This week has been quite something though! I met my tutees at Trevs. I can’t believe how nervous I was, more so than my last job interview. And we had a quiz on Tuesday, we didn’t win but I thought we’d done rather well (especially as some teams had TWO tutors and some freshers reps too!) I remembered that Mork came from Ork, but should have had more confidence that IBM made the first floppy disk. I was also mistaken for a fresher by another fresher at the bar. So that means I can wipe eight years off my age, I’m 18 again!

I did two days of Freshers Fayre and it almost killed me. By Wednesday afternoon I was a babbling wreck downing Red Bull to keep me awake. But Tuesday was lots of fun, and I have lots of pointless freebies. Our sparkly bug was possibly the best freebie (we were told this on numerous occasions) but the plastic sombrero and stick on moustache were also pretty impressive.

Back in 2001 as a Fresher I heard rumours of free pizza at Freshers Fayre. I was thoroughly disappointed to discover this was a lie. Eight years later as the smell of warm dough and melted cheese wafted across the room the 18 year old me was incredibly excited… and it kept the 26 year old me in lunch for two days! And it wasn’t just pizza that was free – cakes, biscuits, sweets… I tell you Freshers Fayre is not the place for those on a diet. Or those who have let there exercising lapse the past few weeks… oops!

The trauma of Freshers week is now over and I’m taking a couple of days off to recharge and recover. And bake. I need to make cakes for tutor hour on Tuesday!

Before you know it’ll I’ll be back to my blogging self.

p.s. If you are in Durham – Nichols make very very very nice cakes, which I ate too many of at Freshers Fayre! They also make nice sandwiches too. I think it might be my new favourite place for baked goods!

The college tutor system at Trevelyan is all about pastoral care, so as a tutor you are a mix of friend and mentor throughout their undergraduate study. I have fifteen students this year, but only eight first years… that’s enough names to remember for today!

I have kicked off Fresher’s week in style by going out on not only Friday night, but Saturday too. When I say ‘out’ on both occasions I have been on my way home by 10pm… and last night dinner and cocktails was followed by a cup of tea in the Gala Theatre café. Well I’m not 18 anymore!!!

Tonight is my first formal dinner.  I’m thinking Hogwarts at dinnertime on a smaller scale. I struggled with wearing a gown at my graduation, so eating in one is going to be interesting! Though there’s no sorting hat here… that would be a much more exciting way of discovering who my tutees are going to be!!!

The rest of this week will be spent involved in Fresher’s activities both in the day job and as a tutor. By the end of the week I imagine I will finally realise that somewhere along the way I turned into an adult without noticing.  Then next weekend my friends Andy and Mike come to stay, and that is sure to kick start a regression to eighteen year old behaviour. Followed by a nasty hangover next Sunday morning!

After that the rest of October will be spent recovering. And I promise my blogging will be about more exciting things than work and university life!

I just wanted to let my regular blog readers know that I hadn’t suddenly disappeared of the face of the earth. Nor have I given up writing. I am currently running around like a blue-arsed fly trying to get everything ready in time for Freshers’ arriving at Durham University and therefore dedicating most of my waking hours to work since the weekend.

This is a minor blip and I will be shortly back to my usual blogging self, so please don’t forget me!!!

And if you’re new to my blog there’s over 100 previous entries to amuse yourself until normal service resumes…

Unfortunately it seems I underestimated what summer means in the life of a university support department. Back in May I was happily agreeing to all sorts of projects and bits of work thinking that June through to September would be months of chilled out yet productive bliss. Without undergraduates to disturb us, and many academics off doing research, I imagined the university would be a place of calm and tranquility.

How wrong was I? I should know better really. Five years ago I was Vice President in SUBU and have done all of this before. The summer was filled with training and preparation for the academic year ahead. Somewhere along the line my brain had been wiped of this insider knowledge and I have been bobbing along in blissful ignorance completely unaware that from June onwards things only get busier.

So here I am, one more week before the Freshers arrive working from home on my “day off”, tragically behind because my naïvety about my workload mean there is not a chance that everything people want done for the 5th October is going to be finished. Over the past couple of weeks I have been doing damage control and using the words “sorry but that isn’t going to happen until the end of October” a lot.

