RogerBW's Blog

Roger's 2023 in 50 Words 01 January 2024

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Newtonmas 25 December 2023 - 1 comment

We wish you a merry Newtonmas, and a happy new year.

[more]
Roger's 2022 in 50 Words 01 January 2023 - 5 comments

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Hosepipe bans: solving the wrong problem 19 August 2022 - 2 comments

In the Thames Water area, we are to have a "hosepipe ban" from 24 August. This strikes me as the wrong way to reduce water consumption.

[more]
Roger's 2021 in 50 Words 01 January 2022

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Encore un pokey 10 December 2021 - 5 comments

Vaccine booster achieved!

[more]
Some of the Royal Armouries 07 October 2021 - 4 comments

Since I was in Leeds, I went to the Royal Armouries Museum.

[more]
An old joke, updated 27 August 2021 - 8 comments

So there was an old man who was known for his faith in God. Always ready to help out a neighbour, and just generally a nice guy.

[more]
Yet more pokey 11 June 2021 - 1 comment

Second vaccine dose achieved!

[more]
An Earlier Date 31 May 2021 - 1 comment

People over 50 are getting priority for second doses of COVID-19 vaccines, so we're told.

[more]
The ghost of care.data returns 28 May 2021 - 7 comments

This time the plan to sell all your medical records to the highest bidder isn't even being announced, presumably so that you don't find out about it in time to prevent it the way people did last time.

[more]
Garden-fettling 09 May 2021

I didn't do much in the garden last year. I'm not sure why; normally I spend the summers out here, but (perhaps for the obvious reasons) everything felt even more pointless than usual. So I've been committing mayhem recently.

[more]
Jesus Loves You 29 April 2021 - 7 comments

Is a catch phrase of the sort of evangelical who tries to go out actively recruiting. Which is fine if you're already in that mindset. But if you aren't, it can have unfortunate implications.

[more]
Less perforation, more perfer et obdura 27 April 2021

(Guest post from Gus.)

Put down your chow mein now. I only say that because the friend to whom I chose first to vent inhaled some of hers: apparently that's rather painful.

[more]
Back to the pub 15 April 2021

As many of you know, the landlady of our excellent local died at the start of December, so they didn't open in the short window before Christmas. Now it's possible again.

[more]
Returning to Barbecues 09 April 2021 - 9 comments

I've been thinking about what it'll take to start running barbecues again.

[more]
Roko's Basilisk is Pascal's Wager 04 April 2021 - 1 comment

Only without the mathematical literacy.

[more]
No More Shopping Days 30 March 2021 - 7 comments

I vaguely wish I'd known that the most recent shopping trip I'd made would be the last one for the moment.

[more]
More pokey pokey 26 March 2021 - 20 comments

Officially last week it was still only possible to book a vaccination if you were over 55. When I'd tried it the week before (giving NHS number and birth date) I was quite properly told to come back later. But…

[more]
I thought they wanted us to get vaccinated. 13 March 2021 - 9 comments

(Guest post from Gus.)

As of this week, I fall into a cohort eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, one of the few things that makes me feel batter about being fifty-mumble. I like vaccines.

[more]
The SARS-CoV-2 jab malarky 01 March 2021 - 5 comments

(Guest post from Chris.)

The Covid19 vaccine: it's a big deal, right? Right. But the actual vaccination, it turns out, isn't. Perhaps my experience will give anyone anxious about it a reason to worry rather less. If you have had a flu jab, it's very similar.

[more]
Everything is the New Sprouts, Briefly 14 February 2021 - 4 comments

Shopping continues to be a bit strange.

[more]
Mere Ethics 18 January 2021 - 2 comments

There is obvious a certain Schadenfreude to be had in observing the flailings of the people who got caught during and after the failed coup in the USA. But I think one should go beyond that.

[more]
Roger's 2020 in 50 Words 01 January 2021

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
I just want to buy drugs 21 December 2020 - 10 comments

Buying drugs is more difficult than it used to be. I don't do it very often…

[more]
Crowley wuz ere 14 December 2020 - 4 comments

(Guest post from Chris.)

