I'm back!!

I have a love-hate relationship with this blog. Every time I decide that I was going to delete it I keep coming back. I went as far as changing the address so that my newly acquired Facebook friends wouldn't get here. The main reason is that I don't seem to find a purpose for this blog anyway, yet the desire to keep it is so overwhelming.

But for once I have decided that I'm going to keep it after all, if for nothing else but to just practice my writing. So my dear friends please forgive me if you come across some of the most crap writings ever. You see, I'm a scientist and they are not the most well known lot when it comes to crafting words. I spend a copious amount of time reading both for pleasure and work, but I started noticing that my spelling ability was going to the dogs, that is the reason I'm back to this space. Not to bore whoever bothers to visit though, I will also be posting photos too of my escapades, if that is enough consolation.

So much has happened over the months, most notable of which is that I fulfilled my dream of becoming a biker, and subsequently crashed the bike. We both came out in perfect shape, with only a few broken bones, bruises and bent wheels. I also went to New York. Not that I fancy New York, but it was long overdue.

What hasn't changed over the months is that I'm still a student. In fact next month I will celebrate/mourn another anniversary of my stay at University. With the exception of 2003, I have spent every single year since 1998 in University...that makes 9 years of continuous university studies. I mean nine years of unemployment, forgone income, opportunity cost, whatever you like to call it.

Shouldn't the government introduce a cap on how many years one can spend studying due to the lost productivity? After all there is no link between academic productivity (call it publications), and GDP. For example I have spent the better part of this year writing papers that will probable turn out to be mediocre, with no citations. If I had spent that time for example as a mine worker, I would have been much more useful to humanity perhaps.

Oh, I also forgot to say that within this period I have also been flying around the world giving 15 minutes talks, that were promptly forgotten by those who cared to attend. What was never forgotten was the carbon footprint from my 15+ hrs flights. So that is why I feel a little sad that the petrol price is being reduced this coming week, because with it comes the temptation to abandon the bicycle.

Life is good though, and here are some of my favourite 'things' that make it worthwhile...

The Girlfriend
Nature
Books
Excercise
The Bike