When you decide it's time to go to bed and find the cat has beaten you to it.

The official start of spring. Bertha is now awake and demanding a light lunch. Estimated age around 70 years - she was my childhood pet and still going strong. Don't let anyone tell you #tortoise aren't interesting - she is absolutely capable of showing affection and is also expert escape artist.

Last day (off) in Penang, Malaysia @siokonbu.bsky.social and Xin Yi took us to a #batik factory. Was not expecting to actually make my own fabric, nor expecting it to look reasonably professional, but 95 year old (mother) totally delighted on return (her name scrawled in molten wax). #Penang 💘

The #Penang #Malaysia food adventures continues in amazing seafood restaurant near coast. Chilli crab impossible to eat with dignity (for me anyway) but totally delicious. @momnah.bsky.social @siokonbu.bsky.social

The unsigned and well hidden #PeninsulaHouse restaurant in #Penang #Malaysia - into a side entrance of the slightly austere India House building, up through slightly sinister staircase into the bright and airy fusion restaurant causing huge stir in town.

First stop #USM #Penang is the School of Pharmaceutical Science led by old friend #NurzalinaKhan followed by lunch in famous Malay restaurant #IramaDining with its equally famous Lady in Kabaya wall mural. Fern salads the surprising star of the culinary show.

Waking up in #Penang #Malaysia - one of my favourite places on planet. Here to visit #UniversitiSainsMalaysia with @momnah.bsky.social to explore collaborations with @uniofbath.bsky.social. Anticipate lots of pictures of meetings, food and disguised restaurants. @mbarcia24.bsky.social

Finally got round to seeing #Agatha#Christie #WitnessfortheProsecution in London #CountyHall. Worth it for the amazing council chamber setting with original seating. Play itself terrific both - strongly recommend. If you are golden age of crime fan recommend #Shedunnit podcast.

Attending the (re)launch of the Institute of Sustainability and Climate Change #ISCC, one of the @uniofbath.bsky.social jewels in the crown. Opening remarks from co-director Professor Matthew Davidson @bath-iscc.bsky.social

Thoroughly enjoying the @uniofbath.bsky.social #ViceChancellors #Research Day. #FacultyofScience up and coming research stars represented by Deblina Bhattacharjee (#AI generated animation from comics), Catherine Tooke (microbial resistance enzymes) and Rox Middleton (colour generated by geometry).

My first attempt to grow Lion's Mane mushrooms. Was not sure whether to harvest or to put house on market and flee in terror. Was actually pretty amazing. Thank you for the Xmas present, niece Rachael.

Was honoured to open the #Skin@Bath symposium at the wonderful #BathGuildhall. 150 attendees from 15 different countries to discuss skin treatment and protection. Also got to meet Prof #FudiWang who holds a number of senior roles in #China including President of #Xinxiang Medical University.

311 steps later reached the top of #monument column near @londonunderground.bsky.social station of same name. Best done before rather than after evening out and not for the faint hearted, but some fabulous views of the great city from the top.

Embarressed to admit but I'd never thought to ask what #Monument @londonunderground.bsky.social referred to until we ran into it. It's a 61m metre doric column dedicated to the 1666 great fire - height relates to the distance from (now rather dull) Pudding Lane. And guess what - you can go inside...

@uniofbath.bsky.social colleague #Teslim#Bukoye has organised a #ReadCycle call for previously loved textbooks to be sent to #Nigeria. Was a good excuse to clear out books that have been lurking unopened for years. Hope at least some prove useful - some more than others I suspect.

Ended up getting bottle of mead and bottle of chocolate flavoured red wine from #Bath #ChristmasMarket for my in laws. Sounds sickly sweet but actually utterly lovely and a nicely unusual Cmas present. Bath besties - the stalls are round back of Abbey near Cheap Street - they give free samples....

And #Bath #Christmas #market by night - plus a picture of Pulteney Bridge for good measure. When I moved jobs to here last year I actually had a flat on the bridge which was pretty spectacular.

The wonderful #Bath #Christmas #market by day - impossible to fault the setting. Stalls are pretty much all reassuringly posh - tried the #mead and what stall owners said about it being like liquid honey was spot on.