Celebrations
Dec. 8th, 2010 06:24 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
livI'm somewhat ambivalent about chanukah, as I've blogged several times before, but this year I've really really enjoyed the festival.
On the first day of chanukahjack was here unexpectedly; he went away for a thespy weekend with the readthrough crowd and it took place near here, so he stopped by on the way home and ended up staying all week. So I made him latkes, because he ought to get some of the benefits of going out with a Jewish woman who spends lots of time and energy on inexplicable religious stuff.
During the day I met a colleague who has loads of common interests with me (and we only found this out because I had to write a blurb for some bit of PR). It looks like we may be able to collaborate, because he has an established lab and a reputation, but for political reasons no employees, whereas I have time and practical ability but no money or equipment. The plan is to apply to supervise a student jointly (which I have to do anyway since I am too junior to supervise on my own), and I'm really energized and excited about this!
On the second day of chanukah I went with![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
mathcathy to join a gym. And having joined, I had a go on some machines which work your arms (as my legs were still tired from the previous day's effort!) The plan is to encourage eachother show up twice a week, which should make me really strong and fit!
On the way to work in the morning, I saw a parhelion (a word I didn't really know until someone posted about it on Facebook), namely a meterological phenomenon where you can apparently see three suns joined by a horseshoe-shaped rainbow. Combined with sleety snow that sparkled with tiny miniature rainbows, it was a really awe-inspiring experience. I bought doughnuts for my students and colleagues, who were very appreciative.
On the third day of chanukah I travelled to London by first class train. About one time in five, first class Advance tickets on the high speed west coast route are cheaper than standard class. This was the first time since I started taking this journey when being in first class actually meant being treated like a VIP, with a carriage almost to myself, free food and tea and actually working internet, and very pleasant service. Probably still not worth extra money, but I can at least see why someone might want to pay.
Then I showed up at Amazonia and was promptly plied with a really amazing selection of sushi and smoked fish. And there was really excellent conversation, as ever in that house. It was so incredibly relaxing and lovely to seekhalinche, ewt and hairyears! I chatted to khalinche some more while she packed, and spent some of the morning with ewt (who gets up early), and provided khalinche with further packing moral support. Then I went out to the most amazing lunch with ewt and hairyears, at a place called Le Belgique in Wanstead. It looks like a funny sort of place that doesn't quite know whether it's a café or a bar or a patisserie, but serves the most delicious food you could imagine, especially the cakes. ewt had a cheeseboard which would have made a substantial meal for two on its own. I washed down this ambrosial feast with a Belgian white beer flavoured with coriander and orange, and some hot cherry beer.
On the fourth day of chanukah, afterkhalinche had set off for her adventures, I went to abigailb's place for doseybat's party. I always love Doseybat's parties, and this one was particularly brilliant. Just really wonderful fascinating relaxed conversation with loads of interesting people. It was lovely to see lethargic_man and aviva_m, and I finally got to meet the toothycats properly (some talking shop may have been involved). Also blue_mai brought gin and berry cordial, which she mixed with hot water to make a really tasty punch. I possibly drank more of it than I ideally should have, considering that I'd had drinks with lunch as well, but hey. My friends don't mind if I'm a bit giggly and over-talkative. To make a good party even better, gool_duck brought chanukah candles so I didn't have to miss lighting the fourth candle. And abigailb kindly provided crash space as well as hosting the party.
On the fifth day of chanukah, back in Stoke, the students ran another chanukah party at the synagogue here. It was fantastic. Everybody showed up, even families with kids who live too far away to attend anything like regularly. The students made £100 for the local hospice with their cake sale and raffle. There were some slight disasters involving attempting to make latkes out of 7 kg (!) of potatoes but no eggs, but it was one of the best communal chanukah parties I've ever been to, just how the festival should be.
On the sixth day of chanukah I returned to the gym. I had to have a "health check" which was a bit annoying, but I suppose fair enough. And while I was there I did more working out. Which meant I felt very virtuous about keeping my appointment withmathcathy to go back to the gym at 6:30 the following morning. Though I ended up swimming rather than doing anything strenuous, as I didn't quite have the energy within 12 hours of my previous exercise session!
On the seventh day of chanukahjack cooked me a tasty dinner in the evening. And today I ran a really great practical on blood, and none of the students horribly endangered themselves or otherwise caused trouble. Generally work is going really well at the moment.
On the eighth day of chanukah I lit the last candle with a little pang of regret. Normally chanukah is after the solstice and the candles remind you that the light is on its way. This year chanukah is too early, and there's a cold snap, and there are several more weeks of darkness to get through. I'm kinda looking forward to Christmas this year, though. Spending time withjack's family for the third year running I'm feeling relaxed enough to have positive feelings about giving and receiving presents. And then I'm going to Limmud, which I'm tremendously excited about. And hatam_soferet is coming here for the conference and hopefully staying for New Year, yay.
... and a partridge in a pear tree!
On the first day of chanukah
jack was here unexpectedly; he went away for a thespy weekend with the readthrough crowd and it took place near here, so he stopped by on the way home and ended up staying all week. So I made him latkes, because he ought to get some of the benefits of going out with a Jewish woman who spends lots of time and energy on inexplicable religious stuff.During the day I met a colleague who has loads of common interests with me (and we only found this out because I had to write a blurb for some bit of PR). It looks like we may be able to collaborate, because he has an established lab and a reputation, but for political reasons no employees, whereas I have time and practical ability but no money or equipment. The plan is to apply to supervise a student jointly (which I have to do anyway since I am too junior to supervise on my own), and I'm really energized and excited about this!
