmmm... I haven't even thought of my resolutions yet. But then again, I'm not much of a fan for that, I tend to think resolutions can be made at anytime of the year. Heh.

Happy New Year all.

" Oh my mind, what happened to the time. December."
-David Gray

Ice Garden

Braving the sub-zero temperature, I went to the Ice Garden exhibit at the Clarendon Quad by Evolving City. It featured several ice sculptures and artic images and sounds.



Two blocks of melting glacier ice blocks on ropes. Note the layers inside...


Ten 2m columns of ice. Popular with the kids and photographers...


Cool ice lenses...


Large graphic film. Again popular with the kids.


And as I exit the garden, ahead was the Bridge of Sighs which I thought was enchanting and fitting for the end.

Happy Birthday, Ping!

It's Ping's Birthday today!

Happy Birthday Ping! Hope it's a good one!

Angry

At first it looked as though there is a major accident that had happened. But the commotion was actually caused by the protesters again! Today they are more angry than I have seen before. Some cried, some singing, shouting, blowing horns, banners flying, pickets waving... Basically looked like a football after-match celebration, except that the mob was angry and not happy.
As I got closer, I found that they were all over the street, including the entrance of my building. Some people plus myself just stood there before the exit, unsure whether to test the crowd outside or not. The reception quickly told us to get out through the side-door and avoid the mess as the police (there must be as many police officers as the protesters!) tries to get them away from our building. They aren't supposed to be so near afterall, come to think of it... were they allowed to protest today?. So we quietly sneaked out, thank goodness for side-doors! A researcher wasn't happy though and cursed as the side-door leads to safety but it is as well a large detour.
Now I hope that my bicycle ourside is intact when I go home this evening.

On a lighter note, there is news about a possible new species in Borneo has been discovered by WWF. How exciting! I wish I could be these people sometimes!

The Battle continues...

Woo! Construction is to continue on the Oxford biomedical research facility. Now then maybe the lab animals can have a better place to be housed in. This means that police will be around more often to the Science Area. I hope that will discourage the bicycle thieves too. It's shameful how crazy security gets in Oxford University buildings, yet people have their bicycle stolen very often... right in front of their buildings even!

Meanwhile... take that you terrorists! :P