Freeloading Phill and ...

Cramping my Style

So one has yet again undertaken to take part in the Global Corporate Challenge and step ones way around the virtual world.

However after only a few days I have found myself beset with the most painful of injuries - calf cramp.

After achieving my personal best (on day 3) I found myself in great agony all down my right leg that not even the careful ministrations of nurse Salsa Girl could alleviate.

I have come out of it alive this morning but will have to take it easy for a few days -much to the chagrin of team captain Kiwichick (I should still be able to outpace The Beaumaris Ballerina's paltry efforts though).

Having such an injury gives one the perfect excuse for not visiting the tales these past weeks to tell you all about the wonderful happenings such as: interstate wedding excursions; gaming day extravaganzas; proto-spawn medical sessions; several biblio finishings; paternal birthdays; niecal hide and seek play times; and, of course, metric scads of hard working days in the library.

Now that one has a bona-fide reason to rest with one's leg up one shall easily be able to keep up with one's regular blog posting commitment.
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Chanur's Legacy by C. J. Cherryh

I finished this delightful little tale of alien diplomacy and relations just the other day. Having read the previous three in the series years ago I was delighted to snaffle a loan of this fourth follow-up volume from Badger when the opportunity presented itself.

Set in Compact Space - a meeting point for five different alien empires (non of them human) - it deals with the intricacies of honour, diplomacy, instinct and trying to avoid being put in the position of starting a war.

A good solid read with a great take on alien thinking and culture. Sometimes a little difficult to read due to the alien thinking but well worth it if only for the had space opera feel so very close to one's beloved Traveller.

I give it a 3 and one half stars.
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A Fun Games Day with The Fungi Lady

The highlight of one's weekend - nay, one's entire week - was a get together organised by The Fungi Lady. She was back in town for a short while and arranged for the event to be held at the house of Doom.

The themes for the day were gaming and food. You may be aware that they are two of one's most favourite themes for events.

Salsa Girl and I made our way to the venue in the wee hours of the late morning be-laden with armfuls of one's gaming collection suitably prepared for any gaming requirement that should arise.

Also in attendance were Duff, Agent Smith, and Non-Gamin' Megan (who played every game with consummate ease).

A great feast and time was had by all - especially after we triumphed over Pandemic on our fifth attempt as a group.

One even uncharacteristically returned home from a gaming event at a reasonable hour of the evening - something that shall have to be balanced out at this coming Tuesday Knight's gaming.
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Another notch on the belt

So one was able to start the day yesterday with the auspicious news that yet another marketing officer had been seen off by one's persistence. We are now at something like five or six if one wants to count temporary appointments.

It is of some concern that this one lasted so much longer than previous incarnations and I do hope that I had not begun to feel some sort of ... fondness? ... for the incumbent and therefore relented on my usual efficiency.

In any case AntagonisticAl will be but a faint memory after another month and one shall be the proud possessor of two and one half desks across the library service.

My only fear is that this is part of some long term plan of Supervisor Grand Chief K to engineer the return of Torchwood later in the year to pick up were she left off with her tormenting me with demands that I do such things as provide IT assistance as per one's position description.
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