Acts of Random Noting

2026

Week 8 - Third Week of February

What a difference some working from home and virtually no meetings makes to the joys of work. Despite this, the week has been a busy one and I spent Friday talking to people and probably bringing myself a lot more work. But it is of the kind I am quite happy to get - much less dull than the usual box ticking. Talking to actual people rather than sitting in pointless meetings listening to the same things each month certainly boosts motivation. Speaking of pointless, I did spend some time researching TCFD and looking at BNG (yes, the NHS does not have the monopoly on acronyms) in preparation for annual reporting and for a meeting next week. Sadly I have some pointless meetings in the calendar for next week including my annual appraisal. Fortunately I have a day off so a reduced week it is for me.

There have been no new birds spotted this week, and the song thrush seems to have stopped singing, or at least when I am listening. But I have discovered some miniature iris in my garden that I forgot I planted - and indeed don't remember buying but then I probably didn't label the bag I put them in. Lots of cyclamen looking lovely, and out and about it seems to be a good year for snowdrops. I also saw my first bumblebee of the year flying about.

After over a week on hospital my brother has been set free, no operation but who knows, it could all go wrong again.

This week I have forsaken Gone Medieval for my two days in the office and listened to We Need to Make Things podcast along with Poetry Demystified. I am not sure what to try next week. I have been watching videos about The Romance of the Three Kingdoms as well as Talking with Docs. There are so many interesting podcasts and videos out there I am not sure how to make the time to listen / watch. I know a lot of people would listen whilst out walking but why go outside into the world and not pay attention to surroundings - that is so much better for health and happiness.

I finally finished reading Summit about Bretton Woods. It became a bit of a slog in the end but it was a bit of a weighty tome. I now know a lot more about what Bretton Woods was about and what it set out to achieve. I am almost at the end of Volume 1 of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. I was really struggling to get going at the beginning as there were so many different factions and personalities, but it is starting to narrow down now and I am quite enjoying it.

Latin has been slow this week - but I did watch a video about how to say 'that' as in 'I said that the chocolate was nice' which now means that some of the Lingua Latina I have been going back through makes more sense.

More conversations this week at work about AI - and not in a positive way - I have promised to do more digging and send more information on about the AI push. It will probably be a topic for a future newsletter.

Week 7 - Second Week of February

What a week. Lots more rain, although Saturday saw sunshine which felt like the first time in ages. Cyclamen are in full swing, Snowdrops are still out and Hellebores are flowering as well. I'm not noticing colour on trees yet, but it is still early. Strange to think that in some years there will have been butterflies out by now. It is getting noticeably lighter though which is all good as I try and navigate the potholes; though there are so many it feels inevitable that I will hit one badly and do some damage. I've been in work all week - it generally wasn't as bad as it has been in the past, but no real work done, but lots of conversations with people, some I haven't seen in a long time. I was invited to a meeting for the first time, and goodness was it disappointing, I was expecting so much more, but it appears we are so much better and further forward than many others. Glad the week is done with now though. Commuting was tiring, even though it is not a long commute really, the potholes, rain and darkness take a lot of concentration. Thursday took longer than usual as there were three or four accidents closing roads or causing delays. In other news my brother is in hospital and every day is expecting an operation and every day they decide to wait.

I took advantage of the sunny weather for my monthly walk down a very muddy and wet towpath with my camera. Not very inspired but it was nice to be out and about and I haven't looked at the pictures yet. For my colour project this month I am supposed to be taking pictures of purple things - it's not going very well so far.

Being in work has given me more time to listen to Gone Medieval podcasts in the car - I've listened to two about the Tower of London and one about assassins and templars. I finished reading the very disappointing very short introduction to Ancient Greece and have started reading the Romance of the Three Kingdoms; this year's epic reading. I'm still reading Summit. After complaining about the poor printing of the Nalbinding book I was promised a replacement and the wrong book was sent. Time to start again.

No birdwatching but I have been enjoying listening to the Song Thrush in the morning and the Blackbird is starting to join in as well. Hearing the birds always lifts my mood.

I have been dabbling with the Latin, a bit of Lingua Latina and some videos and short stories.

I watched another lecture in the Embroidery talks I subscribed to, and, whilst there was nothing wrong with the lecture, I realised I am not that excited about embroidery any more and found myself waiting for it to finish. There are two more in the series, but I don't think I will sign up next time.

Strangely, after years of talking about it I am hearing people at work link the wet weather with climate change and worrying about food security and the state of the planet and what their grandchildren will inherit. And these conversations are with people who have always been incredibly sceptical before now.

Week 6 - First Week of February

More rain, fields are somewhat flooded and potholes filled withe water. However, the Crocus and Snowdrops are out and, for the first time I have found a miniature Iris flowering in my garden, no doubt the pigeons will eat it soon. Three days in the office, not many people were about. I have an enthusiastic new doctor who wants to do a project, someone in QI who has been asking if there is a Sustainable Medicine group and a theatre matron who is suddenly re-enthused. So it has allowed me to forget a bit about all the other rubbish happening. Next week is a four day in the office week as I am covering for my Waste Manager, hopefully the need to do that will soon vanish as they finally move the deckchairs around.

