I’m a fan of Gordon Brown’s govt. and I’ve no shame in that, but the sacking of the chief drugs adviser Prof. David Nutt drew my fingers to a keyboard.

Prof. Nutt has made comments that are steeped in common sense but when skewed make him appear as some kind of demon.
He’s alleged that tobacco and alcohol are more dangerous than certain hard drugs such as ecstasy and LSD.

If you have a knee-jerk reaction, which some people do, it looks absurd, but when you you look at it realistically, he’s right.
Why?
The simple fact is that tobacco and alcohol are drugs too – legal ones that earn the govt. money and because they’re legal there’s less taboo about their consumption.
I neither drink, smoke or take recreational drugs (I’m as boring as they get), but I  know that statistically the smoker or the drinker is more likely to die which is why there’s been aggressive campaigns at getting people to quit smoking and consume alcohol in moderation if they must.

While I’m no expert on LSD or ecstasy, the number of stories about deaths on these that have reached the news or indeed just local community gossip is far smaller.
I don’t think Prof. Nutt was that interested in comparing the like-for-like chemistry of chemicals rather than being very open about the risk of drink and cigarettes due to how socially acceptable they are and the fact that responsible drinking for those who do is becoming a minority.

Prof. Nutt also alleged that taking ecstasy was more safer than horse riding. Again, I’m no expert on horse riding but the numbers are there to show that the latter, due to its legality and popularity, means it’s more likely to take a life. That’s not to say people shouldn’t horse ride but they shouldn’t be in the dark about the risk.

Nowhere did Prof. Nutt endorse any drug, but he made valid comments that it’s pointless hunting for cannabis users whose risk for mental illness is in general minuscule than that of the ‘happy’ big weekend drinker. The key word that describes Prof. Nutt’s stance is perspective.

For Alan Johnson to sack him may appease some people and make Labour look like moral saviours, but the fact of the matter is they’ve just brushed the issue under the carpet.

In my network of friends and their friends and family I can count quite easily the mortalities of those on drink and tobacco. And I can count too those on hard drugs, but it’s much less because less people do them. Public education has informed most people not to try them, and if they do, with caution.

Too much of anything is bad for you, and unless the govt. recognise this (what were they thinking when they allowed 24/7 pubs and putting large health warnings on cigarettes but ’still’ selling them? Oh, cash, of course.) they’re just going to go round and round in circles.

Another tragedy – that I agree with a Lib Dem MP on – is that even if Prof. Nutt was indeed ‘wrong’ (science evolves anyway) and universally abhorrent, he still shouldn’t have been sacked as he’s meant to be independent. The politicization of the role is wrong in itself. Debate is the order of the day. And we won’t have anymore if we now get a yes man.

As you might’ve guessed I’m back home in strangely mild (but initially cold) London. I came back a fortnight ago.
Though I enjoyed myself in the latter half of my stay, I was happy to see a black cab again (which took me home) and big red buses.

Why am I writing today? Well, just a few things. First of all, to those biting their nails about my vitamin D result (I like to think people have nothing better to do ), I’m still waiting on that. The result was delivered to my GP but not to me. I aim to get and post it on the relevant part 2 post next week.

I also noticed recently that the site in Portobello road that used to be a Woolies (Woolworths, if you want to be formal), and then briefly the shoddy ‘Bello Market’ (replete with cloth banner sign in a tacky fuzzy font) is now a Poundland.
I have no idea why this excited me (I admit it did to a fair degree), but when I walked in I became further glad it took over ‘Bello Market’ as it kind of resumes where the old Woolies finished by stocking many similar items, some different, and all for just one golden coin. So, yeah woo Poundland!

Now, to rescue my credibility, I’m going to share a brief review of  Live At The (HMV) Apollo last night with two friends. It was free gig of 2 recorded-for-TV shows that are to be televised on the BBC and Dave. It was the first time I’d been to the venue, which was nice and comfy (had a regal red theme that reminded me of the Royal Albert Hall) save for a big glaring light between performances.

And it was my first comedy gig. The show featured an on-form Al Murray as the Pub Landlord introducing the first two acts. The first one I thought was a bit funny, but didn’t hold my attention that well (and I haven’t registered his name – sorry, mate). The second was Tim Vine whose jokes bordered on cheesy but were so rapid fire that he really did win me over.
The next show after an interval featured a different host and then Michael McIntyre who just stole the night with all his material, voice and moves.

