Please sir, my brain is full

Wow, what a full week. Today I was back at my desk after two days of professional travels and talks. Yesterday was the annual pilgrimage to muggy Peebles (as opposed to peevish muggles) for the CILIPS Branch & Group Day. Arrived to bacon rolls – marvellous. What did the veggies have, I wonder? Caught two thirds of the presidential address – was in the relay room with dodgy sound link. I did suggest turning sound off and putting some Hawkwind on, as we used to with Masters of the Universe, but they weren’t game. Always end up squirming and thinking I should go forward and confess yes, I’m English and yes, I’m a loyal supporter of CILIP otherwise known as ‘expletive expletive Ridgmount St grrr grrr dour scowl’. To be fair it was more considered and less vitriolic than some I’ve heard. Recovered composure in time to deliver CDG Scottish session with the esteemed Isabel Hood (known reader of this spielette) on ‘Revalidation, Fellowship and the Timelord’s Guide to CPD’. Shameless abuse of analogy – for ’sonic screwdrivers’, read tips and tools, for ‘companions’, read mentoring and networks… audience indulgent, let us witter on and took part in the reflective paper exercises willingly. Or maybe they were writing their holiday packing lists. Ghost of Employer Present was there and even engaged in asking pertinent (as opposed to impertinent) questions.

After the slap-up lunch it was time for professional sector surfing, so went to hear about fabulous Library 10 music service in Helsinki and then got the lowdown on graphic novels and comics from rather wonderful Alan Grant, who I had not previously discovered. He confirmed what I already suspected: all publishers (bar one or two goodly souls) are evil money-grabbing b*stards. Well maybe they aren’t but like Damian Nobbs in my 8M class, they are tainting the rest by association.

This weekend I will be celebrating my official birthday. Hold the gifts; the real day isn’t till June 12th, but like the Queen I have to spread my engagements and make much of my jubilees. So it’s garden centre for some nice bedding plants, lunch out with my husband (CILIP widower) and go to see Indiana Jones. Might even be home for you-know-who set in the you-know-where, staying out of the you-know-what.

The time warrior

Well, after a week focusing a bit more on the immediate work environment, it’s time to catch up on all things CDG. I’ve spent this afternoon drafting papers for our National Council meeting which is only a few weeks away now – it’s the biggest business meeting in our calendar and I’m exhausted just thinking about it! Plus we have our Scottish Division AGM tomorrow at the Saltire Centre, Glasgow Caledonian Uni – I’ve visited before but I’m always interested to see how university libraries look (and sound!) at different times of the year. And this time next week I’ll be on my way to Cardiff for our national conference on workforce development.

This week’s Doctor Who classic DVD has been The Time Warrior – we’re back in the 1970s with Jon Pertwee. A Sontaran finds himself stuck in the early Middle Ages and has to make the most of the primitive technology he finds there. Meanwhile some scientists go missing from modern day England – the Sontaran officer is forcing them to work for him on some circuitry. Hot on their heels is of course the Doctor and, having stowed away on the TARDIS, investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith. It’s a marvellous meeting of multiple eras and personalities. I hope that we as information professionals can take something of Sarah’s approach – no nonsense; brave; able to process new situations and sources quickly; able to wear dubious fashions and still look cutting edge; able to connect with those around us, even when they may be hostile axe-wielding maniacs.

A further thought with reference to last night’s new episode: the Ood are ‘born with their brains in their hands’ – do librarian Ood have extra big hands in order to carry the collected wisdom of the ageas and to do their customers’ thinking for them?