D and I have spent the past week in Las Vegas while I attended the Modernist Studies Association conference at the famous (after seeing the stories in the Mob Museum, perhaps we should say 'infamous') Flamingo Hotel. We had never been to Vegas before - what totally crazy place! The Strip is unbelievable! Everything is shiny and shouty. We stayed at the MGM Signature which was a truly excellent choice as it is a non-gambling hotel and is slightly away from the centre. This meant that it was a lovely quiet retreat.
The conference itself was wonderful - very inspirational, some great keynotes, a spectacular (I really do mean that!) workshop from my new academic hero Helen Sword and some excellent panel papers, including a fair amount on unusual genres. I'm hoping to write an article for my work blog on new moves in modernism, based on all the modernist conferences I've been to this year. D and I ate very well indeed, and we even had time for a sunset trip to the Grand Canyon which was beautiful. On our way we visited both the Hoover Dam and (fulfilling a childhood dream) Route 66. All in all it was a very good trip indeed. D will get the photos on our account as quickly as we can just in case you're interested in that type of thing. Fortunately neither of us get jet lag so we slotted right back into Blighty life.
I've spent the past couple of days working on my paper for next week's research meeting at the University of Dundee. I'm really excited to have been invited up there and am looking forward to the event. I'm keeping it fairly relaxed and raising a few questions that will hopefully be of interest to anyone who engages with art in any way. I'm staying in Edinburgh for a day and a bit so I can spend some quality time in the library. This new book needs a bit more background research yet. Apart from work, life is very quiet indeed - a little wrestling, a little house tidying and a little reading. Lovely!
CSW
Friday, 26 October 2012
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Switching off
The thing about this sabbatical lark is that you find yourself withdrawing from things, particularly, I've found, social media. So if you are waiting for an email, a response to a Linkedin request or a tweet then I can only apologise. It is rather nice to exit things for a while...no, actually it is very nice. I don't think I had quite realised how plugged in to everything I had become over the past two years in Lincoln. It has been amazing, fun and challenging. But right now I am so glad and grateful to be spending long days (really long since D started his new job!) at home in the countryside and to concentrate on writing and reading, and reassessing my research priorities. It is an amazingly wonderful privilege and, trust me, I am really making the most of it.
The new book is coming along well. I felt as if I made a breakthrough yesterday. Writing an introductory book is quite a different undertaking from other things I've done and it requires a different voice and a different set of priorities. It's a very interesting process. I'm also completing a few other bits and pieces, including funding applications and conference abstracts. However, I'm trying as much as possible to focus on one project at a time.
Given that the days are long, I've been able to make much more of our wee country retreat and have been enjoying (OK, that might be a bit strong!) regular cross training workouts and runs through the fields. As the winter approaches (and you can feel this far more acutely in the country than in the city) I have found myself stockpiling and preparing like an old country wifey! On Saturday morning, as an example, D and I got up super early (I must be getting old, 7.30 now feels like a lie in!) and got the BBQ going. We cooked a piece of pork shoulder for 13 hours and ended up with 8 meals worth all in small freezer bags. I've been sorting through all our stuff and getting rid of things - shredding papers, taking clothes to the charity shop and getting rid of herbs I've had since 2007 (how does that happen?). I've been making lists of things we need and have even bought a tub of dried milk to keep at the back of the cupboard just in case the snow cuts us off. The idea of no builder's tea is the stuff of nightmares! So, the whole place is starting to feel organised and ready.
It has also meant that I've had way more time for reading and have been working my way through a heap of books. I'm currently wading through Asne Seierstad's traumatic The Angel of Grozny about the situation in Chechnya (I knew nothing about this before starting this book), Hemingway's equally traumatic For Whom the Bell Tolls (this is very different from what I expected - I'll do a proper review once I've finished it and have had time to process my thoughts), and have Kerouac's On the Road on my desk ready to go. With that list, I really feel I should find something more jolly to delve into. I've also been reading loads of 'intro to modernism' books both to remind me about the central issues of my field and to give me an idea if how to write a decent introductory book.
I've been enjoying Great British Bake Off (the only reality TV show allowed in our house other then...ahem...The Biggest Loser Australia which D and I got into for some unknown reason) and we've recently finished the HBO series Newsroom which, despite moments of total exasperation, was really good. We've got session 2 of Treme to begin as winter approaches.
