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So I've officially passed my masters! Though my project mark was kinda disappointing, bah. Still everyone else seems to think it will make an excellent paper, so I should get on with that now.
Finished Masters
Oct. 3rd, 2015 08:55 pmOn Tuesday I handed in my Masters project report. Now I am free! I can do things again!
Since Tuesday I have been idly doing things with no great pressure, including nominating things for Yuletide, ticking off a few of the small jobs that have been piling up over the past few weeks, and unpiling some of the literal piles of things that have been literally piling up because of lack of time to put them away. Today I cooked! It's amazing how much less of an brain-filling imposition it is when my brain doesn't start out already full.
Because of timing infelicities I also did some exciting things in the week before the deadline, including a book-making course (photos to follow when I unearth my camera) and a Night Vale Live show (mini-review: excellent but not as good as The Librarian (spoilers), which had stretches of complete genius).
ETA: I've just replied to my Yuletide comments from last year! Only 9 months late... must do better this year.
Since Tuesday I have been idly doing things with no great pressure, including nominating things for Yuletide, ticking off a few of the small jobs that have been piling up over the past few weeks, and unpiling some of the literal piles of things that have been literally piling up because of lack of time to put them away. Today I cooked! It's amazing how much less of an brain-filling imposition it is when my brain doesn't start out already full.
Because of timing infelicities I also did some exciting things in the week before the deadline, including a book-making course (photos to follow when I unearth my camera) and a Night Vale Live show (mini-review: excellent but not as good as The Librarian (spoilers), which had stretches of complete genius).
ETA: I've just replied to my Yuletide comments from last year! Only 9 months late... must do better this year.
Project draft finished!
Sep. 18th, 2015 12:21 amIt's a bit rough round the edges, but if I needed to I could delete all the ***notes and hand it in, and they'd only think it was a bit scruffy rather than unfinished. It has gone off to my supervisor for the weekend; I'm off to York for GOTHS. Beginning of the end...
State of the Clare
Dec. 14th, 2014 02:03 pmI have finished my masters' group project, which greatly resembled a 6-week long uphill trek whilst dragging the rest of the group most of the way. Anyway, it is now done, and my enthusiasm for the subject surprisingly remains.
I've just finished reading _Das Boot_, which is traumatic but excellent.
Yesterday we marzipanned the New Year cake (like Christmas cake but we want to be able to show it off to more people). For reasons which will become obvious later, it's marzipanned in stripes. I was expecting this to be a bit of a technical challenge but the stripes sit on top of each other very conveniently and it was no harder than normal marzipanning, if a little more cutting-out/colouring faff. (The cake's hexagonal and I think this also made it easier to marzipan - no need to handle long strips of the stuff to go round the edge, I did it in six short strips instead.)
I have almost finished my Yuletide story (just got some editing to do following beta comments) and am mid-beta for someone else (and I have at least one more short thing I'd like to write).
Speaking of Yuletide, I am currently being delighted by the rather glorious _A Complete History of the Soviet Union As Told By A Humble Worker, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris_: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8 (not least for the line "Can I have a long one please?" which is so plausibly the genesis of the whole idea), and by _An Incomplete History Of History, As Written For Yuletide, In Five Acts And An Epilogue_: http://archiveofourown.org/works/138991
I've just finished reading _Das Boot_, which is traumatic but excellent.
Yesterday we marzipanned the New Year cake (like Christmas cake but we want to be able to show it off to more people). For reasons which will become obvious later, it's marzipanned in stripes. I was expecting this to be a bit of a technical challenge but the stripes sit on top of each other very conveniently and it was no harder than normal marzipanning, if a little more cutting-out/colouring faff. (The cake's hexagonal and I think this also made it easier to marzipan - no need to handle long strips of the stuff to go round the edge, I did it in six short strips instead.)
I have almost finished my Yuletide story (just got some editing to do following beta comments) and am mid-beta for someone else (and I have at least one more short thing I'd like to write).
