From Here to Where, Streatham – 12 July

Had a visit from N yesterday (good thing I do not discuss too many people here or he may have been N1 or N2) here in Streatham Common. Was good to catch up and hear how he is doing, face to face discussion is so much richer than e-mail. For lunch we had a nice chickpea soup, that we tend to make as more of a thick stew (always ends up sitting on the stove for longer than intended), some fresh bread, a salad from P and a delightful Pinot Grigio (I know nothing about wine, but tasted alright). Following lunch we had some lemon slice (from packet and tasting a little like sunlight liquid) and caramel slices with tea. Always nice to have an excuse to sit around and chat over lunch when there is no need to rush off anywhere.

Anyway, it was good to see N. Had some interesting news from Wellington and people that we know in common and was able to give me a taste of the blue cloud that NZ currently finds itself under. I was horrified (though sadly not surprised) to hear that John Key is modeling himself on Cameron here in the UK. How someone can model themselves on an empty vessel I am not sure. Was also good to hear how things are doing in Wellington and reminisce on times back there. Perhaps we will get some time to visit in the future. P is at work today (doing last on-call long day in A&E!!!!!) so I am catching up with N in town this afternoon before he flies back to NZ.

That is one thing that has been good about being in London. When people come over this side from ‘downunder’ they tend to stop in London and it is possible to catch up with them quite easily provided you can find a suitable place to meet (given the difficulty in getting across town here). Rotherham will be a different story, given that most people over here would have no idea where it is on the map (I didn’t, other than that it was North) let alone intend to visit the place. We will have to get out and visit people more to make up for this. At the same time it will be nice to live in a smallish community and still have access to major cities (Manchester, Sheffield, Nottingham, Bradford and Leeds all within relatively easy reach) and perhaps can encourage people to visit the North (more real than the South) and drink some Mild.

Have been giving some more thought to conference paper and the further research projects. The conference is rather daunting, promised quite a lot, will be a challenge to get it together and good to have something to work towards. Also got the ball rolling (nudged it at least) on another research project that came to mind after discussion and thinking about something P had said sometime ago. It will be a challenge and may not lead to anything substantial, am constrained once again by inability to conduct fieldwork (leaving out the language barrier). Is nice to have a new challenge to consider, although not doing any ‘heavy-lifting’ until finish writing organisational development paper (not to mention the ‘forgotten’ paper that has dropped off the radar).

That will do for now.

Oh, just found this on I Can Has Cheezburger?, Classic:

[their message: see more Lolcats and funny pictures]

Conference Thoughts, Steatham – 10 July

Well, here we are back in London. Had a nice couple of days in Norfolk working on the coast path (finished on Monday), weather was generally good. Will write it up later on with some pictures, probably next week. The Norfolk coast is interesting, is barren in some places with big salt marshes and lots of bird life.

Waiting is a theme that I seem to return to over and over again. I am waiting at the moment on a couple of things and the time being taken is starting to bug me somewhat. At the same time I have promised to deliver on a couple of things myself, so need to make sure that I do not do what annoys me. Had a gentle reminder today that I need to write a conference paper by late October. Promised to present a paper and after I submitted it I had some concerns that I would not be able to get it done in time. Seeing the programme with my name attached will hopefully spur me into action and ensure that I get it together.

Had coffee with a friend from Melbourne today and discussed my ongoing lack of work. She suggested that it may be an idea to use the methodology from the thesis and apply it to an Asian case study. Apparently this would improve my marketability significantly, given that European academics are understandably focused on Europe. This is something that I had subconsciously considered and P had mentioned as worth looking at, but had not really given much serious thought. So, now I am making contact with friends that work in the area and considering how to go about selecting a case and then exploring how to gather the necessary data and background.

Anyway, things keep moving on and I better try catch up.

So Long London… We Are Off to Rotherham, Streatham – 1 July

Well, we are off to Rotherham at the start of August. Leaving the crowds and rudeness of London behind to settle in South Yorkshire. Will be a bit sad to leave the little flat in South London for good, but change is good and we will find another one in the future.

