Sunday 15 August 2010

checking in

It's been over 2 months since I posted so just a quick one to check in with everyone and say that I haven't disappeared off the face of the earth. 

Chicken pox was NOT nice at all: I was covered in them.  I read somewhere that the average number of spots is 200 but I had 200 on every limb and still have the marks to prove it.  I had a ridiculously high temperature for a week or so and didn't budge from my bed for over a week: too weak.  I lost a stone (now back on:() as I wasn't eating.  At one point I was dehydrated.  I went home to my parents and honestly believe that if I hadn't I would definitely had been in hospital, if not dead.  I ended up off work for 6 weeks and really could have taken more as I still get exhausted very easily.  I'm back at work 3 weeks and have spent every Thursday in bed as I was so tired.  I'm off now for 2 weeks holidays, so hopefully they will revive me as I'm off to Switzerland: land of convalesence!

I was back at work all of 2 hours before my blood pressure rose and I felt like screaming.  Just the utter discrimination of the place: someone getting proposed for accelerated probation for really no good reason and there's a possibility of me failing it (my probationary committee are saying this) as my teaching and admin are excellent but research may be thought of as lacking by the central university when the time comes.  I got upset, but right now, frankly I don't care.  Probationary isn't just about me being good enough for the university, it's about the university being good enough for me.  So, if, this time next year, I fail then I will be sitting back and considering whether I want to stay in the university. 

On other news, my book is finally published!  I'm in the middle of posting copies to various people who deserve a free one.  Just so relieved to have it out.  I haven't even really told anyone in the department as they'll only want to know when the next one will be out rather than congratulating me.  And there will be no book launch.  Or if there is, the author won't be at it. 

I've had a friend staying with me for the last week.  I met her on an erasmus year abroad and hadn't seen her in 10 years: exhausted from the sightseeing and feeling slightly guilty that I didn't go out drinking in the evenings and show her the nightlife, but I didn't have the energy.  As it stood, I left her up most nights and went to bed!