Well, it's been quite a summer. We travelled for over three weeks, perhaps the longest trip we've ever done together, and I have so many great things to tell you about that I don't know where to start!
We began in Iceland where I finally fulfilled a dream of riding a beautiful Icelandic horse. Wow, they are super speedy but also very comfortable. We also went to the bottom of a volcano (the only place in the world you can do this) and ate at a stonking restaurant called the Grill Market. Next we flew out to San Diego and spent five days at the zoo, Chargers game, pottering in La Jolla and Torrey Pines, exploring the USS Midway and just generally enjoying this amazing and beautiful city. Next we caught the train to LA (actually Burbank) and picked up our hire car. This was the first time driving in the US but D did just great in his massive Chevy Tahoe. We headed up to Malibu where we hiked in the Santa Monica mountains, ate amazing fish, swam in the sea, visited the Getty Villa and drove about enjoying all the little communities that side of LA.
Then we drove up to Topanga and stayed a couple of nights in the mountains in a beautiful, eccentric hideaway. While here we went to the Getty Center, worked out LA style at Burn 60 and watched a performance of Midsummer at the Theatricum Botanicum. We returned the car and headed back to central LA for a few nights for a Dodgers game, a tour around Hollywood and the city, and WWE Summerslam at the Staples Center. Then we flew north to Banff for a couple of days in the Canadian mountains for lots of walking and glacier exploring. We took the Greyhound bus to Lacombe to visit our besties and their sweet family there, and D fulfilled his lifetime ambition(!) by going to the West Edmonton Mall. Then we flew out of Edmonton to Vancouver which remains one of our favourite cities in the world. The weather was warm again (lovely after a couple of freezing days in Alberta) and we took a tour of Gastown, ate amazing sandwiches, watched a BC Lions game, took a trip in a speed boat, visited Granville Island and enjoyed a celebratory last night meal at Market by Jean Georges.
So, just a typical Warden holiday of adventures and excitement. It was such a great trip. We met loads of super cool people along the way, staying in Air BnB homes, visiting welcoming churches, chatting to folks in shops. For the first time ever I have had a bit of post-holiday blues. Usually I am glad to go on an adventure but also glad to get home. This holiday I could have stayed in Vancouver for at least another week enjoying the warm sun and the cool vibe. We've been back three days and I am starting to get used to not having iced tea on tap, not being too friendly in shops and the chilly autumnal weather than has started to arrive in the UK.
This term is full of exciting stuff though so I'm focusing on all that. Plenty of conferences, collaborations, projects, trips. I have completed my term plan for up to Christmas and it is FULL!
Hope your summer was amazing and that you have exciting adventures planned for the autumn.
CSW
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Monday, 21 July 2014
Research, sport, research, sport
So, summer has been full of excitement so far. The past few weeks have been full of sport chez Warden: football, golf, cricket. A certain gentleman (D) wearing a Mario Gotze Germany shirt was extremely happy with the final World Cup result.
What have we been up to? We've seen both sets of parents and enjoyed BBQs and just hanging out. Living pretty far away from our families means that when we do catch up it is always super fun.
In other news: we signed off all the marks and students received their results. Happiness seemed to be the over-riding emotion of our third years. We enjoyed our research day away on the 7th. Our department has five research groups: I organise the one on Popular Performance. Lots of interesting projects in the pipeline. And I enjoyed a jolly trip to London to participate in my PhD student's performance project. This was the second time we have ventured out to the Olympic Park to take part in this and we had a great day: certainly warmer than the last time we did it!
Apart from this, we've both been working hard in the lead up to our summer trip. The final weeks of July are all about clearing the decks. Often it means pretty long days. My research summer has been going pretty well. After starting with hugely ambitious plans to write a load, I realised that actually the best way I could use summer was to plan the whole book. This has meant days of thinking where I have been disappointed at my lack of words. However, today I finished my final book plan and I am delighted with it. I really feel I've got a strong project now. Cue relief...lots of relief. I've also been writing short articles, sorting out guest editorships for journals and filling in funding forms, as well as writing my paper for the TaPRA conference coming up once we're back from holidays. All in all I'm pretty happy with the way the research is going.
