I caught up with some former work colleagues for lunch the other day. We used to work together in the same team a few years ago but everyone has moved on to other jobs in the institution, it's just me who's still in the original team. But every now and then we get a date… Continue reading Falafel lunch
Category: Behaviour
Why you should be nice to cleaners
It's been nearly five years since my father died. That was a time of much reflection and spending more time with my family than I have in years. After the funeral, there was a small reception in the catering hall attached to the chapel. The woman who ran the buffet was quite rude and whisked… Continue reading Why you should be nice to cleaners
Overthinking it
What would life be like if I stopped overthinking everything? How much extra time would I have in my day if I didn't re-read every email three or four times to try and make it perfect? How much better would I feel if I just sent meeting requests when I made them, instead of looking… Continue reading Overthinking it
S.A.D.
In the wintry northern hemisphere, this is a dark time of year. Regardless of the Christmas lights, there is less daylight, and quite often when it is daylight, it's grey and overcast and not very light. Lack of light can really affect your mood, as I was reminded this week. I found myself in my… Continue reading S.A.D.
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
(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
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
Repair or replace?
We live in a disposable culture. Things are made to be used once, or for one season, or for a few years, and then thrown away. Or even worse, things are built to fail within a certain time period, because where is the profit for a company who builds something that lasts a lifetime? This… Continue reading Repair or replace?
The End of Summer
I always get a bit panicky around this time of year. I can see the end of summer approaching and I start to think about all the things I thought I would get done during the summer. And then I start counting all the things I didn't get done. And then the panic sets in… Continue reading The End of Summer
Tales from Tobhamhor 