We headed up to Rotherham on Monday and stopped there overnight so that P could attend an interview. There was much preparation for the interview, so I was confident that she would have a good shot. There was some concern about an internal candidate who had been waiting for the position to come up. While the interview was taking place I walked into the town centre and had a look around. It seems like a nice enough place, although the heat and humidity we are having here at the moment made it a little tiring. The news when it came through from P was positive, as I had expected (hoped). Apparently she nailed the interview, was offered the position after a short wait outside and starts on the 10th of August. P is a little daunted as it will be her first consultant post (has to be a grown up), but is in her area of specialty, so I have no such concerns.

We are off to Norfolk tonight to walk from Hunstanton to Cromer along the Norfolk Coast Path (leaving Peddars Way for another time) starting tomorrow morning. Will be nice to get away, been looking forward to it for some time, so will be good to finally get there. Have been watching the weather map over the last few days and it appears that the coast is a little cooler than other parts of the country (such as London at 31 degrees). Five days of walking, bliss.

Volunteering, Streatham – 26 June

Volunteering is good for you (I guess). One thing that has come back to me is how much I dislike working on a PC now. The only good thing about using a PC is that it ensures you appreciate the brilliance of your Mac when you get home. The one I work on when volunteering is generally pretty good as they go, but it keeps crashing programmes (mainly Explorer, which is itself a dog). Volunteering also makes me think about the fact that I do not have a job. Working at home on papers (and previously thesis) means that I am isolated and able to focus on getting words out. Sitting in an office with other people is a strange experience now and takes some getting used to.

Watched ‘The Kite Runner’ the other evening (came through in the post) and was impressed. I missed it when it was out at the theatre and remember that there was much raving about it. There was also raving about ‘The Da Vinci Code’ book (which I have yet to subject myself to), so I am cautious about that sort of thing. With these limitations in mind it was with some hesitation that I approached it, but was pleasantly surprised. It was a good movie and would recommend it, although the last scene did a pretty good job of nearly torpedoing all the good work that had come before.

Finished reading How to be a Bad Birdwatcher. Was generally interesting, rather an eclectic book and difficult to classify. Also read quickly through another old classic in the form of Thunderball by Ian Fleming. No thinking required, just turn the pages and try to keep up. At the moment I am working my way through McMafia by Misha Glenny. Is generally good, although I am not so keen on the subtitle of the book ‘Seriously Organised Crime’.

It is sad that MJ has died, was only 50. Also unfortunate that there has to be such an overwhelming focus on him to the near exclusion of all other news. Is it really necessary to spend extended periods talking to his concert crew hearing how he was brilliant during his final rehearsals. This is also compounded by the person next door playing his music and whistling along really badly. Not a Diana moment.

Tribute, Streatham – 23 June

Just a quick note using the ‘QuickPress’ option for the first time (required some editing, but not bad). The header has been altered slightly to showcase my new glasses and the strange light here in the UK. Here is the full picture.

The subheading (”…getting on with the job.”) is a tribute to the Labour government here in the UK. Every time there is any criticism of a Minister a spokesperson is wheeled out to say that they are not concerned and are focused on “…getting on with the job.” The problem is that if you do not know how to do the job, getting on with it is not necessarily the best strategy. I am getting on with the job at the moment myself in the area of organisational theory and non-profit organisations, lets hope I am more successful.

Thesis Gone (For Now) Again, Streatham – 22 June

The thesis has been submitted for reexamination. Put it in the post on Saturday morning after picking up from the printers on Friday afternoon. It has been a very long and trying process revising and expanding on areas of significant weakness and am hoping/expecting that it will be suitable. Was strange to see it in print after working solely on electronic copies for over a year, seemed much more substantial (was 325 pages in final count). Now we settle down and wait a couple of months for the outcome and the final (minor) revisions to be made.

