What can I say? There can only be so much that can go wrong in a week. Well, possibly. But I haven’t reached that limit yet. I double and triple checked I had everything packed 0n Thursday morning before setting out for the archive. Admittedly, I did try to use my library card to access the lift instead of my room card but that was just a momentary slip, surely?
On City Square just as I was leaving the hotel there were several people dressed in superhero costumes looking like they would rather be somewhere else. Maybe it was their turn to have a bad day. They were advertising Kleenex tissues and avoiding Swine flu!
It was dry today but all up the street were the slaughtered remains of umbrellas from yesterday’s wind! Poor twisted and tangled remains that were just waiting for the right moment to turn into Zombie Umbrellas. I wonder if anyone has written the script for that movie?
Things were going great. I was getting on with the photographing and was about to start on another file when I tried to insert one of the new memory sticks I bought on Wednesday. Nope. It wasn’t going to work. I tried the other one. Nope. Not that one either! I was going to have to go back to Boots and get them exchanged. Where was the receipt? Oh yes. I decided to take it out of my handbag and it was back at the hotel!!!.
OK. Deep breaths. What if there was a photo shop nearer the University? I could buy new sticks and return the others to Boots tomorrow. That would be a good idea and would save me the walk down to the hotel again. Of course that would be too easy. Back to the hotel. Back to Boots – where I insisted the assistant tried out the replacement sticks in my camera before I bought them! He wasn’t happy about it but I think I looked like I was about to commit murder and he was the nearest target!
I must have really pissed of a petty bureaucratic demi-daemon from Hades this week. Seriously, he has it in for me!
Thank goodness I discovered the Thai Edge. In its advertising blurb it states it is ‘arguably one of the best Thai restaurants in Britain’ and has been voted in the top 10 Asian restaurants by the Times and the Independent. For the past 7 years it has held an AA rosette. The service and the food are fantastic and not expensive. It seems to be really popular with a wide range of people too. I will definitely be eating there regularly on my trips to Leeds.
Friday. Last day in the archives. I knew I was going to be short on time to finish the last of the files I wanted but would give it my best shot. I almost made it too. Unfortunately the battery let me down again and I didn’t have time to recharge it. The last 39 documents will have to wait until the next trip.
It has been a challenging week but hopefully the photos will be OK and I can work my way through them in the next few weeks. The Special Collections at Leeds Uni is a great place to work and the staff really helpful and friendly. Sure beats Russian archives and their obligatory ‘Dmitri’ who is permanently bad tempered!
Well, I have survived another trip away from the family hearth but it will be good to get home. The train is horrendously crowded but no delays (so far). I am looking forward to one of Sean’s special risottos tonight and a chilled glass of wine...and a warm, comfortable bed! It’s not much for a weary, technologically-outwitted traveller to hope for!
Until the next travel adventure....
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Crap Crappy Crappity Crapness
Some days are best forgotten. They simply should not exist. This is one of them. There is something about Wednesdays on archive trips that get me down and this is no exception.
First off, I didn't sleep as Tiny Bomber (aka No. 1 daughter) decided to cross the road last night without looking both ways. Thankfully the car that hit her wasn't going fast and she is OK but being miles away and being told not to worry doesn't help that much. Anyway, Mums are meant to worry, it's our job.
Breakfast this morning was strangely like being on the Marie Celeste. Not a soul in sight but everything was laid out for the buffet breakfast. I thought the croissants loked nice...mistake! French bakers were in mourning for these things bearing the name of croissant but not resembling them in any other way. I think they were probably used by the students in the 1968 Paris demonstrations as misiles against the gendarmes.
I definately wasn't going to forget the battery charger after yesterday's fiasco, so with my bag packed I set out to the shopping centre to buy another memory stick for the camera. I figured it would be useful and would mean that I wouldn't run out of memory before the end of the week. I am photographing so many documents!
Things were looking up. I even managed to find the correct short cut to the University! But, alas, it couldn't last.
Unpacking my bag in the archive I realised there was no camera battery. It must have fallen out of the charger as I was packing it! I couldn't believe it! After all my careful preperations! Crap Crappy Crappity Crapdoodle Crapness!
I thought about going straight back to the hotel but decided instead to order up the rest of the files I wanted to look at and go through them to see what was there before walking all the way back into the centre of Leeds.
I got back to the hotel about 3p.m and called Tiny Bomber. She had had a good night's rest and said she was fine. The battery was lying on the bed so. with it safely in my bag, I headed back up the hill to the archive! It was really wet and windy and everyone's umbrellas were being blown inside out. What a day!
I managed to get some more photos taken before the archive closed at 7p.m. then headed back into the centre for something to eat.
