The Expanding Groves Clan

Total congratulations to Boy and Nic on the birth of a new Baby Groves.

I love the role of Uncle and to be Godfather to my nephew Jonathan was the highest honour that has ever been bestowed on me. Great to play with and then returning them to their parents at the end of the day, usually completely hyped up.

Arriving 8 days late, the young couple have been going a bit nuts – most specially Boy who in desperation to induce has been busy preparing red hot curries in the kitchen, and prodding and poking Nic in the bedroom at every possible opportunity.

Clearly worth all the waiting around!

Boy, like my other two brothers, has never been comfortable around children and required special counseling to go ahead with this child. His consternation as well as my reluctantly gentle jibes probably hasn´t helped.

Much to Ma´s amazement, after having 4 boys and 2 grandsons, Boy has won additional brownie points by giving birth to a baby girl.

These photos were taken less than 3 hours after her delivery and she weighs in at a very healthy 7 pounds 13 ounces.

at the weigh-in

Japanese Engrish

I have ranted before about us all being multilingual. Of course some of us are more successful than others.

Loud Shirt sent me these classic examples of Japanese t-shirts.









Quality stuff indeed!

Nephew´s Birthday Party

Godson Jonathan, sis-in-law Thida and birthday boy David

It is a big weekend for my oldest nephew, David.

David turns nine tomorrow and enjoyed his party today - held at the local golf range. Just like his Uncle Aub´s, he is an enthusiastic but somewhat incompetent golfer. Fortunately, unlike myself, he has plenty of time to improve and develop his game.


Tomorrow he joins his school choir to perform at the World famous Royal Albert Hall in London. Best of luck David xxxx

Murder Most Unnatural and Fowl

Chicken owner Michelle Cordell from Basildon in Essex went to make her daily collection of eggs and was somewhat shocked to find a dead fox in the coop.

Dude, Izzy, Pongo and Pecky, all Rhode Island Reds apparently knocked the bird table onto the young fox and then pecked it to death.

Cordell is quoted as saying "I was so shocked. When I went to the chicken coop they were all fine but when i went to the other side, the fox was lying there dead...it had blood marks on its legs...and was not a cub but it was a young one and Dude and Izzy are big birds."

More Vaccinations - Life and Death in the Time of Cholera

Another visit to Nurse Carol for Rabies and Hepatitis B (2nd round). This time she also includes the cholera vaccine. Called Dukoral it is an oral dose which comes in two sections. Put the powder in 150g of water, stir well and add the liquid in. Tastes great too! Especially after all the crap i ingested during my time experimenting with the herbal Tibetan medication. I have to take the 2nd dose 7 - 30 days later.

Carol assures me not only will it protect against against cholera for up to 5 years but it also reduces traveller´s diarrhea by 83%. Now that is what i call highly useful!

My next session is Tuesday afternoon for Rubella, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Polio and Meningitis. For the full sessions it will total GBP90. Not cheap to stay healthy is it?

The Victoria and Albert Museum

It is always lovely to hear from Bear in Singapore. She is an ex-colleague from Hong Kong who is a bit of a Science whizz. She writes to me this week asking me to check out the new exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington – Decode: Digital Design Sensations.

These innovative and interactive designs use generative software, animation and other responsive technologies to instill “live” elements into these compositions. Whilst some works exist in a state of perpetual evolution whilst others operate through interaction by the visitors to the exhibition.

The display elements are truly remarkable and visitors are engrossed in the interactive displays – not least Airways and myself.

In the blurb it notes that

Decode looks at three current themes within digital design. Code shows how computer code – whether bespoke and tailored, or hacked and shared – has become a new design tool. Interactivity presents works that respond to our physical presence. Network charts or reworks the traces we leave behind.

Tickets for this exhibition cost GBP5 with a GBP1 discount for concessions. The exhibition runs to 11th April.






Airways´ self-generated image


touch the screen and generate showers of colour

use a hairdryer to blow away the dandelion seeds

An Eye and a Lens - crocuses

Two sunny spring-like days in a row is marked by the initial sprouting of crocuses in Ma´s garden as life returns in her borders.

taken with 50mm lens f4.5 ISO rating 100

taken with 300mm f5.6 ISO rating 400

For more pics of Ma´s garden, check out these pics.

Final Words of Voltaire

Listening to an old recording of the weird and wonderful Kenneth Williams, he tells the story of Voltaire on his death-bed. The priest called in to give the last rites and sacrament asks Voltaire to renounce the devil. Voltaire is alleged to have responded “isn´t it a bit late in the day to start making enemies?”

Hot Off the Press

The thesis heads into the binder for submission very shortly.

In yet another Ketchup with Aubs exclusive (yes – it has been a while since we have done an exclusive), you too can possess a copy of his critically acclaimed thesis.

Somewhat boringly titled “The Effectiveness of Using a Synthetic Phonics Programme in an International School Setting”, Aubs has transformed the approach to which young students can develop early literacy skills. In his magnus opus involving no blood, but a bit of sweat and plenty of tears, Aubs has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that students as young 4 years old can access phonemes and recognise their corresponding graphemes as they make their journey into both reading and writing.

Results were amazing!

By adopting a synthetic phonics approach 100% of all students were operating a minimum of 8 months above their chronological age in both reading and spelling. On average students were reading 20 months in advance and spelling at a whopping 25 months!

This should make Aubs a World Leader / Guru in Early Literacy, although it won´t.

What they say about it

“a f*cking masterpiece” – Aubs
“This looks like a lot of work” – Ma
“I´m sure it is not as dull and boring as you have made it out to be” – PT
“Rich analysis” – Dr. Jane Spiro
“It´s very long” – Pa
“This could be the ultimate cure for insomnia” - Aubs

You can purchase your very own copy at cost price including posting and packaging. Leave your requests in the comment box below.