April 2022 round-up

This month was rich in time with family and friends, as well as some great time on my own to read, be a tourist, go to a concert, do some gardening… I can’t complain. On the work front, I pushed through with various bits and pieces. Though, I didn’t manage to wrap up any major … Continue reading April 2022 round-up

March 2022 round-up

March was supposed to be the month I settled into my study leave. But, then, a staffing emergency meant that I had to cover for a colleague, and I ended up teaching a number of lectures and workshops. Never a dull moment, right?! At least, the weather was lovely for part of the month, and … Continue reading March 2022 round-up

February 2022 round-up

Some days get imprinted in your mind such that, many years later, you can recall, exactly, the moment when you realised that the world after that moment would bear very little resemblance to the one before it. It was like that with the attack on the Twin Towers on 9/11; the attack on the Tube … Continue reading February 2022 round-up

Saying no

I was talking with a friend, recently, who was feeling very overwhelmed by the many responsibilities on her plate. This friend was feeling conflicted because people kept asking her to do more (often presented as a great opportunity), and she really felt that she couldn't take on any more responsibilities. However, she also didn't want … Continue reading Saying no

January 2022 round-up

On a personal level, January was really trying. If I tell you that child 2 breaking his wrist was the least stressful part of January, you can get an idea. Anyway, I will spare you the details, and focus on the professional side, instead. On the writing front, I worked on major revisions to a … Continue reading January 2022 round-up

Balancing the multiple sides of academic life

I recently did a talk about how to balance teaching, research and administrative roles, as part of a career in higher education. As academics, we are expected to excel at three types of tasks: teaching, research, and administrative roles. For teaching, the work is cyclical, done in short, intense bursts; requires strong communication skills; and … Continue reading Balancing the multiple sides of academic life

This blog is 12 – Some thoughts on thinking through how best to get your message out there

Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash As of this week, I have been blogging for 12 years. It's my 12th blogday. My most popular post was published in 2017; the second, in 2011; the third, in 2010. That 2017 post is still attracting a steady stream of visitors which is an example of a key feature of blog … Continue reading This blog is 12 – Some thoughts on thinking through how best to get your message out there

What I have been reading #7

In 2021, I set myself the goal of reading more and of reading more widely. To help me with accountability, I started sharing short reviews on Instagram and, later, here on the blog. However, these reviews turned into so much more than a record of what I had read, that I decided to continue doing … Continue reading What I have been reading #7

December 2021 round-up

I know from experience and logical reasoning that December is a tricky month because of the "busyness" of the end of term, the school holidays, the festivities, and, of course, the many little things that life always has a way of throwing at you. This time, child 2 fractured a finger which meant spending 4 … Continue reading December 2021 round-up

Musical diary 2021

It’s that time of the year when I share the playlist of songs that marked the past 12 months, an initiative inspired by a practice by Austin Kleon. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2fiChExzGDknAI4C3HKXWm?si=32d526ce6c6a4b60 There are songs connected to Covid-19, too, of course. For instance, track 4 is part of a YouTube video that I usually show in my class, … Continue reading Musical diary 2021