wAys 2 LeaRN

i have been working on web site development since last Aug. Apart from PHP, which is what i am familiar with, i 've started to learn more about JS/CSS/HTML because there is no dedicated front-end developer (FED) available in my office. Of course don't even mention the UI designer.

to be honest, i am sure that my js code must be very messy in the professional eyes. JS is so different from the language i've learnt so far. basically the learning process is :
a. wondering if i can do it
b. looking it up on google
c. try and error
d. repeat step b and c until the task has done, or give it up and try to think of other possible solutions and re-start from step a

this kind of learning process is fine and rather commonly seen in RD's life. however, lacking of systematical learning procedure is also dangerous, at least to my feeling (ha XD). same situation applies to the way i learn CSS, but the result probably even worse.

all the frustration caused by JS/CSS remind me that i really need a time to learn them step by step. i hope at least after this job, i won't feel hesitant to say i know JS. (as to css...hmmmmmm....let it be bah~~~~lalalalala. )


p.s. 1. however, deep in my mind, i am not really happy with being away from JAVA for such a long time. i have to find another way to get there!

p.s. 2. several topics queuing now:
Android, security programming practices for web development, unit test and refactoring, Python

Tortoise merge

SVN Tortoise

syncing from Trunk to Branch :

1. start from the branch working copy  folder
2. right click Merge > Merge a range of revisions > Next
3. set the field of URL from as the Trunk
4. set the revision to merge > Next
5. clerk Test merge to preview
6. Merge!

ruN

時間跑得很快
轉眼我來英國也一年多了

錯過了老爸老媽的生日就要第二輪啦
猶豫好久的大抉擇
應該就是回家了

不過看到有個文章讓我不禁在駐足了一下：
大多數的人在考慮要不要離職的時候，幾乎都是因為「我不滿意我現在的狀況」，但其中只有很少數人有考慮到「我想要往什麼目標去」。只有你的目標是清楚的，你才不會在該選擇的時候走錯路。所以如果你在考慮要不要離職，最重要應該思考的，應該是「你到底在追求什麼？」以及「現在你和目標之間的落差，是不是離職可以解決的？」

這次之所以這麼難下決定，其實到頭來就是我還不清楚自己的目標是什麼。
幸福的人生。生命現下過得好快。總是沒有暫停鍵，當然也沒有什麼重玩就是了。有時候剩下的就只是“想要“。萬事起頭難，我也不想換工作，每換一次工作都是精神耗損。挑戰，透過這次旅行，回頭看，遙遠的過去也隱隱佐證發揮我能力的環境就是很困難和挑戰。我總愛抱怨，碎碎念卻道也繼續嘗試。我想這就是個性吧。我喜歡嘗試不同的東西，我想體驗一些有的沒得的經驗，也許這就是為什麼我開始旅行吧！
目標，其實倒也不是真的一定要變得多厲害，畢竟很多事情就是等價交換，不用去羨慕。我想我的目標也許不是真的變得多有錢，能力多厲害，職位有多令人敬佩，能和好朋友聚會，分享苦樂，陪伴家人，適合自己的工作環境和薪水，簡單快樂ㄉ健康平安就好。

沒有雄心大志？這就隨意吧。

也許這次的大抉擇，是個點醒我的事件。我，想念旅行。我想念的其實不是路上的風景，是那時候的自己！

大抉擇...

前陣子老闆又再度提起之後我working holiday visa 過期之後，繼續為他們工作的話題。很開心也感謝老闆又再度而且更正式的提起這件事，但是卻讓我面臨重大抉擇。

