Welcome to justthoughtsnstuff

I started posting to jtns on 20 February 2010 with just one word, 'Mosaic'. This seemed an appropriate introduction to a blog that would juxtapose fragments of memoir and life-writing. Since 1996, I'd been coming to terms with the consequences of emotional and economic abuse that had begun in childhood, and which, amongst other things, had sought to stifle self-expression. While I'd explored some aspects of my life through fiction and, to a lesser extent, journalism, it was only in 2010 that I felt confident enough to write openly about myself. I believed this was an important part of the healing process. Yet within weeks, the final scenes of my family's fifty-year nightmare started to play themselves out and the purpose of the blog became one of survival through writing. Although some posts are about my family's suffering - most explicitly, Life-Writing Talk, with Reference to Trust: A family story - the majority are about happier subjects (including, Bampton in rural west Oxfordshire, where I live, Oxford, where I work, the seasons and the countryside, walking and cycling) and I hope that these, together with their accompanying photos, are enjoyable and positive. Note: In February 2020, on jtns' tenth birthday, I stopped posting to this blog. It is now a contained work of life-writing about ten years of my life. Frank, 21 February 2020.

New blog: morethoughtsnstuff.com.

Saturday, 11 August 2012

summer school, oers, allotment disaster, readings, firework display































The summer school ended last night with a formal dinner in Exeter Hall and the awarding of certificates to the students.

For me, the school was a thoroughly rewarding experience. I very much enjoyed working with all the students. Thanks to them for their enthusiasm, dedication and hard work.

Feeling a little drained today--not least because it's been a busy week at the library. Even so, I've been doing some preparatory work for a research project I'm involved in--tracking down, evaluating, classifying and cataloguing Open Educational Resources (OERs) in Creative Writing. (Btw if you're interested in gadgets and Creative Commons, check out the link to OpenAttribute under JTNS Links--right.)

Now off to allotment to harvest onions and chop down grass (of which there is a great deal). To be honest the allotment has been a disaster this year, as far as most crops are concerned. What's growing is doing really well--it's just that a lot of crops didn't get planted. We're so dependent on little windows of opportunity in between work commitments. When the weather is kind, that's fine but if it's against you--as it has been all this year--you're snookered...

Enjoyed reading from The Lock, Invisible and my new novel yesterday. I think the last of these worked OK, although I need to deepen the characterisations in the first chapter, as well as differentiating the voices more. The audience was great, though. Really supportive.

Meanwhile, saw great burdock, above, and the wonderful firework display of plants and flowers on the old rubbish tip along the Clanfield Road while cycling this morning.
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