2025 Session 1, Week 8

 Hello everyone! If I'd posted yesterday, this would be very upbeat, as it was suddenly warm and springlike here. The crocuses started coming out, I planted some bulbs, the garden was full of birds, my mother texted happily to say she had hung the washing outside for the first time this year. All the signs of spring...

Today it is wet, the sun has not shone all day, and we have weather warnings for gale force winds. The crocuses (croci?) are probably wishing they'd stayed underground longer, and my washing is on the dryer in front of the kitchen radiator. Heigh-ho.

Everyone seems to have a lot on their plate right now, and it is still February. So today's prompt is inspired by a blogpost I saw recently on 'What is saving your life right now?' What are you turning to for moments of sanity in all the madness, or what hacks do you have e.g. quick and easy meals, postponing things, for getting through busy days?

Last week's goals:

Julie

1. Write full draft of grant proposal to send to colleagues.
2. Exercise, sleep, healthy eating.
3. Trip to farm shop (they sell fancy candles).
4. Be kind to myself and focus on the kids.

JaneB

1) SELF-CARE (recovery and self-kindness)
* habits: something creative, D&D, read a novel, intentional movement 15 minutes x 3 days, a social thing
2) HOUSE-LIFE CARE
* decide about decluttering & communicate early
* 75% or more of the weekly minimal chores, tidy up the upstairs landing (one day this WILL happen)
3) TEACHING AND ADMIN
* prepare teaching for next week & do ViLE stuff
* schedule individual meetings for all tutees
* write applicant letters
4) RESEARCH
* if possible, spend an hour on reading/writing for vague grant idea
* if time, look at the Consultancy Paper that is back on my plate, sigh. I am so fed up with this paper...

Dame Eleanor

- tidy up the chapter and send to friend
- continue work on slides for at least one conference paper
- do some scholarly reading, take notes on HJ essay
- process at least 6 grad applications (this will not be the end)
- catch up with ViLE stuff
- yoga x5, swim 1-2 times, show up for trainer but try to take it easy
- continue work on application for the Revised Thing
- one appointment; visitation for former colleague; get birthday cards for two friends

Susan

1. Actually get to work on moving forward on Rest of Life
2. Finish working on maps
3. Do the easy permissions
4. Clear out more email (it's very satisfying)
5. Start filling out tax information for accountant
6. Exercise: weights x3, walk to work once, 1 yoga
7. Healthy eating and sleep
8. Enjoy being Auntie next weekend

Daisy

Student thesis stuff
Grant application
All musical, all the time…

Contingent Cassandra

--Continue work on site as time allows
--Continue some movement
--Visit historical society and convey results to nephew (who has an interest in the part of our family history I’ll be investigating)
--Enjoy conference & time away more generally; catch up with friends.

Heu mihi

On holiday, I think, or at least travelling!