Archive for commute
beauty and the ruins (2)
Posted in Books, pictures, Travel with tags Britanny, commute, family house, family trip, industrial ruins, La Gacilly, La Gacilly Photo festival, photography, return to Nature, ruins, summer house, urban photography on July 8, 2025 by xi'an
beauty and the ruins (1)
Posted in Books, pictures, Travel with tags Britanny, commute, family house, family trip, industrial ruins, La Gacilly, La Gacilly Photo festival, photography, return to Nature, ruins, summer house, urban photography on July 7, 2025 by xi'an
dammit!!
Posted in pictures, Running, Travel, University life with tags B'ham, bike safety, bike storage, Birmingham, commute, D-lock, Hatton locks, stolen bike, University of Warwick, Warwick Estates on February 11, 2025 by xi'an
When I arrived (from Paris via B’ham airport) at the University of Warwick this morning, I went directly to the secure bike shed where I store my bike between my visits. Except it was no longer there and the shed was strangely barely occupied. I immediately suspected a commando action from the dreaded Warwick Estates, who permanently chase abandoned bikes and tag them with threatening red tags for incoming removal (of said bike) if no removal (of said tag) within two weeks. And indeed when contacted they replied that
The records have been checked, and I can confirm that the bike was removed by Estates following all bikes in the secure storage over at University House being tagged as part of the abandoned bike process, due to a report of abandoned bike/s. The tags were in place for 2 weeks allowing owners to remove these before Estates collecting any bikes with tags remaining.
although the bike was still in storage with them and I thus managed to recover it… Along with a replacement, top-quality, massive D-lock. Now looking for a long-term solution that does not involve buying a Brompton!
new campus
Posted in pictures, Running, Travel, University life with tags Balard, boulevard périphérique, commute, memory lane, NATO, Paris, PariSanté campus, Porte Dauphine, Porte de Versailles, PSL Research University, The Prairie Chair, Université Paris Dauphine, urban cycling on September 4, 2022 by xi'an
While I am keeping my office at Porte Dauphine, undergoing major renovations (of the 1955 NATO building!), I am now spending most of my time in a more modern campus, called PariSanté, located at Porte de Versailles, with medical research teams and startups. This is where our master MASH will be located. The place is very luminous and despite the close proximity with the Paris beltway (le périf’), quiet (and much quieter than Paris Dauphine). It is also an ecological absurdity, with a huge sunroof that could not be shaded during the heat waves, plastic trees, self-induced lights, and compulsory lifts. On the memory lane, it is a trip back 35 years ago, as it sits across the road from the Balard military compound where I spent most of my military service in 1987 (working on my PhD in a research department). And it is conveniently located half-way between home and Paris Dauphine, although not skipping the tough hill of Porte de Versailles on the way back..!
30 less reasons to overtake bikes
Posted in pictures, Running, Travel with tags 30km/h, 50km/h, bicycle, cars, commute, Paris, Rue de Rivoli, speed limit on September 17, 2021 by xi'an
