Nick Jordan

I bought a copy of Metallica’s new album, Death Magnetic, yesterday. I’ve only listened to it once so far but I’m very impressed. It’s the best album I’ve bought for a while. It hearks back to the band’s earlier sound, which is rather like being hit repeatedly in the face by a load of spanners in a velvet bag (in a good way!) but retains a thoroughly modern feel. Solid, powerful riffs, some damn fine tunes and nice changes of pace. If heavy metal is your thing, give it a try.

On Thursday evening I finally got the chance to go and see the London Skeletons exhibition at the Wellcome Trust on the Euston Road, that I mentioned a while back. All I can say is that if you get the chance, go along. Not only was it truly fascinating, but the sight of so many lives blighted by conditions for which there was little or no treatment available at the time made me appreciate modern medicine and improvements in living conditions anew.

While you’re there, pop upstairs and have a look at the items on display from Henry Wellcome’s private collection of, and there’s no other way to describe it, weird stuff. A Chinese torture chair, ritual objects from around the world, sex aids, artificial limbs and all manner of oddments. Not a bad way to spend some time if you’re passing.

Last weekend I had a thoroughly enjoyable visit to Bruges. Getting there via the Channel Tunnel was no problem, since we travelled just before the fire, but getting home was a bit more complex. We had to cancel our Eurostar tickets and catch a train to Antwerp, another to Schipol Airport and then a plane to London City airport. Still, it was an adventure if nothing else.

Bruges itself is beautiful and full of cool museums and churches, together with friendly restaurants and bars where everyone speaks English. Just as well, as my Flemish is non-existent, to my shame. We English in general, and me in particular, are really rather bad at learning other people’s languages.

Anyway, a jolly good, if exhausting, time was had. I’d definitely go back again.

What a great weekend! I won’t bore you with all the details; suffice to say that it included chatting with great people in the pub, a fantastic guided walk, good food and the chance to meet a friend I’ve known on-line for many years.

It was pretty hard getting up for work this morning, though. Still, the good news is that I have a short working week before zooming off for a long weekend away. It’s much needed – I feel mentally and physically exhausted and I’m therefore hoping that getting away for a break will do me good.