Reading an academic paper : The Real Challenge

Lancaster Morecambe Badminton League - League Match Sixteen

With only three matches left in the league, most of the clubs are already confirmed regarding their status for the next season including Bailrigg A. We will be staying in the Division 2 again for the next season, something that I have no doubt since the beginning of this season. However, it will be a close call whether we will be third or fourth in the league. So tonight match against Kirby Lonsdale C, who is currently at the bottom of the league, should provide us an opportunity to get as many points as we can. And indeed we managed to do that, by winning 16-2 overall.

I am a bit dissappointed since Paul and I lost one of our sets. We won the first set easily 15-5. Perhaps too easy since in the second set we didn't push the opponent as hard as we should and they took the advantage by playing superbly, including getting several lucky shots, to eventually winning 17-14. Tim and I didn't repeat that mistake and we won 15-6 and 15-8. And when I partnered with Eddie, we kept our mistakes to the minimum and we managed to get our first win with the score of 15-8 and 15-6.

Last two matches should be an interesting one, against Overton B at home and league leader, Bolton le Sands at away. And then there will be a 6 months break, oh dear....

Down the memory lane

My former uni-mate attached this photo in her Facebook. I think it was taken during Hari Raya celebration in Lancaster University (in the George Fox building) back in 1996 or 1997. Quite nostalgic really, didn't know that I was that skinny!

Lancaster Morecambe Badminton League - League Match Fifteen

Tonight we are playing against Sunnyside C, a very good team in the league. We lost to them 7-11 in our home game this season and with two of our ladies players are currently injured, I am not really hopeful. However, last season we managed to win in our away game even when we lost to them in the home game.

My match with Paul was quite erratic. We were leading 13-0 in the first set but only managed to end it with 13-6 score line. In the second set we were trailing all the time but managed to get a win with 15-13. In my match with Tim we lost first set easily with a score of 7-15 but the scenario was reversed in the second set when we won 15-2. Eddie and I managed to win the first set 15-9 but we surrendered the second set with the score 10-15.

After that I went home early and didn't know the overall result until the next morning. And we won, with an overall score of 10-8. What a close match that was!

Ilyas and Haziq Birthday Party

Ilyas playing slide in Magic Castle

It's party time!

Cutting the cakes together

Birthday boys

Ilyas with his presents, a happy boy!

Two birthday parties in one day for Ilyas

Attending Jake's birthday party at Magic Castle

Ilyas and Louie

Cutting the birthday cake

Today is quite a busy day for Ilyas. He is attending two birthday parties of his friends. I know he had lots of fun because by the time we went home around 5pm, he went straight to bed and fell asleep.

The dumbest ever quiz answers

*found this on the news today

LONDON (Reuters) - Question: What was Gandhi's first name? Contestant's answer: Goosey Goosey. Warning to all those know-alls who shout at the television screen when contestants offer dumb answers to blindingly obvious questions -- one day that could be you.

From regional radio shows to "Who Wants To be a Millionaire?" and "University Challenge," people make fools of themselves -- as internet site http://www.jumpingjacksbar.com/ found in collating some of the worst howlers. Here are leading contenders for the "Dumb Down" gold medal:

Presenter: What happened in Dallas on November 22, 1963?
Contestant: I don't know, I wasn't watching it then

Presenter: Which American actor is married to Nicole Kidman?
Contestant: Forrest Gump

Presenter: In which country is Mount Everest?
Contestant: Er, it's not in Scotland is it?

Presenter: Name a film starring Bob Hoskins that is also the name of a famous painting by Leonardo da Vinci
Contestant: Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Presenter: In which European city was the first opera house opened in 1637?
Contestant: Sydney

Presenter: How long did the Six-Day War between Egypt and Israel last?
Contestant: (after long pause) Fourteen days

Presenter: Where did the D-Day landings take place?
Contestant: (after pause) Pearl Harbor?

Presenter: What is the currency in India
Contestant: Ramadan

Presenter: Johnny Weissmuller died on this day. Which jungle-swinging character clad only in a loin cloth did he play?
Contestant: Jesus

(Editing by Steve Addison)