I went on flight on a Boeing 747-400 the other day: my first 747 flight for many years.
Maximum thrust at the start of the runway pushed us right back in our seats and we were airborne within 22 seconds, fully laden too. That's fast!!
I normally time all take offs and 22 seconds for any wide bodied plane is from 10 to 20 seconds faster than average.
DW
28.10.12
24.10.12
Xmas Cake Tester ... Tested
Here it is, the Christmas cake tester for this year.
Verdict: all round winner with the Be-Ro recipe.
Since 1975, there have been just two occasions when i did not use the Be-Ro recipe, as far as i remember:
When i used a different, utterly rubbish recipe
When i forgot to make a cake one year
Here it is, then ...
DW
Verdict: all round winner with the Be-Ro recipe.
Since 1975, there have been just two occasions when i did not use the Be-Ro recipe, as far as i remember:
When i used a different, utterly rubbish recipe
When i forgot to make a cake one year
Here it is, then ...
DW
22.10.12
Xmas is Coming!
It's mid October and time to bake the Christmas cake. Here's the 2012 version:
Main cake (round)
Tester (oblong)
Ta daa!
DW
Main cake (round)
Tester (oblong)
Ta daa!
DW
21.10.12
Dublin Here I Come
I have prepared a paper for an international education conference to be held on and between 29th and 31st October.
The paper is on my work in Kabul: the setting up of a TVET college there.
The conference is being held in the centre of the city.
This is my first trip to Dublin and if you are in or going to be in Dublin at that time, why not say hello!
DW
The paper is on my work in Kabul: the setting up of a TVET college there.
The conference is being held in the centre of the city.
This is my first trip to Dublin and if you are in or going to be in Dublin at that time, why not say hello!
DW
19.10.12
Moths and a Spider
How about these three specimens?
I went to post a letter this afternoon and clinging to my house were the following three insects/arachnida and I wish someone could identify them for me.
DW
I went to post a letter this afternoon and clinging to my house were the following three insects/arachnida and I wish someone could identify them for me.
DW
WWWWinter Arrived?
I got back home yesterday bang on time. Even though my initial flight from Riyadh was late, my flight from Dubai left the gate on time TO THE SECOND ... I checked my watch as we pushed back!
Unusually, the Dubai to Manchester plane was almost empty, so many people were flaked out across three or four seats.
I think I was the only Gold traveller on the flight as I was greeted and treated very well throughout the flight.
On the other hand, I was cold at home. It is October and I don't mind putting on the heating but it seemed too cold too soon to me. Jet lag also makes me feel like death on day one too and yesterday was no exception.
I had a sleep during the day, went to sleep early and woke up at a reasonable time so today should be a normal day.
DW
Unusually, the Dubai to Manchester plane was almost empty, so many people were flaked out across three or four seats.
I think I was the only Gold traveller on the flight as I was greeted and treated very well throughout the flight.
On the other hand, I was cold at home. It is October and I don't mind putting on the heating but it seemed too cold too soon to me. Jet lag also makes me feel like death on day one too and yesterday was no exception.
I had a sleep during the day, went to sleep early and woke up at a reasonable time so today should be a normal day.
DW
18.10.12
Push Means the Ashtray Won't Work
I am a frequent flyer: I use a lot of aeroplanes and I know how to open the toilet doors. For some reason, many people get to the loo on a plane and all semblance of reason and problem solving skills escape them.
I have seen people trying to use the drinking water dispenser as a door handle. Then there are the people who explore all door furniture but leave defeated ... they go to another loo or or they go back to their seat!
Here are two hints:
The big sign on the door that says PUSH means push that door at that point and, providing the door is not locked, you will gain access!
Secondly, in the absence of a push sign there will be a HANDLE! Just depress or turn the handle ...
Finally, opening and pulling on the ashtrays that are still inexplicably built into many toilet doors will NOT get you into the loo!!
DW
I have seen people trying to use the drinking water dispenser as a door handle. Then there are the people who explore all door furniture but leave defeated ... they go to another loo or or they go back to their seat!
Here are two hints:
The big sign on the door that says PUSH means push that door at that point and, providing the door is not locked, you will gain access!
