Translate

Wednesday 21 November 2012

A bit better

At its worst, my back was so bad I couldn't even turn over in bed. I had to get out and then get in from a different angle - taking about ten minutes. But the last couple of days it has loosened up through the day and by evening its bearable. But bad again in the mornings.

I walked into town again today for the first time for over a week because I has a hair appointment. Old Faithful has done me another good cut and said 'its really better choppy on top'. I always ask for 'choppy on top' - complicated bits of longer hair were always his idea done without consultation. The salon was like Clapham junction. Lots of people arriving and clattering about. He kept starting conversations with me and then deciding someone else's conversation was more interesting. Probably true but so rude! When I have my hair done, it should be all about me.

Made some progress on the trial transcripts yesterday - I'm really enjoying this one. The Shipman trial asks really precise questions but the Duke of Norfolk one asks him about four things at once and then lets him give long answers which I don't think would be allowed in a modern trial.

We're thinking of boycotting Amazon this year because they don't pay their tax. But I'm shocked at how few other outlets with a wide range there are now. And one CD costs around £10 at Amazon and around £20 elsewhere. So people would get less in their parcels! Its a tough one - why don't they just announce they will pay up?

Friday 16 November 2012

Bad back

This is not fair. I have felt so well since the eye appointment. And I felt my back go when I emptied the dishwasher. And I can hardly move. I have had this before but not for many years. I don't remember it this bad - I usually managed to go to work and walk round regularly to keep it moving. Maybe I'm just a wimp now.

I really wanted to get on with my History of English assessment but I can't concentrate at all. I've analysed the speeches into clauses and I've got spreadsheets where I'm counting number of clauses, number of speech acts and how much  the defendant, as opposed to the questioner, speaks. That close work is not good for a back which needs to be kept supple. Except it isn't supple at all just now. Everything is agony. No walk into town this morning and no Tai Chi.

Saturday 10 November 2012

Busy social life

This week we have been out four nights running - twice to the opera, once to the local History Group and once to the launch of my sister's new novel ( http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quirk-Destiny-Catherine-Greenall/dp/1849632278/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352557186&sr=1-1 ) . We saw Don Giovanni and Faust, both of which were enjoyable for us but neither of which had good reviews. But it is difficult to judge when you have not seen either of them before. Now we are looking forward to a quieter time.

I am composing a note for my tutor about my analysis. Do I carry it out manually or do I use a concordance, which does some of the work for you but probably gives a less accurate result? And how many words do I analyse - 500? 1000? And which methodology do I use? At MA level, you have to be a lot more specific than just 'compare and contrast'. Am I looking at causative subordination? Or wh - relative clauses? I need a 5,000 word essay out of this.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

Back to normal

I've just realised the extent to which the wedding has taken over this blog (and my life!!). But really we're back to normal now - walks into our local town, Tai Chi practice or class in the mornings and study in the afternoons. And TSH is in the middle of booking holidays for 2014 - next year is all fixed already.

For my History of English assignment, I am thinking of a linguistic comparison of the trial transcript of the Duke of Norfolk's trial for high treason and that of Harold Shipman. Two high status males accused of serious crimes.


I'm wondering whether to sell the hat!!