Last day of Writing Week.

Over-confidence comes before a fall.

I'd had a good day of writing on Thursday and went out for dinner with a South African student, Darren, who has just started his PhD on the selfie.  We went for a curry and he was telling me about his trips to London, where he had been to the National Portrait Gallery to look at 16th and 17th century self portraits.  He's been considering the use of the mirror in his literature review - and he's concluded he knows NOTHING.  (I know that feeling!).  He asked at the NPG if he could access their archive, filled in some paperwork ... AND HE'S BEEN IN!!!!  Wow!  I did not think it was possible!  I was so envious - but he had the confidence to ask, and was rewarded.

Then Friday morning I was tired and tetchy and I was late for the Writing Abstracts class - I checked twice the start time - and was told 11am - but when I got there, it had started at 10.  The tutor was abrupt and quick, and I felt did not explain the exercises well, by assuming a lot of prior knowledge.  I felt out of sorts and upset. I think there was a lot of valid learning and analysis in the session ... but I did not get it.

I caught the first train available home, and the first two trains interchanged perfectly - no waiting.  I still felt tetchy and put it down to just wanting to be home and being tired from a week away.  I just missed the train to Braintree by 4 minutes, so had an hour to wait.  This meant I was travelling for 4 hours.  Once I was home, I had an horrendous upset stomach which lasted about 12 hours.  This might have been why I felt out of sorts all day long.