Some celebs were there too: The footballer Lee Dixon (who got loads of boos), Esther Rantzen and The Hamiltons (“cash for questions” Neil and his wife Christine).

Also, though I needed the toilet once myself, I noticed two mass exoduses of rows (to quote my friend) for either the toilets or the bar – which looked and sounded strange all at once (the clacking of chairs etc.).

I’d like to see more comedy events in future, so I’m glad I broke the ice there. One day I’ll see Harry Hill as I love his TV Burp. It’s perhaps the only thing on TV I will watch other than the news.

I’ll leave you with one Tim Vine joke I can remember off-hand (hope he doesn’t mind this?):
“I saw a sign saying ‘hairdressing for men’ (as it’s spoken). Inside I saw a rabbit (hare) trying on clothes saying ‘do I look good in this?’ and the men nodding and saying yes.”

Oh, and one last thing. Anyone who was offered the music software Sonar LE 8.5 was initially asked to pay between, it seems $10-30, depending on their location. But it was found out the software was meant to be free, which explained ordering problems for many.
Before I found this out before an email from them as after a futile order attempt I noticed Cakewalk’s e-store having links for it from 0, $2 or $10…Very strange.
But hey, I love the software they make and will forgive this booboo – but will point it out, as I have!

I’m not in India (and even so Bombay is now called Mumbai), but I think various cities in Pakistan could compete for taking the former name, modified as per my subject.

Of course what’s been happening here hasn’t been funny, particularly for those involved. But I can’t take too seriously that a number of blasts happened when I finally arrived here. Firstly Islamabad while I was in Lahore, then Lahore when in Islamabad. And no this wasn’t my doing. Either way I saw nothing first hand and things looked more terrifying on TV news.

I’m due to fly back home to London on Monday. I did have some big problems adjusting (heat, poor local language adaption, stomach problems attributed to what I thought would be good for me: mineral water (stick with fruit juices here)) and homesickness, but right now I’m comfortable in my room on my netbook.

I achieved what was needed here (boring personal stuff I won’t go into) and also came to enjoy the sights and sounds. Islamabad was easier to deal with as it’s a very modern city which is also more cooler, weather wise, than Lahore. But I haven’t taken any video or photo here (yet) as there’s not much to document.

In Lahore however I went to four main historical sites: Shahid Mazjid (the first time I’ve ever been to a mosque as I’m not from a very religious family) which is a spectacular structure, the super-regal Mughal era Shalimar Gardens, Minar-e-Pakistan which is a tower structure so old that it has pre-partition Hindu scripture on it. Not far from it is where Sikhs come for their pilgrimage.

The sight I liked most though was the India-Pakistan border ceremony at Wagah. Compared to London’s changing of the guard, this is much better. More drama in it and it commanded a packed crowd. VIP seating meant I was just a stone’s throw away from India. I recorded the whole 30mins on my portable vid cam and will put that up on YouTube or something soon. A very good video if I say so myself.

I also met some relatives who should’ve been Indians were it it not for the partition. Always nice to meet family. I didn’t make any new friends (or enemies) but I found people here friendly, maybe overly so.
Though I didn’t venture in poverty stricken areas I was saddened to learn how little some people work for, and how cheap many things are.

I’ll be returning here (that is, Pakistan) next year and now that my stomach has hardened and I’m not so terrified by the difference to England (in some ways it’s been liberating) I actually like it. I regret loosening up a bit late. I didn’t need any malaria things too.

Anyway, approx. 500 words is enough to write. I’m well aware that I bored someone with a very long email about my sightseeing a few days ago; sorry!
So, that’s it. I’ll amend this post with photo and vid next week as it would take too long right now…But I’ll leave you with one from the border ceremony.

21 October 2009: My top 40 snaps are on Flickr.
26 October 2009 (last update): Video of the entire border ceremony (30mins) on YouTube. Also look here for one Lahore/Islamabad montage:

Perhaps Dishonesty is an apt name for a music project I’m in because it seems my last post before flying isn’t actually.
This certainly will be as there won’t be time tomorrow.

This post really is just to vaguely promote that page as I’ve paid a bit of money to make it a pro profile for a little while so we can host all six of our demo tracks.

Since the profile was first made, earlier tracks have been re-uploaded with their levels tweaked a bit. However, there is a small disparity between the volume levels so you will need to fiddle with the volume dial. I’m also ashamed to say that the waveforms are brickwalled but they however don’t feature unwanted levels of distortion, at least to my worn out ears.

