I like writing.
I'm not talking about the process of academic writing, although I do like the sense of achievement when a chapter, paper, article or lecture is finished (this does not happen often enough - especially the personal research related ideas there!). I enjoyed writing my PhD thesis, although the final deadline and the re-writing processes immediately before that were not too much fun. What I'm talking about here is actually writing. By hand. With a pen.
On my way to my admin job the other day - I know this sounds strange - I felt an almost overwhelming need to write something. Anything. And I realised how much time I have spent at a computer, or shuffling papers, scribbling quick, untidy, notes or using mini post-its to mark pages relevant to lectures. It's been AGES since I have sat down and written by hand anything longer than a sentence or two, a 'happy birthday, love from me' in a card or a brief phone message scribble. And at work I had to go straight back into scribbling notes, emailing, filing etc.
Today I addressed an envelope in my very best joined up handwriting and I felt strangely pleased. I like how my careful handwriting looks (not wanting to boast too much, it is quite pretty) and it is much more satisfying than typing a letter or an envelope.
Marking undergraduate exam scripts earlier in the summer, I realised how few of them hand-write anything (either that, or the teaching of handwriting in schools has declined since I was taught 'joined up writing' and then allowed to use a fountain pen). I know no one does their best writing under the time-pressured conditions of exams, but still, some were barely legible.
I think the decline of handwriting is very sad. Not that I would do away with the wonders of word processing packages for my academic writing - cut, copy, paste makes drafting so much easier (even if sometimes starting to draft is actually easier for me with a pen and paper). But I am going to start doing more handwriting - letters to friends for example. I think - even in the increasingly computerised world where communication is almost instant through emails and social networking sites - people like to get mail. I know I do. And perhaps that is precisely because it is so rare for people to take time to actually write anything these high-tech, high-speed days.
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet. Show all posts
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Friday, 2 January 2009
New Year Activity
Well, this is my first post of 2009, so I guess the first thing to do is to say "Happy New Year!" to all readers of Falling Leaves. I hope this year brings you health and happiness, in whatever form that might take.
Today is also my birthday, so for me the beginning of January is not just the beginning of a new calendar year, but also a new year in my life. I'm not just making New Year's resolutions for 2009 because that's what people traditionally do at the beginning of the year, but because there are things that I would like to have done before my next birthday (it's a major one - you know, of the kind that end in 0) and I shall have to be organised if I'm going to do them.
So my New Year's resolution is to be more active this year. I don't just mean physically active, although that wouldn't go amiss. I mean active in a more general sense. Below is a list of what I intend to do. These are not my resolutions; they are the means to achieving my one resolution.
1) I will manage my time better.
2) I will do more research (to be honest, it will not be hard to do more of this than last year) - this will make me more research active, and I will be taking more positive action towards getting a permanent job.
3) I will arrange to meet up with my friends more often. This will stop me talking passively over the internet / text messages, and will help me not to spend my evenings inactively on facebook.
4) I will listen to more music. More can be accomplished when listening to CDs / radio than when watching television.
5) I will find a Yoga class so that I can be active and still at the same time. Yoga also makes me feel physically and mentally better, so I'm hoping that it will contribute to a more positive outlook to help me achieve other things. And adding more activities into my life-timetable will mean I have to be better at time management.
That brings me back to the beginning of the list. And it seems to be enough to be getting on with for now!
May 2009 bring all you wish for, and good luck in sticking to your own resolutions!
Today is also my birthday, so for me the beginning of January is not just the beginning of a new calendar year, but also a new year in my life. I'm not just making New Year's resolutions for 2009 because that's what people traditionally do at the beginning of the year, but because there are things that I would like to have done before my next birthday (it's a major one - you know, of the kind that end in 0) and I shall have to be organised if I'm going to do them.
So my New Year's resolution is to be more active this year. I don't just mean physically active, although that wouldn't go amiss. I mean active in a more general sense. Below is a list of what I intend to do. These are not my resolutions; they are the means to achieving my one resolution.
1) I will manage my time better.
2) I will do more research (to be honest, it will not be hard to do more of this than last year) - this will make me more research active, and I will be taking more positive action towards getting a permanent job.