And that is basically the world chez Warden. We have a quiet weekend in store. D is busy revising so I'll spend Saturday sorting our book shelves, a job I have been putting off since we moved into this house in March! But first we have to go to the garage to get our car fixed as poor D had a fight with a grouse the other night on his way home. D tried to avoid him but to no avail. You will be glad to know that the grouse (who we have nicknamed Gary - we name all the animals around our house) came of worse although he did cause a bit of damage. We might hit a few balls and grab some brunch while we're out and about.
Hope everyone is enjoying peaceful autumnal days.
CSW
The new book is coming along well. I felt as if I made a breakthrough yesterday. Writing an introductory book is quite a different undertaking from other things I've done and it requires a different voice and a different set of priorities. It's a very interesting process. I'm also completing a few other bits and pieces, including funding applications and conference abstracts. However, I'm trying as much as possible to focus on one project at a time.
Given that the days are long, I've been able to make much more of our wee country retreat and have been enjoying (OK, that might be a bit strong!) regular cross training workouts and runs through the fields. As the winter approaches (and you can feel this far more acutely in the country than in the city) I have found myself stockpiling and preparing like an old country wifey! On Saturday morning, as an example, D and I got up super early (I must be getting old, 7.30 now feels like a lie in!) and got the BBQ going. We cooked a piece of pork shoulder for 13 hours and ended up with 8 meals worth all in small freezer bags. I've been sorting through all our stuff and getting rid of things - shredding papers, taking clothes to the charity shop and getting rid of herbs I've had since 2007 (how does that happen?). I've been making lists of things we need and have even bought a tub of dried milk to keep at the back of the cupboard just in case the snow cuts us off. The idea of no builder's tea is the stuff of nightmares! So, the whole place is starting to feel organised and ready.
It has also meant that I've had way more time for reading and have been working my way through a heap of books. I'm currently wading through Asne Seierstad's traumatic The Angel of Grozny about the situation in Chechnya (I knew nothing about this before starting this book), Hemingway's equally traumatic For Whom the Bell Tolls (this is very different from what I expected - I'll do a proper review once I've finished it and have had time to process my thoughts), and have Kerouac's On the Road on my desk ready to go. With that list, I really feel I should find something more jolly to delve into. I've also been reading loads of 'intro to modernism' books both to remind me about the central issues of my field and to give me an idea if how to write a decent introductory book.
I've been enjoying Great British Bake Off (the only reality TV show allowed in our house other then...ahem...The Biggest Loser Australia which D and I got into for some unknown reason) and we've recently finished the HBO series Newsroom which, despite moments of total exasperation, was really good. We've got session 2 of Treme to begin as winter approaches.
And that is basically the world chez Warden. We have a quiet weekend in store. D is busy revising so I'll spend Saturday sorting our book shelves, a job I have been putting off since we moved into this house in March! But first we have to go to the garage to get our car fixed as poor D had a fight with a grouse the other night on his way home. D tried to avoid him but to no avail. You will be glad to know that the grouse (who we have nicknamed Gary - we name all the animals around our house) came of worse although he did cause a bit of damage. We might hit a few balls and grab some brunch while we're out and about.
Hope everyone is enjoying peaceful autumnal days.
CSW
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
Lincoln Academy Lecture
Last night I had the honour of speaking as part of the
Lincoln Academy series. This is the University of Lincoln’s way of connecting
our research with the local community. I spoke on the notion of
unperformability and the British avant-garde, so it also acted as my official
book launch. And I so enjoyed myself! The lecture went well and there were some
great questions afterwards. I loved the fact that the audience included a load
of students and colleagues, as well as local folks. And friends and the fam
were there to celebrate too. D resisted the urge to ask a difficult question!
By the end of the event (after the best canapés you will eat
anywhere in academia) I was exhausted and just about managed to eat a veggie
burger before crawling home. The whole thing reminded me of the importance of
connecting our research with those outside of academia. As humanities/arts
scholars it can be really easy to imagine that no one in the real world is the
least bit interested in slightly obscure archival work. Last night reminded me
that this is a total lie. Actually our scholarship has the potential to deeply
connect with people’s lives. Clearly it is more difficult to determine its
influence or importance, unlike, say, finding a cure for cancer or creating new
computing systems. But art is one of the things that makes us human – our
ability to create art (in its broadest sense) and to engage with/enjoy it. I
had some great chats afterwards and it was clear that folks really wanted to
connect with the ideas. I found the whole thing incredibly encouraging and it
was a great way to start my sabbatical proper. Being reminded of the importance
of art research (and my responsibility to engage non-university communities in
this research) was a fab prompt for me.
And so on with the sabbatical. The end of this week will be
dominated by a host of little jobs – articles to finish and papers to read. And
next week it is onwards and upwards with the new book. I love the thought that
I have space and time to focus on research, even though I miss the students.