No real birdwatching this week - but my new birds for the year have increased with Kestrels, a Blackcap and a Skylark - brief signs of spring. No photography either, just muddy walks and another run in the rain.

More Latin, some every day still, although it is a bit hard going sometimes. I am going to sneak onto Chapter 25 of Lingua Latina as there is not much grammar in that one and I am quite bored of Marcus and his poor behaviour - time to move onto some of the fables at last. Speaking of which I have been watching You Tube videos in Latin about Perseus which are very well done.

I finished reading South Riding - it was OK but the ending let down anyone with a pretension to feminism. I got some more poetry books this week as I try to expand my reading. The Nalbinding book arrived, but it is misprinted so they eventually read my email after a chase, and are dispatching another, probably. I am not that impressed with the book on first attempt - it misses out some really important bits to get started if you aren't already familiar and I already found myself going back to watch You Tube videos. However, it might come into its own when I get further into it. Podcast wise has been Gone Medieval - evil rulers of Europe (well four of them) and the rise of the Kingdom of Mercia.

I did try making a new cake, but it wasn't that good. I am also getting a bit concerned / obsessed about not getting enough protein - can you actually eat enough to get the recommended levels? I am not convinced and not fond enough of tofu.

Week 5 - Last Week of January

At last, some days without rain, although also still a lot of rain and even hail. Even better, just one day in the office this week - and an extra day of holiday. Catching up with people I haven't seen in a while, and we all seem to feel the same way about the current status at work. I know I should feel grateful for a job, many don't have one, but it did used to be so much better. So much discussion of whether they will offer redundancy and who would take it. I don't think they will. A couple of surprise moves on projects though, and a snottagram from a doctor at a different hospital - numpty.

Intellectual husband is still awaiting the results of his scan and is not very well, so I have been out and about on my own a lot. So the bird list has increased a bit and I finished the month on 53. Mostly I have enjoyed not really interacting with most people, my very lovely and always happy hairdresser being an exception.

I have been revising some bits of Latin and working through Lingua Latina. I also have been watching some videos in Latin, telling the story of Perseus.

I found the first daffodil of the year almost in flower out by the side of the road - this spot is usually the first one that has open daffodils. I also enjoyed seeing the lovely Winter Aconites in a little spot on my walk into town.

Yoga, pilates and running have continued. Still not much crafting, but I did buy a book about Nalbinding, so that is going to be my February project to start. I also bought another random book from the bookshop because why not. On my one trip into work I didn't really listen to much, just the start of a podcast about replacing neoprene and elastane with natural rubber.

I finished reading Tom Cox's Everything Will Swallow You which I adored and is staying on my shelf. I have started reading South Riding by Winifred Holtby which has been sitting on my shelf for a few years now. I'm also still reading Summit as well as the Very Short Introduction to Ancient Greece.

Week 4 - Fourth Week of January

More rain, more grey but some sunshine for Saturday at least. Only two days in the office this week - long may it continue. The long awaited consultation started this week, but only for a very small number of people. You honestly couldn't make this up. A year on and still no actual change in my role which therefore remains a bit of a mystery in some ways. How my supposed manager who hasn't conducted any meetings with me in 11 months is going to do my appraisal with me next month who knows. Anyway, other than catching up with a friend / colleague this week and speaking to a lovely doctor in Ireland it has been a lot of the same old. I did try attending an ISEP Connect event - it was a bit odd and not very well thought out if I am honest. But an attempt to allow some networking and I will try the next one to see if it is any better now that I know what to expect.

The Latin is still continuing - this week I have been reading some more stories, revising the first five chapters of Lingua Latina and learning about the ablative absolute.

My bird list hit 50 on Saturday with a walk round the Country Park - Little Grebe being the magic bird this year. There were a lot of gulls on the water, but the theme, all week, has remained a scene of monochrome birds - gulls, swans, Coots, Corvids and Tufted Ducks. There do seem to be some signs of spring stirring - some crocus and snowdrops poking their heads above the ground, some even flowering. By the end of this next week there will be an additional 20 minutes of daylight - in theory, although the forecast doesn't seem to show any form of light happening.

I have continued with my running and pilates and avoiding the work emails, as well as quite a bit of walking and yoga. Craft is not happening much yet, lots of ideas but I fail to start any, although I have had my spindle out for a touch of mindless spinning. Podcasts have been limited due to limited time in work, Circular Economy was the main theme. I am still reading Everything Will Swallow You and Summit, but I also bought a books about collage to go with the other books I have about collage.

Week 3 - Third Week of January

Well that was a week. Three days in the office, and oen working from home. I also had to chauffeur Intellectual Husband to an MRI at a Community Diagnostic Centre in what I think I could describe as the arse end of Northampton. Why the hospital chose to move their MRI service there from Daventry where there is a lot of parking and you aren't so concerned for your life or your car, I have no idea. It appears that the Receptionist there didn't know either. Still I got to drive through the rain at rush hour for about 50 minutes and navigate through the traffic and the ridiculous estate it is on. Work wise has been pretty much the same with some new projects starting but none finishing - I really must sort that out though - but some of it really is out of my hands.

