h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I know, I know, haven't been around in ages. Still have a load of backlog to plod through, and still need to update about my cousin (since quite a lot happened since April), and about my life in general, but first, some really awesome news.

Possibly[] the best birthday present I got this year was this email:

>>Many thanks for your interest in participating in the International Medieval Congress 2013, to be held at the University of Leeds on 1-4 July 2013. The Programming Committee has now had the opportunity to consider all the submissions and we are pleased to inform you that your proposal has been accepted.<<







This is really really really cool. And, in case the smiley-attack above didn't make it clear, incredibly exciting to me. I've never been to anything in this scale before, let alone spoken in it. I'm a bit nervous, but very much looking forward to it.

(I still need to figure out the funding issue through my university, since I got confused about how these things go and didn't apply to the IMC bursary on time, but hopefully it'll all work out okay.)


So, I'll be in Leeds in early July. If things work out alright, I'll probably take a few extra days to do non-convention things, like seeing London for the first time since I was 12 (which was not a very good age for fully appreciating a city, although I do have fond memories of feeding the ducks). And if there's any chance to arrange some sort of meet, I'd love to see you lot in person. How about it?



[] My mum got me a food processor, so it's a tough competition.

Happy birthday, and congratulations! I'd love to meet you.

Woohoo!

you've been off, haven't you, looking for nighthoover?

Shhh! I have, but no news so far. I suspect the reason there is no peace in the Middle East is an accute lack of nighthoover in this area.

I have long ago begun to think that.... : All those pictures on TV.... always so dusty; a nighthooverly hand would surely clear the dust, and provide clear sight of the peaceful and lasting route to a secure future...

Aye, verily, my brother. Lettuce spry!


Now, about that mini-meet...

Mazel tov! And with planning to meet these Researchers!

(You might want to pack a hazmat suit. )

Hey, if I ever get to go to a conference in California, you'll be the first one I call.

I'm 6 hours from anywhere Well, 4 hours from HN, but she's 2 hours from anywhere

Well, I guess you'll just have to organise some sort of academic medieval literature / Arabic literature / etc. conference in your home town, won't you? I mean, how hard could that be?

And Dmitri - sorry, just saw your earlier post (due to simposting). Thanks! And I'm pretty terrible at packing, but I suppose I could see about buying/renting a hazmat suit when I get to the UK.

Ok. I may have found this at a slightly late stage/table/paving slab but are people coming to the uk if so where am I going to park the campervan and can I bring my dogs?

When you find nighthoover, can you make him bring peace to Belfast, too?

I don't want to scare you off comingbut I only live 14 mile away from Leeds



Congratulations loveon your birthday (whenever it was)and the Medieval Congress 2013

Ha, you ain't scaring me. I'm gonna rent a hazmat suit!


Anyway, just finished skimming through a scary amount of backlog. Will also get around to some replies, sometime soon(ish), but mostly I just tried to catch up somehow, and had to leave a lot unread - including a large chunk of the November daily journal thing, and a number of Dmitri's detailed, well-researched and interesting (but LONG...) posts, for which I apologise.
Here's what I managed to gather:
PC, Amy and Lil have all moved house (congrats! I hope you are all enjoying the new places).
Mala finished her MA and is starting on a PhD (even more congrats! ).
Prof's son is doing better, slowly (very glad to hear that, and tell him to be careful).
Baron Grim lost a dog () and got a new one (). Milla got a new cat.
2legs bought some things online, and is still insane.

What am I missing? Fill me in!

I'll get around to updating about my own life... umm, well, again, soon(ish). Even just skimming through all that stuff, it's taken a lot of time, and I got some other things I'm supposed to be doing.

I hadn't realized that you hadn't been here (or elsewhere, evidently, 'cause there're pics there!) since late April

I probably just haven't been paying attention.

Well, since I'm here, quick update of stuff:
* Spent July, and a little biy of early August, visiting Dan. Had a very good time.
* I moved, too - although I still stay at my parents' over the weekends. I found a nice shared flat (with two flatmates) in a very good place, central enough to walk to all the cool places but not so central that it's loud and busy. It's also right next door to a community garden, which I started going to once a week, and really enjoy.
* Been working on starting my PhD - in fact, after some procrastination about the paperwork (not all of it on my side, I must say!) I'm going to head over to the office and get the application on the road.
* Finished work on the book I was translating and sent it off, and recently received the text post-editing. Still need to go over it, but I had other things to do.
* There's probably more stuff I can't think of at the moment (and the cousin update deserves its own post in the proper journal thread), but I'll get to that later on.

It's great to see you back Lady P.
I had a lot of unwelcome excitement in my life. Reading my personal posts will fill you in on that - I thought of your cousin while I was going through it. It still hasn't quite finished but the outcome is looking very good.

Thanks, Vesty. I remember seeing that journal when I was ghost-moding around here some time ago, and worrying about her, thinking of my cousin's situation. I'm very glad she seems to be better.
I've now posted a longer update on the 'Hardheaded' thread.


Back to updates over here, last week I turned in all the stuff needed to apply for the PhD, except they seem to be missing one of the two required reference letters (which is not my fault, because I'm not supposed to have them, they need to be sent directly to the office). I tried to contact that one professor, and am now hoping for the best.
And once I'm finally registered as a student, I can start checking about getting the travel expenses for the conference reimbursed. It might be a bit tricky, but I think I can work it out. So let's plan that meet!