St Andrean

Exactly 600 years after the founding of the University of St Andrews (the university charter was first granted in 1413) I have become an official St Andrian and as a postgraduate student also a member of St Leonard's College.

A new beginning

Well, it has been quite some time since I last wrote anything for this blog. Starting a new chapter in my life seemed like the perfect time to re-start blogging. Just to bridge the gap between the "Festival of Lights" in my last entry and now, here is a quick summary of the time passed... After finishing at my last job, I did a sailing course, went skiing and then managed to break my clavicle (or more commonly known as my collar bone) in May while playing hockey. With a lengthy metal plate inserted I am now the delight of every metal detector at the airport - providing the staff know how it works and have actually turned it on. This summer consisted of a very interesting and culturally educating trip to China, followed by a short visit to England and organising a surprise Birthday Party for my father's 60th. While all of this was happening I completed my Diploma in management (so now I may add a fantastic jumble of letters on to the end of my name). On the side I applied to do some further full time study at the University of St Andrews and low and behold, I was offered a place...

And here the actual story begins:
I am now up in St Andrews at the School of Management, studying for a master of research (short MRes). This morning - apart from getting completely drenched by the rain in conjunction with the costal winds - I found myself sitting in the board room of the Management School (view out to the ocean) and listening to our course introduction. The advice given was: Try to write something every day, try to make it 1 000 words a day just to get used to writing. I intend to have a go at this so, while I will not be writing my 1 000 words in this blog every day, I intend to keep it a little more up to date and share with you the pleasures of the exciting research things I am learning. Maybe even have a little discussion on the way.

That is all for today, so I leave you with the picture I posted at the beginning of the sea view in St Andrews.

Festival of Lights

Though I was working long hours last week I nevertheless managed to take a little evening drive through Berlin with my Parents to look at what is known as the festival of lights. For about two weeks there are a number of buildings in the city that are lit in a special and sometimes spectacular way. Though I have to say that it looked nice, I had actually expected more and was a little disappointed at some of the lighting displays. Managed to take some nice pictures nevertheless, so here are some of them for all of you who unfortunately missed it.

Pyronale 2008

Once again quite some time has pased since I have last posted something. The reason is that I am still in Berlin and very busy working. I did however manage to go and enjoy some fantastic fireworks at the annual fireworks competition called Pyronale which is held on the Maifeld, behind the Olympic Staduim every year. Here are some of the pictures I managed to take. Enjoy!

Happy New Year

Well, quite some time has passed since I have last put something on this blog, mainly due to the fact that I have been at home for the last few weeks, nothing much has happened and I have been resting (also away from my computer). This one is just a quick post to wish all my friends a happy and successfull New Year 2008.

Happy Birthday

This post is a BIG Happy Birthday for my little brother. Where I am at the moment midnight has just passed and with the end of Halloween now it is time to celebrate the 1st of November:

Happy 16th Birthday domi. I am sorry I won't be there as I am in Syria enjoying the sunshine but I send you the best wishes and a big hug.

Love Alex

Leptis Magna - Libya

Well it has been over a month since my last post, it has been busy busy busy here and many of my friends from on board have been departing in the last few weeks. The day before yesterday there was something new though and I thought I ought to take at least the opportunity for a picture and a mini post before something bigger sometime next week or so.
The new thing was actually our call in Libya, where I had not been before. A group of us went of to explore Leptis Magna (the picture is of the Theatre there which is being prepared for a concert that evening). This was one of the very important Centres of commerce at about 200 BC. Probably the best preserved ruins of that time (similar to Pompeii, only without all the hastle of excavating it as there was no volcano to cover it up). The best thing is that there are not many tourists there and no limits, so you can properly explore the whole site. So here you go, enjoy the view.

Big Waves

Why is it that the really bad seas usually come at night????? I am sitting in my cabin and it is nearly midnight. Today we were at sea all day and it was not exactly calm, but now I can see the "White Horses" galloping next to my port hole and I am on deck 3, usual waterline is deck 2. Anyway, I had a good diner and therefore I am not feeling seasick, just a like in a roller coaster. I am sure the waves would make for a spectacular picture, however it is pitch black outside except for the ships outside lighting. I do nonetheless have a picture to share with you - Sunset yesterday evening...... regards to everyone, thinking of you.

Close one

Well, thank you to my family who managed to visit one of the ports where we docked. Unfortunately we missed each other by 1 hour (us arriving their flight leaving) but they did manage to bring me my camera zoom lens that I had stupidly forgotten at home....... Yesterday we were back to Athens and Piraeus and for the first time I had the opportunity to go out as it was not an arrival/departure day. Here is at least one picture so that you can share the Acropolis with me.

As time goes by

Well I have to remark again, time absolutely flies when you have to work absolutely every day of the week. Not only do you loose a sense of time but also there is no weekend and it takes you many attempts to actually remember what day of the week it is. Always feeling tiered (which you get used to after a while) is also quite a strain, but the traveling is still fun.

Working on some more pictures for everyone as I have now passed the 2100 mark with the new digital camera that I had bought in May before I joined the ship.

Big hug for everyone... Thinking of you