One thing happened on Friday that could have proven disasterous. Caught the tube from Bank to Clapham South (to get the bus to Streatham) on Friday after picking up (paying the ransom for) the thesis and stopped in a supermarket. The aim was to grab a drink and a paper for the last stretch as I was a little dehydrated after volunteering until the afternoon and then rushing across the city to get the thesis and come home. On the way into supermarket I saw a guy with a box of donuts (12 or 13) and was interested. I am not mad about them, but a donut is a nice treat occasionally. Anyway, being distracted by this and the self-checkout I walked out of the store without the thesis and got as far as the corner before remembering and running like a madman back to collect it. Fortunately it was in a cloth bag and had not moved from the point it was left. Phew. Mentioning the episode to P in an e-mail she responded that it “Probably represents a projection of your desire to distance [your]self from it.” Truer words were never spoken. The problem is that in distancing myself it would have inflicted new trauma given the expense and time involved in printing. It is gone now though.

Saturday saw me in Croydon picking up my glasses. Having not worn glasses for a number of years (five or six at least and even then not regularly) it was a bit of a change to suddenly find myself returning to the shop into which I was gently co-erced the week before. The pickup was smooth and all looked good. The frames are plastic and a little chunkier than the last pair I had, becoming accustomed to the new look with time. When I walked out of the shop into the sun, crowds and noise of the shopping area it was a little disorientating at first. The new glasses brought everything into sharp focus and for the first few minutes screwed with my depth perception, having slightly blurred distance vision smooths out all the cracks and gaps in the pavement. Also strange to be able to see every face that was coming towards me. The sense of disorientation was heightened when I ventured into two department stores looking for a donut store found the previous weekend. The first was the wrong store, but the second was successful. The problem with large department stores in shopping malls (other than the obvious fact that they are large department stores in shopping malls) is that the exits are never obvious and being a little disorientated made the experience even more difficult. Lets just say I (P was working, so I was solo) was glad to get on the train back to Streatham Common.

So, now I find myself temporarily freed from the burdens of the thesis and able to get on with some other writing. Still awaiting reviews from a journal and have not been able to elicit a response regarding the likely timeframe (other than “within the next eight weeks” a month or so ago). Also concerned that copyright form I posted for another article may have been misplaced as the electronic record has not been updated. Such are the joys. For the meantime I am getting down to work on paper involving organisational development that I indicated would be with the journal for review (following initial comments from the editor) by July. Then there is the conference paper to be delivered in October that I promised and another paper that has been on the backburner for too long (need to communicate with co-author on that one). At least I have things to be gettting on with.

Thinking About Organisational Development and Coöptation, Streatham – 15 Jun

Well, it has been a busy couple of weeks. It is really strange how one can still be busy despite being un(der)employed.

Anyway, my parents visited for a week and a half and are now back safe in NZ. Was really good to see them, had been over 18 months since we last sighted each other back in NZ. They stopped by after walking in Italy and visiting Prague, with Perky Nana and Pineapple Lumps, two delicacies that I had not sampled for some time and was able to introduce to P. It was a visit that had been anticipated for some time and yet little thought had gone into planning (as it was my responsibility). In the end it all worked out.

I acted as tourist guide taking a walking tour around central London while P was working. After a couple of days they transferred to our little piece of quiet in South London and we were able to show them the joys of inner-outer London (beyond the reach of the tube). The highlight of there time in Streatham was a walk to Crystal Palace and the delicious Portuguese food served there. In order to give P a break (she was still chained to work) we headed off to the Lake District for a couple of days. Having not visited the region (other than passing nearby on the train) I was looking forward to it. We spent two nights in Windermere and explored the lake before heading to Grasmere for a night and walking up to a tarn. Although the visit was short I would recommend it and will endeavour to visit again when we are able. While there I picked up the Wainwright biography, interesting chap and quiet an achievement to produce such a series of books. The ride back was torture, train stopped outside Rugby then stopped, after waiting 30 minutes at station headed to Nuneaton on packed train, transfer to Leicester on even fuller train and then get train to London from there on another very full train. Such are the joys of UK transport.

The final weekend saw a visit from the second son and a family visit to the seaside at Brighton. After second son departed we headed up to Bedford to visit P’s ma and maanged to fit in a visit to Cambridge. Was my first time there and it was quite nice, although the tradition would probably kill me in a very short time. The day the parents were to leave the tube was on strike, so they got to see even more of the top quality UK transport system by catching the coach to Heathrow in nightmare traffic. Despite all this they had a good visit. Was strange to see them go, had been a long build up and seemed to be over so soon, made more complicated by indefinite term until the next visit.

