Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017 - 22:30

1. I went sketching this morning. In many ways it was as expected considering I've been doing a bit more sketching this month. The enjoyable novelty of spending time drawing was lessened, but the ability to get reasonably pleasing efforts down on paper (because of practice) was increased. I did a detailed one of the top of the flaxmill tower, a mucking about three colour partially abstract one, and a quick small one of a wee wooden kiosk. The weather was warm and the walk back in to town afterwards pleasant, the dithering delaying tedious nattering before and afterwards was a boring waste of time.

2. Of course the Nerodimka river represents Europe's only instance of a river bifurcation flowing into two seas - the river in the Nerodimlje region of Kosovo divides into two irreversible branches, with the left branch flowing into the Black Sea, and the right branch flowing into the Aegean Sea. There are other examples worldwide, some of which seem better (Divide Creek in Canada, for example) and which also ar easier to completely understand, as I admit I don't fully 'get' what I read about the Nerodimka.

3. I wasn't overly optimistic about my weekly weighing today, anticipating a substantial consequence from my lax approach to my diet in the past week. Some excess. Anyhow, I've only put on a pound, which is not too bad. This afternoon our building supervisor asked me to turn my cold tap on so he could investigate a leak downstairs. I'd just finished having a wank so was happy only to communicate via the video intercom as I didn't have trousers on.

4. Paul, a banker in Bucharest, has been married for ten years to Adriana and they have an adored daughter Mara. The child has tooth problems which are being tended by Raluca, an attractive young orthodontist. Since first seeing her in the summer, Paul has been having a secret affair with Raluca. But, as Christmas approaches, tensions mount. While Paul loves both women, Raluca tells him what he already knows: that he must choose. When he says to his wife that he is in love with Raluca, she orders him to move out and to say nothing to Mara. The round of Christmas festivities then begins, with the couple pretending outwardly that nothing is wrong. Action is postponed until the Tuesday after Christmas.

5. I know I might feel slightly different if I lived in London (or another major UK city), but I imagine I wouldn't feel much different. I don't feel threatened by terrorism, despite the authorities and the media seeming to be saying I should be. Since the turn of the millennium 126 people have been killed in the UK by terrorist attacks (plus a few more caught in attacks overseas). This compares to 1094 deaths in the 15-year period before that, between 1985 and 1999, and a further 2211 between 1970 and 1984. Yes, I know that a lot of counter-terrorism activity has prevented other larger attacks recently, but I would assume that similar was happening ten, twenty, thirty years ago.. it seems a bit odd to have a 'critical' terror threat which actually means 'quite high compared to elsewhere in Western Europe, but we're doing pretty effectively behind the scenes to protect you, and in any case it's a lot lower than it was before 9/11'. I suppose that kind of honesty doesn't win elections and sell papers.

6. My Uncle worked for Shell Oil and lived in Sarawak for a while. My cousins were sent to boarding school and reacted in different ways to this upbringing - one being troublesome, and the other much less so. I think my younger cousin is a geologist now.. I've not actually spoken to her in twenty years.

7. Freeze branding is a branding process that involves the use of liquid nitrogen or dry ice and alcohol to cool a branding iron so that the iron may then be used to alter the hair follicle of an animal to remove the pigmentation or to remove the hair altogether, depending on the color of the animal. Hair in the branded area will grow back white. On animals with white hair or no hair, the iron is left on the skin long enough so that the hair falls out and the area is balded or the skin depigmented. It is most commonly used as an identification mark for ownership. Freeze branding is used as an alternative to the more traditional hot branding. This process involves the use of a hot iron to scar an animal's skin, which can be painful and traumatizing to the animal. Freeze branding has been gaining in popularity as a less painful way to permanently mark and identify animals. There has been debate whether freeze branding truly is less painful than hot branding, but studies conducted to compare the pain of the two methods have concluded that freeze branding is indeed less painful.