Secondly, in the absence of a push sign there will be a HANDLE! Just depress or turn the handle ...
Finally, opening and pulling on the ashtrays that are still inexplicably built into many toilet doors will NOT get you into the loo!!
DW
17.10.12
Olympic Gold, Paralympic Gold now Emirates Gold!
I have done it in good time this time, by the time of my annual significant date, I will have renewed my Gold card status with Emirates Airlines.
Praise be!
DW
Praise be!
DW
15.10.12
How to Charge Batteries
When wishing to charge batteries, don't forget to take the batteries with you as even the most sophisticated charger cannot charge thin air!
Another top tip from yours truly.
DW
Another top tip from yours truly.
DW
Would I Want to be Coached by this Person?
Every now and again I look for someone from my dim and distant past. Often, I draw a blank. This time I found the person first time although I have not seen him since 1964 I think it was.
He says he is now a coach of some sort ... here are a few words from his web site:
"Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, XXX has lived for the past 30 years near Constable Country on the Essex/Suffolk borders, but still keeps traces of a Northern accent!
"He studied languages ... and maintains an interest in learning languages along with playing golf and chess. He prefers to live in the countryside and, although work and leisure travel takes him to many major cities, he’s always pleased to get back to the open spaces.
"The coachee can now speak with confidence ...
"A coachee wants to influence a colleague ...
"After, I ask the coachee how she felt ...
"A frequent role for XXX in these sessions is to support the coachee through these steps ...
"I’ve been both a coach and a coachee. I’ve remember some of the powerful feelings ...
"I’ve heard a coachee say something similar ...
"XXX’s training in recent years has taken place in the UK, in most European countries, and beyond in places such as Dubai and Colombia."
So, XXX, I think your attempts at trying to impress me are falling well short. Also, anyone who called me a coachee would suffer extreme disdain! On the other hand, he seems to know how to use a colon!!
DW
He says he is now a coach of some sort ... here are a few words from his web site:
"Born in Halifax, Yorkshire, XXX has lived for the past 30 years near Constable Country on the Essex/Suffolk borders, but still keeps traces of a Northern accent!
"He studied languages ... and maintains an interest in learning languages along with playing golf and chess. He prefers to live in the countryside and, although work and leisure travel takes him to many major cities, he’s always pleased to get back to the open spaces.
"The coachee can now speak with confidence ...
"A coachee wants to influence a colleague ...
"After, I ask the coachee how she felt ...
"A frequent role for XXX in these sessions is to support the coachee through these steps ...
"I’ve been both a coach and a coachee. I’ve remember some of the powerful feelings ...
"I’ve heard a coachee say something similar ...
"XXX’s training in recent years has taken place in the UK, in most European countries, and beyond in places such as Dubai and Colombia."
So, XXX, I think your attempts at trying to impress me are falling well short. Also, anyone who called me a coachee would suffer extreme disdain! On the other hand, he seems to know how to use a colon!!
DW
12.10.12
What a Diversion
I am on my way to Riyadh and as and when I can I fly Emirates. I have done this trip before and the last time I did it the flight from Manchester was late so I ended up in an hotel in Dubai for 24 hours and that's bad because it meant that I got to the hotel in Riyadh at about 4 am but had to be at work at 8 am.
This time the Manchester flight was late again: it was tight but the connection was still possible. Possible that is until the captain said we have to hold BUT as we are running out of fuel and Dubai cannot accommodate us, so we were diverted to Sharjah.
We are at Sharjah now, refuelling. The Riyadh flight must be long gone. What was announced as a 45 stop looks more likely to become at least 90 minutes.
There are 489 of us on this flight so that's a lot of sorting out that someone is having to do.
DW
This time the Manchester flight was late again: it was tight but the connection was still possible. Possible that is until the captain said we have to hold BUT as we are running out of fuel and Dubai cannot accommodate us, so we were diverted to Sharjah.
We are at Sharjah now, refuelling. The Riyadh flight must be long gone. What was announced as a 45 stop looks more likely to become at least 90 minutes.