So, the thesis has been sent to the printers. Hopefully I will be able to kick that off to Australia by the end of the week. Wicked!!! Now I am back to work on a paper examining development of a large regional environmental NGO. I have been trying to get this thing going for some time and have now gone back to square one drawing on comments from a journal editor and trying to rebuild it. The deadline is tight on this one, as tends to happen, so will be a challenge. Right now I am delving into a ‘classic’ work by Selznick called ‘TVA and the Grass Roots’. Although the book was published 60 years ago (and I have only just finished the introduction) the writing seems fresh and interesting. Once I have made way through this book it should springboard me through the paper and get it to a publishable standard (following reviews and revisions).

So, back to work. Here is a picture of us all in Cambridge (Clare College).

Cambridge

What I Have Been Reading, Streatham – 27 May

Crime and Punishment – Doestoevsky

The Riddle of the Sands – Erskine Childers

Stalin’s Nose: Across the Face of Europe – Rory MacLean

No Country for Old Men – Cormac McCarthy

Red Dust: A Path Through China – Ma Jian

I can recommend all these books. They are all quite varied, but enjoyable in their own ways. Am currently finishing ‘Red Dust’ and have really enjoyed it, opens a window on China during the 1980s and shows something of the diversity of the country. Up next we have:

How to be a Bad Birdwatcher – Simon Barnes

The Log from the Sea of Cortez – John Steinbeck

Writing Through a Block, Streatham – 26 May

The thesis is off my desk for now (thankfully) and will hopefully require only minor revisions when it returns from re-examination. I do not really care anymore, done as much as I can on that.

Currently trying to write my way through a block. An attempt to write an introduction has failed to

This has in turn freed me up to do some writing on something else. Attempted to write a paper drawing on findings from thesis, but decided that this would probably finish me off and have two papers being published this year that draw on some of the same material. So, have decided to revisit a paper that has been hanging around since the latter part of 2007 (based on research in Hungary during May and June of that year). Presented at a conference in 2007, submitted for review in July last year (rejected) and again in February this year (editors suggested revisions). After the latest feedback I promised to provide a revised version for review by July, which is feasible.

This leads me to where I currently am. The fact that the paper has been kicking around for a little while makes it less palatable than the last few papers I wrote which emerged in a short period and then had a (long) list of specific changes to be made before publication. To deal with the aversion this entails and construct something stronger and more rigorous I have scrapped the previous version and am planning to build it from scratch. The problem right now is wading through the initial application (and feedback) to determine what the unique and novel aspect of the research is that I am trying to get across. What is the research question?

It is a daunting position to be in, holding a bunch of empirical (interview) material and not knowing exactly how to approach it and the theoretical model to adopt. The editors were able to provide some useful suggestions that will help pull together the paper. The problem is that I will need to stray into an area with which I am not very familiar (organisation studies). Past experience of wading through the literature on political leadership tells me that this is not a light undertaking, at least with the leadership literature there were a few core authors with whom one could comfortably start. Finding the start is always the most challenging part, once a path is defined it is a matter of moving in that direction and trusting that the referees will be open-minded enough to accept draft work and identify more specific branches.

So, now I am sitting here staring at a screen wondering how to progress. Would like to get the paper finished and eventually published, it has merit and could make a useful contribution to the literature. It is an organisation that holds an important and unique position within Europe and potentially may be a model for other organisations to follow in the future.

