“A PhD is about finding out more and more about less and less until one eventually knows everything about nothing” - Anon

The PhD Topic

One night a man had a dream. He was walking along a beach with his PhD Topic. It was at night. Hazy moonlight lit the scene with an eerie glow. Sometimes the man could almost touch the PhD Topic, but it would immediately dance out of reach.

The man said: How am I ever to finish if I can't catch you?

The topic said: Hah, hah, good question! This is fate, my friend. This is no ordinary walk. No, this is the rest of your life. Either you may stray to the right, seeking another topic, and end this walk with quiet desperation in the Ocean of Infinite Technical Reports, or you may stray to the left, and lead a life of quiet desperation in the Sorrowful Land of Consolation Prizes. Ah, but the true goal lies ahead! The problem is you don't know the cost of what you seek, nor do you know how long this beach is or where it leads.

The man stopped, crushed with despair. He reached down and quietly played with the sand for a while. Then he laughed and took out a cigarette lighter. Open wide, the man said.

No, the Topic shouted! Don't be silly! The beach is almost over, really! And it leads to the Peaceful Planes of Academic Recognition.

The man laughed again. You said this last year, sorry.

The lighter became a blowtorch. He aimed it at the Topic. The Topic disappeared in a loud swooshing noise. I knew you were just a lot of hot air, said the man. He laughed again, and whistling, ascended straight up into the last open direction, the Ethereal Pleasures of Those Who Don't Want a Topic.

The moonlight danced on. The beach was silent. The man was happy.

- Allan Cargille

Wanna be a biker?

Driving down yesterday, from Dublin, met 300 or so bikers heading up the N7, they’re obviously the same crew coming from the Ring (re. Danny’s blog…)
Just made me wonder, would it be cool to bike/ride cross country sometime? (is that the correct term of phrase?) ..wind blowing in your hair, hanging on for dear life, scooting up the motorway.. ..that sense of freedom, adventure and discovery..
Or is it? What difference is it than driving your car – other than the obvious staying dry? And what does one call a group of bikers - a convoy?

Going to give Tango a go tonight – my first class.. the new course started 2 weeks ago, lets hope I can keep up! But should be fun! ;)
Try everything once! (..well maybe not literally everything.. )

No msn on the pc i'm working on.. i'm at a loss.. feel disconnected from the rest of the world.. ;)
Desert for the coffee group today - pavalova delivery! Everyone welcome! ;)

Hola!

Well am back from Salou (approx. 1hr from Barcelona) .. It was really lovely.. The break was welcome and I had a truly nice time - enjoyed strolling along the beach and relaxing in the sun.. Got in some reading, shopped in Plaça de Catalunya and ‘had a coffee in Café Zurich and watched the world go by’! ;)
Back to reality now though and ready to hit the ground running again! ;) - well kind of!! ;) Would really want to learn some more Spanish phrases before my return trip – one more thing to add to my ‘to do’ list!
Was listening to ‘World Report’ on Radio One this morning – the schools in India are banning nursery rhymes such as Humpty Dumpty and Baa Black Sheep, as they’re not seen as patriotic... hmm...

Opps...

Opps, haven’t been keeping up with the blogging too well!
Have actually been sick this last while.. suppose between work, phd and all else, it was only to be expected… (iron levels have hit rock bottom and are more-or-less nonexistent, big opps!).. Slowing down, r&r and an iron clad diet is prescribed..

However, in keeping with the Ulster football update – a good match between Armagh and the wee county of Fermanagh yesterday.. One might question whether these replays are a strategic move? ;) But it did however highlight the possibility of a young fit and nimble team out-classing, or running, the elder experienced cohort. (I think, the average age of the Fermanagh team is 22, with only 3 of their players over 24!) I’d imagine Armagh will come back to the replay all guns-blazing (they’ve yet to lose a replay under Joe’s management!)
Next weekend one can look forward to the backdoor games, with Monaghan playing Wicklow and then the second semi-final in Derry v Donegal..

And what great weather we’re having! – Just lovely, and it puts everyone in great form .. hope it lasts for another wee while.. ;)