8. I've continued reading that 'Teesside Steel' novel my Mum loaned me, and though it's not necessarily the most polished (two or three spelling errors which shouldn't have been missed) or the most innovative, it's been enjoyable and I've appreciated some grounded honesty and realness in the characters. In some ways I guess had it not been set in the town of my birth, had it not involved a character with whom I identify, I might find it more average/ordinary, but it's been decent so far.

9. Thomas Harrison Montgomery Jr. (March 5, 1873 – March 19, 1912) was an American zoologist who made important contributions to cell biology–especially in chromosomes and their roles in sex determination–as well as the biology of birds and several groups invertebrates, naming many species of ribbon worms, rotifers, and spiders. He studied in Berlin before becoming a researcher and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, where he primarily worked until his death at the age of 39. In his short career he published 80 scientific papers and two books.

10. Walking back from sketching today, I felt slightly fitter than I recall feeling on the same walk a year or so ago - this kind of thing and in addition some of the ilk of shizzle walking up Pen Dinas n'the like in the week.. it's good to feel slight health benefits from losing weight as I have. It could be psychosomatic in a sense, but who cares - I feel better for some reason. Manga Mithapuria is a Kabaddi superstar raider who competes nationally for England.

11. The first and only T20 of the series today saw West Indies set England 177 to win, and England's reply hit by momentum-halting flurries of wickets. However, they got to within fifty-five from five overs before the likes of Bairstow's falling meant it got impossible. 155 all out with three balls left.

12. I think I'll make a cup of tea now. Love a bit of chai tea recently. I was going to start my jigsaw today, but didn't. Gosh, it really comes to something when I'm telling you stuff I didn't do. What a boring load of gubbins. Doo dee daa digga digga splat.

Crystal Palace 0-1 Southampton
- Roy Hodgson, one of the three oldest Premier League managers (Bobby Robson, Alex Ferguson) took the helm for the first time, and his side conceded early on. Just six on the clock when Steven Davis prodded home to give a recently modest Southampton the lead. The Saints away strip was a bit odd - kinda like England's away kit during Euro 2012, black and cyan. Palace had a bit of a go but didn't threaten all that much, and they could've conceded more goals in a second half with some nervous moments. So, The Eagles become the first team in the Premier League era to lose their first five games of the season without scoring a goal. I suppose things can only get better, perchance? Or are they going to start shipping five goals a game too?

Huddersfield Town 1-1 Leicester City
- The hosts had the better start, lots of the play coming via the clever Mooy, knocking at the door but hardly battering it down. Leicester came more into the hald but didn't threaten much either, and it was goal-less at the break. Early in the second, Depoitre scored for The Terriers to try and show that their early-season form would continue and their loss at West Ham was an abberation - strong holding off a defender and sliding home. Leicester were soon level from the spot, Vardy converting after King appeared to be brought down (some doubt) with minimal contact - cheating Fox. Both sides pushed for another - Kachunga thought he'd put Huddersfield ahead but the referee ruled it out. With some effort for both sides, it ended all square.

Liverpool 1-1 Burnley
- Two sides working very hard to close down, tackles coming in early on as it seems both managers sent their sides out to put their stamp on things. Philippe Coutinho came in for the suspended Mané. More defensive wobble for Liverpool after their horror show last week, a poor pass allowing Arfield to nip in and score. Thankfully for the hosts, they were soon level when Mo Salah swept home a pass from the edge of the box. Both sides threatened, but Liverpool look pretty patchy, Burnley were mainly in control and could've gine ahead with seven left when Ben Mee's header was cleared off the lion by Matip. Nick Pope tipped a Solanki shot onto the bar as Liverpoo pushed hard for a winner. Mignolet also working hard, but attackers not clinical in the end. I like to see the cocky Scousers upset, they blether a lot.

