Kensal Rise Tornado 07-12-06

It is about 10:30 am and I am working at home (my car is in the garage). Suddenly the sky turns dark gray from a sunny blue. A bright flash – lightning! An almighty storm hits, with high wind and hail. Well, that’s not so unusual. After the storm passes, I hear a lot of sirens, but take no notice. Twenty minutes or so later my neighbour phones in distress – a tornado has hit just about 100 meters from us. There is severe damage! I can’t believe it – here I am working peacefully while just up the road havoc has been created. Six people injured, thankfully no one dead. But as the news unfolds the damage to property and trees is becoming apparent – it is extensive. As I write this J is waiting to hear if his flat has survived. His road is closed off – too much damage. I won’t post this till I know. When I phoned him up this morning to tell him that “there was a tornado in Kensal Rise” he laughed – he wouldn’t believe it at first.

Up to 150 houses are known to be damaged. Unbelievable. A few people phone to see if I am okay. The girls who live above me come rushing home from work to see if this house is still standing.

Just spoke to J. His house has “minor” damage. Two windows blown out and some roof tiles gone, the extent of which he won’t know till daylight returns.

Childhood - gettin old

Had some time to spare today – so first I looked up my old schools in Holland that I visited, found some old photos from there of me and my class mates – I am talking 30 years ago! Got all maudlin, wishing for my childhood again. Looked at other old photos; of my best-friend and myself, more than 30 years ago. Those were the days – sure it wasn’t all fun – but generally I had a good time as a kid (especially after getting better from my illness) and even as a teenager.

Someone asked me if I would want to go back to that time and would I change anything:

Sure I would like to go back – all those years to live again, and times were less nasty then – ok we had the cold war, I was a refugee from the Soviet block. But, maybe through my child’s eyes, thing looked more hopeful than they do now. Would I change something – Yes – I would not go into the Academic world. I would still do science but then go into Industry. At least, even though you are not appreciated (just as in Academia) you get better paid.

Monday the 13th

Well for me it an unlucky day is not Friday the 13th but Monday the 13th.
First one of my cats is so allergic to a flea treatment that she now has an open wound. And I get all distressed when one of my dear cats is suffering or ill. Then I heard today that my consultancy of two years is not going to be renewed. I will miss the money from that very much and also the interesting work. They want a permanent person now, sadly for me. And then even sadder one of my friends is leaving London for other lands. Argh what a day!

NICE is not nice!

Just a NICE picture I took.
But on a more serious note - how can NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) refuse drugs that have been proven to decrease Alzheimer's when given early, to NHS patients. It only works when given at the early stages! Apart from the humanitarian aspect - what a short term view. The cost of the drugs is far less than the cost of looking after people with Alzheimers. I do wonder who sits on the NICE decision board!

The Book

Tuesday - am at work, and trying to finish Chapter 17 of our text book. We are already two weeks late for the publisher's deadline. Some of my "friends" would say we are 6 years too late. Yes - that's about how long it takes to write a science text book, especially as the field is developing so fast. After we finish this review circle - it goes to an editor (again) we get it all back again and only after that does it go to type-setting. Phew - can't wait.

New New New

This is my first UK blog. Although based in London, I have, up to now, had a Dutch blog - which I will continue to have for my Dutch friends. But now I have set up an English blog.
Why blog - why bother?
I suppose to air my ideas, my frustrations, and views, for what they are worth. Some friends will log on - and I hope some strangers too.
Now I am going to continue with the design of the thing.
Bye