another world

Just back from Marco school, in sunny Northumberland, two days of bonsai and very little else. Great. It's much easier to concentrate on something interesting, the time flies by too fast. Things are starting to drop into place a bit more quickly, I really need to practice my wiring! The group is starting to gel too, we have a selection of characters, that is for sure. There is a lot to think about with each tree, small details that make all the difference. Watching Marco style a shohin juniper is fascinating, his fingers seem to work on their own. Once it is done it looks wonderful, it started out as a nice tree. I suppose the point of hobbies is to engage our attention, as a way of moving in another medium, to use different muscles, either external or internal, ie grey matter. Bonsai is beginning to feel like a strand of life, as my trees start to occupy brain space more often. Hopefully this is a good thing.

BIALL conference

Just back from the 2010 BIALL conference in Brighton. Our session (me, Lesley and Mike) went well, I think, although Mike caused some confusion - it's his way. Now I have to write it up for LIM, that will be fun. I wonder if I can include a flashdrive, or whatever they are called these days. Why isn't there an emoticon for old codger? I could really use one. I'll have to put some thought into that. This year's conference was good fun, we invented a new alphabet kind of based on last year's WEM theme. Hopefully we will be interpreting David's speech next year... hard to describe it, but it puts YMCA in the shaaaaade. Finally watched the Uni of Washington's ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-ca-catalogue vid on Youtube, I plan to use it for the trainees' induction this year. Suggested this to HR, no reply. Ooops. The conference experience also included a very late night, old buses, the naked bike ride (from a distance, phew) and some really good meals out. Plus, I finally printed up that T shirt, I have to get a photo!