Filler 51

I'm currently boiling up the remains of a chicken carcass for stock, something I haven't done in years. It's quite satisfying, although I'd forgotten how easy it is to forget about it and incinerate your home. It hasn't gone that far yet, but the night is young.

In any case.

The infrequent posting of late is in large part down to the general busyness of embarking on a PhD in a largely alien discipline. While one or two of the dark arts of experimental biology are fractionally less of a closed book to me than they were at the beginning of last week, it's going to be some while before anything comes naturally. It's fun to have stuff to learn, but also rather intimidating: like starting a new job for which I'm patently unqualified. I'm reminded of the early days at APT -- my sleep is similarly disturbed -- although this is much more interesting and enjoyable, even in its tedious moments.

I have managed a couple of outings in the interstices. Friday's was to see Stardust, which was just irresistibly charming, handsome, witty and inventive; a total delight. Only the most soulless curmudgeon (hello Philip French) could fail to enjoy it. And last night we went to the Wigmore Hall to hear rising piano star Simone Dinnerstein play Bach's Goldberg Variations, which she did rather brilliantly, although I was a bit under the weather and not quite in the mood for the full set -- some of those later variations do go on a bit. But Ian, who is the piano connoisseur of the family, appreciated it very much and tells me that I'm fairly unlikely ever to see that piece performed that well again. High praise.

Right, time to put out the fire in the stock pot...
Posted by matt at October 24, 2007 09:43 PM