2024 Session 2: TLQuest week 8

This has been a big week in the UK - our general election happened Thursday, and although there are many reasons to be concerned about the incoming government it is is so many ways better than the last lot (and not just by virtue of being new).  Their first actions are sending positive messages, but as the cynics say, it's the hope that will get you!  At work, the new Head of School started - he seems a little "corporate" but that may be an unfair judgement - maybe he just has a presonal style preference for crisply ironed traditional men's shirts even though the field norm is definitely more T-shirts, sweatshirts and a general impression of clean(enough)-and-comfortable rather than corporate, and he comes from the most casual part of the field.  But I'm sure he had lots of meetings with Faculty etc., and maybe he just had a wardrobe issue what with moving from the other end of the country.  And I just started two weeks of Annual Leave (I'm not going anywhere, the plan is to rest, do some small jobs around the house, and also (given impending Large Changes) do some serious thinking about finances and post-academe options, just in case (I like to have a plan).  All of which FULLY justified me ordering a delivery from a well known and exploitative coffee chain with delicious treats.  For this week's prompt - when it's been a busy week, what is your go-to treat?  I do really enjoy an over-priced, over-sugary coffee based beverage, a cinnamon roll, and an afternoon nap* to deal with the inevitable crash once those items properly register with my middle-aged and grumpy system, but what other options might you suggest?

*naps around here now come with added cat since Shoutypants has decided that I am safe enough and he's willing to sleep on the bed with me, not just pop up for scritchies then go somewhere else in the room to sleep.

THIS WEEK'S GAMEPLAY:

Last week, Martha found some Singing Nettles, Linnet spotted some Perennewinkle, and some sprites spotted the party.  The sprites are friendly, especially since Alice and Cornelius are being good sports about their mishaps and Scout knows to ask the proper polite questions.  Once you've shown them the token Silas gave you and explain your goal, their tone changes a little.  The main speaker says to Scout "as long as that druid makes sure only the necessary parts are taken, then Silas is welcome to what he needs of Singing Nettle and Perennewinkle,  But the Ladies of the Wood are not going to want to talk to people they don't know, much less show them where the Shadestar is, what you call Feyflax, and let you harvest some.  Are you bold enough to earn an audience?" Scout isn't entirely sure if the Ladies are guardian sprites, some other kind of lesser fey, or another creature altogether, but a polite enquiry about what sort of deed might win an audience seems safe enough, so she asks, The sprite replies "just to pick a random example, if you were to follow the stream against its flow for a short while, you would come to a pool with a waterfall, basking rocks and shimmering lilies in season.  But you would not find any of us small folk enjoying its waters, because a giant, aggressive fish-like horror with rows of sharp teeth and a taste for flesh has taken up residence.  We are planning a raid, naturally, but if big folk like you were to bring its body to the Ladies, they'd have to offer you a favour in return."

What would your characters like to do next?  You might choose to harvest the herbs you already found, ask some more questions, ask the Sprites to give you some privacy to talk among yourselves, or set off along the stream immediately - or whatever else you can come up with!

LAST WEEK'S GOALS:

DAISY

Two hours of work on difficult paper every day (doable during field work I think)
Keep up with essential admin while away
Read and comment on proposal draft
Read and comment on thesis chapters when (or if) they arrive
Real summer goals are suspended because it is freezing… Making soup and curries to stay warm!

DAME ELEANOR

- one more day of vacation, plus necessary travel stuff
- finish off the MS review and send
- six (?) hours on Alms
- one unit Greek
- format and send a thing to my Latin group
- do some unfracking of my habitat

HEU MIHI

1. It's window week! Wash the windows, bit of paint around bathroom window, clean bathroom curtain and fix son's blind.
2. Another work-through of chapter 5, including reading and incorporating a couple of articles
3. Start outlining/roughing in intro
4. Score 5 papers for assessment thing
5. Vacuum office rug and prep office for floor waxing
6. Work on proceedings essay edits
7. MAKE THAT DAMN PHONE CALL for the recycling pamphlet

JANEB

I want to wrap up and park a few things because this is the last week of work before a couple of weeks off (already filling up with appointments and stuff, but still, NO WORK).
1. self-care: 75%+ of regular chores list, sort the Clothes Pile Of Doom, additional intentional movement three days, do physio recommended stretches with great caution at least once, practice rest as needed.
2. fun: play D&D, knit some, draw something, read something, do some paintgemming
3. teaching and administration: two blocks of teaching preparation from my list, comment on chapter draft for one grad student and mid-year review paperwork for another, and attend the relevant meetings
4. research: Slowly Developing Paper or Neglected Paper one hour, all comments on Consultancy Paper (want to send it on before I go on leave).

JULIE

1. Final revisions to grant application (hopefully!).
2. Start on abstract for call for papers.
3. Admin - tie up loose ends, contact mentees, book annual leave.
4. Mark resit assignment for difficult student who failed, but has convinced university to let him resit.
5. Fun stuff - facials with daughter (her birthday present), 4th July party at American colleague's house (also election day here in the UK), possible picnic and brass festival in local park if weather OK, watch cycling with son.
6. House - visit at least one bathroom showroom, get ideas and quotes.

SUSAN

1. Get through two more chapters of Famous Author
2. Do stuff for Big Collaboration
3. Do any admin stuff that needs doing.
4. Have fun, enjoy people and adventures
5. Keep reading for fun, figure out what to start when I finish (as I soon will) the 5 volume series I've been reading this month.

IN SUMMARY:

Your TLQuest prompt is: what would your characters do in response to the new information?

Your real-world TLQ prompt is: what sort of treat do you recommend as a good soother after a full week?  And, as usual, report on last week's progress and set goals for the coming week.