始終拿不太定主意。趁感冒來好好整頓一下思緒好了。

• 當初來working holiday ”好像“ (XDDDD) 有幾個目標，體驗生活，練英文，探索自我。老媽說：如果你目標還沒達成，那就再多留一年剛好去完成目標。恩....很有道理。大目標來說，國外生活體驗到了一些，服務生當了四個月，在現在公司上班也七個多月，這點應該算是可以說是有滿意。練英文，這可就糟了，雖然身邊一些人說我的英文有進步，但是我自己只能說，聽力有磨練到一點，口說卻一樣爛，單字當然有多學了一些生活用語，發音也有些變化，但整體而言不到我滿足的標準啊.......。探索自我，這又是另外一個大題目，當初決定離開台灣的時候，算是有點階段性厭倦的時段，心知肚明自己的感覺，卻一頭霧水不知道為什麼，期待透過working holiday，也許我會看到什麼，勁兒讓我之後更開心的工作和生活......所以......目前好像還沒達到喲(XDDDDDDDD)
• 衝動尚未達成的小目標不少：
• 在PUB工作
• 在咖啡廳工作，學做咖啡，打奶泡和拉花
• 考個英國駕照
• Paragliding
• 英國旅遊（還有好多地方沒去啊）
• 歐洲旅遊（當初覺得應該有機會吧）
• ........（總覺得還有，待補）
• 當然想台灣。一切都比較舒適。自己的房間，開車騎車，搭大眾交通工具都很方便。想陪家人，想玩小鬼（們），想念和朋友聚會閑晃看電影唱歌的日子。想念食物。
• 回台灣找工作比較沒有語言障礙。
• 在這邊有時候因為語言障礙感覺自己有點像自閉兒了
• 我想重點是精神吧。我還有沒有想繼續挑戰自己呢？
• 如果我沒辦法讓這邊變好，那我可能回去也是一樣吧！重點是把它變好。

(待)

mEEtinGS

i haven't study english for ages. It's time to start again!

Vocabulary and phrases:

• running a meeting:
• run:
  run a bath
• provide sb with sth:
• provide:
  this booklet provides useful information about local services.
• take part in 
• take part: to be involved in an activity with other people
  she doesn't usually take part in any of the class activities.
• i'm joined by
• join: to get involved in an activity or journey with people
  i don't have time for a drink now, but i'll join you later.
  i'm joined by Rob for support
• give you an update on sth
• there are other times
• whatever:
  we'll go whatever the weather.
  whatever happens, you know that i'll stand by you.
• at the ready: prepared to be used or to act immediately
  he stood by the phone, pencil at the ready. 
• put your points across: 
• put sth across: to express your ideas and opinions clearly so that people understand them easily
  it's and interesting idea and i thought he put it across well.
• let's get down to business:
• get down to business: to start talking about the subject to be discussed
  it the introductions are over o'd like to get down to business
• on the agenda
• executor
• go through them in order
• thanks for coming
• the news on sth
• any other business
• chairperson
• in other words
• focusing everyone's attentions on sth
• focus (sb's attention) on/upon sth/sb:
  when the kitchen is finished i'm going to focus my attention on the garden and get that sorted out.
• be up for sth:
• up for (doing) sth: willing and able to do or take part in an activity
  after a long day at work, i wasn't up for a party.
• up for sth: intended, suggested or being considered for something
  are you really up for promotion?
  that house at  the end of our road is up for sale.
  is any idea up for discussion?
• underway: if something is underway, it is happening now.
• the fairy tales range 
• at the beginning of next month
• get this right
• sorry to hold the meeting up: to interrupt the meeting 
• I thought that ....
• any other thoughts
• comment on
• the next matter under discussion
• embargo: to officially stop trading with another country
  they are planning to embargo oil imports.
• enquiry
• sorry to interrupt but ...
• take off
• it's worth V-ing... 
• be worth sth:
  I think this matter is worth our attention.
• be worth doing/having sth:
  it's worth remembering that prices to up on mother's day.
  it you are a young, inexperienced driver, it is worth having comprehensive insurance. 
• how does everyone else feel?
• on the subject of sth 
• listen out for sth 
• i just wanted to ...
• as you know 
• divisive: describes something that causes great and sometimes unfriendly disagreement within a group of people
• separate sth out from sth
• I'd be much happier if ....
• be keen to
• speaking as sb
• bounce ideas off each other:
• bounce sth off sb: if you bounce sth off someone, you tell someone about an idea or plan in order to find out what they think of it.
  Can i bounce a couple of ideas off you?
• forceful 
• i'm afraid i don't agree
• a little less 
• confrontational
• confront: to face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person
  I thought i would remain calm, but when i confronted with the TV camera, i became very nervous. 
• I quite agree
• form someone's perspective
• newcomer
• valid
• move on to 
• extract
• bring a meeting to a close
• put sb on the books
• drawings
• portfolios
• in the next couple of days 
• it would be wise to...
• that's probably about it.
• desperately want to raise before we wrap up 
• wrap (sth) up : to complete something successfully
  that just about wraps it up for today.
• conflicts in the diary 
• in the final stage 
• it's time to wrap up
• chairing a meeting
• let's get started
• put forward their opinions

LOST

That feeling has gone.

died out.

i am seriously lost this time. I have to get myself back.
that's is the problem. i have to get myself back.