Oh, and this is quite a fun new side project. As a colleague rightly said,
it is a good job I wasn’t reading ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (as an aside I haven’t
read it and will not be doing so…ever)
CSW
Portugal
What better way to start one’s sabbatical than with a jolly
trip to Portugal with the in-laws. The weather was amazing (an autumn tan is so
nice) and we enjoyed 7 days of pools, dolphins, boats, sea and food…lots of
food! Oh, and coconut/pineapple juice.
Wherever we go, D looks out the most promising restaurant in
the area. For this trip we found the wonderful Vila Joya, a beautiful hotel
looking out over the sea. We sat under sun umbrellas and enjoyed one of the
best meals we have ever eaten. I can’t even begin to tell you what we ate as
there were so many courses. And they were all delicious – really delicious!
Vila Joya also had two sweet love birds that I got to chat to after our food.
While on holiday I read two and a half books. The first was
triathlete Chrissie Wellington’s autobiography. I have had this on my coffee
table for two months and have been looking forward to reading it. It didn’t
disappoint. Wellington is a very inspiring athlete, someone who is disciplined
yet reassuringly normal…or at least as normal as anyone who does Ironman
events. I have been enjoying ‘Road to Kona’ on Sky Sports over the past few
weeks and really admire the Ironman guys. They are awesome, if slightly barmy.
D keeps suggesting I train for one – I’m afraid that I simply couldn’t cope
with the pain! I am, at heart, a big wuss.
The second was Neil Peart’s book about cycling in Cameroon.
I read his poignant ‘Ghost Rider’ earlier this month. This one was completely
different yet still had Peart’s intellectual approach. He is such an insightful
guy. Reading his books has made me admire Rush’s music (while not always liking
it). D is determined to convert me though as Rush plays almost constantly in
the car (though it must be said, that on the way back from the airport, he put
on a bit of The Boss for me – by the by, did you see that Bruce played until 2am the other night in NJ…the guy is a LEGEND!).
Anyways, the whole holiday was wonderful and relaxing.
Thanks to the in-laws for letting us come and crash their vacation!
CSW
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Where have you been?
When I compare myself with the rest of the blogosphere I am hugely embarrassed about my lack of posts. I do, however, have a list of good reasons...
1) Our internet has been playing up and causing huge problems. Finally Sky have decided to send a new router through so we are hoping to get back online soon. This has meant conducting all my business on my phone. For reference, this is hard work even though the iphone is clearly amazing!
2) I have had graduation and a three day conference in Kent. All went very well. The former was a jolly opportunity to celebrate with the marvellous third years. The conference in Kent was for the European Network of Avant-Garde and Modernism Studies. This was a very interesting event with some great papers and lots of prominent folks to schmooze with. We even took a couple of hours out to explore Canterbury Cathedral. I was excited that they had a plaque to commemorate where Thomas A Becket was killed. T.S. Eliot wrote a strange ol' play all about it. The cloisters were pretty beautiful too.
3) D has started his new job which means longer hours all round. This morning we got up at 5.30 and that is becoming pretty normal. Actually feeling pretty good on it and, if you start work at 7.30 after a jolly workout, some quiet time and double tea, then you really feel up for the day.
4) I have been doing a huge tidy up. The last time we moved, I realised quite how much stuff we had. Simply unbelievable for just two people! So, I decided to begin a big clear out and get rid of anything we didn't need. Yesterday I recycled all my old PhD notes. Crazy to think that when I started research I wrote everything by hand on lined paper. It was only six years ago and now feels almost Medieval!
Surely that is enough excuses! One of the good things about D working longer is the amount of reading I am getting done. I have read so many books over the past month. It has been wonderful, although I am reading a rather traumatic one about the Chechan war right now. I'll post about it when I've finished - suffice to say, I would really recommend finding out more about this conflict. Last night we enjoyed a wonderful BBQ with our friends. We reopened Pizzeria Warden and the food went down rather well. We then got a bonfire going and sat out until 10.30. We are making the most of those last summer days.
I am now officially on sabbatical and am loving the peace and quiet. I have so much time to read and write, and to make new research plans for the future. The fact that I am doing all this in one of my most favourite places (that'll be our lovely country house) makes me feel mega blessed.
So, that's the update for the time being.
CSW
1) Our internet has been playing up and causing huge problems. Finally Sky have decided to send a new router through so we are hoping to get back online soon. This has meant conducting all my business on my phone. For reference, this is hard work even though the iphone is clearly amazing!
