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It only took Virgin Media the best part of 13 days, but I now have a working Internet connection at home. As a result, I'm hideously out of date with recent goings on. Please direct me to entries you think I should see.

Apologies to those of you to whom I owe email; I shall clear my backlog over the next day.

Bring some water to the boil in the bottom tier of a steamer.
Prep some veg (I used mini corn and green beans). When the water has boiled add your potatoes.

In a frying pan, add some lamb steaks, turning occasionally.
Whilst the steaks are cooking chop an onion, some garlic cloves, some mint leaves, and a chilli. Add this to the partially cooked lamb, and then add the juice of a lime. Continue until the meat is cooked, allowing the onions to partially caramelise.

When the potatoes are almost done, add the veg in the upper tiers of the steamer.

The two pans should finish at around the same time; 15-20 mins from the start.
Drain the veg and serve. Garnish the meat with the onion-mix.

( om nom nom lamb )

Enjoy!

I have a plan. Though I say "science", it'll probably just end up with a few of us larking about.
What are you guys doing over the Easter weekend - Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (2nd-5th April).

Inspired by OK Go's latest music video, I wish to make a Rube Goldberg machine.

I have the space in which to build it - there's an old pigeon house at the back of my garden. Currently I'm storing junk in there (old furniture, an exercise bike)

My rough plan is to have the first 2 days for ideas and testing small sections, the next day to build in full and deploy, with the final day as contingency. Come and go as you please, no minimum or maximum duration. Come with some bits that you want to use and a rough idea how you'll lay them out.

This is all likely to evolve as I find out numbers of people. I'll also need someone to film the japery for uploading to youtube.

Who's up for it? (Leave me contact details if you think I'll need them)
ETA:
House details:
Location HA8. (Details at http://mattp.livejournal.com/231680.html - let me know if you need access to that)
I have two cats.
Sleeping space for 2 can be provided (spare bed and a sofa).

Yet another absolute... (at least there's only 1 more after this)

At the moment it would have to be "Introduction to number theory" by Martin J. Erickson and Anthony Vazzana. I bought it to learn about some techniques which have helped me to solve 100 puzzles on projecteuler.net.

In general though, my literary diet consists mainly of: dictionaries (whether English or not), mathematical theory, foreign language grammar reference books, autobiographies and the occasional pop-sci title.

Another "absolute" question which makes it difficult for me to answer. It's probably QI - because Stephen Fry is awesome. I'm also quite partial to Have I Got News For You.

That said, I don't actually watch a lot of TV; I don't think I've watched any this week, for example. When I do though, my taste covers political satire, panel comedy shows, and documentaries.

It seems I've been using Twitter in place of writing here in recent times. Here's a selection of what I've been up to.

Last weekend I went to Manchester for a birthday party and to see msbhayvn. Though driving up gives flexibility in when to leave (and return), I find motorway travelling quite tiring, even as a passenger. Well, that, and it takes an age.

Self-directed maths learning is going well. I've mentioned on occasion the puzzle site (projecteuler.net) that I saw a year or so ago which caused me to be motivated enough to start learning a bit more. Anyway, the Saturnday night of last weekend I solved my 99th and 100th puzzles. Current areas of research are Ramsey Theory, combinatorials, and Diophantine equations.

On Wednesday I went to the dentist. I've had an occasional toothache for a while now and so decided it was time I sought help. Turns out that some treatment I had when living in Manchester wasn't done well and it's failing and become infected. I've got some strong antibiotics and some work scheduled in a couple of weeks. 200 quid :-(

Thursday evening I went out for drinks with saucy_goth who I met at Reptile a couple of months ago. As much as I like owning a place, it is a bit far out from town making it hard to socialise at short notice, so it's great to have someone relatively local with whom I get on well.

Friday night I was going to give some private Linux tuition but the guy cancelled. I was pondering going bellringing but dropped plans at the last minute to help a friend in distress, and we ended up going for sushi and cabaret. The cabaret was really quite awesome. One of the acts in particular
( cut for the sqeamish ) I think the audience were unprepared, judging by reactions. (Other acts did not have the kink aspect, so I think they were lulled into a false sense of security). By a weird coincidence the place we went to took us past where I would have been ringing.

Yesterday I went to Borough Market for the first time ever. It's hard to believe that I've been living in London for something like 4 years and never managed to make it. I'm glad I did. I acquired some lovely chilli hot chocolate and some chilli chutney. Thanks to _onlysmarties__ for the suggestion.

last night I went out to a charity quiz which was raising money for the Cats Protection League. It raised in excess of 650 pounds. Plus I enquired about housing one. I keep mentioning it but have decided that I'm ready for it. Hopefully by writing I'm committing myself!

Today was bellringing in Hampstead, and I was in charge, covering for the regular person who was away. It was a good session; I do so much enjoy being able to

Tonight I am off out to the Pembury Tavern, having not been there since Jan 1st. I shall be leaving once laundry is done. Who else is going to be there this evening?

ugh, yet another question that I can't answer with just one. The genres that I watch are Crime/Prison/Legal dramas, Suspense/Thriller, and Horror (gory/gruesome, rather than scary).

My choice of favourite happens to lie between two Stephen King adaptations:
The Green Mile
The Shawshank Redemption

I've seen them both numerous times, and know huge chunks of dialogue, but I can still watch them repeatedly.

Baaaaa! Here follows a year-by-year rundown of this decade.
( 2000 )

( 2001 )

( 2002 )

( 2003 )

( 2004 )

( 2005 )

( 2006 )

( 2007 )

( 2009 )

( 2009 )

I've probably left out loads of events. This is more meant as a selection rather than a complete history.

What're you lot doing for New Year's Eve? I'm most likely going to the Pembury Tavern for an evening of geeking and gaming, having picked up my ticket earlier this evening.