In the end this week I have been absolutely shattered. So exhausted that I knew going to London this weekend as planned would just leave me even further behind and possibly in bed with a migraine by the middle of next week, neither of which I can deal with happening. The greatest sadness is that I was due to go and see off my friends El & Mark as they head of on an adventure to live and work in Sydney for the next couple of years. For missing that I am very sorry.

My lesson has been learned though.

Summer = Busy.

By the end of the year I will hopefully have ploughed through most of the projects I over-promised and have so far under-delivered on. And then in January I will start preparing for 2010/11. Next summer isn’t going to catch me out… And by the end of next September I’ll be a graceful swan when it comes to navigating the demands of the new academic year. Well I can dream!

These days I work in an academic library. Not where I’d ever though I’d end up, but a fitting place for someone whose world revolves around reading and writing.

This week whilst catching up on the wonderful and funny blog Awful Library Books, I was distressed to hear that Philadelphia’s Free State Libraries will be closing on the 2nd October 2009. That is all the public libraries in the entire city. It’s approximately the equivalent of the population of Birmingham AND Manchester not having access to public library services.

It’s not just the physical buildings and all the books that will be unavailable, but the community services too. The schemes for children, teens, adults, job seekers and pensioners will all be discontinued. From what I can gather it’s due to a lack of state legislature passing the funding required to run facilities and pay staff. I just can’t imagine, even with the current state of the world economy, that a US state can let this happen. All the resources will go to waste at a time when people need access to them more than ever.

When I heard about it I was shocked. I could never imagine that happening in the UK. If tomorrow it was announced all public libraries in County Durham were to shut there would be outrage. In fact despite the state of the economy our government is continuing to put money into efforts to improve literacy such as Reading for Life.

I really hope they find a solution to the problem in Philadelphia. There are already too many countries in this world with communities who don’t have access to the resources and services even the simplest library can provide. There are charities trying to help improve access to books (e.g. The Book Bus). Surely the United States can’t allow a community of millions to lose access to such a precious resource, and one that we shouldn’t take for granted.

Thanks to The Nation for the image from Durham Library, Philadelphia

Update 18/09/09: The state budget has been passed and the libraries will not close. That’s great, but why did it ever get to the stage where closure was a real threat?  Whether it was for PR or just bad politics it should have never happened. And if the politicians were ‘crying wolf’ I think they need to tread very carefully with whatever moves they make next.

I would also like to thank my wonderful friends Liz (@LadyBowers) and Catherine for exploring the city with me on my trips. Also Hannah for being a complete star and showing us the hidden gems of her city.

New York

Welcome to my whistle stop tour of New York. Before we start I will warn you that a week away in New York will leave your feet aching from walking, and your face aching from smiling so much!

Getting around…

It’s worth investing in a 7-Day Unlimited Ride Metro Card for $27. Bear in mind that the subway isn’t like the tube and so if you need to change lines you may find yourself going back on yourself to be able to change. It’s worth doing a bit of extra walking and seeing the city too. As the week goes on you’ll hopefully find your bearings, walk more and use the subway less.

Sightseeing…

Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty (Battery Park): Ellis Island museum is great. I’ve never got off on Liberty Island because the views are spectacular from the ferry. Now that the statue has reopened the climb to the crown if you can get tickets it might be worth it.

Broadway Show (TKTs Times Square): It wouldn’t be a trip to New York without taking in a show. Get reduced tickets from the TKTs booth in Times Square, if there’s a show you want to see it’s worth the wait.

Top of the Rock (Rockefeller Centre): In my opinion, having done both, Top of the Rock is better than the Empire State Building. The view over Central Park is fantastic. And midweek mornings are virtually queue free.

MoMA (11 W 53 St): A chance to see some of the great works of modern art in real life. Definitely a good choice for a rainy day.

Guggenheim (5^th at 89^th St): For art I prefer the MoMA, but it is worth having a wander past, and even sticking your head inside to take in the impressive architecture. Don’t forget it’s closed on a Thursday (a fact I remember thanks to Sex and the City, Carrie and co do have their uses!)

