Hearing fixed, cheaper than expected
I went to the clinic this afternoon and had hot water fired into my ear at a high velocity, which unblocked it almost immediately. This was great, but promptly made the other feel like it was blocked in comparison, so they did that one too. I can now hear properly for the first time in ages - I so want one of those machines! Once they found out that I fix computers I was asked to help out with a problem, and they gave me a 50% discount!
1537 words left. Gotta go.
Halfway
Just passed 25,000 words, which is a pleasing milestone in itself, but more importantly means I'm on track for the first time since Day Two. Hooray!
I've been a little distracted today after waking up with a completely blocked ear. This happens to me once a year, and I hate it more than I despise the first guy who sat down and thought 'hmm, this tiny tree thing tastes gross, I shall market it as a vegetable and make millions'. Is so bloody annoying. I can't drive or get much sense of sound direction without doing lighthouse impressions, and it hurts if I don't soften it up with ear drops every few hours. On a couple of occasions I've been able to fix the problem with, um, unorthodox methods that hurt rather a lot, but it's always taken four to five days, plus Nod justifiably tells me off for messing about with my hearing 
Unfortunately I have dancing, a guitar lesson, a computer-related trip to Walsall and a job interview in the next five days, and would like to avoid cancelling them all. As ever, the doctors only have syringing sessions on Tuesdays, so I had to decide between sticking it out or paying for a private clinic. I finally decided to go for the latter, although it's bloody expensive at £65. They can do it tomorrow afternoon, however, and it's just about worth it. Just. I need to figure out how I'm going to get to Solihull and back, mind.
Aural Fun
Turns out that ear syringing isn't as bad as it sounds. A reasonably strong jet of warm water is fired into the ear, and whatever comes out is caught in a cup. I was expecting some kind of syringe to be involved, and a popping suctiony type sound. I'm happy to say that it worked very well, and I can now hear again! Only problem now is that the other ear feels blocked in comparison...The nurse said it was quite full, but you need to apply drops for three days prior to syringing so couldn't do anything about it. There's apparently some soreness in both ears, which isn't very normal, so I'll have to make a doctor's appointment to get it all checked out at some point.
After learning it in my guitar lesson this morning I've just purchased my first ever song by Green Day, a band which didn't appeal in the slightest before now. Wake Me Up When September Ends is the track, and I quite like it. Last week it was Smash It Up (Parts 1 & 2) by The Damned, so I'm really expanding my musical horizons at the moment Currently trying to get to grips with pentatonic scales - I've never had any real understanding of music theory and it's not so scary as I thought. I seem to have been born without the ability to tune or identify chords in the same key, however.
This morning I had a half-hour chat with a very pleasant BBC researcher about my experiences at Live 8. I hadn't had any breakfast so probably wasn't on my best form, but hopefully I gave him the kind of information he was after. He said they'll talk to as many people as they can and then decide who to film for the BBC2 show - that would be exciting!
Finished writing this twenty minutes ago, then got distracted by first time housemoving tips over at Ask Metafilter. It's such a useful website!
Accio!
Just back from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, which I found wonderful. I've liked each successive film more, and this was no exception. While telling a remarkable amount of the book in a two hour film, it still managed to cram in layer upon layer of interesting and beautiful little moments. I won't spoil any, but if you're a fan of great storytelling I recommend it very much.
The above is despite the fact that my annual broken-ear problem has returned. It felt slightly blocked at around 1900, although I could still hear reasonably well, but when doofus here tipped in some warm water 1 it completely blocked for good. This is the fourth time in as many years I've had this problem, and so far it's always taken four or five days to fix. Last time I solved it myself by medically dubious methods2 and I'd rather not do that again! I'll pop into the pharmacist tomorrow and see what they recommend.
The novel hit 47,500 words this afternoon. Depending on how well the ending goes, I may make it to 50k tomorrow. I'm still a little unclear on exactly how things will resolve themselves, but hopefully it'll all fall into place.
If you feel the need for warmer cockles on this bloody freezing winter night, I recommend Tycho of Penny Arcade's post on the birth of his son.
Hello!
Hey, thanks for coming! I'm Andrew, and this is where my headthinks come to breed. They often meander around humanism and photography, but they're flighty and you can't trust them, so anything is possible.
Do feel free to email me - I get lonely:
Your hair looks swish, by the way - have you done something new?
Recent Comments
- vicky: going up this weekend having done all the welsh peaks except 4 snowdon, cant wait
on Climbing Snowdon. - vicky: what, how can u live in the 21 c and say that, probably a sexist thing
on Climbing Snowdon. - vicky: da iawn laura, cant believe what im hearing, all this fuss, anyway love the site, and i agree, normal people who swear and curse clomb mountains cos we live in the...
on Climbing Snowdon. - Andrew: Did a few quick test shots to check the light levels, then balanced the camera on the arm of a bench, set it for a 20s exposure and hoped for the best
on ISS. - lynsey: Wow, how did you take that photograph?
on ISS.
