I’ve mainly been at work, or at least that’s what it feels like! Not only has it been the beginning of the new academic year, but we have also moved into the Shiny New Learning Centre. The SNLC (or SNeLC (sorry)), is lovely, but comes with its own problems, like an over-sensitive self-returns machine that goes into a sulk and stops working if anyone should dare to return books through it at anything other than exactly the right frequency. I don’t even know what the right frequency is, and I work in the library, so I don’t how the students will get the hang of it. Practice, I suppose. We’re currently posting people to take turns at standing beside the machine to help people put their books through correctly, although, as I said, I don’t even know what the machine’s idea of ‘correctly’ is.
Anyway, enough of that. I’m not supposed to be thinking about work when I’m not there.
I’ve been home to visit my family on a couple of occasions – once for my uncle and aunt’s 40th wedding anniversary party and once to sing Handel’s Messiah. I enjoyed both of these occasions, but I’m afraid I probably enjoyed the singing more than the party, much as I love my aunt and uncle! We performed the Messiah in the church I grew up and got married in, with people I’ve known all my life, a historically accurate orchestra (if that makes sense) and a church full of an enthusiastic audience. Plus, of course, the music is great. I like Handel’s music, because it makes sense – you can sort of tell where he’s going with it and he repeats ideas quite a lot. This is quite helpful when you’re sight-reading a part you’ve never sung before! We had a practice on the day, but that was it for me, so I had to muddle through as best I could and listen carefully to the people around me. I don’t think I made any mistakes anyone could hear, so that was OK. When I was singing, I felt the happiest I have felt for a long time.
What else has happened? I passed my CILIP chartership, which was a nice surprise. I can now put letters after my name – MCLIP, which stand for Member: Chartered Library and Information Professional. I don’t know why it’s not MCILIP – Member of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. This has long been a mystery to me, but I suppose it doesn’t really matter.
The pacemaker seems to be working. I was still experiencing some strange rhythms, but I went to the pacing clinic in September and had the pacemaker’s settings adjusted and I’ve felt better since then. I’m feeling quite tired at the moment (hence having the day off today) but I think this is due to too much work, rather than anything directly heart-related. I’ve got another appointment at the pacing clinic in November.
Appropriately large congratulations on passing your chartership – and flip – what a lot of letters you get as a result! Brilliant.
Thanks. One day I might actually use all my letters…but probably not!
I’ve never heard of a CILIP. Sounds like a fun time with the singing and celebrating.
I love Handel’s Messiah, and have been involved in performing it from all sides: both as an orchestra member and a singer. I think I enjoyed singing it more than playing it, but both are wonderfully uplifting. Not only is his music beautiful, accessible and has direction, but there are lots of musical puns in it too.
For example, think about the chorus “All we like sheep”. The second phrase “Have gone astray-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ay-ayayayay.” The wanderings on the last syllable of “astray” perfectly illustrate the concept. Lots more examples, of course. That one’s my favorite.
That’s one of my favourite bits as well! It makes me smile inside every time.