Gillian Polack

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VIC
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I walked out on someone for literally saying this to me and meaning it. Mind you, he also wanted me to switch my brain off after 5 pm.

Avoiding too much hate (some is unavoidable) takes up an increasing amount of my time. you don't let the hate in - this is another good thing you do.

I envy that balance. I had it for a week and have lost it again. But it's so good to have you connecting people again - in a difficult world, it makes a difference.

Durian is like coriander - it's either adore or loathe. Me, I like coriander, but remember the Canberra shopping complex that was evacuated when someone mistook the smell of a ripe durian for a gas leak.

Next time we're in the same city, IOU much coffee or even dinner. You do the most wonderful work for all of us.

AU - I forgot top type AU!!

I'm in Canberra, Australia, but I'm a bit of a night owl, so I'm up for a surprising amount of the European day.

I so hope I'm not in a dark and chilled room this week. That would mean an electricity failure in mid-winter.

My brain lost much stuff when I had a quadruple bypass - the anaesthetic does this to some people. This means... I'm working on getting it back and it's happening and... it really annoys people. I do not conform to the stereotype of unwell older women. I am supposed to try and instead I am trying.

You're someone who understands the challenges. Coming from you, this comment means a lot.
I am still entirely obsessed with understanding the world. If I stop researching and thinking and explaining, then I've lost the heart of who I am.

Sorry about the typos!

I can't get more work from a 4th, so none of those reasons are valid. This is because I am in my 60s and Australians over 60 are generally considered unemployable. My writing and my one day a week uni work is the best I'm likely to get. And I'm already the historian I dreamed of being.

I prefer to be called 'Gillian', but it's only Dr Dr - the examination has only just begin.
The first was to become an historian, but there was now ork. The second was because I was told novelists who were also historians couldn't teach. The 3rd gave me enough income to get through COVID.

Give me ten solid reasons for a fourth doctorate and... I might think about it but I still won't do one!

I have submitted my thesis. If anyone wants to ask if I plan to do another PhD, please tell them "I do not need another one." Really, truly.
I now have to finish a rather silly vampire novel, essays, and a book on how we explain history and how this tells us who we think we are.

It took that long to meet in person, too. And you live just 2 states away from me! (If one travels very carefully.)

A news story: "Disney Reportedly Planning Full Reboot of the INDIANA JONES Franchise"

*INDIANA JONES AND THE CLOSURE OF THE ARCHAEOLOGY DEPARTMENT*

The Blogs: 10 People You’ll Meet in Your Bomb Shelter From the blog of Sarah Tuttle-Singer at The Times of Israel

I may be Australian and live in Canberra, but I know these people: blogs.timesofisrael.com/10-people-yo...

If you find out, I know how to make them into door ornaments.

That's a strange and wonderful book.

I first programmed on my father's ZX80 (for a very limited meaning of 'programmed', obviously), but got to play with punch cards years earlier. I suspect this doesn't count, because I used them to make ornaments. My father was learning programming.

Not in Australia!!

Thank you!

I have finished a PhD thesis. I now need to sleep for a month.

The report listed things, so I looked for the biggest block of words from a single source. It was 666 words. Those 666 words were a lot of small phrases (common ones) and the titles of books. It wasn't 666 words: it was 10 words and 6 words and 5 more words and ... I am a failure at plagiarism.

I've just done the plagiarism check for my thesis. I am a failure. Anyone expecting otherwise needs coffee. Or tea. Or maybe a good night's sleep. You see, I'm not just a failure, I'm a total failure.

You've got me thinking about the changes in Australia. Until the late 70s, migrants were expected to integrate. We could keep traditions at home, but there was an Aussie diaculture. Food culture was shared, but everyone spoke English, for instance. More recently, migrants retain more and change less

I am almost finished my degree. This means I am in a very particular mood and best avoided. Until Thursday is over, I will adjust your punctuation, clear up three sentences, and fill in two forms as part of any conversation. My mood shows: when two things were delivered today, no-one stopped to chat

Low-Paris is really Hy-Brasil...