Helpful training for saying 'no'
Author: fluff35
I blog on a range of subjects arising from various aspects of my life. On https://theretiringacademic.wordpress.com, I focus on my reactions to early retirement and think about aspects of teaching and research which I hope will be stimulating to those still working in higher education. On https://shared-conversations.com, I blog as an authorized lay preacher in a pretty standard parish church of the Church of England, who needs to write in order to find out what she thinks. I took part in the Oxford/St Albans/Armed Forces C of E 'Shared Conversations' in March 2016, worked on the Living in Love and Faith resources from 2017 and was elected to General Synod in October 2021, and continue to try to reflect on some of the issues. On https://mistakinghistories.wordpress.com I share my thoughts on various aspects of the history of medicine and the body.
I have also written for The Conversation UK on https://theconversation.com/profiles/helen-king-94923/articles
The nightmares at the end of the long vac
Every year without fail, while I was working in the normal university sector, I had a nightmare round about now, in the last weeks before a new academic year began. It would go like this. It's the first day of term. I arrive at the university campus and head for my office. But it's not… Continue reading The nightmares at the end of the long vac
When to go and what you’ll miss
When are you going to retire? Have you thought about it yet? And what will you miss the most? First, the 'when'. If I didn't go now, when would I go? 65, on a full pension? Or even later? At the moment, I find it hard to imagine why anyone would want to go on with… Continue reading When to go and what you’ll miss
First reactions
When I formally announced that I was going to retire, reactions from colleagues at my own and other universities fell into the following categories: 1. Surprise, followed by 'we're going to miss you' (some people said the sort of things one normally only gets at one's funeral - so it's good to have been around to… Continue reading First reactions
Starting to retire
so I'm going to retire - and I need to think this through.
The retiring academic 