Places
-
72. First Saturday of Summer
We spent the day – a mild and leisurely one – up in Birmingham, a return to the city for a second niece’s graduation. The main event was on Friday which left us to our own devices for today. To Cannon Hill Park we went, to take in its sights and sounds and get L… Continue reading
-
51. We, I and Them
As I write, England are playing Panama and making hard work of it. Coincidentally, I am on the home stretch of Zadie Smith’s Dead and Alive, in which the Essay, The Realm of the Unspoken engages with being a supporter of the England Men’s National Team at a previous World Cup within the context of… Continue reading
-
47. Baader-Meinhof
I think I spotted my first properly purple Nissan Qashqai, and now it seems they are everywhere. The Qashqai is of course one of the more popular UK cars, I just haven’t seen many in that colour. The Baader-Meinhof effect, I suppose? Continue reading
-
30. A Very British Summer
It should be the start of Summer, meteorologically at least, but the rain has other thoughts it seems. Only a few days ago (whilst we were out in America), it was warm and dry out here. Back now, it is a blood curdling 11 degrees C and wet. For the first time in a while,… Continue reading
-
29. Of Language and Of Words.
Two conversations – one in person and one over on Bluesky (if that counts) – brought words and language to mind for me today. First off was a work conversation in which a Venezuelan expression, Donde ronca el tigre, no hay burro con reumatismo was used. The wider context was a work project which is… Continue reading
-
21. D-Day
And so to the main day. First order of business: breakfast, for which there were at least forty people spread out all over the cafe at the hotel – cousins, nephews, nieces and a fair few friends of the family all making up the lot. Nigerian weddings are a village affair after all. I shudder… Continue reading
-
20. Going Southern
Having spent the majority of the past few days waiting out the rain – often tropical out here – the chaps decided they wanted a meal one evening. After going back and forth on options, we settled on a steakhouse, allegedly one of the very best out here. Being the ultimate cynic that I am,… Continue reading
-
17. Cheat Code
One small mercy it seems of travelling with little children, particularly a loquacious one, is that they are conversation starters which helps with glum, over worked border agents once in a while. My experiences of travelling to Trumpland before it became that are mixed, with more than one weird conversation around my reasons for coming… Continue reading
-
16. Bedlam
Best descriptor of the day! Bags, trolleys, cabs, airport transfers, negotiations about what to watch and when, moaning about airport food. Take the chaos of two adults and two kids traveling, and add to that two teenagers, sprinkle on that inability of Nigerians to travel light, and bedlam underestimates the outcome. Overwhelmed. Continue reading
-
15. Heatwave
Stepping out of the door just past noon to get my hair cut, it felt like a wall of heat hit me, in all its energy draining weight. The key driver for the long overdue haircut is the small matter of a family wedding in Trumplandia, for which a full assortment of family will be… Continue reading
A Geek's Life 