On Topic

Just made a trip to the vending machine for Topic and Bounty bars for two of us. My excuse is that I have just drafted the longest email ever in response to an academic colleague’s 5 very searching questions on a paper I had drafted on information literacy within his School. You know these documents that cause major headaches at the time, come back to bit you after a month or two, and then still have to be redrafted before The Big Meeting where a wider group of people get to tear said document to shreds or else overlook it entirely? It’s that kind.

Just about to resume contacting staff re information literacy sessions for next semester. I would normally have done this by at least the end of June, which confirms my susipicion that I am running at least a month behind myself. Considering sporting a false moustache and trilby so as to pass through hostile crowds of neglected colleagues unseen… why do I always bump into the very person whose thing I’ve been studiously ignoring?

Get very excited when a Revalidation candidate contacts me and asks whether I can look through a draft submission. My first one so it will all be a bit experimental. Fortunately I know the Revalidee (Revalidant? Revalidator?) in question so we can hopefully engage in helpful conversation about the work.

I can see a few square inches of desk so things must be on the up slightly. Also made it to the gym at lunchtime and felt a lot better. Endorphins ahoy!

Back at Chateau Quick, we are regular visitors to the vet, mainly with one kit but tonight with the other one after a disturbed night of cat hoiking. Suspect her of munching small FBCs (Furry Bone Crunchers) in the farmland at the weekend. Recreational viewing is on the cards for tonight: video of last night’s Olympic dreams, which I am loving from the comfort of the sofa; Private Practice, as the RT put it – ‘for those who didn’t think Grey’s Anatomy was sexist enough’; and this week’s DVD of choice, the 1980s TV version of Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Considering going into counselling after seeing Douglas Adams’s bare bottom in episode 2. Mind you, a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster would just slip down round about now…

Till next time, keeeeep surfing…

Bones

Last night I stayed up too late and watched the pilot episode of Bones which friends had lent me. For the uninitiated like myself, it’s a drama series inspired by the life of Kathy Reichs, forensic anthropologist and author. I was thinking LIS work is not dissimilar. Customers bring us tiny fragments of information from which we reconstruct both the actual information request and the motivations and narratives behind it. Now all we need is fancy holographic technology and a team of photogenic squints to do our every bidding.

Happy Easter

It’s not a day for work or even for professional development; it’s a day for the LIFE bit of work-life balance. Why is it we feel guilty when we’re working and guity when we’re relaxing? Or is that just me? It’s been a great day so far. Blazing sunshine this morning (yes, really, in spite of the cold wind!) and I potted up two new patio roses and gave my Cordyline a haircut. Went to church and led part of the service. Joyous hymns but too many high notes! Cooked a roast dinner with Easter eggs to follow. Martyn has a Dalek Easter egg that goes ‘Exterminate’ . It’s a thing of wonder. Domestic dabbling this afternoon and some more holiday packing before the evening service. Saving a glass of wine to enjoy when watching TV adaptation of The colour of magic tonight. Martyn and I like to joke that rare unsigned copies of Pratchett books cost double the signed ones. He does get around, bless him.