July and August 2022 round-up

I can hardly believe that this time last year we were preoccupied with face masks, hand sanitising, and Covid-19 tests. This summer, Covid-19 seemed very much a distant memory. Instead, we bemoaned the cost of living and alternated between enjoying and cursing the heatwave. At a more personal level, in July and August we celebrated child 2’s … Continue reading July and August 2022 round-up

Day in the Life of an Academic #13: Graduation

What I did, on Tuesday, 19th July. 07h07m: Alarm goes off but, really, I have been awake for a while because we are in the middle of a heatwave and it’s hard to sleep. Get up, cold shower, coffee, quick breakfast, and head out of the door. Today I am going to Brunel, for one of … Continue reading Day in the Life of an Academic #13: Graduation

June 2022 round-up

June was good. People and things were dully celebrated, as I had hoped for last month. That included child 1’s 21st birthday and conclusion of her undergraduate studies at Oxford University; Portugal day; and my friend Sarah Quinton’s promotion to Professor and Associate Dean Research & Knowledge Exchange (no photos because we were so engrossed … Continue reading June 2022 round-up

May 2022 round-up

May was not bad. Not bad at all. It was good, even. There were some logistical challenges, on the home front. And there was marking. But, other than that, it was a great month. I even received a very exciting “invitation”, whose details I will share as soon as I can. This was another month of pushing … Continue reading May 2022 round-up

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