The problem right now is that in going back to basics I need to do some writing, but before I can get to that point I need to do a lot of reading to get my head around the broader context. Must find motivation to push on through…

Walking in the Hills and City, Streatham – 8 May

I have been meaning to write about our walk from Newcastle to Bowness-on-Solway along Hadrian’s Wall and now I have a few minutes to do so. It was really nice. You will have seen from the pictures linked to in a previous entry what it was like. It is hard to sum up a walk in a short post and I am not sure that I want to, but I will try. The days varied significantly: the first was foggy and cool as we wandered through Newcastle, the second was tough, walking along a straight road for miles in warm sun and then cool wind; the third was windy and cool on ridges looking out over farmland and encountering ruins; the fourth was similar to the third until lunchtime when the sun came out to make a gorgeous afternoon as we descended from the true national park into cultivated land; the fifth also produced good weather, broad green fields and a fort; on the sixth day then sun was very warm and the land smooth, the slog through the edge of Carlisle was a shock to the system (rubbish, noise, drunks); the seventh and final day produced our first rain of the trip just before lunch, allowing us to shelter in a pub and complete the walk after the rain had passed. That is basically how we passed seven days of walking.

There were many sights to see along the way and some days we were quite tired and a little sore upon locating our accomodation for the evening. On departing every morning (bar one following a night in a poor hostel) we felt refreshed and ready to go, the pains of the day before soon faded. Walking along a set path with maps of varying quality was liberating in a way as it freed the mind to just wander while the legs propelled you forward. We discussed the scenery and other things that we had observed and/or remembered from earlier in the trip or back in London. Knowing that you have to walk a certain (undetermined) distance every day is nice, gives you a challenge to tackle and something to focus on. Some of the most enjoyable parts of the walk were in the last couple of days after we had come down from the more scenic parts of the path and were just moving steadily through the countryside. These sections did not require comment or close observation and just allowed us to walk and talk while slowly moving towards the horizon. Having never completed a long distance walk of this sort before it was very enjoyable to find out how pleasant it can be. It reminded me of the feeling of calm that came during the long runs on coolish mornings in Melbourne during my brief running career (that my knees remind me of on odd days) when everything around you just blurs into the background, the sound of life is turned down and the pressures of work disappear for a while.

Traveling up north was also interesting. It is like a different country up there in some ways, but in many ways it was very similar. Perhaps we will get up there to walk/work in the future. It would not be so bad.

One thing I have noticed upon returning to London is how difficult it can be to get around. This is something that I have previously considered, but on returning from a walking holiday it is much more noticable. Getting the energy and motivation to go anywhere in the city (other than immediate neighbourhood) can be a major undertaking if you are unlucky. Brings to mind the old cliche about how Londoners only know their immediate area. It is such a hassle to go anywhere that I can see why. Walking from village to village through the countryside just brought this home even more. Having said that, it is still possible to enjoy a good walk here (as evidenced by earlier posts about the Capital Ring) if you are willing to put in the effort. On Wednesday I was volunteering in Vauxhall by the river and decided to walk a little further before getting the bus home since the weather was nice. This eventually resulted in me walking Vauxhall-Stockwell-Clapham-Streatham-Streatham Common, all the way home. The cycle route sign said 4 miles, but googlemaps says 5.5, either way it was a good walk. The thing about walking from suburb to suburb is that you get to see such a range of people going about their day (especially on a sunny May afternoon). I discovered a whole nest of Portuguese cafes and restaurants that require further investigation and saw much goings on. While it was not quite the same as walking through the Northumberland National Park it was interesting in its own right and great to get some exercise.

We are off to Bath this weekend. Am looking forward to seeing the city and meeting one of P’s friends that I have heard plenty about but not yet had the opportunity to meet. Have heard good things about Bath will be good to see if it lives up to expectations. Perhaps the following weekend we will get out into the countryside and continue our stroll along the North Downs Way, picking up where we left off before the trip. Will be more enjoyable to walk in the hills around there now that there is some experience under the belt, the first 30 miles were very tough.

After being very dismissive about comments regarding my poor grammar from supervisors, examiners and reviewers I have decided to sort it out once and for all. Having not really taken much of an interest in school and performing poorly as a result I missed the grammar lesson. So, I am being proactive and have ordered a book which outlines the key rules of grammar and hopefully this will put it to rest once and for all. It is hard enough getting work accepted for publication without putting another barrier in the way. Is a little late for the thesis revisions (which will be completed by the end of next week, I think), fortunately P will be able to proofread it for me and identify the error of my grammatical ways. Perhaps in the future you will also notice a difference here.