acdhw

Every year I offer to write ficlets for friends which will be posted between 26 December and 6 January.  This year is no different.

My range of fandoms can be found on AO3, where I'm Small_Hobbit, where, if you're not already aware, you can see the sort of things I write.  Do note that there is no guarantee in the way my brain will work, but I will attempt to produce something you like.

Therefore, if you would like a ficlet, please comment below with your AO3 name if you have one and I don't already know it - not essential, I will make sure to let you know when yours is posted if you don't.  And include your preferred fandom and character(s) (can be a pairing, several characters, or just one), together with a prompt.  The prompt may be seasonal or not, as suits you.  

And if you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

FutureLearn

Discover Contemporary Chinese: A Taster Course (Chinese Plus)
Following on from the OpenLearn basic Chinese course, I thought I'd look at this one.  I had hoped it would be a good introduction, but it was well over my head, concentrating on the main courses which the taster was promoting, without providing any assistance.  Even if I'd had some basic Chinese I doubt this would have persuaded me to take a further, paid, course with them.


OpenLearn

Getting Started with German 2 and Getting Started with German 3
Continuing with my aim to at least understand something of German when we're there.  Some of the sections were interesting and helpful, others were not within my general interests, so probably irrelevant, since I'm unlikely to want to know the German for something I don't talk about in English.

Introduction to Planetary Protection
I found this very interesting, although why astronomy appeals to me I have no idea.  It covered all sorts of areas: avoiding bringing potential contamination back from other planets and similar bodies, together with not contaminating planets our spacecraft visit.  In addition there was the clear thought that what we learn from these planets etc should be knowledge available for all and not simply exploited by the powerful.

The Gut Microbiome: Balancing the Body
The importance of what we consume and how it's important to maintain a good balance in our gut microbiome.  Apart from the general biology (which begins to go over my head), there's the effect that other areas can have, including genetics and ageing.  I need to tweak my diet, I think.