3) I will arrange to meet up with my friends more often. This will stop me talking passively over the internet / text messages, and will help me not to spend my evenings inactively on facebook.
4) I will listen to more music. More can be accomplished when listening to CDs / radio than when watching television.
5) I will find a Yoga class so that I can be active and still at the same time. Yoga also makes me feel physically and mentally better, so I'm hoping that it will contribute to a more positive outlook to help me achieve other things. And adding more activities into my life-timetable will mean I have to be better at time management.
That brings me back to the beginning of the list. And it seems to be enough to be getting on with for now!
May 2009 bring all you wish for, and good luck in sticking to your own resolutions!
Monday, 15 September 2008
Spooky...
In light of my previous post, I think it's quite funny that my horoscope this week contains these words:
"Career matters also demand your attention. Getting back into your old work routine feels blissful. It's also possible you will be offered a promotion or pay raise. Your employer may not have realised what a wonderful contribution you made until you left for your holiday."
I neither entirely believe nor absolutely deny the veracity of horoscopes. But still, this one goes with the perpetual finger-crossing, doesn't it?
"Career matters also demand your attention. Getting back into your old work routine feels blissful. It's also possible you will be offered a promotion or pay raise. Your employer may not have realised what a wonderful contribution you made until you left for your holiday."
I neither entirely believe nor absolutely deny the veracity of horoscopes. But still, this one goes with the perpetual finger-crossing, doesn't it?
Tuesday, 12 August 2008
Wise Words
These wise words are borrowed from a conversation I had with a friend today. I thought they were important enough to be published somewhere, and hope she doesn't mind:
So, even if you're not sure exactly why your instinct is telling you something, it shouldn't be ignored.
"Instinct: not always eloquent, but usually right"
So, even if you're not sure exactly why your instinct is telling you something, it shouldn't be ignored.
Monday, 7 July 2008
Who are my friends?
Well, I finally gave in and joined up to Facebook. Joining didn't seem to be difficult, but there is so much stuff on the screen that I'm finding actually using it very complicated. No one who told me to join told me it would be confusing. I think they should have.
But I have to say the strangest thing about it, is being told who my friends are. "Autumn and ThePhDLitChick are now friends", it tells me confidently at 11am; "Autumn and the Italian Speaker are now friends" it tells me slightly later. And I find myself thinking surely this was true before? Does it take linking to them through an internet networking site for this to be true? Does linking on Facebook suddenly make this indisputable fact? And then I think, can friendships be facts? And then I think, perhaps I should be thinking about something else...
But I have to say the strangest thing about it, is being told who my friends are. "Autumn and ThePhDLitChick are now friends", it tells me confidently at 11am; "Autumn and the Italian Speaker are now friends" it tells me slightly later. And I find myself thinking surely this was true before? Does it take linking to them through an internet networking site for this to be true? Does linking on Facebook suddenly make this indisputable fact? And then I think, can friendships be facts? And then I think, perhaps I should be thinking about something else...
Friday, 14 March 2008
Little Dogs
It's hard to check your email with a dog on your knee.
And I'm discovering that it's even harder to write a blog post.
You see, at the moment my Little Dog spends most of the week at Supermum's house and usually the weekend at mine, although I haven't had her for a while what with reunion dinners and interviews down South. And when she's with me, she likes to be with me. She likes me to sit in the same spot so that she can comfortably go to sleep without fear of me not being there when she wakes up. And she likes to sit on my lap at all available opportunities. Usually, this would be on the floor - she likes to curl up on my legs if I sit crossed legged. I don't allow her on the bed or on the sofa - not that she takes any notice of this rule when I am not in the flat (or indeed in the room). But it seems today I'm not allowed to sit at my desk without company either. She has done this before when she was much smaller, and actually clicked send on an email I hadn't finished writing. Luckily, my employer to whom I was writing had cats and understood the problem when I sent the second part of the email with explanation.
You do have to understand though, when I say my Little Dog, she is not a lap dog. She's a mixed breed border collie sized dog. She was little when I got her and she still thinks she is. Hence, I'm typing a post with the (not so) Little Dog sitting on my knee...