I've also spent a good deal of time thinking about future goals and plans. Funnily enough I still work from September to September so am more likely to make 'new year' resolutions in September than in January. I've been enjoying a mixed exercise regime and am hoping to ramp this up in the new term, perhaps take on a really big challenge...but that is for the future.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is having a terrific summer whatever you are doing: a bit of work and a bit of play.
CSW
What have we been up to? We've seen both sets of parents and enjoyed BBQs and just hanging out. Living pretty far away from our families means that when we do catch up it is always super fun.
In other news: we signed off all the marks and students received their results. Happiness seemed to be the over-riding emotion of our third years. We enjoyed our research day away on the 7th. Our department has five research groups: I organise the one on Popular Performance. Lots of interesting projects in the pipeline. And I enjoyed a jolly trip to London to participate in my PhD student's performance project. This was the second time we have ventured out to the Olympic Park to take part in this and we had a great day: certainly warmer than the last time we did it!
Apart from this, we've both been working hard in the lead up to our summer trip. The final weeks of July are all about clearing the decks. Often it means pretty long days. My research summer has been going pretty well. After starting with hugely ambitious plans to write a load, I realised that actually the best way I could use summer was to plan the whole book. This has meant days of thinking where I have been disappointed at my lack of words. However, today I finished my final book plan and I am delighted with it. I really feel I've got a strong project now. Cue relief...lots of relief. I've also been writing short articles, sorting out guest editorships for journals and filling in funding forms, as well as writing my paper for the TaPRA conference coming up once we're back from holidays. All in all I'm pretty happy with the way the research is going.
I've also spent a good deal of time thinking about future goals and plans. Funnily enough I still work from September to September so am more likely to make 'new year' resolutions in September than in January. I've been enjoying a mixed exercise regime and am hoping to ramp this up in the new term, perhaps take on a really big challenge...but that is for the future.
In the meantime, I hope everyone is having a terrific summer whatever you are doing: a bit of work and a bit of play.
CSW
Tuesday, 1 July 2014
A great conference
Howdie friends!
So, last week I had the great pleasure of heading down to London and presenting at the British Association of Modernist Studies conference, 'Modernism Now!' It was such a great week of modernist scholarship - loads of lovely folks, some amazing research and a chance to sneak into the British library to do a bit of reading. This conference was all about updating historical scholarship and asking what it has to say to us today. This is one of my central enquiries right now so it was exciting to be at a conference that had this as the focus.
Apart from that, we've had a certain someone's birthday (he is pretty old but won't, unfortunately, ever be as old as me) and I did the 10K Race for Life at Clumber Park. Given that I am still getting back to fitness after my April illness, I was pretty chuffed that I completed it in a respectable (if not particularly speedy) time. It was a really nice place to run anyways.
The end of term came and went. Marks were signed off and all went well. It is lovely to now be deep into research time. I am spending long days reading, writing and thinking. This is one of my favourite months of the year. It is made all the better by the sunny weather, the little family of ducks who are still hanging around, the baby rabbits and (this morning) a bright green woodpecker sunning itself in the garden.
This week I have a few meetings and things, some writing to do and the great joy of the in-laws arriving at the weekend. Hoping for sunshine so we can BBQ.
Hope everyone is doing really well.
CSW
So, last week I had the great pleasure of heading down to London and presenting at the British Association of Modernist Studies conference, 'Modernism Now!' It was such a great week of modernist scholarship - loads of lovely folks, some amazing research and a chance to sneak into the British library to do a bit of reading. This conference was all about updating historical scholarship and asking what it has to say to us today. This is one of my central enquiries right now so it was exciting to be at a conference that had this as the focus.