Shortly before I moved into this house, I decided that my pint Pyrex measuring jug was so constantly in use that I might as well have another for when the first was in the Sisyphean washing-up pile, and went out to the nearest kitchens shop (it was called Kitchens) and bought myself a second pint jug. I assumed, in my folly, that since it had the same function and was made by the same company it would be the same.

[more]
What, both at once? 04 December 2020

On the last day of the most recent isolation period, I went shopping. It turns out there were two separate panics on at the same time.

[more]
Still Mostly Masks 21 November 2020 - 4 comments

I think people just don't have the attention span to cope with something that goes on for months.

[more]
It's Not a Lockdown 04 November 2020

So it's to be a "lockdown" again. Only not.

[more]
An Ominous Announcement 24 October 2020 - 5 comments

The local council has issued a press release. Excuse me while I run round and round in small circles.

[more]
NHS App? 26 September 2020 - 6 comments

There is at long last an "official NHS contact-tracing app". Should one use it?

[more]
Still Masks 13 August 2020

Mostly people continue to wear masks.

[more]
Masks at last 29 July 2020 - 4 comments

People have finally started wearing masks in the shops round here.

[more]
Milk is the new sprouts 16 July 2020 - 2 comments

Haven't you heard? Masks are last month's thing.

[more]
Back to the Pub 07 July 2020

One huge advantage of living outside London is that my local pub does not need to be hugely crowded at all times to stay in business. So when it reopened on Saturday I went along.

[more]
Surviving the Hot 27 June 2020

I do not get on well with hot weather.

[more]
Masks Latest 19 June 2020

Some personal behaviour seems to have improved since last time. (But I'm only taking one sample every two weeks…)

[more]
More Shopping 08 June 2020 - 8 comments

Things are mostly as they were last time in the shops; a bit better, a bit worse.

[more]
Decision fatigue and reading order 04 June 2020 - 2 comments

I noticed recently that I've got a lot of incomplete series on my reading list, and decided to do something about that.

[more]
Pressure Washing 30 May 2020 - 1 comment

Out with the pressure washer.

[more]
Grinding to a Halt 21 May 2020 - 2 comments

The "lockdown" has affected me relatively little: things I mail-order take longer to arrive, role-playing games have moved online, and I haven't seen my boardgame groups at all. But now it starts to feel as though people have gone into a kind of stasis.

[more]
Arking Time 06 May 2020 - 2 comments

I've been running a small Discourse forum for role-playing and boardgaming for a while now, ever since UKRolePlayers shut down. It's suddenly got much bigger.

[more]
Sprouts are the New Flour 19 April 2020 - 4 comments

Not that I shop in person very often anyway. But it's gone a bit strange.

[more]
Life in the Plague Weeks 05 April 2020 - 9 comments

So we finally got something like precautions being applied, though piecemeal and rather later than would have been sensible.

[more]
Health Advice and Sanitary Precautions 11 March 2020 - 4 comments

“Wash your hands like you persuaded your husband to murder the rightful king.” Author unknown, but it inspired me.

[more]
Brooklands 13 January 2020 - 5 comments

I went to what's left of Brooklands, near Weybridge.

[more]
Roger's 2019 in 50 Words 01 January 2020 - 2 comments

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Oh well 13 December 2019 - 12 comments

Well, we're fucked then.

[more]
The RogerBW Manifesto (2019 edition) 26 November 2019 - 6 comments

It's election season again in the UK. These are the things I'd try to do if anyone were daft enough to put me in charge; they're also promises that would encourage me to vote for people who made them.

[more]
The Suicide of Retail (and Journalism) 16 November 2019 - 4 comments

It is a truism that retail shopping is dying – and another that journalism is also dying. In both cases, the Internet is blamed. But I think it's worth looking a little deeper than that.

[more]
A Significant Date 03 November 2019

Adam Ant (born Stuart Leslie Goddard) was born on 3 November, 1954.

[more]
Marching in London again 22 October 2019 - 3 comments

I went along to the march on Saturday, again not because I think it will help, but because I'd have felt bad if I hadn't.

[more]
I Am Now Old 06 October 2019 - 7 comments

Today is my birthday. And I now feel that I can be regarded as officially Old.

[more]
Dogless 07 June 2019

The Hound has left us to go back to her family.

