Research: Distracting Oneself from Distractions

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

My oldies are giving cause for serious concern, and I’m distracted.  These situations happen to most of us – I won’t elaborate. Suffice to say that research itself can be a distraction from the awfulness, but not entirely!

Young Disrupter

Take yesterday. I thought I’d find solace in our big city public library.  First, I headed for the library café, but although the coffee was good, someone else’s screaming, beaker-flinging toddler didn’t make for a calming experience. I don’t blame the parent – it was just unfortunate.

Horrible old Technology!

Then the microfiche reader screen was too high for my varifocals, so I had to stand to consult it;  there was only just room and nowhere to plug in the laptop; and not  enough room for my notebook unless I sat back down and balanced it on the edge of the table. I have never liked microfiches anyway! I disliked them in 1988 – nothing has changed.

Although I would like to have stayed longer – I didn’t complete my mission – I wasn’t entirely sorry to have to leave in order not to disappoint expectations that I’d be home to fix lunch.

Back at my own desk, I fiddled with my notes, checked out some details, and quickly checked in with relatives. No news.

Finally, giving in to temptation, I headed back to my happy place.  Fabric.  In this case, examining Flora Woodman’s concert wardrobe through her performance log! I’ve mentioned before that she logged every outfit worn. It’s a shame that the only outfits we can see, are those in publicity photos. Still, the log gives a good impression of the range of outfits, and some of her accessories.  Let me share the concert attire worn by the emerging young star in her first couple of years.  Obviously, there’s no indication of style or design, so you’ll need to visit a few historical costume websites for 1913-1915 and form your own imagined impressions.

(I’ve indicated the source of this blog picture below – it has nothing to do with Flora.)  There’s also a Facebook page called Attire’s Mind, which gives plenty more food for thought.

1913-1914

Cream Lace
Navy Blue
White and Pink
White Coat & skirt
White Silk

1915

Black & White
Blue (Spanish)
Cream Lace
Fur Coat & Pink Hat
Navy Coat & Skirt & White Hat
Pale Green & White
Pink (blue sash)
Pink Rose
Silver, Pink & Mauve
White Silk
White (with Black Tulle, Ermine or Swansdown on different occasions)

I found the most beautiful dress on The Romantiquary; in my imagination, this might have been one of Flora’s fabulous frocks. Meanwhile, I need to get a grip on myself and get back to the research proper. I’m not a historical costume expert!

PS. I could be persuaded to list more of Flora’s wardrobe later … ?!

Season’s Greetings! Even Research Fellows Take a Break …

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

So, the book was published. What next, you ask? Well, I’ve recently submitted a couple of articles, one about some women related to Scottish music publishers, and one about an 18th-19th century supporter of Highland culture. I’m patiently waiting to hear if either article finds a home – and impatiently waiting to see if the book gets decent reviews! I see a couple of libraries have already got it in stock, which is comforting.

Now, I have an article to write (about two famous Scottish singers) and then in January I’m off on a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Edinburgh. These are exciting times!

Twirling like a Top?

However, first it’s time for the crescendo of Christmas to reach its peak, and then a few days of diminuendo and rallentando to a graceful pause. I generally find that after I’ve recovered from organising the family festivities, I’m raring to get going on some writing, so hopefully I’ll get that article at least drafted before I embark on the Edinburgh adventure.

Meanwhile, I hope everyone gets just the right balance of rest, relaxation and fun. If it’s a quiet or subdued time for you, then I hope that you’ll find solace in the small things, and the comfort and companionship of friends.

Back soon!

Scheduling!

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

This morning, I was talking to students about devising a structure for a research project – and scheduling the writing of it. Oh, I waxed lyrical. I explained how I scheduled my PhD chapters, and more recently, I scheduled my second book chapters, editing, indexing and so on. All perfectly true. It’s how I meet deadlines, ensuring I don’t overlook anything crucial. For me, this works; I do accept that not everyone likes to organise themselves this way, though.

But things have been a bit disarranged this autumn – I’ve actually been robbing myself of free time in my enthusiasm to do the scholarly things that I never felt I had enough time for before! This autumn, I had the book launch to look forward to, as well as some teaching (an unexpected bonus), and the writing of a substantial article. I had a couple of other writing ideas lined up for after I’d finished the aforementioned article, and I have been eagerly looking forward to my fellowship in Edinburgh next year – I don’t want to get started on that particular project until I have a desk in Edinburgh.

