'Tis the season, as the song goes. The Christmas season when those songs about peace and happiness and joy get played on repeat in every store you go into. But what kind of things bring you joy? You know, those little moments of heart-gladdening, the lightning flash of something that lifts your soul, the glimpses… Continue reading Tidings of comfort and Joy
Author: Michelle Kn Stone
Australian-born London-dweller. I love books, travel, my garden, my husband and sunshine but not necessarily in that order.
Speculative
Every year around this time I get excited about Christmas baking. When it's cold and grey outside, it's nice to be warm inside, and who doesn't love the smell of baking? And at the end of course you have something nice to eat with a cup of tea. It's all good! One of the biscuits… Continue reading Speculative
Steering Committee
I had to attend a steering committee this week.For those not familiar with the concept, it’s something between a tough job interview and a trip to the headmaster’s office. I know head teachers don’t give kids the cane anymore but in preparing for a steering committee the threat of a beating hangs over your head… Continue reading Steering Committee
My Australian Self
Some months ago I wrote about signing up for a mentoring programme at work. I’m now rolling along with my mentor and one of the tasks she has given me is “to get back your Australian self.” This has perplexed me and raised lots of questions. What is my Australian self? What is my British… Continue reading My Australian Self
Sunday night
I’m in a dark, crowded room on a Sunday night, jumping up and down with hundreds of other people, singing “Devushka proskovya, iz podMoskovya.” No, it’s not a political rally; it’s a concert by Russian band Uma 2rman, and it’s taken almost 14 years for me to get here. In 2005, I was in Moscow… Continue reading Sunday night
Job Interview
I had a job interview this morning. It was my first interview for two years - in fact, since I got the job I’m in now - and I was determined to nail it. The interview was for a job on the same level as my current job, but in another team, so a lot of… Continue reading Job Interview
(Not quite) Sober October… or … I can resist everything except temptation
Sunday 30th September: A few glasses of wine during dinner with friends and that is my last drink for a month. Sober October here I come! No alcohol for a whole month! Wednesday 3rd: I find myself thinking about alcohol coming back from a lunchtime walk to the library, mostly because I have to dodge… Continue reading (Not quite) Sober October… or … I can resist everything except temptation
My work, my countries
My work is divided up amongst the team on country lines. Each project is based in a country, and if you’ve worked on one country, you will also probably get the next project that comes up in that country. Sometimes projects are assigned on linguistic lines (Russian speakers more likely to get Caucasus/Central Asia projects,… Continue reading My work, my countries
Reflecting on Rebels
Last week at work, we had Francesca Gino, professor at Harvard Business School, come and give us a talk about her study of rebels. Her book, Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life, is probably now on everyone's reading list. (It's certainly on mine.) The word rebel is not always something viewed positively. At… Continue reading Reflecting on Rebels
Commuting, or many small acts of aggression
Commuting can take up a lot of your day. Your journey can affect your mood and how you feel when you arrive at your destination. While it would be nice if we could all just be a little bit kinder to each other, a little bit more considerate, somehow when we're commuting on public transport,… Continue reading Commuting, or many small acts of aggression
Tales from Tobhamhor 