And I'm discovering that it's even harder to write a blog post.
You see, at the moment my Little Dog spends most of the week at Supermum's house and usually the weekend at mine, although I haven't had her for a while what with reunion dinners and interviews down South. And when she's with me, she likes to be with me. She likes me to sit in the same spot so that she can comfortably go to sleep without fear of me not being there when she wakes up. And she likes to sit on my lap at all available opportunities. Usually, this would be on the floor - she likes to curl up on my legs if I sit crossed legged. I don't allow her on the bed or on the sofa - not that she takes any notice of this rule when I am not in the flat (or indeed in the room). But it seems today I'm not allowed to sit at my desk without company either. She has done this before when she was much smaller, and actually clicked send on an email I hadn't finished writing. Luckily, my employer to whom I was writing had cats and understood the problem when I sent the second part of the email with explanation.
You do have to understand though, when I say my Little Dog, she is not a lap dog. She's a mixed breed border collie sized dog. She was little when I got her and she still thinks she is. Hence, I'm typing a post with the (not so) Little Dog sitting on my knee...
Friday, 7 March 2008
At last
This is a very quick post. More soon on my trip down south and those with whom I shared train carriages. For now though, just a quick post to say I've finally got an internet connection at home! Hurrah!
This might mean more posts. This might mean more time wasted on the internet. It certainly will not mean that I am now available to my students 24/7 (I have come to enjoy not being able to deal with their emails over the weekend and, although I will respond to urgent ones, I don't intend to go back to letting students decide when my teaching-work hours are). I will, however, feel less nervous about working at home because I'll have library and internet search facilities at my finger tips. We take these things for granted when we have them, and when we don't, it's a bit scary!
It has been a long day so I'm going to call that it for now. Now I've got it, I might just switch off my connection again for tonight...
This might mean more posts. This might mean more time wasted on the internet. It certainly will not mean that I am now available to my students 24/7 (I have come to enjoy not being able to deal with their emails over the weekend and, although I will respond to urgent ones, I don't intend to go back to letting students decide when my teaching-work hours are). I will, however, feel less nervous about working at home because I'll have library and internet search facilities at my finger tips. We take these things for granted when we have them, and when we don't, it's a bit scary!
It has been a long day so I'm going to call that it for now. Now I've got it, I might just switch off my connection again for tonight...
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Keeping in Touch
Last weekend, Sees Through the Eyes of Children and I went to our Old School Reunion Dinner. We have been to these events before, but they are usually small affairs with very few people that we know. The good thing, of course, is that we always know someone, when we go together. The Nursery Teacher that Sees Through the Eyes of Children works with also went to our school, although some years before us. Standing alone because my sister had been called away for some committee business (she was in part responsible for organising this event), I waved wildly as Nursery Teacher arrived in the bar of the hotel where we held The Dinner - 'Ooooh, thank you for recognising me!' she said.
Others arrived, but I didn't see anyone from my year. Then Divorce Lawyer with whom I did A Level History (although she was a year above me in school) and Practice Nurse (who was in my class when we were 4, but was 'promoted' to a higher class because she was slightly older when the infant school grew) arrived. They are still in touch with each other - it's clear their friendship has stood strong for the years since school. Still no one from my year group though. Sees Through the Eyes of Children came back, and we spoke to other people we knew and faces we recognised. It was lovely to have so many people of such wide ranging ages in one place with something in common. It seems those from other year groups had not forgotten old arguments and rivalries though: 'You can see who she's with, can't you!' was mumbled to us by someone. The school has been closed for some years now. Maybe it's time to let that go, whatever it was...
Finally, after dinner, Sees Through the Eyes of Children and I found other members of our class. Accountants, Family Workers, all sorts of career choices had come from all over the UK to this gathering. And it was lovely to see them. They're still in touch with each other - much more than we have been in touch with them. There have been weddings (Congratulations!) and sadnesses since we last saw each other, but it was great to catch up with their news and see how they all are. And we talked about those who weren't there, and who had got married and who had children, and whose little sisters were getting married (this last was a little depressing to me in my singledom!). We all had a lovely evening. And it made me want to try harder to keep in touch.