Speaking of Yuletide, I am currently being delighted by the rather glorious _A Complete History of the Soviet Union As Told By A Humble Worker, Arranged To The Melody Of Tetris_: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWTFG3J1CP8 (not least for the line "Can I have a long one please?" which is so plausibly the genesis of the whole idea), and by _An Incomplete History Of History, As Written For Yuletide, In Five Acts And An Epilogue_: http://archiveofourown.org/works/138991
Sad things to come across in a lecture
Nov. 8th, 2014 02:36 pm"For example, the first Ebola outbreak in Uganda, which was also the largest Ebola outbreak recorded to date (26 April 2013), was initially reported by WHO on 16 Oct 2000."
That was 428 cases, and over in 6 months. The current outbreak is past 13k cases and still going strong.
That was 428 cases, and over in 6 months. The current outbreak is past 13k cases and still going strong.
Fixed the first database crisis of our db expert's maternity leave (that took all of ooh 2 hours to materialise).
Written most of my project mini-proposal.
Had a massively constructive relationship conversation about something that's been a problem for years.
Made it to the pub to wish Col happy birthday, and caught up with Kirsten a bit.
Made it out of the pub again in time to do some masters work.
Kicked my group assignment group into action (I hope).
Poked my neurologist about a review appointment.
Written most of my project mini-proposal.
Had a massively constructive relationship conversation about something that's been a problem for years.
Made it to the pub to wish Col happy birthday, and caught up with Kirsten a bit.
Made it out of the pub again in time to do some masters work.
Kicked my group assignment group into action (I hope).
Poked my neurologist about a review appointment.
Coming soon
Aug. 25th, 2014 08:01 pmI am approaching the bit of the year when I can do whatever I want! for a whole month. Just a week off. To some extent I feel like I'm already there, but actually this is because I have somehow convinced myself that if I had a completely free choice what I would be doing right now is my masters assignment. To be fair it is quite fun...
Things what I have done
Apr. 10th, 2014 10:39 pm1st week of Feb, I went to a really interesting day of talks at the Fitzwilliam Museum about how they restored one of their mummy cases.
2nd week of Feb, I finished the non-assessed assignments for this year's masters modules.
3rd week of Feb, I wrote a glossary for Eastercon.
4th week of Feb, I had large amounts of birthday celebration as laid out earlier.
1st week of Mar, I went to an excellent panel about women at the university.
2nd week of Mar, I went to see the architecture exhibition at the RA (recommended) and various things at the Tate Britain (Ruin lust recommended - did you know that the completion of the Bank of England was celebrated by commissioning a painting of it in ruins?)
3rd week of Mar featured a trip to Birmingham.
4th week of Mar, I finished the assessed assignments for this year's masters modules (and handed them in before the deadline and not in a giant panic, see how adult I am).
2nd week of Feb, I finished the non-assessed assignments for this year's masters modules.
3rd week of Feb, I wrote a glossary for Eastercon.
4th week of Feb, I had large amounts of birthday celebration as laid out earlier.
1st week of Mar, I went to an excellent panel about women at the university.
2nd week of Mar, I went to see the architecture exhibition at the RA (recommended) and various things at the Tate Britain (Ruin lust recommended - did you know that the completion of the Bank of England was celebrated by commissioning a painting of it in ruins?)
3rd week of Mar featured a trip to Birmingham.
4th week of Mar, I finished the assessed assignments for this year's masters modules (and handed them in before the deadline and not in a giant panic, see how adult I am).
Stuff done
Feb. 4th, 2014 09:20 pmThe 4rd week of Jan, I finished off lectures for the masters course, and started on the assignments. This is a lot less hectic than last year! I'm glad I'm doing 1 fewer module. Also I (intentionally) dyed a lot of underwear red/purple.