2) I have had graduation and a three day conference in Kent. All went very well. The former was a jolly opportunity to celebrate with the marvellous third years. The conference in Kent was for the European Network of Avant-Garde and Modernism Studies. This was a very interesting event with some great papers and lots of prominent folks to schmooze with. We even took a couple of hours out to explore Canterbury Cathedral. I was excited that they had a plaque to commemorate where Thomas A Becket was killed. T.S. Eliot wrote a strange ol' play all about it. The cloisters were pretty beautiful too.
3) D has started his new job which means longer hours all round. This morning we got up at 5.30 and that is becoming pretty normal. Actually feeling pretty good on it and, if you start work at 7.30 after a jolly workout, some quiet time and double tea, then you really feel up for the day.
4) I have been doing a huge tidy up. The last time we moved, I realised quite how much stuff we had. Simply unbelievable for just two people! So, I decided to begin a big clear out and get rid of anything we didn't need. Yesterday I recycled all my old PhD notes. Crazy to think that when I started research I wrote everything by hand on lined paper. It was only six years ago and now feels almost Medieval!
Surely that is enough excuses! One of the good things about D working longer is the amount of reading I am getting done. I have read so many books over the past month. It has been wonderful, although I am reading a rather traumatic one about the Chechan war right now. I'll post about it when I've finished - suffice to say, I would really recommend finding out more about this conflict. Last night we enjoyed a wonderful BBQ with our friends. We reopened Pizzeria Warden and the food went down rather well. We then got a bonfire going and sat out until 10.30. We are making the most of those last summer days.
I am now officially on sabbatical and am loving the peace and quiet. I have so much time to read and write, and to make new research plans for the future. The fact that I am doing all this in one of my most favourite places (that'll be our lovely country house) makes me feel mega blessed.
So, that's the update for the time being.
CSW
Friday, 24 August 2012
Screens, screens, screens
So, this lunchtime at Chez Warden my desk looked like the Batcave as I had three different screens on the go trying to keep up with the Guardian Higher Ed chat (I was a panelist and had a very jolly time) while attempting to solve some image issues for a journal article. I am hoping that everything worked just fine.
It has been a good week of projects and I have got most things done, including my Lincoln Academy lecture which is now finished at 49 minutes ish. It feels pretty good actually. I feel very privileged to be giving a Lincoln Academy lecture and it has been a great reminder of the need to make academic work accessible to a broad audience. This is a great challenge. I also did a bit of thinking/walking/thinking/walking about another book project which I have been putting together for a while. While wandering along with my notebook in hand I met a small frog that we have called Jumpy. That means that in our beautiful garden we have Harry the hedgehog, Cyril the squirrel and his girlfriend (who doesn't have a name at the moment), the duckies, the bunnies, the brave Ranciere-loving fieldmouse, Zach our neighbour's wonderful dog, a deer that hides a lot and Jumpy. It's practically a zoo! I love living here.
At the moment work is taking up a good lot of time and I am really enjoying it. In our relaxing evenings we have been watching two new HBO offerings - Veep (which I am not all that fond of, although last night's episode had some very funny lines) and Newsroom (which I love but led to a very long conversation between me and D the other night). HBO are just the best! I've also been working out, enjoying a bit of golf and cooking more. I've finally found time and inclination to get back into cooking. When we first moved to Lincoln we left behind a huge kitchen and acquired the tiniest box ever. It made cooking a little more difficult and I got out of the habit of experimenting and simply hanging out in there. I'm glad to say that I've refound my vigour over the past few weeks.
Anyways, I have a couple more jobs to do before Friday is finished. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
CSW
It has been a good week of projects and I have got most things done, including my Lincoln Academy lecture which is now finished at 49 minutes ish. It feels pretty good actually. I feel very privileged to be giving a Lincoln Academy lecture and it has been a great reminder of the need to make academic work accessible to a broad audience. This is a great challenge. I also did a bit of thinking/walking/thinking/walking about another book project which I have been putting together for a while. While wandering along with my notebook in hand I met a small frog that we have called Jumpy. That means that in our beautiful garden we have Harry the hedgehog, Cyril the squirrel and his girlfriend (who doesn't have a name at the moment), the duckies, the bunnies, the brave Ranciere-loving fieldmouse, Zach our neighbour's wonderful dog, a deer that hides a lot and Jumpy. It's practically a zoo! I love living here.