There are 489 of us on this flight so that's a lot of sorting out that someone is having to do.
DW
10.10.12
Berries
October in the countryside and there be berries abounden.
Blackberry and Elder are what I came across today.
DW
Blackberry and Elder are what I came across today.
DW
9.10.12
Delayed Cramp
When I go on a long flight it is not unusual for me to suffer cramp within 24 hours of such a trip.
This time the cramp stalked me but delayed its attack a further 24 hours. I just flicked my quilt with my left leg to go and get my morning coffee when SQUEEEEEZZZZZEE.
It hurt!
DW
This time the cramp stalked me but delayed its attack a further 24 hours. I just flicked my quilt with my left leg to go and get my morning coffee when SQUEEEEEZZZZZEE.
It hurt!
DW
7.10.12
Gangnam Style
Just to let you know that I am well down with the kids.
Before I went away last week, I heard gangnam style being played on BBC Radio 4 of all radio stations and they said it was taking the UK by storm. I saw the video on the telly a couple of nights ago and I think's it's well sick.
DW
Before I went away last week, I heard gangnam style being played on BBC Radio 4 of all radio stations and they said it was taking the UK by storm. I saw the video on the telly a couple of nights ago and I think's it's well sick.
DW
Rubik's Cube: the power
First of all, I have never solved the Rubik's Cube but this morning I came across a young lad solving a 5 x 5 x 5 Rubik's Cube and wondered what the results look like for a 3 x 3 x 3, 4 x 4 x 4 etc cube. This is what I have found:
Without having done any extensive checking, the actual data, albeit very limited, seem to follow a power function, rather like a learning curve; and the question is, can we use the actual data as the basis for predicting potential record solving speeds for existing and larger Rubik's Cubes? I created the following table, which is an extension to the table above:
Interesting ... for me anyway!
DW
By size, I mean 2 represents a 2 x 2 x 2 cube, 3 represents a 3 x 3 x 3 cube and so on
By seconds I mean the fastest actual time I can find recorded for anyone having solved that size of cube
By SecPred I mean the predictions made by using the Power Function y = 0.0327x4.6187 determined from the trendline on the following chart:
Interesting ... for me anyway!
DW
3.10.12
From the Moon to the Sun
I was pleased with this one ... the setting sun, complete with sun spots. I cropped this photo so some resolution has been sacrificed, of course.
DW
DW
28.9.12
Disgraceful!
I needn't share this but I made myself ashamed of my own housekeeping over the last couple if weeks. I kept telling myself I would clean my cooker ... I'm doing it, I would say. I didn't.
This evening I got a grip of myself and made the following transformation in less than 10 minutes.
Clot!
DW
This evening I got a grip of myself and made the following transformation in less than 10 minutes.
Clot!
DW
25.9.12
Barcelona was Bouncing!
My trip to Barcelona this weekend was excellent and I have uploaded a few photos for you to see. Just look at how many people there are in the streets and squares ... even Catalunyan dancing going on!
As usual, I am using Windows/Microsoft and it has decided to rotate some of the photos ... random and as and when it wants.
DW
As usual, I am using Windows/Microsoft and it has decided to rotate some of the photos ... random and as and when it wants.
DW
23.9.12
Microsoft Madness
I just wanted to search my system for a file and then open it in PowerPoint.
40 minutes ago I joked to myself that I should be ready for this to take an hour.
At the moment MS Office is "repairing" itself after failing to open a file, including having failed to open it in "safe" mode.
Should this process beggar up my system then tomorrow I will have a major job to do to explain to my clients that I cannot do what they are paying me to do.
Like many people, I am sick and tired of all of the time I waste while waiting for MS products to fail to do what they are supposed to do.
Rant over.
DW
40 minutes ago I joked to myself that I should be ready for this to take an hour.
At the moment MS Office is "repairing" itself after failing to open a file, including having failed to open it in "safe" mode.
Should this process beggar up my system then tomorrow I will have a major job to do to explain to my clients that I cannot do what they are paying me to do.
Like many people, I am sick and tired of all of the time I waste while waiting for MS products to fail to do what they are supposed to do.
Rant over.
DW
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