Gillian Polack's Blog, page 57
August 11, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-11T18:03:00
Whenever I open my LJ to blog, I want to curl up and sleep. It's cause and effect.
I'm glad I came early. I get to spend quality time with friends, learn about sword-design for movies, do some work (for I cannot spend five weeks of my life sans work - I get rattled and the universe turns inside out) and, mostly, I get to deal ahead of Loncon. What is there to deal with? The air flights, it appears, have interesting side effects on people with inflmmatory conditions. I cannot walk very far (again). It's not as bad as it was, and I'm fine if I toddle, stand still, sit down and so on, but I can only achieve normal walking speed for 50 metres. I'd allowed for the possibility of this, and some things are gone from my programme (no Tower of London, no Kensington Gardens and quite possibly no Tate Britain). Some of the friends are now waiting to see me at Loncon, because another walk to the station in a day is not a good idea. This is only a mild setback, and I am recovering gently. It was also not unexpected, since I had the same problem in Melbourne for Continuum.
Despite the aches when I walk, I'm healthy and happy and having a wonderful time. I have demonstrated that my weather sense is as good in London as anywhere, and went out yesterday with a raincoat and strangers said 'Don't go out in this' and I did and it blew away in a migraine about the time I thought it would. I'm getting loads of handy advice from good-looking male strangers about ten years my senior. It's as if they're hanging round streets, watching for me. I also had a thoroughly cheerful conversation with a young chef called Chris yesterday. Does this mean I've lost my school principal air? One of my precious possessions, gone, gone, faded into the London smog...
I want to sleep. I always want to sleep at the moment - it's the side effect of the inflammation and will pass. Instead, I shall check some computer stuff out (since Kensignton Gardens are tempting, but one step too far) and sort out which route for Thursday has the fweest impossible changes, and see just where the Tate Britain is and if I have time to vist the 17th century before meeting a friend for some Middle Ages. I've wanted to visit a museum with this particular friend for a very long time, and finally we're in the same city as the right museums.
I'm not reading blogs while I'm away, BTW. I just don't have enough online time in a day. I miss you all, though.
I'm glad I came early. I get to spend quality time with friends, learn about sword-design for movies, do some work (for I cannot spend five weeks of my life sans work - I get rattled and the universe turns inside out) and, mostly, I get to deal ahead of Loncon. What is there to deal with? The air flights, it appears, have interesting side effects on people with inflmmatory conditions. I cannot walk very far (again). It's not as bad as it was, and I'm fine if I toddle, stand still, sit down and so on, but I can only achieve normal walking speed for 50 metres. I'd allowed for the possibility of this, and some things are gone from my programme (no Tower of London, no Kensington Gardens and quite possibly no Tate Britain). Some of the friends are now waiting to see me at Loncon, because another walk to the station in a day is not a good idea. This is only a mild setback, and I am recovering gently. It was also not unexpected, since I had the same problem in Melbourne for Continuum.
Despite the aches when I walk, I'm healthy and happy and having a wonderful time. I have demonstrated that my weather sense is as good in London as anywhere, and went out yesterday with a raincoat and strangers said 'Don't go out in this' and I did and it blew away in a migraine about the time I thought it would. I'm getting loads of handy advice from good-looking male strangers about ten years my senior. It's as if they're hanging round streets, watching for me. I also had a thoroughly cheerful conversation with a young chef called Chris yesterday. Does this mean I've lost my school principal air? One of my precious possessions, gone, gone, faded into the London smog...
I want to sleep. I always want to sleep at the moment - it's the side effect of the inflammation and will pass. Instead, I shall check some computer stuff out (since Kensignton Gardens are tempting, but one step too far) and sort out which route for Thursday has the fweest impossible changes, and see just where the Tate Britain is and if I have time to vist the 17th century before meeting a friend for some Middle Ages. I've wanted to visit a museum with this particular friend for a very long time, and finally we're in the same city as the right museums.