At the moment work is taking up a good lot of time and I am really enjoying it. In our relaxing evenings we have been watching two new HBO offerings - Veep (which I am not all that fond of, although last night's episode had some very funny lines) and Newsroom (which I love but led to a very long conversation between me and D the other night). HBO are just the best! I've also been working out, enjoying a bit of golf and cooking more. I've finally found time and inclination to get back into cooking. When we first moved to Lincoln we left behind a huge kitchen and acquired the tiniest box ever. It made cooking a little more difficult and I got out of the habit of experimenting and simply hanging out in there. I'm glad to say that I've refound my vigour over the past few weeks.
Anyways, I have a couple more jobs to do before Friday is finished. Hope everyone has a great weekend.
CSW
Monday, 13 August 2012
Back to serious work
So, having spent the past month living between Lincoln and Stockport (thanks Mum and Dad for being great hosts!) we are finally back at home and I have a month to do five different projects. I am managing my time very carefully right now using a cool new app called 30/30 which I would recommend to anyone trying to manage their hours effectively. I have got loads done already today and have squeezed in a tough workout (I have refound the wonderful Zuzana on youtube - her workouts are short but fierce!). Lunch is beckoning and I have to freeze a lot of meat during my lunchbreak. On Saturday D went all 'American grill' on me and smoked a piece of pork for 12 hours straight on his new BBQ. I am not a huge meat eater but it is absolutely amazing! And there are so many leftovers!
I am always relieved when a big sporting event finishes, especially the Olympics. It's been fun but I'm glad not to have to keep checking what's going on in the handball! In fact last night I deleted my London 2012 app from my phone. TV takes up considerably less of my time when there isn't 24 hr sport on. We are not very 'Team GB' in our house and my favourite moment of the games was Michael Phelps in the pool. He is just unbelievable and seems to be a genuinely nice chap. I guess the Brownlees' successes in the Triathlon were a close second. Alistair ran his 10K only 20 secs slower that Mo's. That is incredible!
Last night, in an attempt to avoid the horrors of the closing ceremony (opening ceremony was good, closing ceremony looked bad from the rumours so I steered clear - my Twitter feed this morning confirmed that this was a good plan), I sat back at read Neil Peart's (Rush drummer's) amazingly sad book Ghost Rider. It is great and extremely thought-provoking. I then cleaned the BBQ, tidied the bedroom and kept one eye of the golf (hoorah Rory!) which D enjoyed very much. Rock n' roll evening!
The month of August is completely clear. I have NOTHING in my diary at all. This is how I planned it (I've not just run out of friends, although...) as I really want to crack on with research work. I absolutely love my job and am just getting a taste of what my sabbatical is going to be like - long days with no distractions, an open Macbook, good music, tea and some real, manageable goals. It is a little duller outside today than it has been but the birds are happily jumping about so all is well.
Anyways, lunch beckons if I'm to keep on track for today. Lots of new articles and conference papers to bore you with are planned for this afternoon. I have finally started the article I have the funding for (probably a good idea to start that one!) and am loving the material. It is fascinating!
Hope everyone is having a good Olympic-free day.
CSW
I am always relieved when a big sporting event finishes, especially the Olympics. It's been fun but I'm glad not to have to keep checking what's going on in the handball! In fact last night I deleted my London 2012 app from my phone. TV takes up considerably less of my time when there isn't 24 hr sport on. We are not very 'Team GB' in our house and my favourite moment of the games was Michael Phelps in the pool. He is just unbelievable and seems to be a genuinely nice chap. I guess the Brownlees' successes in the Triathlon were a close second. Alistair ran his 10K only 20 secs slower that Mo's. That is incredible!
Last night, in an attempt to avoid the horrors of the closing ceremony (opening ceremony was good, closing ceremony looked bad from the rumours so I steered clear - my Twitter feed this morning confirmed that this was a good plan), I sat back at read Neil Peart's (Rush drummer's) amazingly sad book Ghost Rider. It is great and extremely thought-provoking. I then cleaned the BBQ, tidied the bedroom and kept one eye of the golf (hoorah Rory!) which D enjoyed very much. Rock n' roll evening!
The month of August is completely clear. I have NOTHING in my diary at all. This is how I planned it (I've not just run out of friends, although...) as I really want to crack on with research work. I absolutely love my job and am just getting a taste of what my sabbatical is going to be like - long days with no distractions, an open Macbook, good music, tea and some real, manageable goals. It is a little duller outside today than it has been but the birds are happily jumping about so all is well.
Anyways, lunch beckons if I'm to keep on track for today. Lots of new articles and conference papers to bore you with are planned for this afternoon. I have finally started the article I have the funding for (probably a good idea to start that one!) and am loving the material. It is fascinating!
Hope everyone is having a good Olympic-free day.
CSW
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)