Happenings

Again, this is double entry, so it covers two weeks I think. Most of it was just work though.

  • Had my parents round for TV and video games. My dad was too tired to make progress on his game, so he watched me play Nier: Automata, a game he seemed very impressed by.
  • We bought a cheap record player stand. I had tried to build one myself (more like a riser to sit the turntable on so the amp could go underneath), but, well, it turns out carpentry is hard. Even after making perfect cuts, getting it to stand up without its feet collapsing was too difficult. Also my paint job looked awful. It was time-consuming, and a waste of materials, but at least I learned about about sawing straight cuts with a jigsaw (I know, there are better types of saw for straight cuts, but a jigsaw is what I have).
  • This means the record player is now back in action after years in the loft while we had very small children. It’s been fun to stick some records on (many of which I’d forgot we even had).
  • But then (sorry, more record player rambling) cartridge alignment issues reared their head — we lost stereo sound — and aligning the cartridge is fiddly as hell. I think it’s aligned now; I think there may be a tiny difference between the two channels but it’s not noticeable in the room, only when you stick your head right by the speaker.
  • We went to see my friend play the lead role in a stage adaptation of Blackadder Goes Forth. It was great; the casting and comedy was really good, actually.
  • Work is kind of stressful. Teaching feels like spinning plates sometimes. There are always so many things one could be improving in one’s practice, and sometimes focusing on one ends up letting another slide.
  • My group theory club is going well. I wrote about it earlier today.
  • I’m on half-term break now.

Playing

Just Terranigma recently. To be honest, I just want to finish this game now. The story and world is fascinating, but the gameplay and especially puzzle design is frustrating, with me often wondering how the heck I was supposed to figure out how I was supposed to have solved it without a guide.

Reading

Just the same two books — a bit more progress in The Left Hand Of Darkness and Nicomachean Ethics. Next I think I’ll read Dune Messiah before the next Dune film comes out. It’s pretty short, at least.

Hope you’re all well. Feel free to get in touch about whatever.