Category: THINGS I LOVE
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Never Enough Time: enjoying the local park
Yesterday I managed to swing by my local park, seeking to follow through on a typical summer commitment to cycle rather than drive when running chores. In a truly impressive act of idiocy I locked my bike outside the doctors, only to realise that I had the wrong key for the lock. I therefore had…
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Digital Nomading in Glasgow and the Highlands
I’m no stranger to life on the road, having had a part-time driving job (amongst others) during my PhD. At this point in my life and career I am growing accustomed to an alternate digital version of work whilst wondering. Why not get about? For much of my time a laptop, smart phone and WIFI…
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A fine night at the Grand Hotel, Birmingham
If it’s good enough for Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp it’s good enough for me and the fine people of Birmingham Business School. The Grand Ballroom has a fine reputation and I can see why – it’s spectacular. It was a night for our students and rightly, they were the stars of the show.
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Rocky Horror
It’s felt like a long time coming, my girlfriend of 20 years ago was obsessed with this raunchy musical. Back then it was 30 years old, now it’s a geriatric at 50! It hasn’t aged a day though, naughty British comedy-cum-farce at its finest.
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London (visit #1 2024)
I attended a course of AI in teaching and learning and enjoyed some city time whilst I was at it. The January sales still had a bit to offer so I loitered around the West-End for a couple of hours on Sunday 21st.
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Ludovico Einaudi live in Birmingham, 18 Oct ’23
No words can describe – in ’23 I have seen two contenders for the world’s greatest living composer. Hans Zimmer’s Manchester show was amazing in June and Ludovico Einaudi simply refused to be upstaged in Birmingham. It started soft and meditative (one man and piano) but after about an hour the strings and other instruments…
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Wine bargain
Since last Christmas I have been monitoring the price of this blanc de noirs Champagne. Aldi stubbornly refused to discount it and then suddenly – 2 weeks ago – they bumped £6 off per bottle. Of course, it sold out and all that was left was a price tag, much to my chagrin. The average…
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A Doctor day treat
Not only is it an anniversary but there was no rain expected for once. The Gods had clearly decided that I should pull out something special from my 222 pair footwear collection. I picked out these Limited Edition Nike Air Max 1s. Heads were turning in the village as you might expect!
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New wheels
Very happy to have my first decent off-road bike and my first Specialized. As with Cannondale and BMC it’s no ordinary bike manufacturer, they build machines with personality and soul. The Status 140 is already a cult item, referred to as “the most fun you can have on two wheels” in one review. I feel…
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Christmas weather (in March)
Always better late than never. Proper snow has been rare in central England in the last few years. Here’s a few pics from the only exception of the 22-23 winter season. It only lasted 24 hours sadly, if even that. Gave me one beautiful arrival at work though.
Dr Martin James 