I'm not reading blogs while I'm away, BTW. I just don't have enough online time in a day. I miss you all, though.
August 8, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-08T18:23:00
I had a good journey, but am really glad I came a few days early and that I've said 'I can't' to about half the things people wanted me to do in these few days. The long trip and the heavy baggage have set me back to where I was a few months ago, movement-wise. I'm not on pain relivers today, though, which is a rather big something. It means that all I need is a couple of days of taking care. I can't stay in bed (alas) because I have to adjust to the time differences, but I can do 3 hours activity over about ten hours, wiht many breaks to sit and admire the flowers. I shall be admiring the flowers in the vicinity of St Pauls and Cheapside and will do some work for my Medieval London course.
Bottom line (for those who worry) all is better than it could have been. Although right now, 24 hours of sleep would be lovely, I shall take my day slowly, do the important stuff and not sweat the rest.
Yesterday my camera decided it would never work again. The power of SF fandom is such that someone fixed it (the battery was playing up - I took the battery out for an hour and now it's fine). This means that there was no jam today, but there will be jam tomorrow.
And this post was brought to you by both the University of London and the ANU, for technical reasons. I log into the University of London secure system (which is a big plus - I can eat breakkie in the basement refectory, check my email then do stuff) and then acess most other things through my own university. It's all a bit odd, though.
If I sit here much longer, I shall sleep, and what I need to do is find a phone shop. There were none visible yesterday. None. I walked many miles (well, 2, but I hurt) and there was no shop. For anyone Londonish who needs me, I'm at Connaught Hall. I'm mostly not, though, so phones are important.
Bottom line (for those who worry) all is better than it could have been. Although right now, 24 hours of sleep would be lovely, I shall take my day slowly, do the important stuff and not sweat the rest.
Yesterday my camera decided it would never work again. The power of SF fandom is such that someone fixed it (the battery was playing up - I took the battery out for an hour and now it's fine). This means that there was no jam today, but there will be jam tomorrow.
And this post was brought to you by both the University of London and the ANU, for technical reasons. I log into the University of London secure system (which is a big plus - I can eat breakkie in the basement refectory, check my email then do stuff) and then acess most other things through my own university. It's all a bit odd, though.
If I sit here much longer, I shall sleep, and what I need to do is find a phone shop. There were none visible yesterday. None. I walked many miles (well, 2, but I hurt) and there was no shop. For anyone Londonish who needs me, I'm at Connaught Hall. I'm mostly not, though, so phones are important.
August 5, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-06T08:55:00
They're drilling madly just outside my bedroom. Or just above my bedrooom, on the outside wall. I'm getting out of here for a little! My students need me. I need coffee, but at this moment, not being dinned is more important. More important than coffee? Well, it's big noise and much vibration and I've firmly decided that today is not the day of the migraine. The builders can fix our building without me personally cheering them on. (I am indeed cheering them on, though, even though it feels as if the whole thing will fall down any minute. I want it done and my place to be wonderfully uncracked!)
August 4, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-05T15:51:00
I have a mildly radical new haircut (I was talked into it and I said "Just as long as it's easy to take care of") and I have received my course evaluation for Sunday and I'm happy with the world. My new approach to worldbuilding worked rather well, it seems and people want more of it.
gillpolack @ 2014-08-05T11:07:00
I'm down to just two lists and the work has begun on the flat. I got five hours sleep last night and an extra hour in bed this morning. Also, I found my letterbox key. All these things mean that I'm a lot better than yesterday. It doesn't hurt that my reaction to the immunisation is diminishing*. It peaked yesterday and quite late last night (while I was working) it felt as if I'd been ill forever, but today all I have is a lump on my arm, fatigue and a general feeling of malaise. This means I should be totally up for anything tomorrow. Pity my students.
