I’ve got the weirdest of headaches. My head and I got home from A&E at 5 am yesterday. (No explanation, but both serious potential diagnoses ruled out.)
Even Google Health (aka Fitbit) was sorry for me:-
Yesterday, weird headache or not – it’s not a foggy migraine, but a frequent, painful distraction – I was determined to make a start on my conference paper. Miraculously, between twinges, I had suddenly hit upon a good way to begin it, and in desperation, I decided that some simple maths would enable me to make a start, even if I have to tidy it up later.
- How long would I be speaking?
- How many words a minute?
- How many headings?
Armed with that framework, I got started, and actually made reasonable progress, considering how tired and uncomfortable I was. I completed several headings.
So, wouldn’t you think I’d have slept well last night? I achieved nearly five hours – I suppose that was at least substantially better than the night before.
Morning insomnia is the most frustrating thing. It has afflicted me for years. But if getting back to sleep at 5.20 am is nearly impossible, then return to slumber with the weirdest of headaches is utterly impossible. I didn’t try: I sought medication, made a cup of tea and took it back to bed. But now I was awake, and I knew I wouldn’t sleep.
Duvet-Top Research (the Latest Trend?)
Combining Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Bed in Summer’ and ‘The Land of Counterpane’, out came my phone for some duvet-top research. (There’s just one golden rule: do not touch any audio or video clips, for obvious reasons!)
I’ve been looking into a Victorian-era London music publisher. What did he publish with a Celtic connection? Who published with him? Did they know each other? This gets intriguing. I can see today’s going to be a day of lists and charts.
But not before the outing to a secondhand bookshop that I promised myself as a reward for yesterday’s efforts – because it looks as though the only way to find what I’m looking for, is to look in places that don’t have an online presence – just me, leafing through old music.
I’m sure to find a decent coffee-shop somewhere nearby!
Cover image by madartzgraphics from Pixabay
Karen McAulay, Musicologist 