David Jenkins' weblog

Life’s too short to drink instant coffee

Category: life

  • why do we make such a meal of coffee?

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    Nobody would argue that it’s much easier to get a decent cup of coffee today in the UK as compared with say 10 years ago. There’s a choice of coffee shops on the high street and most half way decent restaurants and pubs (gastro and otherwise) boast an Italian espresso machine. Perhaps this is what…

  • Taking photographs: you don’t have to use flash

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    I always taken lots of photographs. I’ve always carried a camera with me. And since the advent of the digital camera I’ve done more of the former and the latter has been easier. I’ve had a Casio compact until that was stolen (click here for that story). Now I have a Nikon. Both good cameras…

  • On buying new running shoes … 12 Sep 10

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    Everybody knows about the 60s. It’s generally regarded as having been the best of times: great music (the Beatles, the Stones, the Beach Boys etc etc), pioneering fashion (the mini-skirt; didn’t women have knees before the 60s?) and the sexual revolution (driven perhaps in equal measure by the pill and women’s liberation). Plus there were…

  • Thoughts on capital purchases; 29 Aug 10

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    I’m not really sure what prompted the following but I guess we’re all concerned, if not worried, about the state of the economy and that starts you thinking about what you’ve spent your money on. Anyway I started thinking about my biggest capital purchases. And if you get to the end of this entry you’ll…

  • I’m angry with Barclays; 29 Jul 10

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    Barclays has told me that it doesn’t do shared equity mortgages if the buyer does not have the opportunity to acquire 100%. I complained and, to its credit Barclays responded promptly but, to my mind, inadequately. I’ve written back to it:

  • Deja vu but disappointed; 3-6 Aug 09

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              I’m not what you’d call a petrol-head. I don’t watch Top Gear but that’s mainly because it’s become too overtly an anti climate change concern program instead of one which highlights engineering excellence and promotes the thrills and pleasures of driving without the excesses. But then perhaps it’s the excesses…

  • Snow: week of 2 Feb 09

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          I found myself in the uncomfortable position of agreeing with Nigel Farage this week. It was Thursday evening, Question Time and the panel was asked about the shut down of the country after the snow of Sunday night and subsequently. Senor Farage was the only member of the panel who felt that…

  • Typical Saturday morning in Cambridge: 29 Nov 08

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          I am a creature of routine and on Saturday mornings this means Cambridge and breakfast at Don Pasquale. There’s usually something interesting going on, I generally bump into friends and I do my best to avoid spending money. This week has been pretty typical.

  • on duty in Cambridge: 13 Oct 08

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    Today I did my bit for democracy. This morning I spent a couple of hours getting steadily colder outside Boots in Cambridge supporting a Cambridgeshire County Council budget priorities road show. And after lunch I manned a Lib Dem stand supporting democracy week at Cambridge Regional College. Quite a difference.

  • Digital photography course: 28 Jul-1 Aug 08

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    I’ve been an avid photographer for over 40 years and have grown up with a pretty good knowledge of the physics of analogue photography. I moved to digital about 2 years ago but worry that I don’t take full advantage of the technology. That’s why I’ve signed myself up for a week’s course at Cottenham…