The six tracks were completed over six weeks, which was a short amount of time but they seem decent. The actual sounds are good and I can only excuse the allowable bits of sloppiness as adding to a live feel. I can’t say that we’re 100% proud of this but we think it’s better than a lot of well made stuff we hear even if I do say so myself.

All tracks are free to stream and download. It’s the only way to compete and my musical partner agrees it’s better a lot of people can hear and keep our tracks than having a few friends generate £5 for us and not getting it across further.

We haven’t really done a lot of promoting of this, so if you like it send us a comment good or bad and pass the link on.
When I return, we plan to start considering live shows and perhaps recording the 5 remaining songs of our album’s worth.

So I’m leaving you with this before I leave.

And vitamin D fans – unless I get my vitamin D result tomorrow it won’t be up for a while unless my local hospital generously email the figure. But anyway, I’m sure it’s more than 76nmol/L and that’s fine.

During October, novel editing will be what keeps me busy when not doing other things.

It’s 12:34 AM on October 4 2009 and I’m two days away from heading to Heathrow to go far, far away from here.

This is possibly my last post for a little while, or maybe not (definitely from here anyway).  So I’m saying goodbye but not for forever.
I’ve found out I can get broadband in the hotel, although you’d think I’d fret more about sightseeing…And WiFi(?)

My subject is a title of a song I got from the solo album of an ex-drummer of a famous band from the 80’s. A kind of early childhood hero in fact. He’s even signed and sent copies of his first (or sort of second) album to all purchasers, so even though I expected it, it was nice to get a very personalised copy of the album.

It’s a decent album. I’d reserve it for more relaxing occasions but it’s certainly well crafted in rhythm (majorly so) and melody. And I think the title in my subject will be the song for when I touch down in Lahore then Islamabad.

My local pharmacist – another Brit Asian, of course – told me that I can expect to be shocked at how European the place is. And perhaps not just due to the UK style power sockets but for for the buildings and amenities (many American contracted), which means I can also taste local cuisine like…Kentucky Fried Chicken.

I’m slightly nervous about going but also excited. Not because of news associations with the Taliban or the War On Terror etc (the modern cities there are very progressive and of course the country was never meant to be an Islamic republic but became so during the successive reign of dictators), but because I’m an Englishman through and through, so I don’t know how to behave, I think.
Of course people don’t see me as an Englishman in the Hugh Grant sense, but then they shouldn’t because that’s just an illusion you see in souvenir shops. I’m just saying, because my Newcastle based cousins got made fun of when they first went.  But that was years ago.

Anyhow, I have no idea what the plot of this post is. Time for bed. I shall return, but not too soon (or, I might).

Does anyone remember that show (and CD series) called All Back To Mine where established artists picked and discussed music that had a profound effect on them?

Well, whether you do or not, I’m not particularly famous (although I have been on Sky News for one whole second a decade ago – which might be one second more than many of you, so there!) but I was inspired to have a little fool around with creating and sharing a Spotify playlist. Click here (you’ll need the client installed and a browser that recognises the link.)

I’ve been in a nostalgic mood so I compiled a list of 10 (not chosen with a great deal of thought as that might’ve killed the enthusiasm to make one) songs that were notable in my younger years. Some substitutions had to be made as not all my choices are in the catalogue. The whole thing lasts an hour.

So, let’s discuss it: People know me primarily as a hard rock fan since my early teens and so to admit some of this stuff is a bit like flashing in public, but this is what I grew up with, so I won’t deny it.
I started with ABBA’s Chiquitita, as an ABBA hits compilation vinyl in the early 80’s borrowed by my father from a public library was one of the first records I remember dancing (i.e. spinning ’til I got dizzy) to. I preferred them over The Beatles, and still do which might be sacrilege to some. ABBA made pop music but it was good pop music. Not the soulless stuff you see now.
The next three I’m not sure which of I heard first but they were all 1987 cassettes when my mother actually purchased albums of my choice (sometimes for reasons like only knowing the lead single or liking the art). I picked Just Good Friends from Michael Jackson’s Bad as that’s not so over-picked like Man In The Mirror, and a kid in the 80’s had to own an MJ album. The man was in his prime then. I also liked Donna Summer’s Dinner With Gershwin, and Bee Gees’ You Win Again. The latter song instilled a vague interest in drums, though I didn’t try ’til much later. I just liked the sound of the simple beat. I also purchased Level 42’s poppy Running In The Family and have the dark ballad It’s Over here. That was an album I picked based on the artwork but fortunately it was a good choice. My mother had to return a few bad choices (I couldn’t stand some band called Odyssey(?)).
I also remember where I got all these records. Not names you’d hear of now: Our Price and Woolworths.