I have resisted signing up to social networking sites like Facebook. I'm wary of how much information about me I put in the public domain, particularly as you cannot entirely delete yourself from Facebook if you decide to leave it. I am listed on Friends Reunited, and receive update emails whenever anyone in 'my places' adds news, but I have not actively used it to keep in touch. I should have. And, as all my schoolfriends that I met last Saturday evening are on Facebook, I might now give in to the peer pressure (not something I do often) and sign up. It seems to be a good way to stay in touch with those you don't see, or who are not close friends, but whose news you want to hear. For the one who is posting the news, it's passive communication. In our busy lives, sadly there is not always the time to write long letters, or speak on the phone to everyone we want to, or indeed to everyone we should. It's both a good and a bad thing about the internet and its communication revolutions that it facilitates such passivity. But some things should be told to people personally (through whatever medium). Time should be made for this. However easy social networking might now be, we should not be careless in our communications.
Our friends should be far too important for that.
Others arrived, but I didn't see anyone from my year. Then Divorce Lawyer with whom I did A Level History (although she was a year above me in school) and Practice Nurse (who was in my class when we were 4, but was 'promoted' to a higher class because she was slightly older when the infant school grew) arrived. They are still in touch with each other - it's clear their friendship has stood strong for the years since school. Still no one from my year group though. Sees Through the Eyes of Children came back, and we spoke to other people we knew and faces we recognised. It was lovely to have so many people of such wide ranging ages in one place with something in common. It seems those from other year groups had not forgotten old arguments and rivalries though: 'You can see who she's with, can't you!' was mumbled to us by someone. The school has been closed for some years now. Maybe it's time to let that go, whatever it was...
Finally, after dinner, Sees Through the Eyes of Children and I found other members of our class. Accountants, Family Workers, all sorts of career choices had come from all over the UK to this gathering. And it was lovely to see them. They're still in touch with each other - much more than we have been in touch with them. There have been weddings (Congratulations!) and sadnesses since we last saw each other, but it was great to catch up with their news and see how they all are. And we talked about those who weren't there, and who had got married and who had children, and whose little sisters were getting married (this last was a little depressing to me in my singledom!). We all had a lovely evening. And it made me want to try harder to keep in touch.
I have resisted signing up to social networking sites like Facebook. I'm wary of how much information about me I put in the public domain, particularly as you cannot entirely delete yourself from Facebook if you decide to leave it. I am listed on Friends Reunited, and receive update emails whenever anyone in 'my places' adds news, but I have not actively used it to keep in touch. I should have. And, as all my schoolfriends that I met last Saturday evening are on Facebook, I might now give in to the peer pressure (not something I do often) and sign up. It seems to be a good way to stay in touch with those you don't see, or who are not close friends, but whose news you want to hear. For the one who is posting the news, it's passive communication. In our busy lives, sadly there is not always the time to write long letters, or speak on the phone to everyone we want to, or indeed to everyone we should. It's both a good and a bad thing about the internet and its communication revolutions that it facilitates such passivity. But some things should be told to people personally (through whatever medium). Time should be made for this. However easy social networking might now be, we should not be careless in our communications.
Our friends should be far too important for that.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
The news in brief. Or not so brief...
Well, it's been quite a week (and it's only Tuesday!). Really, I mean in a 7 days sort of way...
Today at 2pm I gave a lecture I finished writing at 1pm and taught a class 1-2pm. Cutting it a bit fine, eh?
Yesterday I gave a lecture I finished last Friday. Had I finished it on Wednesday according to the original plan which, as ever, was foiled by my inability to decide when enough reading is enough, or force myself to sit and write things before the matter becomes urgent, I could have finished today's lecture before today. I say I could have, but well, see the stuff about sticking to plans I just said...
And last week was mid term reading week. I'm very glad I wasn't teaching then.
