The proposition

Went to the cinema last Saturday to see "The Proposition" - an Australian film written by Nick Cave (who also did the music). It's basically an Australian western, a somewhat unusual concept, but it's really rather good. At first I though that the characters were slightly stereotyped, the lovable Irish rogues versus the overbearing British colonial captain, but as the plot progressed there was a certain moral ambiguity about them. This was reinforced by the fact that you never got to know the details of the crime that the rogues had committed, and more importantly the roles of each of them in it. A definite case of less is more, and worth look.

Afterwards we went to a pub which had British beer in British pint glasses served by genuine Britons - they even have a pub quiz on Sundays. Marvelous.

The baltic.

I realize that this photograph may look like a snow covered field but it is in fact the baltic sea. A little further down the coast some people had cleared off the snow and were ice skating on it. I might have a go myself but the problem is that the only way I know how to stop when ice skating is to hit the side of the rink. Try that here and I'll probably end up in St. Petersburg.

p.s. by popular demand there are now links here...

Comedy of the past

You may be aware that I'm a great fan of the radio four panel game "Just a Minute". Four contestants are required to speak on a subject for one minute without hesitating, repeating a word or deviating from the subject. This week's episode is just absolutely brilliant, including a philosophical discussion on the nature of paradoxes half way through. Click on the link and listen (or wait until the repeat at 12pm on Sunday).

Gula Villan

Gula Villan

Greetings from Stockholm!

The picture postcard house on the right is where I'm going to be living for the next five months. It's called the "Gula Villan" which is Swedish for "Yellow house" (logical eh?). My room in the one on the left on the top floor. It was originally built in 1896 to house Mittag-Leffler's brother. I'm glad to say that unlike old houses I've lived in previously it's really rather snug and warm inside.

Life at the Institut has already fallen into some kind of a routine. Every day we go to lunch at a particular restaurant about 200m up the road. There are always three choice of food (meat, fish or veggie); the problem is that very few of us can read the menu so every meal is a suprise! This week I have learned:

potato pancakes=good, herring=bad.

The other strange think about this place is the diners. They are all either (a) mathematicians or (b) over 70. I am always amused by the line of zimmer frames outside.

More posts may follow.....

Existence

This isn't a blog, it's a statement of intent. Really.