On the second day of chanukah I went with
mathcathy to join a gym. And having joined, I had a go on some machines which work your arms (as my legs were still tired from the previous day's effort!) The plan is to encourage eachother show up twice a week, which should make me really strong and fit!On the way to work in the morning, I saw a parhelion (a word I didn't really know until someone posted about it on Facebook), namely a meterological phenomenon where you can apparently see three suns joined by a horseshoe-shaped rainbow. Combined with sleety snow that sparkled with tiny miniature rainbows, it was a really awe-inspiring experience. I bought doughnuts for my students and colleagues, who were very appreciative.
On the third day of chanukah I travelled to London by first class train. About one time in five, first class Advance tickets on the high speed west coast route are cheaper than standard class. This was the first time since I started taking this journey when being in first class actually meant being treated like a VIP, with a carriage almost to myself, free food and tea and actually working internet, and very pleasant service. Probably still not worth extra money, but I can at least see why someone might want to pay.
Then I showed up at Amazonia and was promptly plied with a really amazing selection of sushi and smoked fish. And there was really excellent conversation, as ever in that house. It was so incredibly relaxing and lovely to see
khalinche, ewt and hairyears! I chatted to khalinche some more while she packed, and spent some of the morning with ewt (who gets up early), and provided khalinche with further packing moral support. Then I went out to the most amazing lunch with ewt and hairyears, at a place called Le Belgique in Wanstead. It looks like a funny sort of place that doesn't quite know whether it's a café or a bar or a patisserie, but serves the most delicious food you could imagine, especially the cakes. ewt had a cheeseboard which would have made a substantial meal for two on its own. I washed down this ambrosial feast with a Belgian white beer flavoured with coriander and orange, and some hot cherry beer.On the fourth day of chanukah, after
khalinche had set off for her adventures, I went to abigailb's place for doseybat's party. I always love Doseybat's parties, and this one was particularly brilliant. Just really wonderful fascinating relaxed conversation with loads of interesting people. It was lovely to see lethargic_man and aviva_m, and I finally got to meet the toothycats properly (some talking shop may have been involved). Also blue_mai brought gin and berry cordial, which she mixed with hot water to make a really tasty punch. I possibly drank more of it than I ideally should have, considering that I'd had drinks with lunch as well, but hey. My friends don't mind if I'm a bit giggly and over-talkative. To make a good party even better, gool_duck brought chanukah candles so I didn't have to miss lighting the fourth candle. And abigailb kindly provided crash space as well as hosting the party.On the fifth day of chanukah, back in Stoke, the students ran another chanukah party at the synagogue here. It was fantastic. Everybody showed up, even families with kids who live too far away to attend anything like regularly. The students made £100 for the local hospice with their cake sale and raffle. There were some slight disasters involving attempting to make latkes out of 7 kg (!) of potatoes but no eggs, but it was one of the best communal chanukah parties I've ever been to, just how the festival should be.
On the sixth day of chanukah I returned to the gym. I had to have a "health check" which was a bit annoying, but I suppose fair enough. And while I was there I did more working out. Which meant I felt very virtuous about keeping my appointment with
mathcathy to go back to the gym at 6:30 the following morning. Though I ended up swimming rather than doing anything strenuous, as I didn't quite have the energy within 12 hours of my previous exercise session! On the seventh day of chanukah
jack cooked me a tasty dinner in the evening. And today I ran a really great practical on blood, and none of the students horribly endangered themselves or otherwise caused trouble. Generally work is going really well at the moment.On the eighth day of chanukah I lit the last candle with a little pang of regret. Normally chanukah is after the solstice and the candles remind you that the light is on its way. This year chanukah is too early, and there's a cold snap, and there are several more weeks of darkness to get through. I'm kinda looking forward to Christmas this year, though. Spending time with
jack's family for the third year running I'm feeling relaxed enough to have positive feelings about giving and receiving presents. And then I'm going to Limmud, which I'm tremendously excited about. And hatam_soferet is coming here for the conference and hopefully staying for New Year, yay.... and a partridge in a pear tree!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-09 01:00 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-09 12:23 pm (UTC)I'm also really pleased to see the kids and their young parents at shul (they had a fantastic time, too). I mean, I know why they don't attend regular shabbat services, partly because all the families have moved away, so it's a bit far to come, and partly because there's not much to appeal to kids in a congregation where I'm the only regular under 50 and there are only one or two under 80. But if at least we can have fun parties for chanukah, purim and possibly simchat Torah, then these kids will have a positive impression of Judaism. We did it without relying on Chabad, too, which I feel really good about. Just having all the generations present, kids, students, young parents, a small but faithful group of middle-aged folk and most of the elders, was a big thing for this little community.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-09 12:08 pm (UTC)I really like going to the gym now that I have started -- it makes me feel good and this week I could see my arm muscles for the first time phwoar! I have found that it is easier to go, and harder to say "but I'm tired :(" with
(no subject)
Date: 2010-12-09 12:26 pm (UTC)