catching up
Well, I’m mostly settled into my new place now. The last two nights have been chilly—objectively speaking, as well as for me—but I hope that I have now gathered a sufficient amount of bedding. Turns out that not only is the hot water on a timer but the radiators as well. And there’s no thermostat, so just because it’s especially cold right now doesn’t mean the heater works any harder. My housemates say we’ll adjust it if I find my room perpetually too cold. So far, I would say I do. While I understand that keeping buildings cool reduces heating costs and keeps you from having to unbundle as soon as you come indoors, it has surprise benefits, like letting you store eggs unrefrigerated. I can’t recall seeing a store in Ireland that actually keeps eggs in the refrigerated section. After all, it’s not as if it ever gets all that warm in the summer that you would need to!
Turns out my housemate Brian is actually Irish, but he studied astronomy in Edinburgh. So he doesn’t know Henry Thompson, my extremely tenuous connection to Edinburgh with whom I was at the same conference … once … six years ago.
Bullying and harassment training (you think I make this stuff up!) at the Academy was much like you’d expect from such an event in the US, except that an example basis for inappropriate harassment was given as “Membership in the community of Irish Travellers“. Can’t say I’ve ever heard that one back home.
Friday was the Christmas lunch at the Academy (not to be confused with the previous Friday’s “Christmas drinks party”). Lots of food and singing of Christmas carols. Did you know the Irish sing “Away in a Manger” to a different melody? From what I’ve pieced together from Wikipedia, apparently Americans use the Mueller melody and others the Clark melody.
I realize no one will ever come visit if I don’t start putting up some photos. I’ve taken a few but need to take more and give some context. I’ve been busy shopping for household items and groceries.