I decided on the Thai Edge restaurant. This proved to be the best decision of the day. It was a little oasis of serenity and excellent cuisine in my crapola day. I will definitely be going back there but I hope tomorrow is a better day all round than today.
Oh, and by the way, putting the dayglo digital clock under the bed didn't help. It just made the bed look nuclear powered.
First off, I didn't sleep as Tiny Bomber (aka No. 1 daughter) decided to cross the road last night without looking both ways. Thankfully the car that hit her wasn't going fast and she is OK but being miles away and being told not to worry doesn't help that much. Anyway, Mums are meant to worry, it's our job.
Breakfast this morning was strangely like being on the Marie Celeste. Not a soul in sight but everything was laid out for the buffet breakfast. I thought the croissants loked nice...mistake! French bakers were in mourning for these things bearing the name of croissant but not resembling them in any other way. I think they were probably used by the students in the 1968 Paris demonstrations as misiles against the gendarmes.
I definately wasn't going to forget the battery charger after yesterday's fiasco, so with my bag packed I set out to the shopping centre to buy another memory stick for the camera. I figured it would be useful and would mean that I wouldn't run out of memory before the end of the week. I am photographing so many documents!
Things were looking up. I even managed to find the correct short cut to the University! But, alas, it couldn't last.
Unpacking my bag in the archive I realised there was no camera battery. It must have fallen out of the charger as I was packing it! I couldn't believe it! After all my careful preperations! Crap Crappy Crappity Crapdoodle Crapness!
I thought about going straight back to the hotel but decided instead to order up the rest of the files I wanted to look at and go through them to see what was there before walking all the way back into the centre of Leeds.
I got back to the hotel about 3p.m and called Tiny Bomber. She had had a good night's rest and said she was fine. The battery was lying on the bed so. with it safely in my bag, I headed back up the hill to the archive! It was really wet and windy and everyone's umbrellas were being blown inside out. What a day!
I managed to get some more photos taken before the archive closed at 7p.m. then headed back into the centre for something to eat.
I decided on the Thai Edge restaurant. This proved to be the best decision of the day. It was a little oasis of serenity and excellent cuisine in my crapola day. I will definitely be going back there but I hope tomorrow is a better day all round than today.
Oh, and by the way, putting the dayglo digital clock under the bed didn't help. It just made the bed look nuclear powered.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Camera Cannae Take it, Cap'n!
It was a sleepless night as the bed isn't comfortable and the clock/phone on the bedside cabinet gives out a brilliant green glow from its digital display! I might have to cover it with something tonight or hide it under the bed!
I decided to take a 'short cut' to Uni today. Given my famous propensity to head off in the wrong direction,this could only end in tears! It only took an extra half an hour!
As I had forgotten to pack my Russian dictionary I also had to stop off in the local Blackwells. That accomplished, I headed across the road to the archive. The file I was working on was huge so I decided to get right to it and start photographing. All wen well until the battery level showed empty. I only had a few pages to go so I carried on until the camera, with faultless timing, decided to switch itself of just as I was about to photograph the very last page. No amount of coaxing could persuade it to switch back on for the necessary 3 seconds. I had left the charger in the hotel so I will have to finish it tomorrow.
Therre was only one thing to do. Order up another couple of files and go for lunch. There is actually a Marks and Spencers exhibition on in the main foyer of the Parkinson BUilding! I might take a stroll through it tomorrow (couldn't be bothered today as I was grumpy about the camera!) I also have a sore back from standing taking photographs at a table that is a couple of centimetres too low! All I wanted to do was sit and have some lunch.
Having seen the size of the next two files I think I will have to find a photo shop tomorrow morning to buy more memory sticks. After these there are another 4 files I want to see before I go home. I will definitely remember the charger tomorrow as well!
I wanted to try a Thai restaurant tonight but it wasn't open when I went past so I stopped in Casa Mia again. Pizza tonight and a couple of well earned beers! I also wandered through the German market and will certainly go back before I leave. An interesting stall with hats needs further investigation!
I decided to take a 'short cut' to Uni today. Given my famous propensity to head off in the wrong direction,this could only end in tears! It only took an extra half an hour!
As I had forgotten to pack my Russian dictionary I also had to stop off in the local Blackwells. That accomplished, I headed across the road to the archive. The file I was working on was huge so I decided to get right to it and start photographing. All wen well until the battery level showed empty. I only had a few pages to go so I carried on until the camera, with faultless timing, decided to switch itself of just as I was about to photograph the very last page. No amount of coaxing could persuade it to switch back on for the necessary 3 seconds. I had left the charger in the hotel so I will have to finish it tomorrow.