[more]
Things I Have Missed 05 May 2019 - 12 comments

I have spent much of my life hanging about with people a little older than me; I'm used to it. But there is occasionally some need for translation. Here are some things I have never experienced, by virtue of not having been born until just before the Unix epoch, which for many people I know were simply part of life when they were young.

[more]
Working in the Garden 22 April 2019

It's finally got warm enough to work outside without having to be bold and manly about it.

[more]
Life With Dog 10 April 2019 - 1 comment

We are looking after a Dog for a couple of months.

[more]
Marching in London 25 March 2019 - 5 comments

I went along to the march on Saturday, not because I think it will help, but because I'd have felt bad if I hadn't.

[more]
A small perfect moment 19 March 2019 - 5 comments

I recently attended a meeting of the governing board of my employer, and we went out for a meal afterwards.

[more]
Roger's 2018 in 50 Words 01 January 2019

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
National Army Museum 29 December 2018 - 10 comments

On a slightly crisp December day, I went to the National Army Museum in Chelsea.

[more]
Thoughts on the Armistice after a hundred years 12 November 2018 - 2 comments

I spent a quiet day yesterday.

[more]
Computers at the V&A 07 November 2018

The Victoria and Albert Museum was having two computer-related exhibitions. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Corporate Dead Pool, 2018 edition 28 August 2018 - 5 comments

Which companies are going to go under soon?

[more]
Just Give Coordinates 09 August 2018 - 4 comments

People continue to give directions to their houses, places of business, etc., but not to give the coordinates. Please fix this.

[more]
Failed Crocs 28 July 2018

I bought some Crocs last year, because I like padded shoes when I'm spending several days at a trade show with hard floors. They're very comfortable, but they don't seem to last.

[more]
Disappointed with the RAC 13 May 2018 - 8 comments

I have decided not to renew my membership of the RAC.

[more]
Pomerania is burned 11 May 2018

I had never seen a cockchafer before, and then met two on the same day. One was dead on its back just outside the front door; the second one crashed into me several times while I was in the garden after dark.

[more]
Karl Marx Barbecue 07 May 2018

On the 200th anniversary of the birth of Marx, there was fire and meat and beer.

[more]
West Wycombe Caves 03 May 2018 - 1 comment

The West Wycombe Caves are quite local to me, just on the other side of High Wycombe, and a guest felt like seeing them. They have some historical interest.

[more]
Why no electric car? 03 April 2018 - 12 comments

In principle I'd really like to have an electric car. I think burning fossil fuels is criminally irresponsible, but public transport isn't up to the sort of travel I want to do. So why don't I get one?

[more]
Hush Puppies: Unfit for Purpose 23 March 2018 - 6 comments

A few times a year I have a need or desire to look reasonably smart. Usually this involves a fair bit of walking on pavement too. So I want a good-looking shoe with reasonable internal padding and a solid, ideally not leather, sole. Last time my solution to this was Hush Puppies.

[more]
Loudwater Snowpocalypse (2018 edition) 15 March 2018 - 8 comments

We got our share of the recent snowy weather. (Images.)

[more]
What is missing from these roadworks? 05 March 2018 - 3 comments

Just before the latest Snowpocalypse, I noticed this slightly odd set of roadworks and thought there was probably a sign missing.

[more]
It's Mystery Bird time again 15 February 2018 - 2 comments

Yes, once more I've seen a bird I don't recognise.

[more]
Museum of London 07 January 2018 - 1 comment

I went to the Museum of London to see a particular exhibition, and stayed to see the rest of it.

[more]
Roger's 2017 in 50 Words 01 January 2018

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Geffrye Museum 31 December 2017 - 1 comment

The Geffrye Museum in Hoxton is about to close down for an extended refurbishment, so I went along to it. As usual, the rooms were decorated for a period Christmas.

[more]
Thoughts about drug offences 30 December 2017 - 2 comments

A recent news story, the matter of Laura Plummer arrested and imprisoned for transporting a banned opioid into Egypt, has given me to think.

[more]
Snow in Loudwater 11 December 2017

It snowed for most of the day on Sunday. (Images.)

[more]
Nonsense about Legal Tender 28 October 2017 - 4 comments

Even I (not the person most exposed to news media) heard Dire Warnings recently about original pound coins ceasing to be legal tender on 15 October.