I have earned a big cup of tea. And I just want to chuckle at the builders. They started late (thankfully), they had to leave for forty-five minutes because they couldn't finish their scaffolding because they couldn't find the small piece and finally decided they had left it behind, and they only just started the noisy work an hour ago. This is how I got to go back to bed. Instead of having drilling on my bedroom wall at 7.30 am (for that was the plan today) it only started at 10.30 am. And I've had a radio play to entertain me the whole way. At one stage the (brick) wall was too hard and their drill just wasn't going to be able to deal. Just now they were talking about taking time off for lunch (it's 11 am). They haven't gone yet, though. What they've done is solve the drilling problem, which means my radio play is too noisy for comfort, so I'm going to have my tea and get my hair cut and run today's messages and take my time about it.
My world is a small world, but it's full of fun.
*Of course I get one of the larger reactions possible (not the extreme one, just at the difficult end of medium). And of course I get it a week later. And of course it's when I'm in the middle of things. All those years of being ill paid vast dividends yesterday, though. Id didn't do my best work ever, but I got through everything.
I have earned a big cup of tea. And I just want to chuckle at the builders. They started late (thankfully), they had to leave for forty-five minutes because they couldn't finish their scaffolding because they couldn't find the small piece and finally decided they had left it behind, and they only just started the noisy work an hour ago. This is how I got to go back to bed. Instead of having drilling on my bedroom wall at 7.30 am (for that was the plan today) it only started at 10.30 am. And I've had a radio play to entertain me the whole way. At one stage the (brick) wall was too hard and their drill just wasn't going to be able to deal. Just now they were talking about taking time off for lunch (it's 11 am). They haven't gone yet, though. What they've done is solve the drilling problem, which means my radio play is too noisy for comfort, so I'm going to have my tea and get my hair cut and run today's messages and take my time about it.
My world is a small world, but it's full of fun.
*Of course I get one of the larger reactions possible (not the extreme one, just at the difficult end of medium). And of course I get it a week later. And of course it's when I'm in the middle of things. All those years of being ill paid vast dividends yesterday, though. Id didn't do my best work ever, but I got through everything.
gillpolack @ 2014-08-04T21:43:00
I'm taking a break from taking a break. I managed to have an asthmatic day (actually the fourth running - it's the weather) alongside some side-effects from last week's injection. Nothing serious, and it doesn't stop me from doing anything that doesn't require my brain. Unfortunately, I need my brain. Anyhow, I'm doing a bit of serious work then stopping when things get daft then doing a bit more then stopping and so forth. I will continue until I'm finished, regardless of the hour. In my dreams, the hour is in about ten minutes, but this is purely wishful thinking.
Anyhow, I'd rather get the reaction now than in a few days time! And I will finish everything that needs finishing, because I am determined. And I shall now sort socks until my brain returns.
Anyhow, I'd rather get the reaction now than in a few days time! And I will finish everything that needs finishing, because I am determined. And I shall now sort socks until my brain returns.
August 3, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-03T19:52:00
My paper slaughter lasted until after 3 am and I was ready and raring to go by 7.30 am. By 'ready and raring' I mean, of course, half awake.
The market was a small shop this week, but it included a new type of navel orange and a big loaf of wood-fired oven bread. The bread was for my class, which arrived so early that I didn't get any reading done while the room warmed up.
This was the big test of my new world-building content and it went down very well. I think it did, anyhow. And the bread went down a treat,too, as did the coffee sweets. I brought the sweets because it was so cold last night (coldest night this year so far) and because I suspected people would need them: they did. One of my students had driven two hours to get there, too, so I gave her an extra one.
Thanks to one lovely, lovely person I was home at a reasonable hour and have had a nap between then and now. This means it's paperwork time again, and from 9.30, other work entirely. I need to type up my notes for today. Now that I've sorted out what will work (the nexus between theory and practice) I don't want to forget it! My days will be long until they're not, basically, but I outlasted my students (and, as I kept telling them very annoyingly, doing it on 3 hours sleep) so I'm fine. I'm living on coffee and vitamins and new oranges, but I'm fine. Speaking of coffee...
