I've been meaning to write something on this for a few months now, moving it from my to-do list in my little packed Moleskin to the next week, every week. List making is my forte, if I were to boast of a strong point of mine. I didn't really write because I didn't think there was much to write of that would be interesting, and I can't thank my ukelele again, and I also was massively failing at my main Lent resolution of getting 8 hours of sleep a night. But now Easter is over, I'm not failing and am finding new ways of keeping myself vaguely awake during the day. I realized over Easter how much better I feel and function on more sleep....again....for the umpteenth time. Maybe I'll learn when I'm a big girl.
Since last time, there are a few things I can scribble about that have happened. Some mundane to the non-Lyd, others mundane. In no particular order or coherent structure (those skills are being exhausted on my thesis at present - sorry)....
I've spent a good amount of the last month looking for bridesmaid shoes. Several valuable lessons have come of it though: 3 inch heels are high, I am allergic to wedges, and patent for that matter (and I also now know what "patent" and "court" shoes are), and I now understand why things I'm interested in turn up uncannily often on Google pages after I've been internet shopping for them.
I made Kimchi. It's garlicky and gingery, but bad breath is surprisingly not an issue at present, and I'm sure it's doing wonders for my health.
I bought a big polytunnel, with my fellow allotmenteers, that I could possibly live in over the summer whilst I'm writing up if I run out of money. Then I'm basically living in my larder too, which might be fun, and would mean I can keep an eye out for the
Were Rabbit.
I also went to a foraging course last sunny chilly Sunday. I have a new-found love for the citrus-tasting
sorrel, and appreciate the difference between
stinging nettles and
white dead nettles. Subtle but saves on a sting or two. I really want to make nettle wine. (Must resist until thesis is written.) And also discovered a lovely little
wild-er part of Cowley that I could jog through.
On that note, I did a half marathon in Uffington, below/nearish to the White Horse. It was 'fun'. I ran with two troopers, which made it enjoyable, and we had a pretty special sunny pub lunch after, so most definitely worth the half-jog beforehand. I can't imagine running a marathon right now. I think someone stole my fitness whilst I was in India. I hope they're enjoying it.
My Mummy has expertly delivered quite a number of lambs. Once they're safely out, they are very special. And selfishly I enjoyed that we had an orphan this year, so us girls could share bottle-feeding duties....when we didn't scare the littlin off by our strange smells.
Before lamb-distractions, I gave a talk at a
conference. I followed on from my eloquent and expert supervisor, who gave the Plenary of the day, and thankfully the audience hadn't exhausted their claps on her first. I think it went well, and it was special to see some great smiley faces from undergraduate years a-gone in the audience.
I think my presenting at that conference marked the start of the end of my DPhil too. I've been helping at that conference for about 4 years, and only now felt ready to show some of my work. I think some people were surprised I wasn't actually a tea lady professionally. And now I'm trying to write it all down, at pace. What pace, I'm not too sure, as I'm still finding time to breath, wash, eat, etc. which is a bit worrying. I'm sure that will change in a month or so.....especially since the feedback I got from my supervisor when I sent her the first draft of a draft of a chapter was to pause on that one, and write three more chapters in its place for now. Gosh. I spent a good half an hour making a new timetable and a couple of new lists after that. Perhaps I would get more done if I wrote fewer lists?
Thankfully, I have a computer to write the said chapters on though after being laptop-less for whole 24 hours. I was minding my own business on Monday, drinking my cup of tea over my laptop (FOOL), and it slipped out of my hands, showering milky tea over my little life-line. Thankfully, some experts on such matters in my lab informed me on the best course of action, and after a night in the airing cupboard, it came back to life. I am a VERY lucky girl, and even luckier finishing-PhD student. My big old immobile laptop died on me on Friday night, or rather got infiltrated by linear blue aliens who were originally trying to communicate with me but now seem to have given up (blank screen = goner), so thank goodness I am still left with one. I now keep my tea on the floor.
Right, definitely bed time for bozoes. And one thanks for these April Showers, and whoever decided to proclaim a hose-pipe ban. Genious.