I can't remember days.
I can't remember voices.
I am totally, throughly, completely lost in the time flood.

i hate it that i have to admit i have changed again. I have been saying this all my life and now even i am here, where i tried to escape to, i am still ridiculously the same.

I am stuck.

the colour, the smell, the everything.
can i mend it? or should i leave? part of my mind knows that i need something.

the challenging, the achievement, the independence.....

變色

很久沒有寫Blog了

自從搬到Windsor之後，再度展開規律的工程師生活。前一兩個月，覺得還是很新鮮，畢竟也好一陣字沒有開始寫程式了，上班時的英文還是覺得有點吃力，剛開始也為了讓自己能趕快上手，花了不少時間讀爛Code。對於大小公司的文化衝擊，感受甚深。自己也不斷的在調整工作態度，修正自己的上班時間，試圖慢慢的找到生活（或旅遊？）與工作的平衡點，希望也許可以領悟個什麼偉大的原則，取經回臺！

漸漸的，試用期也如預測的過了。一切都開始漸漸的穩定，發現抱怨又多了，路上的風景又變無趣了，其實，心底明顯地感覺到有什麼東西變色了，可惜我不知道是什麼。我離開軌道很久了，很久了。

新年的開始，讓我重新許下願望，一切重新來過吧！

brOKen DOLl

still

the dark side in that mirror will never go away



you dreamt of a wonderful land

grasses....moon.....starry sky.....

you wished upon the shooting star

it actually was tearing them apart and eating as it was supposed to be

hoMESIcknESs

Vocabulary:

• I'm joined by someone.
• suffer: to experience physical or mental pain
  I think he suffered quite a lot when his wife left him.
  she's been suffering from cancer for two years.
  he suffers from asthma. 
• combat: try to stop something unpleasant or harmful from happening or increasing
  The government is spending million of dollars in its attempt to combat drug abuse.
  I have to combat this constant desire to eat chocolate. 
• in their early days
• at university
• pine for sb/sth: to want something or someone very much, usually when it is impossible to have them or when they have gone away
  he's still pining for his ex-girlfriend.
• long for sth / long to do sth : to want something very much
  she longed to see him again.
  i'm longing for news of him. 
• remind sb of sth: make someone think of something or someone else.
  your hair and eyes remind me of your mother. 
• growing: increasing in size or quantity
  there is a growing awareness of the seriousness of this disease.
• panic attack: a sudden period of severe anxiety 
• withdraw from: to stop talking to other people and start thinking thoughts that are not related to what is happening around you.
  as a child, she frequently withdraw into her own fantasy world.
  after the accident, he withdrew into himself and refused to talk to family or friends.
• stay in touch with
• phone:
  could you please answer the phone?
  we speak on the phone twice a week.
  if the phone lines are busy, please try again later.
  i left the phone off the hook, so that it wouldn't ring. 
• left sth/sb behind: to leave a place without taking something or someone with you
  we left in a hurry and i must have left my keys behind.
  he was forced to leave the country, leaving behind his wift and children. 
• expat community: someone who does not live in their own country
  a large community of expatriates has settled there.  
• take the pressure off
• struggle: to experience difficulty and make a very great effort in order to do something
  i've been struggling to understand this article all afternoon.
  fish struggle for survival when the water level drops in the lake. 
• have a hard time / give sb a hard time
• acknowledge: to accept, admit or recognise something or the truth or existence of something
• homesickness / homesick :
  as i read my mum's letter, i began to feel homesick. 