However, I’m just at the end of the substantial article, and now I need to check it meets the house style of the journal I’m hoping to submit it to. The other writing ideas? I think they’re likely to spill over into my RCS research existence in the days when I’m not in Edinburgh next year!  (For a start, I haven’t delved quite deep enough to have a clear grasp of certain nuances.)

How did December creep up on me so sneakily?! Suddenly, semi-retired or not, I find I have the usual scramble to plan Christmas music, Christmas presents and all the usual seasonal silliness. If anyone sees a little semi-retirement just roaming around looking displaced, please turn it round gently and send it back to me. I’ll have to continue working on my time management skills – I think I’m guilty of allowing part-time commitments to overflow into time that isn’t actually meant to be work!

My new year’s resolution? Still to achieve work-life balance!

My Life as an Alt-Ac (a summary of a keynote lecture)

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

I thought folk might be interested to see a quick summary – NOT the whole talk – of the keynote I gave at the University of Birmingham yesterday. ‘Alt-Ac’ is Alternative Academia, or Alternative Academic. You’ll see what I mean …

Pedals! I’m fated!

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

Pedals (2)

He says I wasted money buying my bike a couple of years ago. I’ve only ridden it twice. My answer is that I will, eventually ride it – maybe in retirement. But that’s only four calendar weeks away. (Indeed, only twelve working days as a librarian, considering the remainder are research days.) So, I really ought to get a grip on myself and wobble off into the sunset. But I haven’t yet!

Pedals (1)

Trying hard to practise my work-life balance, however, I did get out my dressmaking materials yesterday. I was getting on just fine, when – SNAP! The sewing machine needle broke. ‘Clumsy, careless’, I muttered to myself, assuming I must have caught a pin by mistake. I replaced it and continued.

SNAP! But there wasn’t a pin in sight. Five minutes later – SNAP! SNAP! Enough was enough. It was time for another holiday expedition. I visited the sewing machine A&E which is conveniently only five minutes away by car. Apparently the machine might have something wrong with its timing. (You’re not kidding! I want to finish and wear a new summer dress.) Leaving the machine, I went and got the car washed, then headed for Waterstones to buy a book.

But that left me machine-less, so I summoned up the courage to look at Mum’s Second-Best Machine, which is far more sophisticated than my own old workhorse. I’m just as terrified of it as I am of falling off the new bike.

What is it about me and pedals this weekend?

What is it about me and pedals this weekend? I’m fated. She had given me the wrong foot-control, and it wouldn’t fit the Second-Best Machine. Much searching later, and I had tracked down an eBay vendor who might be able to sell me one. Not only that, Mum had found a pedal at home, which sounded like the one that I should have had all along. It’s just 400 miles away. I should have one or two working sewing machines within the week, providing there isn’t actually anything wrong with the Second-Best Machine, as Mum darkly hinted …

Still, I was quite pleased with myself for not doing research all day, and promptly rewarded myself by visiting the website of the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. This is fascinating – I’d never heard of it before. Definitely worth adding to my Zotero account. I have the glimmering of an idea, depending on how my future research plans pan out, and this could be a very useful library to know about. Unfortunately, the catalogue only had the two particular titles that I’d already identified, so I sent a quick email of enquiry, and headed to the British Newspaper Archive to pursue other options … you’re right, this looks suspiciously like research!

Pedals (32)

Today, I slept in. I did a bucket-load of housework, and rewarded myself with pedals of a different kind – by going to do some organ practice. It’s been glorious weather, and there’s a lovely smell of grass outside. The old church wasn’t chilly, but comfortable – and very peaceful.

I haven’t done any research, so in that respect at least, I’ve had a restful day – if laundry and cleaning stair-carpets counts as restful. Indeed, I might even go and read outside in the sun now. Reading about ultra-processed foods is very definitely not research. (Strange to relate, as a teenager I did once wonder about training as a nutritionist. Not fancying biology kind of scuppered that ambition.) But it does still interest me. Retirement will hopefully mean fewer convenience foods and more home-cooking. I’m sure it’ll be better for us.

Chris van Tulleken, Ultra-Processed People: Why do we all Eat Stuff that isn’t Food … and why can’t we Stop?

Better nutrition, more exercise … I’m determined NOT to over-commit myself when semi-retirement actually comes, but there are some general principles that surely won’t go amiss!