Tomorrow, I'm having one of my classes observed. I'm so tired from the seemingly unrelenting lecture prep I've been doing for a week (immediately after finishing the marking I've been doing for ... ever???) that I can't even think about tomorrow's class. Let's hope the students in that class come with their best 'enquiring minds' and are trying to help me out. Some of them will. They are bright students, who enjoy lively discussion and usually come prepared. Some of them, however, don't like me ever since I drew attention to the fact that I knew that when they were supposed to be doing group work they were actually talking about how to excuse yourself from seminar absences (I swear I heard, 'Well, when you look at it, you've got 4 grandparents' come out of one of their mouths - in the middle of a seminar, when they were supposed to be doing something else and I hadn't left the room. Come on boys, use your brains, just a little bit).
This weekend Sees Through the Eyes of Children and I are going to a school reunion. It seems that there will, this year, be more people there that we might know. Maybe a post on this at a later date.
The weekend after that I have an interview for a post doc job down south. Way down South. Hey, I'm trying to get back up North! This was not the plan.
I forgot to publicly congratulate Aspiring Author on his new job. Well done. This is not 'news' so much any more, but I don't want to miss him out.
Needs Buckets More Confidence has also just got a permanent teaching job at a place she wants to be. I'm so very very pleased for her too. Hopefully this will start to give you the Buckets More Confidence that you need.
I have signed up to an internet provider for the New Flat. Hopefully will be connected in the next week or so. I am looking forward to that with some excitement. I might then post more frequently. Who knows? That way, I wouldn't have to try to squeeze all news into one hurried post...
Today at 2pm I gave a lecture I finished writing at 1pm and taught a class 1-2pm. Cutting it a bit fine, eh?
Yesterday I gave a lecture I finished last Friday. Had I finished it on Wednesday according to the original plan which, as ever, was foiled by my inability to decide when enough reading is enough, or force myself to sit and write things before the matter becomes urgent, I could have finished today's lecture before today. I say I could have, but well, see the stuff about sticking to plans I just said...
And last week was mid term reading week. I'm very glad I wasn't teaching then.
Tomorrow, I'm having one of my classes observed. I'm so tired from the seemingly unrelenting lecture prep I've been doing for a week (immediately after finishing the marking I've been doing for ... ever???) that I can't even think about tomorrow's class. Let's hope the students in that class come with their best 'enquiring minds' and are trying to help me out. Some of them will. They are bright students, who enjoy lively discussion and usually come prepared. Some of them, however, don't like me ever since I drew attention to the fact that I knew that when they were supposed to be doing group work they were actually talking about how to excuse yourself from seminar absences (I swear I heard, 'Well, when you look at it, you've got 4 grandparents' come out of one of their mouths - in the middle of a seminar, when they were supposed to be doing something else and I hadn't left the room. Come on boys, use your brains, just a little bit).
This weekend Sees Through the Eyes of Children and I are going to a school reunion. It seems that there will, this year, be more people there that we might know. Maybe a post on this at a later date.
The weekend after that I have an interview for a post doc job down south. Way down South. Hey, I'm trying to get back up North! This was not the plan.
I forgot to publicly congratulate Aspiring Author on his new job. Well done. This is not 'news' so much any more, but I don't want to miss him out.
Needs Buckets More Confidence has also just got a permanent teaching job at a place she wants to be. I'm so very very pleased for her too. Hopefully this will start to give you the Buckets More Confidence that you need.
I have signed up to an internet provider for the New Flat. Hopefully will be connected in the next week or so. I am looking forward to that with some excitement. I might then post more frequently. Who knows? That way, I wouldn't have to try to squeeze all news into one hurried post...
Thursday, 21 February 2008
Google doesn't think like me...
I just typed 'cavaliers' into google and asked it to seach images. I get spaniels and basketball players and more spaniels and a rugby shirt.
But what I actually want is a cavalier. Supporter of king Charles with long hair and a big hat. This is what I asked for. Can I have one? No. Because these do not come up early in the google search (unless you want this, which I really don't.)
It's times like this that make me think I'm really out of touch what those outside academia do...
But what I actually want is a cavalier. Supporter of king Charles with long hair and a big hat. This is what I asked for. Can I have one? No. Because these do not come up early in the google search (unless you want this, which I really don't.)
It's times like this that make me think I'm really out of touch what those outside academia do...
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