Lazy

vocabulary:

• stall:
  (n) a large table or small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place
  in the village market, the stalls are piled high with local vegetables.
  (n) the seats on the main floor of a theatre or cinema, not at a high level
  (v) if an engine stalls, it stops working suddenly
  i stalled the car twice during my driving test but still managed to pass.
• squiffy: slightly drunk
  "I've only have one glass of sherry and i feel squiffy already." she said.
• tipsy: slightly drunk
  Auntie Pat is getting a little tipsy again. 
• sober: not drunk or affected by alcohol.
  are you sober enough to drive?
  sober (sb) up: to become less drunk, or make someone less drunk
  i went for a walk to sober up.
  have a black coffee - that should sober you up. 
• There are plenty more fish in the sea: user to tell someone whose relationship has ended that there are many other people that they could have a relationship with
  Don't cry over him - there are plenty more fish in the sea! 
• spring to mind: to come quickly into your mind
  say the word 'Australia' and a vision of beaches and blue seas immediately springs to mind. 
• clumsy: describe someone who often has accidents because they do not behave in a careful way
  that's the 3rd glass you've mashed this week - you're so clumsy. 
• footy: football 
• bloody: used to emphasise an adjective, adverb, or noun in a slightly rude way
  life would be bloody boring if nothing ever went wrong.
  I had a bloody good time last night.
  What a bloody morning. 
• mend: to repair something that is broken or damaged
  I've left my watch there to be mended.
  could you mend this hold in my shirt?
  on the mend: to be  getting better after an illness or injury
  my hand is on the mend. 
• fix (fix a problem, but mend a thing) 
• knackered: very tired
  i'm too knackered to go out this evening
  knacker: tire out
  don't go to fast. you'll knacker yourself in the first hour. 
• aloof: not friendly or willing to take part in things
  she seemed rather aloof when in fact she was just shy.
  not interested or involved, usually because you do not approve of what is happening
  she kept herself aloof from her husband's business. 

sCALd

Gosh! i scalded my hand!!!

vocabulary:

• scald: to burn the skin with boiling liquid or steam
  i dropped a pan of boiling water and scalded my leg. 
• imminent: coming or likely to happen very soon
  a strike is imminent.
  imminent disaster/danger
• groovy: very fashionable and interesting
  that's a very groovy hat you're wearing, did you knit it yourself? 
• hooray/hurray: used to express excitement, pleasure or approval
  you won? Hooray!
  Hooray! It's time to go home!
• hurt:
  (v) to feel pain in part of your body
  Tell me where it hurts.
  My head hurts.
  (v) injure someone or cause them hurt
  Emma hurt her back when she fell of her horse.
  (v) to cause emotional pain
  she criticised my writing quite severely and that hurt.
  (v) to cause harm
  one more drink won't hurt.
  a lot of firms are being hurt by the current high interest rate.

my scalded hand is really hurt! 

lESS iS morE

Learning from conversation.

Vocabulary:

• scaredy-cat: someone, especially a child, is easily frightened
  come on, scaredy-cat, it won't bite you. 
• underfoot: under your feet as you walk
  it feels nicer underfoot.
  the grass was cool and pleasant underfoot. 
• rousing: making people feel excited, and proud or ready to take actions
  she delivered a rousing speech full of anger and passion.
• Silhouette: a dark shape seen agains a light surface (???)
  the silhouette of the bare tree on the hill was clearly against the winter sky.
• en route: on the way to or from somewhere
  I stopped en route and got some wine. 
• rowdy: noise and possibly violent
  a rowdy party 
• hut: a small simple building, usually consisting of one room
  a mountain hut
  a wooden hut
  a row of beach huts 
• stilt: one of a set of long pieces of wood used to support a building so that it is above the ground or water
  the houses are built on stilts to protect them from annual floods. 
• mosquito net 
• coral reef: an area of coral, the top of which can sometimes be seen just above the sea
• snorkel / snorkelling:
  we went snorkelling along the Great Barrier Reef
• fairly: more than average, but less than very
  I saw her fairly recently.
  we get on fairly well.
  I'm fairly sure that this is the right address.
• suppose: 
• to think something is likely to be true: suppose + (that) / suppose + to V
  I couldn't get any reply when I called Dan, so I suppose (that) he's gone out.
  Do you suppose (that) she will marry him?
  he found it a lot difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.
  We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.
  Her new book is supposed to be very good. 
• used in making polite request
  I suppose you couldn't lend me some money till tomorrow, could you? 
• used to show unwillingness to agree
  I don't agree with it, but I suppose (that) it's for the best.
• (conjunction.) used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean "what would happen if":
  Suppose we miss the train - what will we do then?
  We'd love to come and see you on Sunday, suppose/supposing I don't have to work that day.
• presume: to believe something to be true because it is very likely, although you are not certain.
  I presume (that) they are not coming, since they haven't replied to the invitation.
  You are Dr. Smith, I presume?
  "Are we walking to the hotel?" "I presume so/not."
• assume: to accept something to be true without question or proof
  I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school. 
• apart from: except for or not considering
  apart from us, there was anyone there under 30.
  apart from the salary, it's not a bad job.
• except: not including; but not
  the museum is open daily except Monday(s).
  everyone was there except for Sally. 
• seem: to be judged to be 
• He's 16, but he often seems younger.
  the children seemed tired.
  I suspect his claim is not all they seem -- he tends to exaggerate.
  things are seldom as/what/how they seem. 
• I seemed to know more about him than anyone else.
  they seemed to be taking a long time to decide.
  There seems to have been a mistake -- my name isn't on the list. 
• It seems (that) she can't come.
  It seems to me (that) we need to be at the airport two hours before take-off.
  "was a decision made?" "It seems not/so." 