Therre was only one thing to do. Order up another couple of files and go for lunch. There is actually a Marks and Spencers exhibition on in the main foyer of the Parkinson BUilding! I might take a stroll through it tomorrow (couldn't be bothered today as I was grumpy about the camera!) I also have a sore back from standing taking photographs at a table that is a couple of centimetres too low! All I wanted to do was sit and have some lunch.
Having seen the size of the next two files I think I will have to find a photo shop tomorrow morning to buy more memory sticks. After these there are another 4 files I want to see before I go home. I will definitely remember the charger tomorrow as well!
I wanted to try a Thai restaurant tonight but it wasn't open when I went past so I stopped in Casa Mia again. Pizza tonight and a couple of well earned beers! I also wandered through the German market and will certainly go back before I leave. An interesting stall with hats needs further investigation!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Back to Leeds, Back to Reality.
Well it is almost 2 years since that depressing trip to the archives that made me realise my Russian wasn't good enough to continue with my research. I wish I could say my Russian is perfect now but it will still be a long slow process through the documents but the plan is to photograph as much as possible and take it back home to work through.
The trip down was uneventful. No missed connections in Edinburgh and a beautiful sunny day. Slightly duller in Leeds but dry at least. I went to check into the hotel first and as soon as I approached the desk the receptionist asked if I was with the Philosophical and Religious Studies Group. Obviously being a part of the Dept. of Divinity, History and Philosophy marks you out! I politely declined to be either philosophical or divine and checked in as the lone historical relic! It is the same hotel I stayed in before...nothing spectacular, but it is cheap! I guess that accounts for the large damp patch on the roof and wall with the accompanying growth of mould! It hasn't moved or tried to engage me in conversation so I am assuming it is harmless!
As I walked up to the University I noticed a German Christmas market in the centre. I will try to pop into it on the way home tomorrow. It looked festive but I can't guarantee its authentic Germanness yet. I will let you know....
It was good to be back in the archives. The staff are friendly and helpful and it is a nice, bright place to work. I ordered up my first two files and set to work. I managed to photograph the first file but the second is bigger and will need more time to sort through so I have left it for tomorrow. I had identified 8 files that I wanted to work through this week which doesn't seem like a lot but I was sure they would have a lot in them. Anyway, when Richard (archivist) brought out the boxes he very helpfully pointed out about a dozen more files that may actually be more inclusive of the information I am after....it is going to be a busy week!
I stopped off at Casa Mia, a restaurant I often go to when I am in Leeds. It still amazes me though that a woman dining alone creates such a stir. 'Yes, I want a table for one. No, I am not expecting anyone to join me.'
I had the spaghetti al frutti di mare, which was really good although there was ham in it which was slightly confusing. I wasn't aware that pigs were considered seafood. Maybe we are lumbered with land locked pigs in Scotland and they have swimming pigs in the Mediterranean!
I typed up some notes when I got back to the hotel and I am now enjoying a beer (served in a coffee mug) and some crisps before signing off for the night.
The trip down was uneventful. No missed connections in Edinburgh and a beautiful sunny day. Slightly duller in Leeds but dry at least. I went to check into the hotel first and as soon as I approached the desk the receptionist asked if I was with the Philosophical and Religious Studies Group. Obviously being a part of the Dept. of Divinity, History and Philosophy marks you out! I politely declined to be either philosophical or divine and checked in as the lone historical relic! It is the same hotel I stayed in before...nothing spectacular, but it is cheap! I guess that accounts for the large damp patch on the roof and wall with the accompanying growth of mould! It hasn't moved or tried to engage me in conversation so I am assuming it is harmless!
As I walked up to the University I noticed a German Christmas market in the centre. I will try to pop into it on the way home tomorrow. It looked festive but I can't guarantee its authentic Germanness yet. I will let you know....
It was good to be back in the archives. The staff are friendly and helpful and it is a nice, bright place to work. I ordered up my first two files and set to work. I managed to photograph the first file but the second is bigger and will need more time to sort through so I have left it for tomorrow. I had identified 8 files that I wanted to work through this week which doesn't seem like a lot but I was sure they would have a lot in them. Anyway, when Richard (archivist) brought out the boxes he very helpfully pointed out about a dozen more files that may actually be more inclusive of the information I am after....it is going to be a busy week!
I stopped off at Casa Mia, a restaurant I often go to when I am in Leeds. It still amazes me though that a woman dining alone creates such a stir. 'Yes, I want a table for one. No, I am not expecting anyone to join me.'
I had the spaghetti al frutti di mare, which was really good although there was ham in it which was slightly confusing. I wasn't aware that pigs were considered seafood. Maybe we are lumbered with land locked pigs in Scotland and they have swimming pigs in the Mediterranean!
I typed up some notes when I got back to the hotel and I am now enjoying a beer (served in a coffee mug) and some crisps before signing off for the night.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)