The Calm in the Middle of the Storm?

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

As I’ve indicated, I’m blogging less at the moment,  due to preoccupations unrelated to research.

Don’t they say that there’s calm at the very centre of the storm? So, theoretically, if there’s chaos all around, but I sit quietly in the middle of it, it should be peaceful and still?

Rubbish! Either that, or I haven’t precisely located the epicentre of the storm in order to sit in it.  I know that many would say, ‘when there’s nothing you can do, you just have to put it to the back of your mind.’ Easier said than done.

My research, of course, is a dependable solace. So I put my phone on ‘do not disturb’ whilst I visited two libraries yesterday, and settled into what should have been a lovely, calming day, as indeed it was  – until I encountered my nemesis …

A microfilm reader.

As anyone knows, the  linear nature of microfilm storage goes with the territory, as it does with film or audio tape.  Whether you’re looking for a page in a weekly journal from the furthest end of the date range, or looking at every single ‘books reviewed/received’ section, it’s going to take time.

Scroll, Scroll, Scroll …

Even with varying speed scroll facility  – I was still trying to locate a three-word book title. The journal has no index. I haven’t finished looking yet. I did find two entries, which makes me all the more determined to try to find another two – which may or may not be there.

But the other, additional problem is a visual one. I wear varifocals. Only the bottom of my lenses are the right focal length for reading.  But the top of the microfilm reader is at least as tall as me. Moreover, it’s very bright, and the effort of focusing combined with the brightness resulted in a searing pain that meant I had to reach for sunglasses as soon as I stepped outdoors.

Too much light!

I’ve used eye-drops.  But it still hurt this morning and turned, predictably,  into a migraine.  And if I want to complete my search, I have to put myself through it all again on Tuesday.  (It’s my research.  I may have some light sensitivity after last year’s macular surgery, but I am not visually impaired, so it’s up to me to just get on with it, if I want to trace what I’m looking for.)

Meanwhile, the chaos whirls around me, but perhaps I should find something more easy on the eyes, to take my mind off it!

Sifting through Papers in the Archive

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

I know what I’m looking for: any mention of music-related publications from the erstwhile Edinburgh publisher, Thomas Nelson.  I found the important things I was hunting down, so now I’m just looking for contextual detail.

These were just a small part of Nelson’s output, of course.  So, my plan of action entails identifying likely boxes (or folders, or binders) and methodically going through them.  As I go, I encounter tantalising threads that I must not be distracted by: John Buchan copyrights, letters from Enid Blyton and Arthur Ransome, and glimpses of the editors’ daily  business.

Sweets that would have been less Sweet

Imagine the author’s distress at realising that glucose had been omitted from their confectionery recipe:-

Wanderlust

Meanwhile, it seems Dr Wilson was the only person who could deal with a ‘peppery’ author, but explaining how a travel anthology had gone missing in transit between Bude and Edinburgh would challenge his diplomacy to the utmost. (You have to appreciate the irony.)

Naming no Names

And I was unimpressed by the managing director who had certain issues with women authors. Admittedly, this was the 1930s, but … really, Sir!

Anyway, I’m heading to the University of Surrey/ RMA conference in Guildford today, so all my editors and their authors can rest in peace until next week!

I’m open to new inspiration!

Actors, Singers and Celebrity Cultures across the Centuries

(I blogged about this a few days ago.)

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 … ?!

Distractions!

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

You know what it’s like, working from home. The Plus: surrounded by all your books and papers, and the kettle just ten feet away from your desk. The Negative: trying so hard not to get distracted by – well – STUFF! No-one has ever suggested I have ADHD. But maybe I have? Take this morning. All set to start on time, I set the washing machine going, and make a cup of tea.

I’ll need more teabags in the caddy, I muse. But I manage not to go and get them. I’m only working this morning, so I want to get on.

Mug in hand, I read my emails and start checking train times for a lecturing gig.

A family member drifts in. My home office is in an alcove off the dining room, on the way to the kitchen. Ah, well. (They’re going out this morning anyway!) I adopt a friendly, interested but BUSY demeanour: (let’s call it FIbB).

Continue what I’m doing. Train times sorted, email written, and on with the lengthy article. To be accurate, on with a wee literature search to back up an assertion in the lengthy article.

The washing machine beeps to say it has stopped. I ignore it, and work on.

Another family member drifts in. Only a couple of minutes … FIbB face again.

Progress is being made. Suddenly it’s time for elevenses, so I think I’ll just hang the laundry out …

The blinking drain outside the kitchen has blocked! I am remarkably good at unblocking drains – it’s a dry day, and I’d better get it done – it barely takes ten minutes – otherwise there’ll be another overflow next time we use the washing machine OR the dishwasher!

As I stand out there, sleeves rolled up, the first family member reappears, seems in the mood for chatting. FIbB face doesn’t work so well out in the garden, apparently. I suppose I don’t look busy in the same way as when I’m at my desk.

In my own defence, I did spend another three extra hours working later, so my conscience is clear, and I’m happy with what I achieved. I remind myself that working on campus isn’t without its interruptions, either – just different ones. And had I been on campus, that drain would still be blocked – but I might not yet know about it …

Daily Distractions (Cough, Splutter)

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

He went on holiday, and all he brought me back was this measly chest infection. Well, I’m back at work now, but not entirely 100% yet. Take today. On my agenda is the intention to re-read both versions of my how-to-index-a-book guidelines, and make a start. But that couldn’t happen before a telephone GP-appointment, followed by an actual one …

Then my home desk needed decluttering, after a week’s indisposition. Finally, I remembered that I’d wanted to check a 1951 exhibition catalogue for something that had occurred to me between coughing fits. It was, I thought, only viewable in a handful of Scottish libraries – which would be problematical if I was keeping my intermittently-coughing self away from places where I’d be undesirable. (It’s definitely not Covid, but I can hardly wear a placard saying so.)

And then ….

I found a Copy to Purchase!

I can’t tell you how much better I suddenly feel. I’m like a child whose mum has just bought them a wee treat to help them feel better! Now I can look closely at the catalogue without embarrassing myself by coughing in a public place. I’ve wanted to get my hands on this item for ages – since I saw a library copy a year or two ago. Even though I have already written a book essay about what I found then, I now have another question to ask it, so owning my own copy will be very exciting. Hurry up, postie!

Okay. It’s lunch-time. Here’s hoping I manage to avoid distractions this afternoon!

Image (pile of catalogues) by Lutz Peter from Pixabay

Flow State Theory In Practice

Posted on by Dr Karen E McAulay

I never really understood Flow State Theory, beyond knowing that it has something to do with being deeply immersed in what you’re doing, and achieving your best work as a result. (People will have written theses and books about it, but I’m afraid that’s the extent of my understanding of it.) It certainly means having a calm and single-minded focus, in an environment without distractions. Concentration was easy in St Andrews, which is why the Fellowship was such a delight.

Anyway, there I sat at home in my alcove yesterday afternoon, working away at my book revisions and getting on just fine – in the flow, you could say – when Someone sat down beside me and started watching this:-

My state of flow screeched to a halt. Static. To say I felt traumatised and misunderstood is hardly an overstatement. ’Surely you’re not so easily distracted?!’, scoffed the perpetrator. But when you’re trying to weave in links between chapters, and to strengthen a historical thread, you do need all your wits about you, and all your concentration on the task in hand.

I regret to say that, with all the other festive domesticity needing attention, I think my state of flow had diverted itself elsewhere. I wonder if I’ll find it again this side of Christmas? 

Meandering River image by Jiří from Pixabay