"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas"

We have tried every possible configuration of our living room in an effort to display a traditional Christmas tree. Alas we have surrendered to decorating our mantel with boughs of evergreen and pine cones and bulb ornaments, which, to our surprise, has successfully filled our cozy cottage with Christmas cheer. Alex created his first ever impressive Christmas wreath, hung with love on our front door.

As our Vagher traditions meet Quinn traditions meet English traditions we are planning a divine Christmas feast of turkey, stuffing and roast potatoes. We will entertain the Vagher family custom of opening just one present on Christmas Eve, whilst enjoying hors d'oeuvres of shrimp and cocktail sauce. We will adhere to the Quinn family tradition of unraveling the bulk of red and green ribbon on Christmas Day. Though not before we have unstuffed our stockings and delighted in some fresh squeezed orange juice, croissants with jam and cappuccinos or maybe bloody ceasars. Needless to say, we will not go hungry on our first Christmas as the Dr. and Mrs. Though we will be hungry to talk to our loved ones and share in the joy of the holiday season. "Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night."

Bicycle Haiku

if my wheels were square
or triangles; trapezoids;
life would be harder
Alex has now left the number 20 Stagecoach bus from Old Woodstock to Oxford behind him and is venturing the 8 miles to work on his new bicycle (thanks Mum and Dad!). And what a difference it makes. It's 20 minutes faster in the morning, which allows him to hang around drinking coffee with Renae until she leaves, he can stop off at Marks & Spencers on his way home for gummies (they have some of the best we've ever had) and other provisions, and he can always leave on his own schedule.

ride to work today
challenge oppressive powers
and survive the fray
At the end of the National Cycle Network bicycle path he rides on to work (no sharing the wrong side of the road necessary), Alex arrives at the University of Oxford to an office of 14 other colleagues in the Cardiac Mechano-Electric Feedback Group. Currently, he spends much of his day there, in front of the computer on his corner desk, working on computational models, abstracts, manuscripts, and grants.

keep on pedaling
through the muck and the mire
to make room for beer
Downstairs in the laboratory is the work he is really excited about getting to in the New Year. Here he has setup a Langendorff apparatus for an isolated heart preparation where he will use a device to subject these hearts to controlled mechanical impacts to induce fibrillation to better understand the mechanisms of mechano-electrical interactions in ischaemia.

the answer my friend
is not blowing in the wind -
it's riding a bike
So far, he loves the people he's working with and the atmosphere of the group. He's learning a lot each day and is excited about the time he'll be spending here. It seems to definitely be the right fit!