On a positive note though I have been doing some Latin every day - finishing off Chapter 23 of Lingua Latina and continuing through the participles, as well as reading some GCSE level stories.

Although I didn't go out with my telescope I did go for a walk round the Country Park with my bins and added another ten birds to my year list to take me to 46. Highlights were a Treecreeper and some Pochards.

I have finished reading both Mystery in White and Shadowlands and so I am now reading Summit by Ed Conway and Everything Will Swallow You by Tom Cox. I had originally pre-ordered this, but the company went bankrupt so I had to buy it again from the local bookshop - it is quite odd, much like his other books (in a good way). Podcast wise I haven't listed to much, and I haven't been watching much on YouTube either this week.

I have been running again, despite the rain, and I am very much enjoying adding some Pilates into my weekly morning exercise routines. I am still avoiding work emails on non-work days which is anoter of my health resolutions. I have started some more textile collage but not really done anything else other than read about collage.

Week 2 - Second Week of January

Starting with work to get the worst bit done with. Luckily I was only in the office for a couple of days, and at a nearby hospital for a meeting on one of the others. We moved one project on a bit further, and I did have a couple of useful meetings to help a couple of other people get some things close to finishing. Overall though it was a continuation of sustainability being the thing no one feels they really need to really take forward and the first thing they can drop if something more urgent comes up. I am not sure what I can do about this though.

Away from work though I continued with my new goals and managed a run, a couple of Pilates lessons and some yoga and a haiku every day. Hopefully some good habits might become more routine. I actually enjoyed the Pilates a lot and am wondering about trying to add some more fitness routines into my week.

In terms of the Latin, my motivation is still there - I read a few of the short stories at the beginning of the GCSE reader this week and didn't have difficulty with any of them - I think I have managed over ten of them now. I have continued with both Lingua Latina and So You Really Want to Learn Latin, interspersed with some reading / watching about Roman history. I finished reading the vsi The Roman Republic and am now wondering about reading some Latin literature. I think that can wait until next year though.

I had my monthly walk down the canal towpath and took quite a few photos. It was a lovely sunny day but there were not very many people about. No dedicated birdwatching sessions completed yet - cold weather, waiting for postal collections and work stopped that. But I have upped my annual count to 36 already with the surprise addition of a Great White Egret.

Not much in the way of podcasts unfortunately this week. I have been reading Shadowlands still, plus, after finishing Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (which I enjoyed a lot) I have started reading A Mystery in White which was a Christmas present and includes a murder on a train. I have picked up Monkey Business Vol 5 which I have had for ages, for those evenings when I am too tired to read beyond a few pages.

Craft wise I finished the notebook cover I was making over Christmas, just in time as I have only a few pages left in my Autumn notebook and did manage a couple of sketch / collage attempts. I also watched the next lecture in the Ornamental Embroidery lecture series that I signed up for last year. This was about Major Casdagli's embroideries and very enjoyable it was too.

Week 1 - last week of December / first week of January

Booo - Back to work. Actually, it wasn't that bad, as Thursday was New Year's Day - so a two day followed by a one day week and the traffic was as light as expected. I tried to get my brain into gear about work stuff, but it wasn't playing. I did do a couple of tender social value evaluations though which needed doing and caught up with a friend I don't see very often (mainly because she is usually very busy).

I am not one for resolutions really as I am not very disciplined, but I have set myself some goals this year; mainly about health, Latin and crafting. The goals may change, and I will probably not achieve any of them, but I can try.

I have started this new year well though - I have been running (I think that is four weeks in a row now) and have been doing some Latin every day, and writing some haiku and poetry. I've also swapped a yoga session for Pilates - I think I need to be more focussed in some areas to build some strength and flexibility.

Because I have been back in the commuting wagon I have been listening to podcasts and the choice this week has been the Life Scientific which are short enough to match a faster commute. I have been reading many books. I finished Country of the Pointed Firs which was a bit drab to be honest. I have started reading Tinker, Taylor, Soldier, Spy as I pursue my George Smiley project - this book is so much better than the others so far and, even though I have never seen Alec Guiness playing George Smiley, that is exactly as he sounds in my head. I am also reading A Very Short Introduction to the Roman Republic, Shadowlands and Daventry Past and am enjoying them all. I have learnt about Winchelsea, Skarra Brae, Trellech and lost Medieval Villages. I'm also getting a little tempted by Roman literature - this abherration will hopefully vanish as soon as it appeared.

Birdwatching has pulled me outdoors a bit with a whole new list and 26 new birds for the year this week - including Redwing, Fieldfare and Raven. The first few weeks are always rewarding. And, because I am an exercise nut (not) I also managed a New Year run.

I am continuing with the Latin - a mix of Book 3 of So You Really Want to Learn Latin and Chapter 23 of Lingua Latina.