vivdunstan

Another weekend, another low/alcohol cider testing! Tonight Westons Stowford Press low alcohol from Herefordshire. Nice, but too sweet for me, and a bit too scrumpy like for my Somerset husband’s usual preference! But definitely a good option. Our favourite is Sheppy’s low alcohol from Somerset, which hit the spot for both of us with a lot of whoomph! And fortunately available in our town’s wee Tescos.

Last night’s episode of BBC Scotland’s Landward includes a marvellous report about the dolphins in the River Tay by Dundee 🙂 Is on the iPlayer in the UK.

... using a local trade directory to understand the Scottish print trade, venues for reading and the urban hierarchy in the 1820s.

https://vivsacademicblog.wordpress.com/2025/09/24/a-look-at-my-new-urban-history-academic-journal-paper-using-a-local-trade-directory-to-understand-the-scottish-print-trade-and-urban-hierarchy-in-the-1820s/

The IF community is in an existential crisis over the use of generative AI in interactive fiction games, and particularly its use in creative competitions such as IFComp. Here's a good writeup from one of multiple people who've been deterred from participating in IFComp this year, even as a player and judge. https://azhdarchid.com/slop-comes-for-everything-you-love/

I'm opposed to the use of generative AI in creative competitions in general. Partly on philosophical and fairness grounds, but also ethical and environmental reasons. I'm judging IFComp yet again this year - I've been doing this since it started in 1995 - and this year's genAI content is depressing.

Prompted by Martin I tried testing my accent on the BoldVoice website. It thinks his accent is "British English" - a native English speaker with a British accent. Albeit with elements of German and Chinese. As for me, very Scottish me, it says "Your accent is Chinese, my friend. I identified your accent based on subtle details in your pronunciation." Ha ha ha!

Returning to an academic journal paper in development (getting nearer submission, honest!) and untangling some of the ordering muddle caused by a previous round of restructuring. Generally happy with it though. Just have to finish off a few bits. And send it in to the journal for peer review.

It's frustrating how long it can take me to finish and submit academic journal papers. Due in a very large part due to my severely disabling progressive neurological disease. But it's also reassuring how I've had several very long in gestation papers accepted and published. So I get there!

Though with a progressive neurological disease there does feel like there's a limit to how long I can keep doing things like this. But still managing 31 years after the disease first struck. Hoping for more productive time yet! It can give a very personal version of imposter syndrome though.

And that's stage 2 of the book chapter indexing completed. Sitting at 100 lines in my text file. Multiple page refs to same thing merged into single lines (inc a few hefty page ranges for chapter core subjects). But that's enough for now. Will finish tomorrow (checking, editing, reordering & formatting). The full chapter I'm indexing is 16 pages long in proofs, mostly a transcript of a 1682 historical poem. Because that poem mentions an awful lot of historical people and events, it needs surprisingly hefty indexing. I believe my index will be combined with other chapter writers? (not ideal, but ...) Indexing has been fun, though I'm not 100% sure whether I should have included an entry for "Meg 'the Marling'" with no surname known. But generally taking over inclusive approach rather than under indexing! I did train and qualify as a book indexer long ago, before realising my progressive illness was already too advanced.

Been doing some last minute indexing of a piece coming soon in a Scottish History Society Miscellany book volume. And reminded again just how much I adore this historical poem about events at the Melrose local court in 1682!

First task of the indexing completed, with numerous candidate index references highlighted in the page proofs. Will type up and edit down later this week.

I researched this local court and its cases as part of my taught MPhil history dissertation 20+ years ago. Only after finishing my degree did I discover this amazing historical poem about the court and its very unpopular new judge. I am so happy to have been able to write and publish an annotated transcript of the poem along with an introductory explanatory essay.

Delighted to finally manage a bit more accordion practice. Played current main tunes I'm working on (Speechless from Disney's live action Aladdin, My Fair Lady medley, and ABBA's Thank You For The Music). Plus first go at a French-style tune from a bandoneon composer.

Admittedly it was a very short accordion practice, and it's ages since I've managed any. But I'm just delighted to have managed anything at all. The bandoneon tune also sounds lovely on my box.

Onto another short story in the canon that I seem to have forgotten much of!

( spoilers )