I didn’t purchase any more music until my teens when Metallica came into my radar and made me also pester for a drumkit (I didn’t care for grunge, which didn’t tick with me and even now I only like it to a casual degree), but before I bought one of their albums (tape trading saw me out for a while) I first bought Megadeth’s Youthanasia. A few of the thrash bands at this point were putting out more commercial material but for me this was an easy way to first get into what I once thought was music for Hell’s Angels and no one else. I liked the lyrics of Addicted To Chaos, so that’s here.

I wasn’t into Britpop, but the one band I did take to heart was The Verve and Bitter Sweet Symphony from an ottherwise uninspired album. If anything I liked their back catalogue more.

Then in my last academic years there was Scottish instrumental band Mogwai (I chose the 16min Mogwai Fear Satan from Mogwai Young Team) who also made me want to play guitar a bit. Depeche Mode’s Walking In My Shoes is my fave song of theirs of all time which is funny as I had previously made fun of the band but warmed to them when I first met my strayed girlfriend (who I’ve now become cordial with at least).

I end with Public Image Ltd.’s Disappointed as that’s one of the last songs that feels distant now; I got into them somewhere in ‘02 in that archaeological way. The last 6 or 7yrs of music still feels too new to me or is also most likely from the same artists as I don’t seek out new people as much as I used to.

So, yeah, that’s it. It’s perhaps a typical pop to rock trajectory, but that’s how my lot is.
I’m hoping to find other peoples’ top tens as it’s fascinating as well as good in taking me out of my own normal choices.

One week from yesterday I’m going to turn 30.

That sounds like such a big deal but then I realise I’ll always be much younger than The Rolling Stones, who in turn will always be even more bigger kids at heart than me. And that makes me happy.

I’m going to write a few things here.

The first is that I have a couple of tracks online at a PureVolume profile. They sound a bit loose but they’re much better than our initial attempts and as they’re not tampered with too much they have that live punk rock feel. I’m hoping to add one or two more before the end of the month.
There’s also a nice suave picture of me in the photos section, taken using my new 10MP FujiFilm FinePix J22 (although it looks a bit blurry).
The J22 is the second digital camera I’ve ever owned, excluding ones on my mobiles. My first was in late ‘98 or ‘99 (among the first wave) which was also by FujiFilm (a MX1700 Zoom) and connected by serial port rather than the then upcoming USB (so it was very slow in transfer) and took SmartMedia cards.
Still, before the millennium it was magic to see photos appear on the LCD screen.

Yesterday I got given five (via two injections) travel jabs, so I’m now tooled up for a ‘business vacation’ in South Asia for about a month.
This will be my first time out of Europe ever and a rewind back to ancestral origins for me. I’m a bit daunted but also excited.

I’m also going to be abandoning my vitamin D posts for an indefinite period as after I get my vitamin D result there’s not really much for me to add. I’m not statistically significant as just one person. My aim was to show, not tell and let people make decisions based on what I present and whether or not they believe it. But I’m pleased with what I achieved and I do aim to channel this info into consolidated form sometime. When and in what way I will now no longer promise, particularly as my main writing priority is still my novel, which though ‘finished’ needs much work.

People can continue to contact me during October but I will most likely be emailing and posting here less than normal. But I am a bit of a net addict, so I don’t think I’ll be far from a computer and net connection if I can help it!

I’ve had a tough number of weeks (well, when I say tough, I look at others situations and realise that’s just too severe a word) on a personal level but my head is getting back into gear again. Which is good, as I’d only go nuts.

Before I forget…

I’ve seen on the local news reports about promising results of HIV infection reduction in a combined vaccine study. While I hope this is the case and what is known about HIV/AIDS is true, I have doubts. One thing the media hasn’t really put its jaws on is
“This result is tantalisingly encouraging. The numbers are small and the difference may have been due to chance, but this finding is the first positive news in the Aids vaccine field for a decade,” said Dr Richard Horton, editor of the Lancet medical journal.”

