Vaclav Havel

I've never been hugely political.  I don't mean I ignore politics or have no interest, but I settle for knowing what I think, and making sure that the person I vote for has the decency to at least pretend to speak for me.
But that's a position I can afford to adopt living in the UK.  I was fairly well aware, in my formative years, that a large chunk of nearby Europe didn't have the freedoms we did.  I feel lucky to be old enough to remember how big a deal it was when the Soviet hold over eastern Europe crumbled, with one country after another reclaiming their identity.
The one that really caught my imagination was Czechoslovakia. The idea that a playwright could take over where cold grey communism left off was inspiring and gave a real romantic edge to the change.
I've been to the Czech Republic a fair few times in the last ten years, and have only furthered my appreciation for what Vaclav Havel achieved in his second career.  If you've time to spare, I urge you to read this obituary from the Guardian.  He was an extraordinary man, and politics the world over needs more people like him.

Ultraviolet Lite

It hasn't been the easiest week.  We've been waiting for the final bits of the house move to come together, I'm waiting to find out if I have got onto the teaching course, and the girls have been taking it in turns to be violently ill.   I've not had enough sleep and therefore fully expect to be joining them soon.

So it's a good job I'm easily distracted.
I recently acquired one of those UV lights shops use to check for funny money, and spent a diverting half-hour passing everything I could think of which might be security-marked under it.  The security marks on money were no surprise, but our chequebooks were worth a look.  Three iterations of UK passport yielded differing results, with the most recent being a real visual feast.  I had no idea that credit cards had a fluorescent feature, or postage stamps, for that matter.

At the risk of sounding slightly unhinged, I'd recommend everyone spend some time with one of these lights and all their important documents.  It's fascinating.  And when you've got used to the Stabilo highlighter colours springing off the pages of your passport, try your (UK) driving licence.  It's a treat.

Anyway, now I have to go and stress about a house move, and get mentally ready for all the vomiting.