Coombe Barton

... When everything is marked it will be interesting to see how attendance and marks match ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/03/covid-by-age-first-marking-of-the-season-ai-again/

... those who hadn’t even started on week one (the assessment is due in ten days) and expected me to solve stuff for them. Nope, not going to happen. ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/02/covid-sharply-up-support-and-finding-out-some-havent-started/

... If you’re thinking we're descended from Pirates you’d probably be right. ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/01/rwanda-and-civil-servants-resits-a-new-addition-to-the-extended-family/

Maybe that's why the're two for a quid.

... Following a support session today I’m convinced that we need a module called “How to read from top to bottom.” ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/another-variant-looms-sorting-cockups-reading-the-right-way/

Last night I said that I'd completed my writing of the lecture - wrong. Breakfats, relaxing with coffee, then suddenly realised I'd left out two important bits of information - luckily I could add them right at the end

... See that Liz Truss’ book is receiving the expected plaudits and sales. One can compare it to the Titanic in that was also beaten by an Iceberg. ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/28/finally-written-the-handover-lecture-election-maybes/

Also in geology for vertical magma intrusions

When I was having investigation biopsy for prostate cancer in 2011 which involves biopsy clippers up a place I'd rather not think about, I was trying to put on a good face (or other part of the anatomy) on it when the doc said that he was doing the same thing to an old Warwickshire farmer who expressed surprise with the phrase "BU99ER ME!" Doc said it was the strangest yet most accurate description of the procedure he'd ever heard.

No relative of the Norwegian variant?

About other languages: In 1983 I was skiing in Livigno and this tree reached out and grabbed me. My wrist hurt. I got shunted off to the local clinic in the village which had x-ray facilities. The doc had about as much English as I had Italian, i.e. very little. Summary of conversation (Doc in very heavily accented Italian: Doc: “Is beautiful break.” Me: “Oh sh1t!” Doc: “Sh1t?” Me: “Si, sh1t.” Doc: “Che?” Me: “En Français?” Doc: “Si.” Me: “Merde.” And then he started practicing. All I heard was “Sh1t …sh1t … sh1t …”

Shed, garage and premises count Shed - zero Garage - single but full of stuff that needs sorting (aka rubbish). House - as garage Woodstore - yes - will be filled ahead of next winter Sofa - bum fits very well - too well Fridge - is of the type that does not breed tempting snacks, no matter how much I wish it. Caravan - yes - have to get it ready for summer jaunts Unmentionable item - still in boxes in kit form

... Motivation is, like the weather, changeable and quite chilly ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/27/gp-visits-declining-but-other-indicators-up-still-writing-the-handover-lecture-domestics-and-motivation/

... in my time at the university I’ve probably given about a thousand lectures and two and a half thousand seminars and workshops ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/26/covid-by-age-comparing-other-infections-writing-the-handover-lecture-six-thousand-hours-of-boring-people/

I'm passing on my knowledge - after July I will not have the responsibility. My reasons for doing this are to warn people and it will be in the presence of two senior members of the faculty who have an interest. I'm retiring - I can make these sort of comments :)

These are the last two slides from my presentation passing on my knowledge on Monday The pic is from the car park at Sennen Cove last summer during Storm Antoni. The photobombing seagull was quite fortuitous.

Shopping I will use direct scanning for shopping - I only handle twice, once into the bag and once at home putting away - rather then quadruple handling (out of basket, through checkout and into bag as extra. I use the store scanners - not my phone. The phone is for a list, and switching between that and a scanner app is not for me. I go to the supermarket - it will get me out of the house at least once week once I retire. I also like to see what I;mn getting in the fresh and allows me to make a physical choice. I also use the visit to fill up with fuel. I will use delivery services when I become too infirm to do the physical shop.

Sainsbury's says almost everyone now shops in store https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68895280

... Today was my last timetabled teaching session ... I have now switched off all the alarms for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/25/flu-down-covid-up-a-tree-for-the-whole-millennium-ai-and-photography-last-timetabled-teaching/

... The Open University was 55 yesterday. Many of us early adopters will remember the broadcast programmes on BBC2. And the kipper ties. ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/24/pandemic-affected-education-turning-up-would-be-good/

Been awake since half four - feeling knackered already

... If people demand the freedom to smoke, then I demand the freedom not to be assaulted by their by-products. ... https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/04/23/is-cigarette-cost-a-deterrent-to-smoking-and-the-faithful-few/

Just getting ready to start my last week of timetable teaching. At least: The road out of town has reopened, having be shut for power line replacement fir a couple of weeks It's not raining It's not frosty But I'm sure that something will come along ...

Britain was completely unpopulated until about 10,000 years ago, so the people who walked were the Mesolithic strand lopers, who were supplanted largely by the people bringing agriculture - and they came in boats as the Channel had by that time reformed.