Loch Tay 2009

We just had a great weekend down in Perthshire. Abi's Uncle/Auntie/cousins and associated husbands/children hire a cottage for a week in Lawers (about half way along Loch Tay), and we were invited out for a couple of days.
Booked into our B&B in Killin (very nice, super breakfasts) and headed up to the cottage for a lovely BBQ, no rain and very few midges!
On Friday Sandy (Uncle) Abi and I climbed Beinn Ghlas (see photo of obligatory summit shot). Weather wasn't great on the way up, drizzle, a bit more serious rain, and then walking in cloud for most of the rest of the time (hence the lovely view behind us in the photo). Naturally, when we got back down to the car park, the sky cleared and the sun came out.
But then the weather stayed great. The next day Abi and I hired bikes from the Outdoor Shop in Killin and cycled along the Sustrans National Cycle Network Route 7. Had a great time, particularly on the long slope down towards Lochearnhead. But not on the way back up, these were the most uncomfortable saddles I had ever ridden on! We were both still bruised in saddle-straddling places on Sunday! Sunburnt, sore but happy, we really should get out more. All in all a great long 4-day weekend (more of these please), always good to catch up with the other Mavor side of the family.
Back to work now, at least the boss is away for another week!

Michael Owen

I can't believe Michael Owen has signed for Man Utd!

Cooler today, only 25°C in the lab which is workable in. Still, this is the 5th day in a row that I have worn shorts, that's surely unprecedented in Aberdeen. Lovely weather at the weekend, great for sitting inside and watching Star Wars films. We did have a BBQ and sit out in the Kemnay sunshine for 2 hours. 

Quite a busy day today, which is nice, trying in vain to see the boss, but he's always busy. Not a very interesting post.

Terribly Vexed

So having got sequencing results back today, it seems as though I've not been working with the reagents I thought I was. Apparently sup45-18 is actually sup45-28 and vice versa! Both strains, and plasmids! Basically, I'm gonna have to repeat a bunch of experiments. Bugger.

On a happier note the lab is cooler today, only 26.5°C rather than the 29.5°C of yesterday.

Looking forward to the weekend. A friend who has recently bought a 42" LCD tv is having a Star Wars watching day. That is Episodes 4, 5, and 6, proper Star Wars. So I must go home and bake a cheesecake tonight, as we are providing dessert for the BBQ. Mmmm, probably just cursed the weather, still, what's a BBQ in Scotland without rain!

Scorchio

To quote from a certain sketch show. Google weather says that it is 29°C in Cults. It feels hotter in the lab. The 30°C incubators are beeping because they can't maintain their temperature. This is a day to skive off early and sit in the park (the boss is away anyway). Must drink more water or I'll feel rubbish later on.