Updates from Oxford
Time for me to blog, I think, and give our readership some updates on our recent activities in Oxford. Speaking of the blog, has anybody noticed the slightly improved layout (including some nifty “widgets” in the right-hand sidebar)?
One year at ecoVeritas: As of November 17, I have been permanently employed for one year. How quickly the time passes! I celebrated my anniversary on the road, actually, visiting one of our clients in Cambridgeshire – by myself – to defend my work in front of the UK Environment Agency.
Work at ecoVeritas will continue until the last possible minute in March, when we will vacate our house in Oxford and set off on the Camino. The UK “packaging waste year” ends on roughly April 1, so my departure is well-timed. Just today, we posted a job advert for my replacement.
Back to Venice: We’ll shortly be heading back to Venice for a few days, with a number of objectives in mind. For the first time since 2007, I’ll be in Venice simultaneously with WPI students, who are no doubt now frantically trying to pull their projects together in time for the end of B-Term. So, Ori and I will offer our expertise and perspective to them (perspexpertive?). We may also have to teach them some principles of Venetian rowing, which isn’t an assignment I’m ever likely to turn down!
Whilst in Venice, we’re going to do a bit of Christmas shopping, which will include an ample supply of Pocket Coffees for me and probably a trip to Paolo Olbi’s shop. Don’t forget to send us any other requests.
Christmas shopping in London: In a similar vein, we’re planning a nice Christmassy shopping day in London at some point in the next few weeks. It occured to me recently that the Miller/Duinkers now have family members posted in three of the world’s four leading English-speaking countries.
So, whether something is only available in UK/Europe or the USA or (like good maple syrup) only in Canada, we can get it. Not bad, eh? Our non-existent plans to conquer the English-speaking world are apparently coming to fruition!
Freelensing: Inspired by a Gizmodo photography contest (in which I did not participate), I thought I’d try out the technique called freelensing, which involves shooting pictures using an SLR camera with the lens slightly detached. You can check out my perhaps less-than-spectacular results here. If nothing else, I’ve learned that it’s a good way to get dust on your sensor!
Music-making: Finally, Ori and I have both been busy with our separate musical lives recently. The Donut Kings have played a few interesting gigs, the most
significant of which secured us a slot at the prestigious Worcester College Commemoration Ball in July. Too bad I won’t be around to play at it (they’re working on obtaining free tickets for the band, which isn’t a bad deal considering they’re selling for £195 each!).
Meanwhile, Ori’s had a concert every week for the past three weeks, and is glad to finally be able to put down her horn for a break. I attended one of them, and it was lovely to hear her play.
Gosh, how funny to now be contemplating the quickly approaching end to our European adventures. The biggest challenge of them all, El Camino, still remains ahead. But for the time being, we’re just thinking about Christmas!
One year at ecoVeritas: As of November 17, I have been permanently employed for one year. How quickly the time passes! I celebrated my anniversary on the road, actually, visiting one of our clients in Cambridgeshire – by myself – to defend my work in front of the UK Environment Agency.
Work at ecoVeritas will continue until the last possible minute in March, when we will vacate our house in Oxford and set off on the Camino. The UK “packaging waste year” ends on roughly April 1, so my departure is well-timed. Just today, we posted a job advert for my replacement.
Back to Venice: We’ll shortly be heading back to Venice for a few days, with a number of objectives in mind. For the first time since 2007, I’ll be in Venice simultaneously with WPI students, who are no doubt now frantically trying to pull their projects together in time for the end of B-Term. So, Ori and I will offer our expertise and perspective to them (perspexpertive?). We may also have to teach them some principles of Venetian rowing, which isn’t an assignment I’m ever likely to turn down!
Whilst in Venice, we’re going to do a bit of Christmas shopping, which will include an ample supply of Pocket Coffees for me and probably a trip to Paolo Olbi’s shop. Don’t forget to send us any other requests.
Christmas shopping in London: In a similar vein, we’re planning a nice Christmassy shopping day in London at some point in the next few weeks. It occured to me recently that the Miller/Duinkers now have family members posted in three of the world’s four leading English-speaking countries.
Freelensing: Inspired by a Gizmodo photography contest (in which I did not participate), I thought I’d try out the technique called freelensing, which involves shooting pictures using an SLR camera with the lens slightly detached. You can check out my perhaps less-than-spectacular results here. If nothing else, I’ve learned that it’s a good way to get dust on your sensor!
Music-making: Finally, Ori and I have both been busy with our separate musical lives recently. The Donut Kings have played a few interesting gigs, the most
Meanwhile, Ori’s had a concert every week for the past three weeks, and is glad to finally be able to put down her horn for a break. I attended one of them, and it was lovely to hear her play.
Gosh, how funny to now be contemplating the quickly approaching end to our European adventures. The biggest challenge of them all, El Camino, still remains ahead. But for the time being, we’re just thinking about Christmas!