Apart from that, we've had a certain someone's birthday (he is pretty old but won't, unfortunately, ever be as old as me) and I did the 10K Race for Life at Clumber Park. Given that I am still getting back to fitness after my April illness, I was pretty chuffed that I completed it in a respectable (if not particularly speedy) time. It was a really nice place to run anyways.
The end of term came and went. Marks were signed off and all went well. It is lovely to now be deep into research time. I am spending long days reading, writing and thinking. This is one of my favourite months of the year. It is made all the better by the sunny weather, the little family of ducks who are still hanging around, the baby rabbits and (this morning) a bright green woodpecker sunning itself in the garden.
This week I have a few meetings and things, some writing to do and the great joy of the in-laws arriving at the weekend. Hoping for sunshine so we can BBQ.
Hope everyone is doing really well.
CSW
Friday, 13 June 2014
Coming to an end...
Today's emails can be put into two categories: interesting researchy stuff and data processing, marking stuff. This about sums up this time of year to be honest. It's a transition period, moving between different ways of viewing the idea of work. While there are a couple of bits and pieces still to be signed off, term is definitely winding down. The sun is out (most of the time) and I've made various plans and goals for the next few months - lots of writing goals but also some off the wall bits and pieces.
So, what has been going on? Marking certainly, but a number of other fun things. A few films (Philomena was particularly good), some jolly reading (a book about John Bunyan and one about the British Museum), a great conference at the University of Hull (where I took part in a performed reading of a C10th play by a nun called Hrotsvit) and some challenging horse riding.
Last night we had the great joy of heading over to Holmfirth for an Asia gig. Asia were my gateway into rock music some 7 years ago, so I have real affection for that band. They played a really great gig - lots of my favourites. It was, however, so loud that my ears are still ringing now. Put three rock legends (and a new lead guitarist) together and you will always have a loud gig!
So as term comes to an end, all my projects get going. I've got a lot on the go right now - books, chapters, edited collections, journal articles, funding bids, and bits and pieces. I've made some very strict plans for this summer in an attempt to get words down on the screen and not worry too much about craft etc. And it'll all be completed with a sporting soundtrack in the background. We are rather spoilt for choice: cricket tests, hockey world cup, rugby internationals, the World Cup (obvs), US Open, Wimbledon. And my beloved WWE never takes a break. It's rather nice to work to the noises of physical exertion elsewhere in the world.
Hope you are well wherever you are.
CSW
So, what has been going on? Marking certainly, but a number of other fun things. A few films (Philomena was particularly good), some jolly reading (a book about John Bunyan and one about the British Museum), a great conference at the University of Hull (where I took part in a performed reading of a C10th play by a nun called Hrotsvit) and some challenging horse riding.
Last night we had the great joy of heading over to Holmfirth for an Asia gig. Asia were my gateway into rock music some 7 years ago, so I have real affection for that band. They played a really great gig - lots of my favourites. It was, however, so loud that my ears are still ringing now. Put three rock legends (and a new lead guitarist) together and you will always have a loud gig!
So as term comes to an end, all my projects get going. I've got a lot on the go right now - books, chapters, edited collections, journal articles, funding bids, and bits and pieces. I've made some very strict plans for this summer in an attempt to get words down on the screen and not worry too much about craft etc. And it'll all be completed with a sporting soundtrack in the background. We are rather spoilt for choice: cricket tests, hockey world cup, rugby internationals, the World Cup (obvs), US Open, Wimbledon. And my beloved WWE never takes a break. It's rather nice to work to the noises of physical exertion elsewhere in the world.
Hope you are well wherever you are.
CSW
Thursday, 22 May 2014
A bit of wrestling, a lot of assessing, some personal development and an award!
I've had a couple of great if slightly exhausting weeks. First up, two weeks of performance assessments. I saw some terrific stuff during the fortnight: some really thoughtful, interesting takes on the brief. The two performance courses I teach are pretty tough for first year students to get their heads around, but, by and large, folks did a great job.
