vivdunstan

Creeping further through my list of fave/rec books, one published for each year of my life. I've still to write little notes for each of the 2010s and 2020s choices. But just did the noughties. Not hugely surprised that I wrote so much about the 2001 one!

Until Christmas I was blogging here once a week through the complete Sherlock Holmes short stories and the audio adventures of Doctor Who spinoff series Bernice Summerfield. I paused them over Christmas, and then since the start of the year have been totally felled neurologically, and for the last week extra ill with a cold probably picked up at the V&A Dundee the Friday before. Though testing negative for flu and Covid. And I'm glad I'm not much iller. But that on top of the neurological illness flare is just too much to cope with.

I'm hoping to get back to both the Sherlock Holmes and Benny (Bernice Summerfield) marathons soon. I am really enjoying rereading the Sherlock Holmes stories and writing up my thoughts after. And similarly listening to the Benny audios, many for the first time for me though not all, and writing up thoughts after. Setting myself the weekly challenge of reading/listening to these and blogging about them turned out to be huge fun, and helped me keep going, and engage with them more deeply. I am keen to resume. But will only do so when I'm stronger. But hopefully not too far off ...

Preparation / Self-Interest / Memory.

Another three cards. Which in some ways connect with where I am now.

Autumn is my favourite time of year, and I’ve been getting things in place and making plans for the coming months. Especially the next month and a half, before my inevitable latest post Covid vaccine neurological flare. I’ve already been thinking an awful lot about this, but still need to sit down, with pen and paper, properly brainstorm, and make a list. I’m also planning very soon to blog about my plans on my academic musings blog.

Self-Interest is something I can focus on too much at times. But it’s also important, given how limited I am now, to focus on things that give me joy. Which ties in with the previous paragraph.

This year sees many big anniversaries in my life. Very big ones, like 30 years since both our graduation together and wedding. But also fandom ones, including the 40th anniversaries of Robin of Sherwood, The Box of Delights and even Murder She Wrote! I’d like to dedicate some time to looking back. Including remembering my undergraduate years. Before the end of 2024! So soon.

So more to ponder. But, yes, I need to formalise my musings re plans just that bit more. Writing a formal public blog on the subject should help encourage that.

Most probably on my academic blog for my occasional musings:

• (long overdue) on ethnicity DNA tests (I have strong thoughts!)
• 19th century Scottish passport records
• the tentatively titled “Bookshops as alienating ableist spaces? Thoughts as a reader with progressive neurological illness reading difficulties.” - that one might prove quite provocative ...

It's a really good sign that I am thinking of writing these soon, a good sign that I'm recovering more and more. Though it may take me a while to get to them, I do now have a to-do list of blog posts to have fun writing. I hand draft blog posts with a fountain pen, then quickly type them up, very quick edit and post. I find writing by hand generates a freer sense of content than if I type. I usually surprise myself with what I come up with.

I am also hoping soon to get going on IFComp games. But at the moment, apart from some awake time at night, I am just asleep.