Newcastle United 2-1 Stoke City
- Stoke started the best, but the hosts came more into the game, and twenty minutes in they were ahead when Ayoze Perez passed to Ritchie and his far post cross found Christian Atsu able to force it home. Poor defending from Stoke, they've stagnated a little and the hopes of a new bump with some of the decent players they've signed in recent years, not quite burst into life. Joselu was finding some excellent positions against his old side. Ten into the second, Stoke were level - Xherdan Shaqiri was very accurate with his shot past Elliot, minimal space needed. The crowd was behind their team, a couple of refereeing decisions questioned, plenty booing, but they were cheering just past the midpoint of the half when Lascelles leapt to head The Magpies ahead. Stoke will rue the fact they missed a few chances - they may have deserved more from this game, and would've had it with better finishing. Newcastle's third win in a row, they should secure their place as an established top-flight side once more on this evidence.

Watford 0-6 Manchester City
- The visitors started well, they looked very likely and the rain bucketing down looked to make the game slicker and quicker. It took a wee while, but the floodgates opened - Aguero got two in double-quick time, and then (like last week) chose not to be selfish when through on goal, instead setting up Jesus for a third for City by the oranges. Some claims for offside on one or two of the goals. Watford started the second half well, Carillo came close to pulling one back, but it looked forlorn. Perhaps they stretched themselves too far, as it gave space for the (unnecessarily in a purple away kit) visitors to counter, and De Bruyne fund Otamendi to make it four. Ten remained when Aguero completed his hat-trick, Walker's run, the Argentine taking the ball and cutting in from an angle before striking. Sterling was brought down late on, Kabaseli with the foul, the wee man stood up and put the spot kick in the net. Fifteen goals in a week without reply for Manchester City.

West Bromwich Albion 0-0 West Ham United
- Gareth Barry starting the game means he draws level with Giggsy in Premier League appearances, and he'll surely claim the record soon. The first half was goal-less and a little poor fayre in all honesty, WBA creating not enough, and West Ham going closest when Obiang's opportunistic strike from just inside his own half hit the Baggies bar. A Couyate push in the box late on in the half should've been a penalty. James Collins was injured and came off, and then Ben Foster brought down Chicharito with a poor and dangerous tackle, but he was booked as opposed to shown a red. More penalty claims, more midfield hustle, not a huge amount of quality in the final third (in terms of attacking sense) on display. West Brom have only scored eight goals in their last fourteen league games, stretching back to the spring, worrying stuff.

Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 Swansea City
- Spurs dominated the opening half hour, perhaps expectedly, and had twice the possession of their opponants. I mean 'possession' in the sense of 'ownership of the ball', as opposed to 'being taken over by supernatural forces'. No goals resulted though in this time, some of which was due to good defence, some was due to poor composure and technique at the key juncture by those in white. The second half started level with no goals scored. The longer the game went on, the more you started to wonder whether it was bad luck or wastefulness or good defence. A bit of all of them, yes - Olsson handled in the box but nothing given, and Kane hit the bar from close in. Fabianski made a great point-blank save, and you might start to think Swansea had a chance of a smash & grab win, but they couldn't muster any attacking threat to get a goal. Llorente came on for Spurs, against his former side, perchance a scriptwriter's ending in store? Well, in fact, no. Bit of a bummer for Spurs, they're still struggling at Wembley, despite winning there in midweek in the Champions League.

Middlesbrough 3-2 Queens Park Rangers
- An early goal conceded by the home team, perchance against expectations considering their good home record. Wheeler it was who gave QPR the lead in the second minute, a stroke of luck with a deflected cross. Boro responded, could've had a penalty (nowt given) but equalised when a positive run by Marvin Johnson (Traore suspended following a midweek red card) led to him setting Lewis Baker up for a leveller. They could've scorder more but it was all square at HT. Mackie put Rangers back ahead, but Boro repeated the trick by levelling through Anthony Fletcher minutes after. Entertaining. On the hour, M'boro ahead for the first time, Assombalonga with the goal. The Tees-siders stay in the top seven, they're doing OK y'know.