miscellany

In case you were wondering…

I should acknowledge the change in the style of posts here, which continue through the next week or so at least. Regular followers of Miscellany will probably know that I tend to shift between content provision in different phases; when preoccupied with projects (i.e. most of the time), reblogging becomes the default. When I have more time to reflect, more original writing comes through. Not rocket science, really. But I say this now to flag the fact that, while I’m out of the UK on this so-called vacation, I have a lot more time for reflection. So if you signed up because you liked a poem or inspiring quote I reblogged and you wanted more of the same, well, I hope you can deal. If not, it’s been nice having you to pad out my tally of followers. 

While I’m here in Singapore, I’m doing a fair bit of research into different ways of working (workflows), developing good habits, personal data tracking and ways of improving cognitive function. I’m also refining my relationship with my “tools”— in this case the iPad (and installed apps) and the camera I’ve travelled with (a Sony Nex 5N). All this between serrvings of mee goreng, bandung, iced lemon tea and the odd scone. Aside from the opportunity to practise writing for the sake of writing (never a bad thing), rendering the outcome of my “research” as blog posts provides me with the challenge to distill whatever I’ve gleaned and actively engage with what I’m learning. I’m also hoping I’ll be able to strike up conversation and exchange with other people who are interested in similar topics, or who care enough to challenge me on any ill-formed assertions I might put forward. Bring it on.   

Worry not. There’ll still be poems and poetry related things. One of the reasons I obsess about workflows is that I need to find ways to balance the (admittedly self-inflicted) demands on my time and ensure that I still have time to write. If I disappear into a self-indulgent glut of technical tom-geekery, feel free to hand me a reality check.

Ideally, this phase of writing about the things that interest me is something that’ll stick. But hey, I’m only human. The best laid plans… you know the rest.