Expression: 

• What time it will get you there? 
• It is a long time since I have been to Paris.
  It's been a while since I was last time in Paris. 
• I bet: said to show that you understand why someone has a particular opinion or feels a particular way
  "I was so relieved I didn't have to clean up after the party." "I bet you were."
  "I'm so annoyed with her." "I'll bet."

cAmP

vocabulary:

• camper: a person who stays in a tent or in a hoiday camp 
• camper van: a motor home
• retro: similar to styles, fashions from the past
  inside, the decor is very retro. 
• foreign money
• stall: a large table or a small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place
  in the village market, the stalls are piled high with local vegetables.
• tent: a shelter made of canvas and supported by poles and ropes that you can fold up and carry with you.
• caterpillar
• costume: a set of clothes worn in order to look like someone or something else, especially for a party.
  our host was wearing a clown costume.
• sort: to deal with something by repairing or organising it
  to get everything sorted
  We've sorted out the computer system's initial problems. 

Okey-FOkEY

vocabulary and phrases:

• omnivore: an animal that is naturally be able to eat both plants and meat
• omnipresent: present or having an effect everywhere at the same time
  the singer became an omnipresent icon of style and beauty.
• foul: to do something against the rules of a sport, often causing injury to another plater
• lad: a boy or young man
  a group of young lads were standing outside the shop
  lads and lasses (boys and girls)
• renowned: famous for something
  the region is renowned for it outstanding natual beauty.
  renown: a state of being famous
  her renown spread across the country.
• Absence makes the heart grow fonder. : when people we love are not with us, we love them even more. 
• bring it on. : said to show that you are prepared and willing to compete in a competition or to do something difficult. 
• stag party / hen party : a party for a man/woman who is going to get married, to which his only male friends/her only female friends are invited  
• yep: yes
• yap: short, high sounds made by a small dog
  yappy
  a yappy little dog
• okey-dokey: ok
• footy: football

eXPRessioNs

expressions:

• are you being served? 
• what are you having?
• can i take your order, please?
• can i get you anything else?
• I'll just get your order for you now.
• like mother, like daughter. 
• i've got to say....
• i'm just worry about ....
• How are you coping without her. 
• let her down.
• I've gone through this relationship.
• what are you up to?
• are you up for it?
• How are you doing?
• how do you spend your day? 
• off the top of my head...:
  I couldn't tell you off the top of my head, but i could go and look it up. 
• i'm chuffed with his present.
• i'm delighted with it.
• i'm please with it.
• only time would tell. 
• i got quite a shock.
  i was in shock.
• It's not rocket science.
• the weather turns really bad.
• at busy time, queuing may be necessary
• I've never ever seen that before. 
• long story short,...
• it happens all the time.
• shall we start?
• as cool as a cucumber: calm
  she walked in as cool as a cucumber, as if nothing had happened.
• good for you / good to hear. 
• how did you find it?

dReamArKER

When I listen to some gothic music, it always gets me thinking about you, my dear friend.
I miss you.

