Well helloooo, 2022!!
Roberto, avec a seasonal creamy cocktail - purely for medicinal purposes, of course. Those vocal chords don't soothe themselves...! - et Duffy avec a treat
Wow. I’d honestly forgotten what a complete break from work felt like! I had a whole 9 days without any work at all,* and several more working solely on behind-the-scenes stuff without email.
*[other than the inevitable background-thinking stuff, which of course never stops]
This is the longest such time I’ve had since 1996, and I wasn’t sure how I’d fare. I was, however, surprised to find that I rather liked it - so much so, in fact that I may even try it again before 2047. Robert is, of course, younger than I am (chronologically, if not culturally. Ahem), so his track record is a little different, but it follows a similar pattern. I’m pleased to report that he too managed to switch off for longer than he’s managed in a very long time.*
*[There might be a conclusion as to life-work balance and general well-being to be drawn here, but pondering that can wait for another day…]
How our new booking system works. Possibly.
That we were both able to relax properly is in no small part due to our new team of helpful elves (aka our shiny new booking system), who, as far as I can see, did what we asked of them in our absence. Hurrah!
We were both, therefore, able to catch up on sleep, reading, music, cooking, and generally relaxing. Consequently, we had a good Christmas: very quiet, and very restorative - just what these two particular doctors ordered!
In which Duffy also temporarily abandons her lifelong compulsive work habit, and manages to relax*
*[not every element of the above description is necessarily entirely Factually Accurate]
Lest you should be wondering… after a supercanine struggle, Duffy was able to adapt to the change in Wrightington Towers’ new rhythm.
Us, seeking to vanquish our reliance on an antipodean timezone
aka Adolph Friedländer, Kangaroo Boxing sideshow poster (1890s)
Here from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Kangaroo_Boxing_sideshow_poster.jpg
Speaking of rhythm… we have discovered one downside to our having been able to switch off more than ever before. As many of you know, we have always tended to be owls rather than larks. It transpires that this whole relaxing malarkey serves to exacerbate this tendency. We seem to have inadvertently moved into an antipodean time zone in terms of sleeping patterns. We managed to surface in time for Art Deco - the first course of term - but ended up needing a little nap afterwards.
Shameless…? Moi??
The burning question, therefore, is will we be able to get back to GMT by next week’s start of a full term…?
In case you’re curious, but have not yet booked onto our imminent courses, fear not - there’s still time to do so in order to find out (with the by-product of enjoying a whole term of Robertian entertainment). Lest it should be of use, voila a reminder of our upcoming freelance courses - all of which currently have availability…*
Mondays 19.15, online: Early Medieval Art and Architecture (RJW F212208); 17/01/22-28/03/22
Tuesdays 14.15, online: Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (RJW F212209); 18/01/22-29/03/22
Wednesdays 19.15, online: Byzantium (RJW F212210); 19/01/22-30/03/22
Fridays 11.45, online: Civilisations of the Ancient World (RJW F212211); 21/01/22-1/04/22
Saturdays 10.30, online: Luminists and Realists: Light, colour, and the sublime in late C19 art (RJW F212215); 05/02/22 & 12/02/22
*NB Any queries on WEA courses need to be addressed to WEA, as we have no part in enrolment for them.
It only remains for me to say that we hope that you all had a wonderful festive time - whether it was gloriously busy and bustling or restoratively quiet. Here’s to a happy and healthy 2022 all round, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon!