This week I have learned: it was a wonderful experience to be able to talk about something important on BBC Radio 4's PM programme this week. I wrote a piece about the value of jury service after serving last month. Someone shared it with someone on the production team. And to coincide with government announcements … Continue reading Weeknote 759: PM
This week I have learned: that I've only gone and submitted a finished book to a publisher! In a way it's been strangely anticlimatic - we were 5 days ahead of deadline and everything went without any major snags. Having said that, there's still lots of web content to create, and I'm also now thinking … Continue reading Weeknote 758: 55
This week I have learned: Four days of commuting into London. How did we used to do this? I feel like I've missed out on half of my responsibilities. That the book is just about ready to go to the publisher. A few final decisions to be made. Last week's mask workshop has opened a … Continue reading Weeknote 757: normality
This week I have learned: The family has been going through some medical investigations recently. It's been hugely stressful, very frightening, and it's now over. All clear (within the boundaries of probabilities). I'm pretty good with ambiguity. I think I now know my limits. Steve Chapman is an incredible person. Spent today at his Mask … Continue reading Weeknote 756: all clear
This week I have learned: the surprisingly life-affirming experience that was Jury Service. that spending a week with barristers gets you into a different mindset when it comes to assessing what people might mean when they say the things that they say. UI fails are still alive and well, and living in drinks vending machines … Continue reading Weeknote 755: still waiting
Over the past two weeks, I’ve been doing a civic duty as a juror at the local Crown Court. Before starting last week, I’d become a bit concerned that I would be spending quite a bit of time looking at how society goes wrong. I studied enough Criminology at university to know that poverty, drug … Continue reading Civic duty
Things I have learned this week: I've been (separately) experiencing aspects of both the health system and the judicial system this week. Both involved extensive periods of waiting with little information being supplied to alleviate frustration and anxiety. One has been able to take my mind off the other, though. Last night, I had the … Continue reading Weeknote 754: waiting
This week I have learned: It's a tricky thing when you go to the theatre and by the interval you know that the production isn't very good. Out of politeness I stay. But is that me being a bit too British? The liminal state I've found myself in for the last few weeks is coming … Continue reading Weeknote 753: counting down
This week I have learned: yet again, that putting work out there is terrifying. We have pushed out nearly 100 sample packs for the book out to friends and strangers to solicit feedback. It's like asking "Do you like my baby?"Once I get over myself and take the feedback in the constructive way it is … Continue reading Weeknote 752: exposure
I am, however I look at it, getting quite old. I'm old enough to remember the 1970s and the Christmas present I received, a CBM Electronic Calculator. I was amazed by how I could enter numbers and symbols, and the machine would return correct calculations. I'm old enough to remember the first experience at home … Continue reading Technonovelty