[more]
Midland Air Museum 14 October 2017 - 7 comments

The Midland Air Museum is round the back of Coventry airport, next door to the now-deceased Electric Railway Museum, and I visited it on the same day. It has a strong focus on Armstrong Whitworth and related companies, which had a factory here. All photos are cc-by-sa as usual.

[more]
Red Kite perching 12 October 2017

A few days ago a red kite perched on a tree conveniently aligned with my window. All images are cc-by-sa as usual.

[more]
Electric Railway Museum final open day 10 October 2017

The Electric Railway Museum is losing its site, and its last open day was last Sunday (8 October 2017). All photos are cc-by-sa as usual.

[more]
Food pills and energy density 22 September 2017 - 3 comments

In Marty Jopson's new book The Science of Food, he demolishes the idea of food pills by looking at the energy density of fat and working out the mass of fat-pills one would need to eat. But why would one restrict oneself to the energy that an unmodified human body can get from food?

[more]
Red and amber filters 09 September 2017 - 2 comments

There is a practice common to the road systems of many countries which we don't use in the UK. Why not?

[more]
Finnish Submarine Vesikko 01 September 2017

On Suomenlinna, a complex of islands in the bay of Helsinki, lies the submarine Vesikko. With photographs (all taken on the Lumix GF1): cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Pyracantha berries on the turn 30 August 2017 - 6 comments

The pyracantha at the front of the house has a fine crop of berries, and they're on the turn.

[more]
Mainland European Internet 27 August 2017

Some recent experience using hotel- and guest-house Internet services while travelling through Germany, Sweden and Finland.

[more]
Military Museum of Finland 24 August 2017

On Suomenlinna, a complex of islands in the bay of Helsinki, lies the Military Museum of Finland. With photographs (all taken on the Lumix GF1): cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Mainland European Driving 21 August 2017

In the UK, drivers are told to stay in the lane closest to the edge of the road (lane 1), pull out to overtake, and pull back in afterwards. In mainland Europe they actually do this.

[more]
Finnish Air Force Museum 19 August 2017 - 3 comments

Near the Jyväskylä airport at Tikkakoski is the Suomen Ilmavoimamuseo, the museum of the Finnish Air Force. With photographs (all taken on the Lumix GF1): cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Unknown waterfowl, maybe a young moorhen 29 July 2017 - 1 comment

Can you identify this bird?

[more]
Lenovo Laptop Repairs 10 July 2017

'Twas on a Wednesday evening that the laptop did break down... failing to come out of suspend after having been moved, with the 1-3-3-1 beep code that, on Lenovo machines at least, indicates a memory or system board problem. I cleaned up the DIMM contacts and it worked happily for a day, then died again on Thursday night, and more cleaning and re-seating didn't help. Time for a warranty repair.

[more]
Gödel-encoding beer orders 30 June 2017

Every few months I go to the Wellington for beer and food (bringing the food with me; they don't have a food licence, but do provide plates and cutlery).

[more]
The Great Weevil Infestation 21 June 2017

For a few weeks, we had weevils.

[more]
Pyracantha in summer 2017 12 June 2017 - 3 comments

In 2013 we planted a pyracantha at the front of the house. Last year it didn't do much. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Election, Terrorism, Revolutionary Communism 08 June 2017 - 5 comments

I can't help noticing an obvious historical parallel which I haven't heard people talking about.

[more]
Gazebo Strengthening 27 May 2017 - 2 comments

Those of you who came to the early summer barbecue will have noticed that the gazebo had taken on a bit of a slant.

[more]
Street Ducks of High Wycombe 17 May 2017

Some towns just have pigeons and gulls and things. Some towns don't even weigh their mayor each year to see if he's getting fat on the public purse. This is High Wycombe; we do things differently here.

[more]
I Feel Old 24 April 2017 - 6 comments

Last Friday I was travelling on the London Underground when someone offered me his seat.

[more]
Night Ducks 10 March 2017

I was out late one evening posting a 3D-printed part, and saw some ducks out on the Wye.

[more]
Farnborough Air Sciences Trust 03 March 2017 - 2 comments

On a slightly warm February day, to Farnborough to visit the museum on the former site of the Royal Aeronautical Establishment at Farnborough. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Kirkaldy Testing Museum 09 February 2017 - 2 comments

Just off Southwark Street in London is an unexpected piece of industrial history. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
On-line postage with Royal Mail and MyHermes 25 January 2017

With 3D printing sales and occasional bulk imports of board games I send 4-5 packages a month, and sometimes larger batches. There seem to be two main ways of achieving this easily.

[more]
Horniman Museum, Forest Hill 10 January 2017 - 1 comment

I'd driven past it many times when living in Lee Green, but had never been inside; over Christmas I remedied this. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Roger's 2016 in 50 Words 31 December 2016 - 1 comment

A friend likes to sum up his year in a set number of words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Kobo warranty service 26 October 2016 - 1 comment

Well, everyone has a terrible customer service story.

[more]
Where Brands Meet People 18 September 2016 - 4 comments

I'm not fond of ClearChannel; I'm already inclined to regard it as a fairly vile mob because (a) it's an advertising firm and (b) it systematically destroyed non-top-40 music radio in the USA so as to maximise advertising revenue. But it's reached a new low.

[more]
Autumn Barbecue 2016 31 August 2016

On a very bright and warm day, there was a select gathering of fans of pig and goat.

[more]
New Passport 11 August 2016

My passport was a few months away from expiry, so when I got back from the latest foreign trip I renewed it. It only took two weeks, which isn't bad, though I think the Passport Office might take a tip or two from an enthusiastic amateur; their professional advisors don't seem to be doing a terribly good job.

[more]
Summer Barbecue 2016 22 July 2016

On a day of sun and showers, a surprising lot of us got together for beer and belly-pork.

[more]
Midnight Sun 08 July 2016 - 1 comment

I've been on holiday again. With photographs: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Biological Warfare Cake 02 June 2016 - 8 comments

My wife went to a wedding recently, and came back with a Thing.

[more]
April Barbecue 2016 02 May 2016 - 4 comments

It was a slightly chilly day, but that just meant that people huddled round the fire when the wind blew. (Fire good. Fire is my friend.)

[more]
Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester 20 April 2016 - 5 comments

Also over Easter, I went to the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
IWM North 30 March 2016 - 3 comments

As I was in Manchester over Easter, I visited the IWM North, the only one of the five IWM sites I hadn't been to. It was a bit of a disappointment. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Spring Barbecue 2016 20 March 2016

With a peak outside temperature of 7°C, we stayed inside for this "barbecue".

[more]
Wallace Collection 2015 29 February 2016

Shortly after Christmas I went to the Wallace Collection for the first time. I could spend days there. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Severe Weather Warnings 13 February 2016

I tend to use the weather forecasts from the Met. Office as I find them more accurate than the BBC ones (even when the BBC is using Met. Office data). However, I find the Severe Weather Warnings rather less useful.

[more]
Gazebo Lights 27 January 2016 - 1 comment

When we had the gazebo roof reconstructed, I cut down the old LED light strings as they were starting to fail and there wasn't really room for them in the new configuration. Now I have a new lighting arrangement.

[more]
More from the Science Museum 21 January 2016 - 2 comments

More from the Science Museum last Boxing Day Bank Holiday. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Lenovo/IBM warranty service 17 January 2016

It used to be traditional on a personal blog to rant about the horrible service one had received from a big company. (These days it does no good unless it's on Twitter or Facebook.) But there doesn't seem to be enough of the other side.

[more]
Roger's 2015 in 100 Words 31 December 2015 - 1 comment

A friend likes to sum up his year in a hundred words, and I copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Cosmonauts at the Science Museum 29 December 2015 - 4 comments

Since yesterday was the Boxing Day Bank Holiday, I went to the Science Museum for their Cosmonauts exhibition. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything. (I'd been told photography was prohibited, but there were no signs and nobody tried to stop me. I didn't use flash, which may have helped.)

[more]
Winter Barbecue 2015 21 December 2015 - 3 comments

A remarkably mild day for mid-December, with temperatures about 12-13°C, no rain and not much wind. All images are cc-by-sa.

[more]
Pink Sky At Night 06 November 2015 - 1 comment

Yesterday, within a minute after local sunset, the sky went pink.

[more]
A utopian vision for electric cars 29 October 2015 - 2 comments

I have an idea for a relatively simple change which would remove some of my objections to the use of electric cars. This is less blatantly utopian than the last one.

[more]
Clapham South Deep Shelter 19 October 2015 - 2 comments

On Sunday I visited the Clapham South deep-level shelter. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Pyracantha 09 October 2015 - 1 comment

A couple of years ago we planted a pyracantha at the front of the house. Until this year it hadn't put on much of a show, though it had become pleasingly spiky. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Barbecue Like a Pirate Day 2015 20 September 2015 - 5 comments

Surprisingly good weather after a week of mostly rain, so I left the tent down again for the relatively small party (if it rained we could all shelter in the gazebo, though it didn't anyway).

[more]
A utopian vision for transport 19 September 2015 - 7 comments

Driverless cars, quite apart from privacy concerns, are solving the wrong problem. Here's what I want to build to replace the majority of transport infrastructure. It is unabashedly utopian.

[more]
Hyperdog 4-ball launcher 08 September 2015 - 4 comments

I recently bought a tennis-ball catapult, for the benefit of a visiting dog. It's not as good as I'd hoped.

[more]
That British Memeplex 16 August 2015 - 3 comments

I got this from History Monk. This is the earliest place I've found it.

[more]
Eye Lasers 12 August 2015 - 7 comments

I have just had two different sorts of laser shot into my eyes. The eye-squeamish may not wish to keep reading.

[more]
Intercalary (Lammas) Barbecue 2015 02 August 2015

A select group turned up for the extra barbecue that I called to take advantage of plausibly good weather (and it turned out pretty well, the first time since I got the tent that the weather forecast has been good enough for me not to put it up).

[more]
Gazebo Roof Reconstruction 24 July 2015 - 5 comments

As those of you who came to the midsummer barbecue will have noticed, the gazebo roof had rotted in the sun. So we had it re-built. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
View from the Road (summer 2015) 22 July 2015 - 4 comments

A miscellany of interesting things seen while driving across Europe in late June. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Architecture of Mariehamn 18 July 2015

While we were in Mariehamn, Mia Åkerfelt, a PhD who specialises in the history of architecture, conducted a walking tour showing off the history of the town. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Alands Maritime Museum and Pommern 12 July 2015

Strictly speaking, the Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Wildlife of Scandiwegia, summer 2015 08 July 2015 - 2 comments

Various wildlife spotted on the Finnish holiday. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
The Sloshing of Money 05 July 2015 - 2 comments

Interest rates everywhere are quite low at the moment. But there's a (legal) method that can get a 5% (pre-tax) return on up to £9,000, and 3% on a further £21,000.

[more]
Summer Barbecue 2015 21 June 2015 - 1 comment

Summer barbecue, on the day before the solstice. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything; some photos are by Owen Smith.

[more]
Knee Deep in Daisies 16 June 2015

The meadow last year was a riot of various wildflowers. This year it's been mostly oxeye daisies. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
The Wreck of the Liberal Democrats 11 June 2015 - 3 comments

The obvious story of woe of the recent General Election in the UK is that of the Liberal Democrats, who lost 66% of their vote share and 85% of their parliamentary seats compared with five years ago, leaving them about as much of a political force as the DUP. What went wrong?

[more]
Does Free Content Drive Out Good? 28 May 2015 - 4 comments

Gresham's Law famously states that "bad money drives out good": if there are two currencies available, people will tend to hoard the one they trust and spend the one they don't. I think there's a different but allied process going on with items that are "good enough" driving out of the market ones that are good.

[more]
Who Is David Fitton? 07 May 2015 - 5 comments

The Wycombe parliamentary constituency has been Conservative since 1951. It has often had candidates from obscure parties, but since 2001 there's been an Independent: one David Fitton.

[more]
ASR-HW April 2015 20 April 2015 - 3 comments

I didn't feel like organising a Mild Day this year, so there was an ASR (Scary Devil Monastery) meeting at the Bootlegger in High Wycombe instead. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Peacock Butterfly 16 April 2015

I've seen these around from time to time, but finally managed to get a decent picture. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Have You Seen This Bird? 08 April 2015 - 5 comments

We have a new visitor to our bird-stand. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Gypsy Fish 31 March 2015 - 2 comments

Our pond has, apparently spontaneously, generated two goldfish. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Wedding Anniversary Barbecue 2015 22 March 2015 - 2 comments

A barbecue on a chilly spring day. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Ruining My Childhood 11 March 2015 - 5 comments

It has become fashionable to claim that a remake or reinvention of a favourite book, film or whatever from when one was young "ruined my childhood". And inevitably it has also become fashionable to dismiss such overblown nonsense. I think there is potential for a useful middle way.

[more]
Contact Lenses 03 March 2015 - 2 comments

I've recently switched back to using contact lenses.

[more]
Miscegenating Ducks? 26 February 2015 - 8 comments

A typical mallard drake has a yellow bill and white or grey flanks. Not so on the Loudwater.

[more]
PIN security: is this a bad idea? 18 February 2015 - 5 comments

I have a number of bank accounts with cards that need PINs to use, but I use them very rarely. I think I've come up with a way of marking them on the cards with some degree of security. Does this make sense to other people?

[more]
A Modest Proposal About Numbers 12 February 2015 - 8 comments

A small change to our numbering system would make daily use of numbers remarkably easier.

[more]
Back to Work 02 February 2015

Today I go back to work for the first time this year.

[more]
The RogerBW Manifesto (2015 edition) 20 January 2015 - 13 comments

It's election season here in the UK – for the first time, since we've moved to fixed-term Parliaments, a protracted American-style election season rather than a few short weeks. These are the things I'd try to do if anyone were daft enough to put me in charge; they're also promises that would encourage me to vote for people who made them.

[more]
Shopping in Wycombe 17 January 2015 - 8 comments

I do very little shopping in person these days, and it's mostly in supermarkets. But yesterday I went to get a periodic eye test, so I thought I'd wander around our local shopping centre, "one of the top fifty shopping destinations in England". All images are cc-by-sa.

[more]
New Year's Eve 2014 02 January 2015

To a mate's place in London on New Year's Eve for beer, games and chat.

[more]
Roger's 2014 in 100 Words 31 December 2014

A friend likes to sum up his year in a hundred words. I'm going to copy this fine idea. "Think of it as a short and un-boastful summary of the year, which nobody is expected to understand all of."

[more]
Winter Barbecue 2014 21 December 2014 - 1 comment

With the wind-chill-adjusted temperature below freezing, we stayed indoors.

[more]
Why chain hotels don't need to try 19 December 2014 - 2 comments

Having recently had a truly appalling meal at a hotel that rhymes with Hark Hinn Hottingham, and heard more horror stories from people who were actually staying there, I thought about hotels' incentives to make things pleasant for their customers… and couldn't come up with any.

[more]
How accounting rules distort real life 22 November 2014

Accounting rules have perverse effects on real life. Here's an example dear to my heart.

[more]
Con Crud, Air Conditioning, and Legionnaire's Disease 16 October 2014 - 5 comments

Why does every large convention now seem to have an associated disease, the "con crud", generally a respiratory tract infection?

[more]
Autumn Barbecue 2014 05 October 2014 - 1 comment

Another barbecue gone by. No photos this time as I wasn't taking them.

[more]
Another Walk at Goring (September 2014) 29 September 2014 - 2 comments

We went back to Goring on Sunday, and things had changed quite a bit since our walk in May. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
One Man Went To Mow 26 September 2014 - 4 comments

After I did the scythe course in August, I ordered one from The Scythe Shop, and now I've put it to use in the garden. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Bristol Ferry 17 September 2014 - 1 comment

Bristol has a commuter ferry again. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Red Kites perching 28 August 2014

I was watching some magpies squabbling, in a tree half-way down the road, when something amazing happened. Large image follows: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
A Drone of My Own 20 August 2014

I've started playing with my drone. It's a Micro Drone 2.0 from Extreme Fliers, also available from Micro Drone and Amazon, with the camera module. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Loncon 3 19 August 2014 - 2 comments

Over the weekend I went to the Worldcon, at ExCel in Docklands. With images; cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Don't Fear The Reaper 10 August 2014 - 3 comments

Yesterday I did a quick course in the basic use of the Austrian scythe. These are my notes and recollections. Do not mistake them for an actual scything course! Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Boom Today: Didcot Southern Cooling Tower Demolition 27 July 2014 - 3 comments

Too early this morning, I went to Wittenham to watch the demolition of the southern cooling towers at Didcot. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Kuru Toga Roulette 17 July 2014 - 3 comments

Since I bought one in 2012, the Kuru Toga Roulette has become my absolute favourite writing tool ever.

