So it wasn't what you could really call a happy office.
Ninth in Barr's Anna Pigeon series. In Glacier National Park, a trip to move sampling traps for bear DNA is disrupted by an odd bear attack, and the next morning a woman is found dead and mutilated… by human tools.
As always, spoilers abound. See Wikipedia for production details
Doctor Who - Tom Baker Romana I - Mary Tamm K-9 (voice) - John Leeson
Here's what I've read in May.
The invasion of Europe, seen entirely from the Soviet point of view.
2013, dir. Francis Lawrence, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson: IMDb / allmovie
After winning the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen is a post-traumatic wreck. The perfect time to send her on a publicity tour! Spoilers for book and film will follow.
Second of a six-book series. In the distant future, a long-frozen space-navy captain tries to lead his fleet home.
After I'd written the software, I had to try it out; I had one experienced player and one newcomer to Harpoon (though he knows the real-world technologies and tactics), and we played by email over about a week. Here's the after-action report.
In case anyone is curious as to what's left once the barbecue is over. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.
At last we were back in the garden, after a nine month break over winter for the meadow to grow. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything. (For North Americans: this is outdoor cooking on a grill, not smoking/curing.)
In September 1944, then-Brigadier John Hackett commanded the 4th Parachute Brigade during Operation Market Garden. He was wounded at Arnhem and captured, and spent several months hiding with members of the Dutch underground.
HMAS Melbourne was the Royal Australian Navy's last aircraft carrier (to date).
Second in Brookmyre's new literary direction, moving from the tartan insanity of his earlier books to strictly conventional crime writing.
2014, dir. Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks: IMDb / allmovie
In a world where… one man must… and it's all made of Lego.
Andrew Rilstone recounts his reactions to the 2005 revival of Doctor Who.
Finally, a chance to play Firefly on a table that's big enough for the game! (With images; cc-by-sa on everything.)
The USSR launches a limited nuclear strike against the USA. Things get worse.
2013, dir. Dean Parisot, Bruce Willis, Mary-Louise Parker: IMDb / allmovie
Frank Moses, former CIA special operator, is still retired, and trying to be domestic; but once again the past just won't leave him alone.
First of a six-book series. In the distant future, a long-frozen space-navy captain may tip the balance in a century-long war.
The Saunders-Roe SR.45 Princess was the largest all-metal flying-boat ever built. Only three were made, and none was ever sold.
In a tale that begins with the Italian armistice of 1943, the reluctant soldier Angelo bounces around war-torn Italy, serially drafted into one army after another. He is a very poor soldier. If only he had the dono di coraggio.
Sometimes my interests intersect. I've been working on a way to plot markers and objects onto real-world charts.
Guy Fawkes is often described as "the only man to enter Parliament with honest intentions". But what did he really aspire to do?
Twenty years after the Second World War, a crippled veteran travels to the Pacific to try to find out what happened to his family during the evacuation of Singapore.
2011, dir. Steven Soderbergh, Gina Carano, Michael Angarano: IMDb / allmovie
An agent betrayed and framed by her boss sets about taking him down.
Here's what I've read in April. Hmm. I really ought to post the book reviews a bit faster so that I don't get so far behind.
Some time in the 1980s, the USSR invades Europe.
I have a checklist for setting up a Raspberry Pi, which I run through before I do any task-specific customisation. It occurred to me that people might find this useful.
This time we tried a variety of shortish two-player games at this boardgame café, playing each of them twice just to get the hang of the basics.
The amphibious warfare ship HMS Bulwark is the current flagship of the Royal Navy. Last Sunday I had the chance to go aboard her at Greenwich, since she was open to the public as a PR exercise; tickets vanished quite fast. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.
On Saturday I spent the day at UK Games Expo, still alas at the Hilton Metropole near the NEC.
It seems that everyone who's worked in more than a few jobs has had one like this. This one was mine.