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I woke up at 5.40 this morning with a strange feeling of wanting to stay in bed but not wanting to sleep. As I gradually dragged myself out of bed and to the kitchen to make a cup of tea, it was 7am, and I resolved to go to the library at 9. There are two projects I am working on now, and although a lot of research has already been done, there is still a lot to do, so visiting the library is a rather lovely necessity.

And thus, I was sitting on the sofa, drinking hot tea with lemon, when I decided to go do some work on the computer before I leave the house. The desktop loaded, and I saw the clock. It was 7.45.

I double-checked. You see, before I went on the computer I checked the time on my mobile, and it was 8.45. But no, it was 7.45 all around. I realised that I’d forgotten to put the clock one hour back.

This is not to dispute (or refute) the more regular usefulness of computers. But it is lovely to know that, while a human being forgets to do something, the machine does it automatically and can remind the human being of what needs to be done. I’d really hate to stand outside the library on a rainy Sunday morning.

So, thanks to computers! And double-check your own clocks and watches, if you haven’t yet.

I have been staying in Carmarthen since the 2nd of June, and since I don’t yet have a laptop I have to get by without it, hence a period of silence on this blog. I also didn’t know how easy or not it would be to find a computer cluster, and at any rate I wouldn’t be able to upload all the pictures I’ve been taking since last Saturday.

This is, in short, my first ever time in Wales. I did one-day trips along the Northern Coast as far as Llandudno and visited Conwy Castle, but being in South Wales is totally new, and for the moment I cannot exactly put in words my impression of Carmarthen. It is certainly different, but at the same time there are things about it that I discovered that reminded me of Russia, on the one hand, and made me compare Carmarthen to other towns in England and elsewhere, on the other. I’m coming back this Saturday, and before then I’m hoping to visit a few more places.

In the end, when I eventually write about it, the account will probably be a collection of impressions of the place itself, its history, its streets and buildings, and its people. The word “cameo” seems appropriate not only because these impressions will be more like sketches, but also because Carmarthen’s history dates well back to the Roman times, and cameos were immensely popular in the Ancient Roman society. One thing I would say, however, is that so far the Welsh I have come across did fit their own description of themselves: they are kind. The proof is in the fact that I am writing this post in Carmarthen Library, although I am not a member. Many thanks for this.

On January 7, one of my friends at the Moscow State University has invited me to join an exclusive online student club. Since then I’ve been finding out all sorts of things about my friends and those with whom I studied. It’s all a bit nostalgic. In this ‘nostalgic’ mood I registered on another webdatabase of students, where I found people from my school.

I’ve got the impression that in the three years that I was away, one half of my friends got married, and another half have been working really hard for the benefit of the discipline (History). Most of them seem to be working in the museums and galleries, as well as on TV. Some teach.

Also I need advice, please. Exzibit.net, where quite a few of my articles have been published, is now apparently extinct. I found out today, and it feels embarrassing that I’m linking to the website, whereas it no longer works. It showcased my writing, and obviously I use those texts as references on my CV. I would appreciate any advice on what maybe the best platform for republishing them. The texts presumably still exist in cache, but I cannot refer to that.

Thanks!

Oh, and by the way, it’s New Year again, old style. So, all best!

Update: Exzibit.net is working again. It didn’t work yesterday, and I’ve set up a WordPress blog for the texts. I think I will still use it, though.

… Listen (again!)

A new study reveals that if you’re a classical music fan, you will have tried cannabis. I wonder if this may be the case of the so-called false correlation?

This is what was written in Psychology Today (you already read it here):

I think this thesis explains better, why people who like opera have tried magic mushrooms (mind you, I’m not among them!) It is mushrooms that draw people to opera, not opera that draws them to mushrooms. If we blame it on music, we’ll have to think that Beethoven was the true reason behind the rampages of Alex and his gang in A Clockwork Orange – which couldn’t be further from the truth.

(And I don’t even mention Wagner…)