Similar to my last post, I am writing from a sun-filled room on a warm California winter day. First, I want to say that it has been such a pleasure to see all of you these past few days! Between my trip to Santa Barbara, Jess's trek into the 909, the Sexsmith/Strybel/Rasmussem gang over for Christmas, and Kevin's long trip from Auckland, this has been a whirlwind of catching up and loads of laughter. It has been a superb reminder of my contented and happy life here in California, and of all the loved ones I have on this side of the pond. Thank you all for being who you are and who I have always known you to be; it is a wonderful comfort to come home and find life with a character similar to when I left.
I make the long flight back to London tomorrow night. My carry-on will contain about six layers more than I will leave wearing, for my adjustment back to 'feels like 25F'. Back to frosty mornings, frozen rowing oars and rosy cheeks. (All I can seem to think about now, on the brink of my departure, is the cold!!) Awe, but there are many good things that await me back in Cambridge. Frozen oars means hours in the River Cam rowing in time with girls I appreciate and satisfying races against rival colleges. Frosty mornings always reflect the sunrise with a unique brilliance, unknown here in temperate California. Walks into the countryside around Cambridge, tea at the Orchard, and lunch with friends at various butteries to break up our studies. Yes, my return will be a good thing.
And perhaps the most exciting bit about my early time back at Cambridge will be the time spent with Kevin, on his brief holiday to my Island Home. Kev arrives in London two days after me, and is going to holiday until the 13th. Our first week will be spent in England and the second week in Lyons, France. In England we will visit the dreaming spires of Oxford and have a pint at CS Lewis's pub, the Eagle and Child (affectionately the Bird and Baby, a favourite of my former time spent in that city) and we will head to London to see some of the sights together. In Lyon, I will be doing research at the local archives, but we will also have plenty of time to see the sights and soak up a little French culture. Oui, oui! We both anticipate a wonderful time travelling and being together. I will be sure to post 'Adventures with Kevin' photos come mid-January.
Again, thank you all for being such wonderful friends and family. It has been such a pleasure being home, and being with all of you certaintly made it feel just like the home I remember!
26 December 2007
18 December 2007
Long Overdue
Although it may seem by my lack of blogging that I have disappeared, I am back... and here is a bit of an update (I am going to adopt the subheadings to keep you engaged throughout)
Arduous title:
Perhaps the most significant aspect of these past several weeks has been the submission of my final dissertation proposal. It was a bit of agony to produce (especailly on the back of a week of assessments). I think the most memorable part of the whole process for me was dialoging with my supervisor for half an hour in order to get a title. He literally gave me a marker and sent me up to the white board to write out ideas, erase, move words around, and finally produce a title: The history, architecture and political significance of the seventeenth-century town hall of the City of Lyons. Phew! Doesn't think like it would take that much effort does it? Well, it is a most deceptive process (especailly when no one really gives you instruction as to what a title should contain!!) So, now my proposal is submitted--with title--and I am ready to get going on my research.
Get keen:
We had our big boat race a few weeks back (the last Thurs in November). It was quite a rush. We took 15 out of 62 women's boats... not in the top 10, but not too bad (I would also like to point out that we made better time than a number of male boats...) This race--Fairburns--was the final event in my novice boating career. Now I am free to drop out of the sport or to continue as a senior rower. I have decided to give another term of rowing a go. It is a larger committment (more and earlier mornings, HORSE!)... but with no classes or lectures next term, I think the structure will be good for me. The things I am not looking forward to about boating: (1) the aforementioned early mornings and (2) frozen hands... it gets cold in the winter. But I suppose I will at least try for a few weeks and decide if I want to stay on.
Dublin, Oxford, and California:
I am currently back in California for holiday; I arrived Sunday night after a not-so-smooth flight. Before coming home, however, I had a bit of down time to travel (my supervisor left early for France, so I ha to submit my proposal a week before the deadline... leaving me an open week to explore). During this time I went up to Dublin for two nights (it was one of those cheap flights, no baggage, sleep in hostels kind of adventures), and then I got a coach to Oxford for a night, an then out to London to see Cambria and go to a concert for my birthday. It was a fun, but a whirlwind week. Dublin was lovely; I think my favourite bit was when we took a train out to Howth and hiked along cliffs overlooking the sea. Oxford was just as charming as ever and London was great (we saw the Verve play at the O2 arena).
That is about all I am going to post about for now. I hope everyone is well and I look forward to seeing many of you during this week at home!!
Arduous title:
Perhaps the most significant aspect of these past several weeks has been the submission of my final dissertation proposal. It was a bit of agony to produce (especailly on the back of a week of assessments). I think the most memorable part of the whole process for me was dialoging with my supervisor for half an hour in order to get a title. He literally gave me a marker and sent me up to the white board to write out ideas, erase, move words around, and finally produce a title: The history, architecture and political significance of the seventeenth-century town hall of the City of Lyons. Phew! Doesn't think like it would take that much effort does it? Well, it is a most deceptive process (especailly when no one really gives you instruction as to what a title should contain!!) So, now my proposal is submitted--with title--and I am ready to get going on my research.
Get keen:
We had our big boat race a few weeks back (the last Thurs in November). It was quite a rush. We took 15 out of 62 women's boats... not in the top 10, but not too bad (I would also like to point out that we made better time than a number of male boats...) This race--Fairburns--was the final event in my novice boating career. Now I am free to drop out of the sport or to continue as a senior rower. I have decided to give another term of rowing a go. It is a larger committment (more and earlier mornings, HORSE!)... but with no classes or lectures next term, I think the structure will be good for me. The things I am not looking forward to about boating: (1) the aforementioned early mornings and (2) frozen hands... it gets cold in the winter. But I suppose I will at least try for a few weeks and decide if I want to stay on.
Dublin, Oxford, and California:
I am currently back in California for holiday; I arrived Sunday night after a not-so-smooth flight. Before coming home, however, I had a bit of down time to travel (my supervisor left early for France, so I ha to submit my proposal a week before the deadline... leaving me an open week to explore). During this time I went up to Dublin for two nights (it was one of those cheap flights, no baggage, sleep in hostels kind of adventures), and then I got a coach to Oxford for a night, an then out to London to see Cambria and go to a concert for my birthday. It was a fun, but a whirlwind week. Dublin was lovely; I think my favourite bit was when we took a train out to Howth and hiked along cliffs overlooking the sea. Oxford was just as charming as ever and London was great (we saw the Verve play at the O2 arena).
That is about all I am going to post about for now. I hope everyone is well and I look forward to seeing many of you during this week at home!!
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