Central Park: I fell in love with New York the day I first visited Central Park. Hire bikes if you want to see as much of the park as you can, an hour will get you round the south of the park, but you’ll need a couple of hours or more to see the north of it too. Alternatively it’s just as nice having an afternoon wander around the various sights.

Grand Central Station (87 E 42nd St): The first time I walked in it took my breath away. The second time it did it again. This is a truly magnificent building so don’t miss it.

New York Public Library (5^th Ave at 42nd St): For those of you who are librarians, this is an amazing library. For those of you who are SATC fans, this is where Carrie nearly married Big. For those of you who are neither, it is another stunning building in the city.

LOVE sculpture (6th Ave): At W 55 St. 6th Avenue you’ll find the LOVE sculpture by Robert Indiana, which is a photo taking moment. (I’ve included the address as some of us spent a week hunting for the damn thing!)

Sex and the City Tour: For the fans of the show this is an absolute must. You see a lot of the city whilst enjoying SATC trivia and get a free Magnolia Bakery Cupcake too!!!

Shopping…

Times Square: My favourites are Toys R Us (I still haven’t been on the ferris wheel though!), M&Ms World (because there is something fab about M&Ms in more colours than you can imagine), Hershey’s (the outside of it is fantastic). I also loved the HUGE Virgin Megastore, but sadly it shut earlier this year. I have fond memories of being asked out for coffee by a cute guy whilst browsing CDs… only in New York!

Department Stores: Top end you have Saks and Bloomingdales. Macy’s is great once you get your bearings, but it takes time. Century 21 is fantastic if you have a clue what you are looking for, but it can be completely chaotic and overwhelming.

Apple: There are Apple stores across Manhattan which are great for checking email and using the internet (but remember to log out of Facebook!). However if you only visit one make it the flagship store on Fifth Avenue. It is a sight to behold.

For the Girls: Tiffany & Co. is a must. Meander round the floors, drooling at the gorgeous jewelry. Whether you like classic and simple, or more diamonds than you can imagine, there will be something to make your jaw drop. Victoria Secret is the other stop. Though I enjoy perusing the lingerie my favourite things are the PINK sweat bottoms, I live in mine when I’m at home, they are so comfy!

For the Labels: Head over to Greenwich Village for the various designer stores (there is also 5^th Ave, but I prefer this end of town). Here I find my favourites of Mulberry, DVF and Louboutin. I also discovered Fresh, and the best lipbalm I have ever owned.

Afternoon Tea…

Magnolia Bakery: These are the best cupcakes in the world. The original shop is in Greenwich Village, but there a couple more now including on in the Empire State Building.

Alice’s Tea Cup: Missing a good old cup of English Tea? Well this is the place to come. There is a bigger selection of tea than you could imagine, as well as the most amazing scones. They do other wonderful food too. You may have to wait an hour or so for a table, but it is worth it. Trust me.

Max Brenner: Apparently this place does more than just chocolate, but it does chocolate best. Again you may have to wait for a table, but the trip to chocolate heaven is more than compensation for the queuing.

Saks Cafe SFA (8th Floor): Get a table next to the window in their café and overlook the roof stunning gardens of the Rockefeller Plaza buildings whilst enjoying traditional afternoon tea.

Food & Drink…

Any Diner: Another New York tradition that can’t be missed. At least one breakfast trip for pancakes, and dinner visit for burgers and a shake. There are a fair few to pick from, so no excuses for missing out.

American Favourites: Dunkin’ Donuts, Tasty D-Lite etc these are the places you’ll immediately recognise but haven’t made it over the pond

Starbucks: Because mid-afternoon you will need a sit down, drink and a toilet break (not necessarily in that order) and they are perfect for all three. The only time you won’t be able to find one is when you are absolutely desperate!!!

Europa Café: You’ll find these dotted around the city and they are great for a reasonably priced delicious lunch. The sandwiches are lovely, and fresh salad is made whilst you wait.