As a break halfway through, I attended a totally brilliant personal development workshop called (wait for it...) Woman of Power. Despite sounding rather scary, it was actually terrific. I learnt a heap about body language, selling yourself and identifying your talents. It was very interesting to see that my talents are also my weaknesses. If you are around the Lincoln area then keep a look out for Sue Ritchie's training workshops. She is pretty ace. We have a follow up meeting in a couple of weeks and I have a lot of thinking/prep to do.
For those of you who don't know (or woebetide you, don't care) the WWE has been in town and D and I went to Nottingham to watch the house show. D got front row tickets. There were some terrific matches and being so close to the guys was amazing. Not only did the very lovely Mark Henry throw me his shirt (a useful size 4XL btw) but I got pictures take with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, two members of my current favourite group: The Shield. Here I am with the delectably amazing Roman:
As a break halfway through, I attended a totally brilliant personal development workshop called (wait for it...) Woman of Power. Despite sounding rather scary, it was actually terrific. I learnt a heap about body language, selling yourself and identifying your talents. It was very interesting to see that my talents are also my weaknesses. If you are around the Lincoln area then keep a look out for Sue Ritchie's training workshops. She is pretty ace. We have a follow up meeting in a couple of weeks and I have a lot of thinking/prep to do.
For those of you who don't know (or woebetide you, don't care) the WWE has been in town and D and I went to Nottingham to watch the house show. D got front row tickets. There were some terrific matches and being so close to the guys was amazing. Not only did the very lovely Mark Henry throw me his shirt (a useful size 4XL btw) but I got pictures take with Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins, two members of my current favourite group: The Shield. Here I am with the delectably amazing Roman:
Awesome huh?
This week I have been down in London to accept an award from the Society for Theatre Research. I am so grateful to the Society for recognising my work. I was a lovely night of celebration.
We have a lovely quiet weekend in store: riding, tidying, marking and perhaps a film. I am starting to make the transition from teaching into research mode and am setting some pretty tough targets for myself. We'll see how they go. For now, I'm off to do a workout and finish the washing up. Always rock n' roll chez Warden.
CSW
Saturday, 3 May 2014
Tech
This week I have been mostly learning about tech. It is 'tech week' in the department and students have been busily messing around with lighting and audio things in readiness for performance fortnight which starts on Monday. While this means my days become pretty fragmented and bitty, I do quite enjoy tech week. There's going to be some great stuff coming up... Other than tech stuff I have spent the week doing lots of little jobs: booking conferences, reading books, completing abstracts, finishing dissertation marking.
We have just finished our first BBQ of the year Chez Warden. It has been a rather beautiful day although it's pretty chilly right now. We are now preparing for a rather bigger BBQ on Monday when our dear friends come to visit from Leeds.
This week I was involved in a transatlantic communication through the power of Google docs. It was pretty amazing to be able to realtime chat over such huge distances and to see my colleague edit our collaborative document which changed immediately on my screen. This is all leading to a edited collection on pro-wrestling and performance. Initially I always thought that my pro-wrestling work would just be a fun aside for those days when modernism just didn't float my boat. But it's ended up being a major part of my research portfolio. Rather remarkable really!
Anyways, having spent the afternoon writing an article on the Kelpies, I think it is probably time to shut down the computer, do a bit of yoga and have a chilled evening.
CSW
We have just finished our first BBQ of the year Chez Warden. It has been a rather beautiful day although it's pretty chilly right now. We are now preparing for a rather bigger BBQ on Monday when our dear friends come to visit from Leeds.
This week I was involved in a transatlantic communication through the power of Google docs. It was pretty amazing to be able to realtime chat over such huge distances and to see my colleague edit our collaborative document which changed immediately on my screen. This is all leading to a edited collection on pro-wrestling and performance. Initially I always thought that my pro-wrestling work would just be a fun aside for those days when modernism just didn't float my boat. But it's ended up being a major part of my research portfolio. Rather remarkable really!
Anyways, having spent the afternoon writing an article on the Kelpies, I think it is probably time to shut down the computer, do a bit of yoga and have a chilled evening.