IntAnGIbLe waSTe

after moving to windsor, i saved lots of time on commute to work. However, i didn't manage my time better. that's a huge problem. I've got to change it! there are several things i need to sort out. 

first, the banking thing! I reckon i'm running out of taiwan dollars in my taiwan account soon. secondly, the GP. since i've already been staying here for more than 6 months, i should and have to register GP in case i need any medical service here. apart from that, i did sort out some things, like the rental house problem. I'm lucky that the B&B host seems to welcome me to rent the house for longer term. that's exactly a good thing to me. first of all, i don't need to give deposit so that i can use my money more flexible. on top of that, the host is really kind that she's willing to give me discount for renting the room. how lucky i am! 

as to the inner things of me, i am very unsatisfied with my time management. I didn't spend quality time studying english, instead, i spent too much time working, from 9am to 7 pm or later. it's funny that when i was living in Putney, i'd got to force myself to watch TV less so that i could have more time studying english on my own. now, since the family i'm living with watch films on TV a lot, i don't really watch TV. however i hardly remember what i've done actually. that's horrifying that i waste my immense time intangibly. 

let's see. 24 hours - 8 hours (sleeping) - 9 hours (working & lunch) - 2 hours (breakfast & cooking & dinner)   = 5 hours! how can i waste the 5 hours without doing anything! 

set the goals and just do it! think before you leap. once you decide it, do it without thinking! 

YoRK

vocabulary:

• chord
• daunt: to make someone feel slightly frightened or worried about their ability to achieve something
  she was not daunted by the size of the problem.
  nothing daunted: still confident and enthusiastic despite a failure or problem
  she was rejected the first time she applied to the university, but, nothing daunted, reapplied the following year and was accepted.
  daunting: making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your ability to achieve something.
  the country was faced with the daunting prospect of overcoming four decades of division.
• archaeology
• brooch: a small piece of jewellery with a pin at the back that is fastened to a woman's clothes
  she wore a small silver brooch. 
• toga: a piece of clothing wore by people in ancient rome
• cloak: a loose outer piece of clothing without sleeves.
• authentic: if something is authentic, it is real, true, or what people say it is.
  an authentic 1920 dress
  an authentic viking shopping
  authentic italian food
  

KitCHeNWarE

vocabulary learnt from shopping!

• shed: a small building, usually made of wood, used for storing things
• colander: a bowl with small holes in it, used for wash food or for emptying into when it has been cooked in water
• oven tray / roasting pan
• saucepan 
• frying pan
• mould: a hollow container with a particular shape in which soft or liquid substances are pored, so that when the substances become hard it takes the shape of the container
  a cake mould 
• tin: a closed metal container in which food is sold
  a tin of beans
  a biscuit tin
  we used two tins of paint when we painted the ceiling.
• mill : a small machine for crushing things into power
  a pepper mill
  a coffee mill
• froth: small white bubbles on the surface of liquid
  i like the froth on the top of the coffee
• turner
• toothpick
• serviette: a squire piece of cloth or paper used while you are eating
• kettle
• chopping board
• zest: fruit skin 
• grater: a small device with holes surrounded by sharp edges used to cut food into small pieces
• coaster: s small piece of wood, plastic or other materials that you put a glass or cup on to protect surface from heat or liquid
• mug
• cloth: a small piece of material used to cleaning
  a washing-up cloth
• airer
• mat: a small piece of strong material that covers ad protects part of a floor
  a bath / door mat
  a small piece of cloth, cardboard or plastic that is put on the table surface to protect it
  a bear / sink mat
• cutlery: knifes, forks and spoons
• bottle opener
• scoop
• knifes and forks
• tongs

lEARning FROm DOinG

Vocabulary learnt from hiking:

• spring / sprang / sprung : to move quickly
  those deer sprang. 
• barn: a large building on a farm in which animals or hay and grain are kept
  we saw a large barn. 
• straw: the dried yellow stems of crops
  a bale of straw
  a straw hat 
• flint: a kind of stones
• elderberry: a kind of berries
• cock: an adult male chicken
• vane: a flat narrow part of a fan which turns because of the pressure of air 
• windmill: a building or structure with large blades on the outside that provide the power for getting water out of the ground or crushing grain when turned by the force of the wind

  

  Windmill

• wind turbine: a tall structure with blades that are blown round by the wind and provide power to make electricity

  

  Wind Turbine

  
  
• maize (UK) / corn (US.)
• lone (adj): alone
  a lone tree
  a lone survivor
  lone parent
  he was a lone voice arguing against a reduction in resources.
• doing sb's head in: to make someone feel confused and unhappy; annoying
  Getting up at four o'clock every morning was doing my head in.
  He's really doing my head in.
• in the middle of nowhere: describes a place far away any towns and cities and where few people live.
  he lives in a tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere.