Essays, concerts and the run up to Christmas..

This pretty much sums up my life at the moment. When last I wrote I was contorting my little grey cells over my anatomy essay. Since then, I have endured another week of seminars at the Stratford campus (starting on a Monday morning with advanced biochemistry - cruel world!!), performed in two concerts, Vivaldi Gloria and Verdi Requiem, singing a small solo part in the former, and made the bulk of the arrangements for our mulled wine and mince pie Open House here at 36YR on 16th Dec. Now I am facing the prospect of having to turn in 4 assignments by 11th December.. oh joy!

The concerts went really well, which was wonderful, especially the Verdi Requiem at Southwark cathedral, which was a veritable triumph, both from the point of view of the charity we were supporting (the Lin Berwick Trust), for whom we raised over £11,600, as well as from a musical point of view. One change you will notice in my blog is the lack of photos, as almost immediately after I took the photo below, my camera decided to go into hibernation somewhere in the house... Perhaps it will turn up in the frantic clear-up prior to the festivities in a few weeks time? Fingers crossed! M xx


Night ride through Knightsbridge 16th Nov'07

Using a brain to describe a brain..

is what my Anatomy assignment requires me to do, and as the deadline is 4pm tomorrow, I'm now under a self-enforced house-arrest until I get the thing done! :) In fact, I'm not quite sure why, but I feel as though my body needs a great deal of extra sleep or recuperation this week, though from what I don't know! A busy life I guess :) I often find myself waking at 7:15 and thinking, "no thanks" and then waking up over an hour later, obviously having needed the extra time! Though life without employment obviously has its own very real anxieties, I am so grateful I no longer have to be at a desk by 7:30am! Now that I am learning more about the body and how it functions, I am convinced that 'burn out' is not just an empty phrase; but means exactly what it says at a cellular level, if you don't allow yourself enough recuperation from the stresses and strains of life. Did you know for example that the brain generates much more protein when you are asleep than when you are awake?

Anyway, that's quite enough nerdy stuff from me! :) I'll end with a few photos from the birthday celebrations and wish you all a very good weekend (and plenty of sleep)!

M xx


Birthday Rose and all my cards :)


Scones and Cake at the Orangerie, Kensington Palace


Half the group that came to the birthday tea (I was tardy with the photo taking!)


Again.. only half the group that came to the birthday dinner at Tas


The Guitarist at Tas who played Happy Birthday for me as the restaurant staff brought in a cake with a candle on top!

Birthday week

Or should I say.. birthday month?! November is always a very busy birthday month in this family and we kicked off on Wednesday night with my ever-youthful Uncle's 57th, for which I was tasked to find a decent restaurant.. in Woking (Sorry Woking, but you have the habit of running most of the decent places out of town. I walked past several "closed down" signs before I found something decent AND still in business)! As it happens, Woking does excel in Indian cuisine, and that's what we went for in the end; a place called Thali Thali - very delicious. Anyway, quite apart from the cuisine, we were honoured by my Dad's presence, which was fab as he normally resides across the pond in Virginia. This meant that I could start my own birthday celebrations (coming up on Sat) a few days early, by opening the gifts from Dad and my Uncle. Today I am going to spend the whole day over in Stratford at the campus library, for some hard work before the partying begins tomorrow. Have a great weekend! M xx



Mum & I at 36YR

OK! OK!...

Autumn colours, York Rd, Woking

In my defence I can only cite the fact that we are having a record long Autumn here in the UK (and apparently in Germany too, according to my relatives there). I just can't help myself! I.. must... take.. pictures...of...multicoloured foliage... aaaaaaargghhhh ;) Have a good week and enjoy the last of these leaves :) M xx


Autumn colours, Woking Park (again)


Autumn colours, Woking Park (yet again)