[more]
The Origins of Homœopathy 11 July 2014

Homœopathy has some very strange ideas. But where did it actually come from?

[more]
Summer Barbecue 2014 Aftermath 23 June 2014

In case anyone is curious as to what's left once the barbecue is over. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Summer Barbecue 2014 22 June 2014 - 3 comments

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.)

[more]
A Walk at Goring (May 2014) 29 May 2014 - 4 comments

Last Sunday, we went for a walk on the Thames Path near Goring. Images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Juvenile bluetits 26 May 2014 - 2 comments

A flock of young bluetits has found our bird-feeder. I have my suspicions about where they nest, but I'm not going to risk disturbing them by finding out. Large images follow: cc-by-sa on everything.

[more]
Why I have no smartphone 21 May 2014 - 4 comments

A reader expressed surprise that I don't use a smartphone.

[more]
A Walk in the Woods (May 2014) 04 May 2014 - 3 comments

Yesterday was sunny, and we went for a walk in one of the local woods. (Images follow.)

[more]
Mild Day 2014 20 April 2014 - 2 comments

Things heard, and links, from the Mild Day on Saturday. In no particular order.

[more]
Spring Not-Barbecue 2014 17 March 2014 - 1 comment

Things heard, and links, from the Not-Barbecue on Saturday. In no particular order.

[more]
Floods at Marlow, One Month Later 11 February 2014 - 6 comments

More panic and despondency in Marlow. The waters today were higher than on either of our previous visits.

[more]
Have you opted out of care.data yet? 20 January 2014

(Readers not in England, if any, please ignore.)

Have you even heard of care.data?

[more]
Floods at Marlow, One Week Later 18 January 2014

Since we happened to be in Marlow again today, we thought we'd see how things were getting on. The water seemed generally to be between nine inches and a foot lower than last week.

[more]
Hail in Loudwater 16 January 2014

Had a five-minute hailstorm just before noon today.

[more]
Floods at Marlow 12 January 2014 - 1 comment

My wife heard about the flooding at Marlow, and we thought we'd go to see what we could see. Several of the houses along the waterfront were inaccessible by foot, though I didn't see any water actually above door-sills. While I wasn't feeling in a particularly journalistic mood, I took a few pictures with my phone.

[more]
Search
Archive
Tags 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s 3d printing action advent of code aeronautics aikakirja anecdote animation anime army astronomy audio audio tech aviation base commerce battletech beer boardgaming book of the week bookmonth chain of command children chris chronicle church of no redeeming virtues cold war comedy computing contemporary cornish smuggler cosmic encounter coup covid-19 crime cthulhu eternal cycling dead of winter doctor who documentary drama driving drone ecchi economics en garde espionage essen 2015 essen 2016 essen 2017 essen 2018 essen 2019 essen 2022 essen 2023 existential risk falklands war fandom fanfic fantasy feminism film firefly first world war flash point flight simulation food garmin drive gazebo genesys geocaching geodata gin gkp gurps gurps 101 gus harpoon historical history horror hugo 2014 hugo 2015 hugo 2016 hugo 2017 hugo 2018 hugo 2019 hugo 2020 hugo 2022 hugo-nebula reread in brief avoid instrumented life javascript julian simpson julie enfield kickstarter kotlin learn to play leaving earth linux liquor lovecraftiana lua mecha men with beards mpd museum music mystery naval noir non-fiction one for the brow opera parody paul temple perl perl weekly challenge photography podcast politics postscript powers prediction privacy project woolsack pyracantha python quantum rail raku ranting raspberry pi reading reading boardgames social real life restaurant reviews romance rpg a day rpgs ruby rust scala science fiction scythe second world war security shipwreck simutrans smartphone south atlantic war squaddies stationery steampunk stuarts suburbia superheroes suspense television the resistance the weekly challenge thirsty meeples thriller tin soldier torg toys trailers travel type 26 type 31 type 45 vietnam war war wargaming weather wives and sweethearts writing about writing x-wing young adult
Special All book reviews, All film reviews
Produced by aikakirja v0.1