October 2021 round-up

October was not a good month, overall. Productivity was low, I burned some bridges, and there was a bereavement in my other half’s side of the family. I even thought about not writing a round-up post this month. But, in the spirit of authenticity that I try to bring to this blog, here is a … Continue reading October 2021 round-up

September 2021 round-up

I heard on a podcast, at the start of the month, that “September is the new January”, with its inherent sense of fresh start. That’s certainly the case for me, with the kids going back to school / university and a new term starting for me. The “fresh start” was also evident in the return … Continue reading September 2021 round-up

What I have been reading #5

13th book of 2021 - “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales” by Oliver Sacks I added this book to my “to read” list back in 2015, when I read Oliver Sacks’s obituary in The Guardian, and became really intrigued about Sacks and his work. Sacks was a neurologist, … Continue reading What I have been reading #5

July and August 2021 round-up

July and August definitely had a taste of “wrapping and moving on”, for me. I wrapped up a long running writing project and started a new one; I wrapped up the academic year and prepared the new one; I wrapped up the divisional lead role and planned for the next stage; and so on and … Continue reading July and August 2021 round-up

My anti-racist journey – 1 year in

This post was inspired by Sarah Hart-Unger’s reflection of her own journey towards learning more about structural racism, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death; and triggered by the disgusting racist comments made by fans of the England team, in the wake of the Euro2020 finals. It is not an “how to” post, and I … Continue reading My anti-racist journey – 1 year in

What I have been reading #4

10th book of 2021 - “Reservoir 13” by Jon McGregor. I read this book for the book club created by my friend Regina Duarte. It was a very surprising read. On the surface, it seems that this is a murder mystery, examining the disappearance of a 13 year old girl, who was holidaying in a … Continue reading What I have been reading #4

May 2021 round-up

Lockdown eased further in May. We are now allowed to meet indoors (with some restrictions), indoor gym classes are back on, and I sat in a café for the first time in ages. And while there were many obvious signs that we are still living in a Covid world (masks, limited seating, distanced tables...), it … Continue reading May 2021 round-up

Day in the Life of an Academic #12: Spanners in the work

I had a request for another day in the life blog post. I usually try to pick up days that illustrate different facets of the life of an academic, to help others considering this profession visualise the type of work and experiences involved; and to connect with those interacting with academics (students, administrators, research partners...). … Continue reading Day in the Life of an Academic #12: Spanners in the work

April 2021 round-up

This month has a taste of fresh start, for me. The teen went back to university; the kiddo went back to class teaching (even if it was delayed because of a false positive Covid rapid test result); the lockdown restrictions started easing; the husband received a fantastic job offer; and I had my first Covid … Continue reading April 2021 round-up

What I have been reading #3

7th book of 2021 - “The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett. This is the story of twin sisters, Stella and Desiree, of mixed race but with very light skin. Identical and once inseparable, they end up following very different paths, when one is mistaken for white and offered a secretarial job where she starts mingling … Continue reading What I have been reading #3