It's the taking part that counts.
So, you win some, you lose some.
- Win: I’ll be starting work with Nokia Research (based at the Helsinki University of Technology) from June 30th, for at least 4 months. Nokia’s HR machine has just kicked in to handle those little details like transport and accommodation, but I’m not worrying about any of that yet.
- Win: I had a super-awesome classic rock weekend, involving Mark Knopfler at the Edinburgh Playhouse last Sunday, followed by Roger Waters at the O2, London.
- Fail: I took out a fairly comprehensive survey on my flat, and subsequently withdrew my offer to buy; too much work needs done to the property, incurring costs which I don’t want to have to deal with. I’m glad though that the surveyor flagged all the problems I myself had noted; he was certainly worth the £280, and that was the only cost I had to handle during the whole process. The property is still on the market, and may be for some time, if I’m the only interested party the landlord’s had in two months.
Future wins/fails I’m looking forward to:
- My first year viva takes place pretty soon, now that I’ve handed in my first year report. I was only two weeks beyond my deadline, but I’d prefer to keep things to schedule in future. We’ll see how I manage on that front.
- Once I’ve gotten through a batch of exam board meetings, I’m taking some time off. Probably at least a long weekend. Probably somewhere remote. Probably the Shetlands, around Midsummer’s weekend.
- Finland. In general. No doubt I’ll have more on that as time marches on.
I’m in something of a good position right now:
- What with going away, I’ll essentially be completing the first year of my PhD then pausing work for 4 months to consider future directions.
- Working for Nokia may well get me a week in Dublin, to attend the IETF meeting at the end of July. It’ll all hopefully crystallise my thoughts on where to take my career in two or three years. (I’ve seen enough of academia to know its various strengths and weaknesses; how different will this corner of industrial research be?)
- The lease on my flat expires a few weeks after I return from Finland, giving me time to find somewhere new.
When I return, the plan is to find a new flat, knuckle down with the work, and be disciplined enough to get things done within a reasonable timeframe. (Not that I dislike where I am, but I don’t want to linger, either.) Feeling career focussed today.