First off, I want to tip my hat to Beeline Cyles on the Cowley Road. I took in my bike for the free three-month maintenance and not only did they calibrate my gears, tighten my brakes, and fix the wobble on the replacement saddle I got off a derelict bike after mine was stolen, they also replaced one of my peddles, my chain, and the front gear system. It no longer grinds and screeches when climbing hills. Indeed, it feels like riding a brand new bike, and they covered it all under the one-year warranty. You rarely see such a level of customer service these days, and I appreciate it. If only they could come up with a device that eliminates the overwhelming yet fatal attraction that insects seem to feel for my eyes while I am riding quickly in traffic, or along the edge of a canal. (That’s fatal for them, not me so far.)
Secondly, I got my supervisor’s report for Trinity term in the post:
Milan has continued to make very good progress. He achieved a strong pass in the QT exam and has identified a very interesting topic for his MPhil thesis – the role of science in global environmental policy. His Research Design Essay represented an excellent start in developing the project and narrowing down a viable set of questions to be addressed. His work for the core seminar has also been very solid, with essays on unipolarity, the end of the Cold War, decolonization, and the Middle East.
On top of all else, Kelly is making me dinner tonight, in reciprocity for me cooking for her yesterday. Also, the Canada Day party is this Saturday. I discovered that the Grog Shop in Jericho even sells one kind of Canadian beer – Moosehead – so that vital national totem will not be entirely excluded from the gathering.
PS. Young’s Champion Live Golden Beer is the best summer brew I have encountered in the UK. It is well-suited to the character of summer evenings here, while still having a taste several cuts above the norm in complexity and pleasantness. At present, it is giving Wychwood’s Hobgoblin a run for the best beer I’ve discovered since arriving here. It is certainly a better match to long days and warm nights.
It is interesting to note that both beers use Styrian Goldings hops.
Milan,
Your next mission, should you choose to accept it, is to comb the wine shops of the City of Perspiring Dreams for a bottle of Baby Duck “champagne”. That’ll really make the Canada Day bash go with a swing…
Ian
Although there may be other, better, explanations, I belive the sign in your photo may refer to the Fatboy Slim song ‘Don’t Let the Man Get You Down’. The aforementionned song is from the album Palookaville & the only lyrics are ‘And the sign said long haired freaky people need not apply’, which is repeated a number of times. However, I’m intrigued as to whether that was the implicit reference or not.
It is a job posting, outside the Kasbar on Cowley Road. If this is Sarah P, you are probably familiar.
Tonight, I had a really strange experience with Hi-Lo’s Jamaican Pub. Given that it is five to five am, I will describe it another time.
Ian,
I already got 24 500mL cans of Carlsburg to offer to guests. I see it as a way of somewhat diminishing my obligation to provide large amounts of food. I am also planning to get some of the Moosehead sold at the Grog Shop in Jericho.
As for your problem with the kamikaze insects – wear sunglasses!
The above mentioned Fatboy Slim lyric is taken from the song “Signs” which was a hit in the early 70’s for the Canadian group Five Man Electrical Band. It was covered in the early 90’s by one of those hair metal bands, but I can’t remember which.