The 5th week of Jan, I made elderberry vinegar (sadly no photos for countryskillsblog.com , maybe next time...). I followed the recipe that Kate recommended at http://www.gallowaywildfoods.com/?page_id=1219 and it was surprisingly easy. The result is very tasty too. Also I took the last of my pending charity shop pile to the EACH shop. Also also I bought and planted out some redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes.
No photos because otherwise I'll wait forever to post this.
The 5th week of Jan, I made elderberry vinegar (sadly no photos for countryskillsblog.com , maybe next time...). I followed the recipe that Kate recommended at http://www.gallowaywildfoods.com/?page_id=1219 and it was surprisingly easy. The result is very tasty too. Also I took the last of my pending charity shop pile to the EACH shop. Also also I bought and planted out some redcurrant and blackcurrant bushes.
No photos because otherwise I'll wait forever to post this.
What I have been doing
Jun. 29th, 2013 06:50 pm1) Epidemiology
This is mostly what I have been doing for the past 6 months. Particularly during May, which didn't really have room for anything else in it (goths aside). Exams were last month and were exhausting - apparently I'm not as young as I was 13 years ago. I think I acquitted myself well though. This month involved finishing off lactures and two assignments for the remaining module. I now have one thing remaining, which is the assessed assignment for this module (due end of August, so things can slow down a bit).
2) Brains
Currently suffering from wonky vision in my left eye (and not much else, that's about it for brokenness at the present). Still waiting for a bloody referral. Eye investigation included a trip to the optician last week. Am now persuaded I ought to have glasses, especially if wonkiness doesn't go away. Annoyingly this is not the best week to decide this, as![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bjh21 and ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-syndicated.gif)
stephdiary are both away which greatly impairs frame shopping. Also I have a referral to the eye clinic for a proper hardcore retinal scan, and am wondering whether to start an Addenbrooke's clinic bingo card...
3) Music
As supplied by, variously, Last July, Public Service Broadcasting, Whitby, and Leipzig. I will tell you about my latest obsession but they cannot be contained in a post which already holds so many other things.
4) Making stuff
A bit limited, but I have managed the odd thing or two, and even a book (and a pigeon). I must update my galleries and then post about these...
This is mostly what I have been doing for the past 6 months. Particularly during May, which didn't really have room for anything else in it (goths aside). Exams were last month and were exhausting - apparently I'm not as young as I was 13 years ago. I think I acquitted myself well though. This month involved finishing off lactures and two assignments for the remaining module. I now have one thing remaining, which is the assessed assignment for this module (due end of August, so things can slow down a bit).
2) Brains
Currently suffering from wonky vision in my left eye (and not much else, that's about it for brokenness at the present). Still waiting for a bloody referral. Eye investigation included a trip to the optician last week. Am now persuaded I ought to have glasses, especially if wonkiness doesn't go away. Annoyingly this is not the best week to decide this, as
bjh21 and stephdiary are both away which greatly impairs frame shopping. Also I have a referral to the eye clinic for a proper hardcore retinal scan, and am wondering whether to start an Addenbrooke's clinic bingo card...3) Music
As supplied by, variously, Last July, Public Service Broadcasting, Whitby, and Leipzig. I will tell you about my latest obsession but they cannot be contained in a post which already holds so many other things.
4) Making stuff
A bit limited, but I have managed the odd thing or two, and even a book (and a pigeon). I must update my galleries and then post about these...
Tags:
How to tell someone really loves you
Mar. 24th, 2013 07:59 pmThey make you coffee and do your duplicate data entry.
Masters course lectures are getting longer and longer... In the first couple of modules they took an hour per lecture, or maybe 2 for the longer ones. This module I keep being greeted with "expect this session to take 8 hours". There's a 12 hour one yet to come. They do suggest stopping points, but it's a lot more work than I was expecting.
Current art project is going to involve punching 972 holes, since the printer registration is imperfect and I can't see a way of lining up multiple sheets at once. Have set myself a quota of 60 holes per day.
Why does banana bread always take so long to bake?
