Can I tell you a secret? I don’t know how to ride a bike. Somehow I just never learned when I was a kid, and then I managed to quietly avoid it, living in a serenely bike-free universe until…well, until I decided that there was a bike-shaped hole in my life. The main impetus for … Continue reading
Author Archives: Caitlin McDonald
Defer, Defer
I had the great good fortune to see The Mikado last night at the English National Opera. I always delight in seeing the inside of a new theatre as well as the production itself, and this was my first visit to the London Coliseum. Though it is a beautiful theatre I found its foyer and … Continue reading
The Ice Bear
I don’t know if you’ve ever carved an ice sculpture. Neither had I until last Saturday, when my flatmate dragged me out to the London Ice Sculpture Festival at Canary Wharf. The large ice sculptures around us gave an overarching impression of grace and majesty, like silent statues of dancers. This did not in any … Continue reading
Meeting the Public
On Tuesday there was a public meeting to discuss some problems in Wapping Woods. There have been instances of mugging and knife crime there lately, so a meeting was called to ‘reassure’ the public. I went, not because I feel unsafe in Wapping, but because I am new to the area and wanted to get … Continue reading
Epiphany
I have frequently commented upon the streak of madness that simmers gently below the surface of English people. You might think, at first appearance, that the English are rational creatures. Polite, thoughtful, reserved: these are all characteristics for which the English are renowned throughout the globe. However, I posit that it is all a ruse, … Continue reading
Algo-rhythm
I went to a céilidh recently. In contemporary terminology, a céilidh is a gathering for people wishing to partake in traditional Scottish dancing (or Irish, if spelled céilí). However, I am told by Wikipedia that the term originally referred to any kind of social gathering, not necessarily involving dancing. There’s a parallel in belly dance … Continue reading
Sounds Like It to Me: Am I a Woman in Tech?
While I was at yet another Women in Technology event last night (this one called “Tech Shouldn’t be a Boys’ Club”, a panel discussion aimed at getting women interested in Entrepreneur First), I was struck again by how many women either don’t think they have the chops to be in technology or (like me) are … Continue reading
The Data Dance: Women in Technology, and Information Visualisation
In a move that is known technically as Continuous Professional Development, but which I prefer to call Learning About Some New Stuff I Find Quite Interesting, I recently went on a QlikView Developer course. This is to help me move beyond building pretty (and pretty useful) little objects in the user interface which people see … Continue reading
Thanksgiving, London Style (or, Burninating the Pilgrims)
Expat Thanksgiving, as anyone will tell you, is always a little bit of a challenge. There is the sourcing of ingredients like canned pumpkin, cornflour, and cranberries. There is the logistical challenge of making sure you have enough pans to cook all the multitudinous requisite dishes. (I may have created a Gantt chart for this. … Continue reading
Caitlin's Christmas Playlist
I was recently asked for my advice on songs to play for a Christmas party. I know, I know, it’s Not Even Thanksgiving Yet, but to help us prepare for the impending festive season I will now share with you the essential songs for any successful yuletime soiree. Feel free to add, amend, remonstrate with … Continue reading
Caitiewrites 