CSW
Monday, 21 April 2014
Quite an April!
March might have only had one post but you are very lucky to have an April update at all! It's been quite a month so far having contracted acute viral labyrinthitis. This rather horrible virus gives you terrible vertigo and leaves you feeling super sick. It involved a couple of hospital trips and a week of lying about at my dear ol' mum and dad's house getting waited on. Having been struck by the illness on the Friday, by Thursday I was travelling through to De Montfort to give a paper at the Literature and Physical Culture conference. I was really looking forward to this conference and on Wednesday morning I didn't think I'd be able to do it. But with some parental guidance (you are never too old for that, right?) I made it and really enjoyed the conference. Some excellent, interesting, diverse scholarship on a range of topics. I spoke on pro-wrestling and it went down really rather well. I even got a question about the Undertaker's transformation into the American Bad Ass - that was unexpected!
After that I spent a few days resting up before getting back to writing (today is Easter Monday and I have just about managed to catch up with my work 'to do' list!) and some dissertation marking. Then it was off for a night at beautiful Greywalls hotel. I hadn't really eaten properly since the illness so I was looking forward to a brilliant meal. Although D had to help me out, I did manage my customary double Greywalls souffle! We then headed up to Montrose (to visit family) and then back to Edinburgh for some jolly days with the family. This Easter break has been dominated by a lot of chocolate eggs, Porto and Fi Eggs Benedict twice in three days(!) and Disney's Frozen, a favourite with our niece. I now have the soundtrack going round and round my head.
For the rest of this week: I have a couple of trips planned (to London and then to Hull), a quiet weekend and then three assessment weeks. The next month is always utterly chaotic - long days in dark studios watching upwards of 40 drama performances. Phew!
This year I have had monthly themes that I've tried to work on. After making lots of plans for April, the whole thing was disrupted by the illness. So, my April theme has become 'rest'. And, rather unsurprisingly, it has worked rather well! I have had to take time out of my tough exercise regime. I have slept a lot more than usual. I've simply done what I've felt like. This theme is going to continue through the assessment period...which is going to be a challenge! But I'm determined to take breaks, walk at lunch time and take things slowly.
Lots of exciting things planned for the next few months: gigs, trips, research, books, films, bbqs, new challenges. Always glad when a horrid illness reminds you a) that illness is yucky and I should be more compassionate towards those who suffer physical afflictions everyday and b) I should use my health to do great things.
CSW
After that I spent a few days resting up before getting back to writing (today is Easter Monday and I have just about managed to catch up with my work 'to do' list!) and some dissertation marking. Then it was off for a night at beautiful Greywalls hotel. I hadn't really eaten properly since the illness so I was looking forward to a brilliant meal. Although D had to help me out, I did manage my customary double Greywalls souffle! We then headed up to Montrose (to visit family) and then back to Edinburgh for some jolly days with the family. This Easter break has been dominated by a lot of chocolate eggs, Porto and Fi Eggs Benedict twice in three days(!) and Disney's Frozen, a favourite with our niece. I now have the soundtrack going round and round my head.
For the rest of this week: I have a couple of trips planned (to London and then to Hull), a quiet weekend and then three assessment weeks. The next month is always utterly chaotic - long days in dark studios watching upwards of 40 drama performances. Phew!
This year I have had monthly themes that I've tried to work on. After making lots of plans for April, the whole thing was disrupted by the illness. So, my April theme has become 'rest'. And, rather unsurprisingly, it has worked rather well! I have had to take time out of my tough exercise regime. I have slept a lot more than usual. I've simply done what I've felt like. This theme is going to continue through the assessment period...which is going to be a challenge! But I'm determined to take breaks, walk at lunch time and take things slowly.
Lots of exciting things planned for the next few months: gigs, trips, research, books, films, bbqs, new challenges. Always glad when a horrid illness reminds you a) that illness is yucky and I should be more compassionate towards those who suffer physical afflictions everyday and b) I should use my health to do great things.
CSW
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