The market was a small shop this week, but it included a new type of navel orange and a big loaf of wood-fired oven bread. The bread was for my class, which arrived so early that I didn't get any reading done while the room warmed up.
This was the big test of my new world-building content and it went down very well. I think it did, anyhow. And the bread went down a treat,too, as did the coffee sweets. I brought the sweets because it was so cold last night (coldest night this year so far) and because I suspected people would need them: they did. One of my students had driven two hours to get there, too, so I gave her an extra one.
Thanks to one lovely, lovely person I was home at a reasonable hour and have had a nap between then and now. This means it's paperwork time again, and from 9.30, other work entirely. I need to type up my notes for today. Now that I've sorted out what will work (the nexus between theory and practice) I don't want to forget it! My days will be long until they're not, basically, but I outlasted my students (and, as I kept telling them very annoyingly, doing it on 3 hours sleep) so I'm fine. I'm living on coffee and vitamins and new oranges, but I'm fine. Speaking of coffee...
August 2, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-03T00:42:00
I have thwarted so much paper tonight. My recycling cup brims and spills all over the floor. I have one more form to think about (and it's a borderline one - I can't make up my mind if it ought to be done at all) and a few small notes to myself to answer* and then those decks are clear. I haven't made as much headway as I wanted to with my academic writing, but here aren't that many other things to run interference after teaching tomorrow.
Some of the things I've been doing have been catching up with friends by email. About a dozen people I care about were left in a strange limbo because I fell behind on my correspondence because this year has been what it has. I only have one to write now, and that's emotionally quite difficult. Friends have things happen to them and need a response at that moment, and life happens and you can't give the response and then life continues to happen and it all becomes hard. But the fun ones and fine ones have all been written, so if you haven't heard from me and you wrote, then your email is lost in some strange email limbo rather than in my inbox.
Now i have one more small paper skirmish, I think, before I make up my mind about that last form. When the outside temperature hits -4, however, I shall sleep, and the paper can war with itself instead of with me.
*I communicate to myself using scraps of paper. It makes life interesting.
Some of the things I've been doing have been catching up with friends by email. About a dozen people I care about were left in a strange limbo because I fell behind on my correspondence because this year has been what it has. I only have one to write now, and that's emotionally quite difficult. Friends have things happen to them and need a response at that moment, and life happens and you can't give the response and then life continues to happen and it all becomes hard. But the fun ones and fine ones have all been written, so if you haven't heard from me and you wrote, then your email is lost in some strange email limbo rather than in my inbox.
Now i have one more small paper skirmish, I think, before I make up my mind about that last form. When the outside temperature hits -4, however, I shall sleep, and the paper can war with itself instead of with me.
*I communicate to myself using scraps of paper. It makes life interesting.
gillpolack @ 2014-08-02T17:12:00
I'm working through my lists today and right now it feels as if I'm getting precisely nowhere. I have until 1 am to change this situation, for I run out of time for most things on the list sometime on Monday.
I'm nearly finished a book (nearly finished all the books! more things to cross of my lists!) and keep getting stuck on a chapter heading. There is no character called Donna in this novel. You need to know this. The chapter heading reads "Timeo Daemones et Donna Ferentes."
I'm nearly finished a book (nearly finished all the books! more things to cross of my lists!) and keep getting stuck on a chapter heading. There is no character called Donna in this novel. You need to know this. The chapter heading reads "Timeo Daemones et Donna Ferentes."
August 1, 2014
gillpolack @ 2014-08-01T17:32:00
I had a staff meeting this afternoon and someone offered me a lift home. I took it, for I am sensible. I checked the temperature when I got in and I'm triply glad of my being sensible, for it's less than three degrees and it's only 5.30. And it snowed on me earlier! Actually, it wasn't quite snow. It slushed on me earlier! And thus finishes my Day of Many Meetings. After I've had some time out for good behaviour, I enter on my Evening of Many Forms and Some Edits.
