Dear Blog,<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been meaning to write again for weeks, months, but now am determined to continue again, if only with a few paragraphs, every fortnight. I\u2019m now thoroughly into my AHRC Leaders Fellowship, editing and annotating the letters of Humphry Davy. It\u2019s going to be difficult to do everything that I\u2019ve promised but I\u2019ve got a timetable and mini-goals to try to keep me on track. I\u2019m especially trying to focus on the work itself so am trying to limit my emailing to an hour and a half early in the morning each day. This is quite hard and means that things just get left undone. But, if I\u2019m not strict with myself, I won\u2019t get done what needs to be done\u2026
\nWhich is, three letters per day every working day for this academic year. It took me five weeks to do the 25 letters for 1814 which is far too slow. I\u2019m going to try to get the 74 1816 letters done in the next four weeks\u2026 Hmmm\u2026 I think I\u2019m getting the hang of it. I absolutely love the work. I have to find out about such a variety of stuff! In 1814 it was all about Europe because Davy was travelling through France, Italy and Switzerland. I\u2019ve had to find out about people, places, publications and lots of other things that don\u2019t begin with \u2018p\u2019. I can\u2019t tell you the pleasure I have when I work something out (if it hasn\u2019t taken me far too long!). It\u2019s difficult though. I spent a fair bit of time (probably too much) trying to find out who the French chemist de la Rive\u2019s aunt was. (I think I did it though!) I\u2019ve started to email experts more now and to use mailing lists to ask questions. All help will of course be gratefully received. I\u2019m learning so much. And it\u2019s a thrill when you read another editor\u2019s \u2018Untraced\u2019 and know that you have managed to trace the person in question.
\n1816 will be all about the safety lamp and so it\u2019s a new set of questions and topics and people being written to. Will let you know how I get on\u2026<\/p>\n
Best,<\/p>\n
Sx<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Dear Blog, I\u2019ve been meaning to write again for weeks, months, but now am determined to continue again, if only with a few paragraphs, every fortnight. I\u2019m now thoroughly into my AHRC Leaders Fellowship, editing and annotating the letters of … Continue reading