I could never be an academic
I haven't got the discipline
Now this revelation, I am sure will not surprise many people.as
The standard of my spelling and grammar would inform even the thickest of readers that I ain't no big thinker.
I couldn't deal with the pressure
Now after living with a pure academic for so many years, I have long realised that they work incredibly hard.
Chris will wake up at 5am do some work in his home office before even reaching University. And this afternoon, when the dogs Albert and I have all retreated from the rain into a warm and welcoming living room, he has shut himself away with his laptop, to complete a report on this and a research bid on that.
It is a world I cannot ever appreciate or indeed fully understand and thank goodness that his international video conferences only take place from his Bangor Uni office and not from the kitchen table as a snatched glimpse of me pulling the clingons from George's arse as I beaver away in the background, I am sure would damage his professional credibility somewhat.
On reflection, I think that my haphazard, shit covered world can be as alien to him as PhD stats are to me.
Somehow it works.......somehow we work
Years ago now, when Chris worked in a city University, I once went out on a "work's night out" with him. The place was nose to nipple with various bright sparks all talking shop, and for a while I got pigeon-holed by an extremely boring Professor who banged on incessantly about some high brow subject or other.
After a good while, nodding at him with a score of others who actually seemed to understand all that he was pontificating about, I made my excuses, went to the bar and downed several very large gin and tonics in quick succession.
Just as I gulped my third double.. a woman from the same group joined me and looked at me rather sympathetically
"That man is boring the tits off me" I whispered as her conspiratorially ,.
"Tell me something I don't know" she whispered back, smiling into her drink
"I've been married to him for the past 20 years!"
hey ho
Oops !!
ReplyDeleteI knew that was coming and my tummy had a wobbly feeling! I recognised it as I do that sort of thing all the time! xxxxx
ReplyDeleteEven better than the similar faux-pas in 4 weddings.
ReplyDeleteI'd better make sure my own tame academic Jenny never gets anywhere near you. I'm sure she could bore you to death about urban regeneration and social capital.
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ReplyDeleteExcellent! I'd dine out on that one for years!! ;-) x
ReplyDeleteHa!Ha!Ha!I too have been known to put her size 7's well and truly in it from time-to-time!Joking apart, I know exactly where you're coming from with the 'academic' thing. It wasn't an option to go to Uni when I was a nipper - my Father expected the extra income coming into the household when I started working at 15 (not that he was a 'bad' father, that's just the way it was). Anyway,I was far too busy being a hippie and chasing men (sometimes they even chased me!).My youngest sister is the academic in the family - History Teacher - and all her peers are like that Boring Professor - I'd rather stick needles in my eyes a la Jack, than spend more than an hour in their company for they make me feel inferior and underachieved. I don't know why I'm telling you all this - I'm waiting for the paint to dry in my bathroom so I can apply the second coat. Hope Wales is cheery today.
ReplyDeleteps I offered a link to your blog yesterday on mine but so far only one brave soul has visited and she said your blog is very refreshing!She's BettytheWoodFairy and her paintings are FAB!Goodbye.
Lucky for you and your significant other opposites attract! As far as the other fellow, he sounds like some of the men I’ve dated. I will definitely remember “boring my tits off!” I don’t mind speaking my mind these days!
ReplyDeleteWoopsi,loving your sence of humour....!!
ReplyDeleteHa ha. Could have been worse, they're usually standing right behind me.
ReplyDeleteJust your luck.
ReplyDeleteChris probably would be equally bored at a gathering of people who think nothing of of starting an IV at 3am. Being less of an outgoing, all round jolly fellow, it wouldn't occur to him to mention it to a bar mate.
ReplyDeleteOpposites attract John...Rudy and I are living proof too!
ReplyDeleteHah! Another member of the "Foot in Mouth" Club
ReplyDeleteJohn, you did it again!
ReplyDeleteI don't think it was a faux pas....she was smiling!!
ReplyDeleteIt happens to us all...at my daughter's wedding lunch, someone asked me "who is that miserable sod over there?"....it was her father!! (thankfully my ex!!)
Hahahahaha! Insert foot in mouth!!!
ReplyDeleteI was thrilled when "emotional intelligence" became the THING.
ReplyDeleteBefore that I would explain that I am totally a right-brainer, in way of an apology.
However, you manage to write many deep and meaty posts.
Open mouth, insert foot!!! Thanks for the laugh.
ReplyDeleteI can feel that you and Chris work...it shows in the esence of your writing. Many people search a lifetime and never find this. I'm glad you did.
I know whereof you speak. I dropped out after 3 years in a PhD program, when it became apparent I was working really, really hard on boring stuff, in preparation for a career doing more of the same. So I left to teach--which is the same type of neverending profession, but seldom boring.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed that you and Chris make it work--it must be your way of turning a phrase (or impressing his colleagues. Bet that was the last time he made you go to a "work thing").
alison
ReplyDeleteI think he kind of enjoys me going to his occasional works do.
I usually have too much wine and tend to "hold court" with the field stories you may read here....
I also tend to speak my mind ,which can be somewhat refreshing when faced with serious types
Oops!
ReplyDeleteit's why I like you John, you're "down to earth", "salt of the earth" and just plain earthy!
ReplyDeleteI mean Don LIKED to read TAX BOOKS for heaven sake and actually do MATH! And I love him beyond death!
Give me all those "low brow" things to do and I'm happy as a pig in s**t!!! ;-)
I accidentally ended up in academia, started a Ph.d program and ran away screaming. I admire the people who can do it -- but it wasn't for me.
ReplyDeleteAcademicians can be so tunnel-focused, you and the animals probably balance out that life, cling-ons, shit and all.
Oh boy! Can't tell you the number of times I have done something similar.
ReplyDeleteHaha. How wonderful. :o)
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
I just read your comment on my blog, John. I've been out of touch these past few months, and didn't realize that you have dropped weight, also. CONGRATULATIONS! It's hard to do, but makes you feel really good when you step on the scale, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteWell at least she agreed with you John
ReplyDeleteGob on overdrive before brain in gear....G&T is the best cure.
ReplyDeleteJane x
LOL! A great chuckle for my Sunday afternoon. Glad to have found your blog.
ReplyDeleteOpen mouth! Change feet!
ReplyDeleteThat was classic. Read all the way through it wondering where it is going and then a sudden, 'Aw Fuck!!!!' Perfect mate.
ReplyDeleteLike the photo of Chris, by the way. Funny, I always imagined him a bit younger. Tell him to get a haircut, that sometimes helps.
JOHN, you did make my day, once again, with laughter arising from the bowels of my belly !!! LMAO ! Thanks ! x
ReplyDeleteAnd then she became your best friend and you went out each week to pontificate about your research that he certainly doesn't understand.
ReplyDeleteThis world needs people of all sorts. No one is less important.
You...complete me.
ReplyDeletepriceless little anecdote... priceless!
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