What we got was two vaccines that previously were useless and just somehow their use together yielded in 74 people not on the vaccine getting infected and 51 on the vaccine getting infected. While this can be calculated as roughly a third, 74 vs 51 still isn’t a contrast to get excited about.
A vaccine for AIDS was promised to be around the corner in the mid 80’s and it never materialised. In it’s thirty years of public knowledge it’s remained as an elusive disease which might just be mired in lots of politics.

You could argue similarly about my vitamin D intake and my results. However, there are many studies and plain logic to back up the D/cholesterol theory, and the bone effects on D are undisputed. The HIV/AIDS story has lots of black holes in it.

Need a reason to celebrate something? How about, me?

Seriously.

I’d normally add what I’m going to write on this post as a never ending addenda to my most popular post of all time (ego, sorry), but this deserves its own little fresh page as it’s virtually a end point (however, not the end point) – once I graft on my latest vitamin D results this year.

First things first. I’m going to share a little medical evidence. [Download .jpg here] I’ve censored out personal details – just kept. Mr. Mo.. so you know it’s me – and unrelated results.

You don’t need to be familiar with the cholesterol saga to analyse my figures. Basic maths will reveal to you a general decrease from 2007-2009.

There is a reason for excluding 2008; simply due to the fact my cholesterol was wrongly measured un-fasted then, and only my total cholesterol was given. However, my value was 5.4mmol/L, which was still slightly lower than my total fasted cholesterol in 2007 (5.62).

My vitamin D level in 2007 was between 10-21nmol/L – I can’t remember off hand if I started my initial 400IU D2 supplementation before or after my initial cholesterol profile.

Last year my vitamin D level reached 76nmol/L on 5,000IU D3. Since then I’ve been taking 10,000IU (as one 50,000IU capsule per 5 days) and by the end of this month my vitamin D level will be taken again. I forecast it to be in the safer early hundreds.

Whether or not cholesterol itself is a cause of cardiovascular disease, we do know that statins – even with their side effects – have made some data dent in heart disease statistics. But mechanisms for these drugs have never been made clear. Some have hypothesised that statins are an analogue of vitamin D and there are studies showing statins increasing vitamin D levels by up to threefold, as well as showing lipid changes. And of course you know cholesterol is a precursor of D, right?

When I received my results in 2007 I was given a warning about my slightly high profile and told to change my diet (I am slim, fairly active and a non-smoker, so wasn’t given advice on increasing activity). I also got a British Heart Foundation pamphlet to read. Though I was healthy, and still am, I felt that visit to be like visiting a mystic who shook their head at reading my palm. I was dismayed moreso as I think my diet is very balanced.

So I ignored their advice as something about family history of illness and my brother’s then recent vitamin D deficiency led me down this path.

This year, only part of my profile is high and only by a rather paltry 0.7. In any case I still have some dispute with cholesterol ranges, but my cumulative results also yielded a printout which wasted ink for the one line (which I won’t bother to scan but will send to anyone who wants it):
Serum lipids
[(GP initials)]-Normal, no action.

I am also now below UK total cholesterol averages at 4.95mmol/L (“In the UK, the average total cholesterol level is 5.7mmol/l.”) Most profiles remain unchanged even with diet/exercise changes, as has my father’s for years.

Does this mean I’m immune to heart disease (and other diseases)? Who knows. All it means is maintaining my current profile will prevent my GP from generating a repeat prescription for a drug that at best could be substituted by a gift from nature.

I must stress I still need to post my vitamin D level up, but it cannot be less than 76nmol/L, that’s for sure. I’m just hoping 10,000IU didn’t take me too high, but I haven’t had any ill effects on it and approached it responsibly. I will add my vitamin D (25-D) level here as soon as possible.

Update 1 of 2 (18/09/09): I had vitamin D and calcium blood tests today along with a DEXA scan (recommended to me to every 5yrs since 2004 due to a maternal history of bone disorders).
While I wait for the former, the latter has revealed to me an increase in bone density as measured at the hip and spine since my previous, first scan. I had normal T-scores and Z-scores (scroll link for definitions) but they have been been bettered since then, most noticeably in my spine (T from -0.1 to 0.6).
This is not unexpected as my last parathyroid hormone (PTH) level dipped as my 25D rose. PTH dipping means less calcium is stolen from my bones as my sufficient 25D handles the job of maintaining blood calcium with whatever I glean from my diet.
Although bone health isn’t what I’m focusing on in this topic, it has been shown that brittle bones link to heart disease (at least more strongly for women who don’t have the extra protective effects of male level testosterone) So it did shed valid extra light. And of course we’ve long known about vitamin D’s skeletal effects.