Everything seemed fairly normal until after lunch when I traipsed around the library with the photographer trying to find students to take photos of in a library setting. The only weirdness in that is that you usually don’t spend a Monday being a prop in photos (to think I may feature in Durham University prospectus – enough to scare any potential student off!)

Settling back down to get work done there was a bright flash and a loud bang. No rain, and bizarrely still blue skies outside. But the computers died. Some restarted. Some had warning messages. One rebooted and returned with the green screen of death. And one lone computer kept showing the library screensavers… rather like the headless chicken that’s body hasn’t realised its head had disappeared.

It was all very eerie and I was sure that we were trapped in an alternate universe. I was expecting (and still am hoping a little) that David Tennant would come striding into the Library as the rain started falling upwards and the Judoon began milling about scanning the staff and students. (For those non-Doctor Who fans this is a reference to Season 3 Episode 1 ‘Smith & Jones’)

Whilst in the middle of my overactive imagination heading off to the Tardis I was sidetracked by Krista who was trying to find a new owner for a gorgeous pair of sparkly silver shoes.

In true Cinderella style others had tried them on and they’d been too big or too small. Krista is a size 6 and they had been too big for her. Despite being a 5.5 I couldn’t resist trying them on (as any true shoe lover will understand) but as I slipped them on, like Cinderella before me, they fit perfectly.

With many hours of Monday left having already had a Doctor Who and a Disney moment who knows what will happen next… is it too much to hope that I will find myself snapped up for my first publishing deal?!

From a personal point of view I don’t understand why people feel the need to tell me I’m wasting my time or telling people too much about my life. Why do people care so much about how I spend my time? They do not have to use Twitter. In fact very few people I connect with on Twitter are people I already know in real life. I have Facebook for that kind of connection. Even if they are on Twitter they don’t have to follow me or interact with me.

My Twittering began thanks to Chris Moyles (@CHRISDJMOYLES) of Radio 1 fame and Phillip Schofield (@Schofe) back in February. At first I didn’t get it. I really struggled to understand how to use this Twitter thing and why I should bother. But then I went and injured myself, followed shortly by a few weeks of being pretty ill, with all that time on my hands I finally tried to understand what it was all about.

And finally I got it. I found a way to use it that suits me. And I’ve gained so many benefits from it.

Firstly the Twitter Book Club (TBC) developed. Justine (@JuzzyB) and Collette (@Collette87) were getting to grip with Twitter at the same time as I was. We discovered a mutual love of wine and books and for the past few months have been reading books and discussing them online whilst drinking wine. We’re now planning a TBC meet up later in the year and despite our variance in age and geographic location have built a friendship that may not have happened otherwise.

There’s my love of Liverpool FC. Being new to Durham and having no one to go and watch matches with was pretty rubbish during our most exciting season in 19 years. But with Twitter I could listen on 5 Live whilst chattering away to fellow LFC supporters (@LiverpoolFan74 and many more!) I also had an interesting discussion with Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) about women’s management roles in Premiership football. Sadly (but understandably) he got frustrated with the abuse towards his account set up purely for the reason of discussing football, but I hope he gives it another go next season.

Not only has Twitter enhanced my virtual life, but also my real life. I write this blog and for the first time ever I actually have people heading to helenthornber.com to read it. And bugging me if my writing lapses. With the ambition and desire to eventually make a career out of writing an audience is essential, and is something I now have.

My photography has taken off thanks to Graeme Watson (@GraemeWatson) both on and offline. And I have discovered other local photographers such as Steve (@steveapple)
I have met real life people in this new city I live in. Charlie (@snowandsunshine) and James (@_elj) are just two of the people that I have met via Twitter.

In fact, since moving to Durham, you could say that Twitter has enabled me to do the things I’ve always wanted to do and I’ve let lapse. I moved to Durham to make the most of life outside of work and now I’m reading, writing, photographing and football supporting. I’m doing the things that I missed out on in London because I was too busy. Twitter hasn’t been a waste of time at all, but a way of connecting with people locally and world wide, finding information and developing interests I’ve been neglecting!

p.s. If you want to find me http://twitter.com/helenthornber