Current art project is going to involve punching 972 holes, since the printer registration is imperfect and I can't see a way of lining up multiple sheets at once. Have set myself a quota of 60 holes per day.
Why does banana bread always take so long to bake?
Birthday, and state of the Clare
Mar. 8th, 2013 01:11 amNot out and about a lot at the moment; masters course is eating all my spare time and almost everything else (bar a couple of arty things) has had to go on the back burner. I had a large think about this last weekend and the upshot is, I can't easily drop a sensible set of bits of course this year, so I'll just put up with it and do less next year (this makes the revised masters plan 3 years not 2, but leaves the yearly workload smaller and nicely split between years 2/3).
Whilst I'm not e.g. making it out to the pub, I do have some socialising time planned in and am making good use of it. For instance last weekend was ( my birthday party )
Whilst I'm not e.g. making it out to the pub, I do have some socialising time planned in and am making good use of it. For instance last weekend was ( my birthday party )
Good things
Jan. 31st, 2013 06:59 pmI have spent today doing a single thing, which after a really bitty week at work has been a huge relief and very restorative. Furthermore it has been the learning of stats, keeping me on my masters' timetable, and using my lovely new monitor in a space-appreciating way. On its way to me right now is my Christmas present, a shiny tablet computer which hopefully will be the right version this time. And I idly started a twitter account and dicovered this gets me a Colin feed :-)
(Currently @molybdomantic)
(Currently @molybdomantic)
Assorted good things
Oct. 19th, 2012 09:00 pmI've been accepted for another art show! The Norwich lot want me back again, for their open exhibition next April/May: http://www.assemblyhousenorwich.co.uk/index.php5/en/arts/artshow
Audience participation: I plan to make a transparent book of Conway's Game Of Life, with each page being a state. The idea is that as you look through it you ought to be able to see the grid evolving off into the misty future. I was mentioning this to people at the pub yesterday, and lots of you had good ideas which I've now forgotten. I'm after suggestions for interesting Game things to print; I'm aiming for maybe 100-150 states (though open to fewer or maybe even more if there's a really cool idea, though transparencies are pricey); no larger than A4, so grid size compatible with seeing something interesting at a sensible resolution at that size; undecided as to whether the pattern should repeat; must look interesting whilst it's doing it :-).
Current book project is almost done and should be at the photographing stage next week.
I'm doing a masters! In epidemiology, with the <finest-Victorian-explorer-accent>London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine</f-V-e-a>. They're terribly well organised. I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to force some stats back into my head.
Last week I went to Copenhagen for work and had a lovely few days full of useful meetings and sightseeing (though I managed to go when everywhere was shut, curses).
In addition, people have been plying me with presents, and tomorrow I'm going flint knapping, about which I am LUDICROUSLY EXCITED.
Audience participation: I plan to make a transparent book of Conway's Game Of Life, with each page being a state. The idea is that as you look through it you ought to be able to see the grid evolving off into the misty future. I was mentioning this to people at the pub yesterday, and lots of you had good ideas which I've now forgotten. I'm after suggestions for interesting Game things to print; I'm aiming for maybe 100-150 states (though open to fewer or maybe even more if there's a really cool idea, though transparencies are pricey); no larger than A4, so grid size compatible with seeing something interesting at a sensible resolution at that size; undecided as to whether the pattern should repeat; must look interesting whilst it's doing it :-).
Current book project is almost done and should be at the photographing stage next week.
I'm doing a masters! In epidemiology, with the <finest-Victorian-explorer-accent>London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine</f-V-e-a>. They're terribly well organised. I have spent the last 2 weeks trying to force some stats back into my head.
Last week I went to Copenhagen for work and had a lovely few days full of useful meetings and sightseeing (though I managed to go when everywhere was shut, curses).
In addition, people have been plying me with presents, and tomorrow I'm going flint knapping, about which I am LUDICROUSLY EXCITED.
