last day of the year

Angie
Originally uploaded by angie cat

Well, I can hardly believe that 2010 is almost done. This time a year ago I was in Rockhampton and pinching myself with disbelief - had I really been offered and accepted a job at CSU in Wagga Wagga?

And what a year it has been. My highlights? The move, of course! Attending the conference in Mannheim, Germany, with Gillian and Maryann, friends and conversational analysts. then, the ARC Discovery (and I'm still blown away by that). Getting to know Chris, Gerald and Wayne at work was pretty good (ongoing hits of enjoyment). I'm happy that Angie has settled so well into Wagga and made a friend in Pirate. And of course, I'm especially enjoying being back with Jenny, one of my oldest (older-smile) friends).

Today, I've spent time working on the chapter again. I'm not pushing it but really just aim to do reasonably good work each day and then pull it together towards the end of the time line. This morning I wrote a few hundred words about independent writing and this afternoon I read some online articles about CA and institutional talk, and I made notes that can then inform the production of a few good words tomorrow morning.

It is over forty degrees here today. This morning I thought about going for a swim. I didn't do it but it is now on the cards for sometime on the weekend. I might go to Coolamon and back to the pool I swam in during the summer many years ago.

Work for 2011 begins

Here's wishing everyone a happy New Year. Mine has begun a little early with today's start on the book chapter that is due on 15 January. It was REALLY hard settling down to work today after relaxing since 24 December. When I unwind I come undone! However, I managed to make a start today and have written a few words.

The background to the chapter is this. Some months ago, I proposed an abstract for a panel paper at the International Pragmatics Conference in Manchester 2011. I was happy that the chair of the symposium accepted my proposal and then I was over the moon when she asked me to write a chapter for a book (based on my abstract). So, I have a plan of sorts, however, I read over the book proposal today and it differs a little from the panel for the conference. Actually, it differs in a way that makes it a little easier for me to write the chapter (that's good).

The main thing now is settling into writing the chapter. I've managed a few good words today (about three hundred) and have mapped out the overall shape of the chapter. I've also done a bit of reading. I think the main thing is not to let the chapter "blow out". I've circled around this particular analytic work for some years although have never published the analysis itself. It's my favourite piece of analysis from my PhD so fingers crossed that I can pull off the chapter and finally see it in print.

By way of surprise

I just went down to check the mail and found a copy of a journal in my mail box. To my surprise it contained an article of mine and was hot off the press!

The surprise was that I hadn't realised that it was about to be published.