If you’re interested, here’s a portion of my scans. The right graphs show you a significant rise in my spinal reading from 2004 (aged 24)-2009 (aged 29), while on the hip it’s virtually the same (although up a number by data given to me).

Update 2 of 2 (22nd Sep, unfinished): This evening I got my calcium result which is 2.7mmol/L.
Now according to my doctor and various online sources that is ungravely high (as in probably not good), although not high enough to typically cause symptoms (which I don’t have and that would typically start at 3+) and not too high out of range (2.2-2.6).
My doctor (who gave me these results on the phone; vitamin D is still being processed) seemed unconcerned about this as he believes my albumin (forgive my reliance on WikiPedia tonight) is likely normal (they would contact again if not). The two are used in tandem to indicate a calcium problem.
However they can rule out bone leech since my bone mineral density showed a 6% increase since 5yrs ago (a positive outcome here) along with dropping PTH. But while the level could be benign in accordance with my lack of symptoms I may have “increased intestinal calcium absorption (is that all good?), or decreased renal calcium excretion (clearly not good…)”  according to WikiPedia’s Hypercalcemia definition.

This is not to say vitamin D has done me wrong (not with my bone density increase and a cholesterol profile that rules me off statins) but I may be on a dose that’s slightly too high than necessary personally. I’ll only know when I get my results.
It is also quite possible 2.7 is actually as normal as 2.6 - one document appears to think so - (not that I have the expertise to hedge) due to the fact that ranges are defined by the norm – and the norm is vitamin D deficiency.

One other curious fact though to add is that when I was severely vitamin D deficient my calcium was 2.59. This is virtually upper-end normal according to online sources but both my GP and hospital regard 2.55 (2.15 to 2.55 on our UK health service) as the upper limit, but even then this slightly higher level, perhaps insignificant, didn’t concern them due to not being accompanied with symptoms and perhaps being the norm. But I’m only guessing now. My albumin was also normal (a stock level of 50 g/L).

It would make things simple if the only cause of this is consuming a bit more D than I need. If it’s not, it could imply nothing wrong or possibly being a bit risky. I will have to address this when my level comes within a week or two, but don’t worry (if anyone is!) I’m alright and this is fairly simple to address.

I went out to the local carnival today. I haven’t enjoyed the event for years and often don’t bother (I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it ain’t as good as it used to be) but I will commend the policing this year, the better monitored sound system volumes and general organisation.

I only went out for half an hour early in the afternoon. That was more than enough.
I took my pocket camcorder along and filmed a semi-square route around my area. The camera work is shoddy as naturally I had to keep moving or get trodden on but I think it lets a non-attendee know what to experience (sans the food) – just wandering aimlessly around sound system and floats.

The one thing I didn’t enjoy is the smell of urine (as ever) to the communal entrance of where I live. Fortunately there seems to be no signifcant amount of rubbish in my garden this time, and even more mercifully I don’t have to take a bucket of water outside to get rid of vomit.
Yes, the residents will show you that there are inconsiderate people around.

I don’t like it much, but I won’t be a killjoy this year and say it was ‘alright’. Here’s the vid.

Just thought I’d to check in to say ‘don’t expect more music too soon’. The reason for this is simply because there have been problems.
We have actually made three recordings, but my cohort and I just aren’t satisfied with it. And he knows it’s his fault.
Until he addresses it, I think it’s time to shove it in the fridge. I called time.

Otherwise though, I’m still continuing with writing work (or just editing now). I’m hoping to have a promo short story started in September and put here by the end of that month.

In October I’ll be away for roughly 2-4 weeks for leisure far away (albeit in accordance with malaria medication!) and to sort out something to set me financially. I will however be taking my netbook along and will likely blog about things that have shocked and/or pleasantly surprised me. More info closer to the time.

I’m hoping to very shortly start a dedicated vitamin D blog (de ja vu promise?) as I actually seem to miss writing something seeing as I’ve done it for 2.5yrs on a project.
I’m goaded on by the fact that I’ve recently had a brief email conversation with Dr. David Grimes (he had a powerful quote about statins and vitamin D) who has a book that came out in April this year, on what I’ve been yacking on about.
I’ve not read it, but I think the only thing he probably lacks is truly personal perspective. I want to talk less medical and more to the point.

That’s it for the time being.