Educational Activities, The Big Move

[tcpip]

The past few years I have been quite buried in both scholarly pursuits, both learning and teaching, and moving large lumps of wood around in preparation for the next phase of The Big Move. The former has consisted of two days of teaching high-performance computing to the usual suspects of research scientists, and my usual two courses although as usual with revision and some pretty smart questions from those attending. The day prior to that had a board meeting of the HPC Certification Forum where I've found myself continuing for another year and in charge of the HPC Knowledge examinations and competencies. I have also prepared a relevant abstract for eResearchAustralasia, but as usual their processes are technologically ignorant. Outside of this, I've made preparations to present at the University of Otago's Higher Education Development Centre annual symposium, which itself followed a good meeting with my supervisor for my MHEd who considers my methodology chapter "quite robust" (I would hope so, this is my third master's degree).

In what spare time I have available, there have been more preparations for The Big Move. As of the last set of activities, pretty much all my possessions are now at the Southbank apartment, including my books, music, and nearly all my clothes. For most of the past month, I've been at Willsmere, surrounded by empty bookcases, empty shelving units, cabinets, and the like. The curious thing is, and I readily admit that this is not for everyone, I have not missed any of it. Not my books, my extensive RPG collection, my CDs, various Wunderkammer items, any of it. Having shifted pretty much everything downstairs, tomorrow caseopaya has volunteered to come around and move what remains of the small items, which is probably a few carloads. On Monday, burly removalists are coming around to move the large furnishings and, thankfully, I have already mapped out where everything should go in the new abode. Hopefully, by that evening, everything will be in place for my new inner-city lifestyle, whatever that means these days. One small luxury I have decided to give myself in the new abode is an iLife A4s Robot Vacuum Cleaner which is currently in the post. Maybe I should give it a name?

Comments

[fred_mouse]

Oh, exciting that the move is happening. I'm of the opinion that robot vacuum cleaners and their ilk should be named, just like flesh and blood pets would be.

[tcpip]

I was thinking along those lines, especially in consideration of the funeral rituals conducted for robot dogs.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/03/japan-robot-dogs-get-solemn-buddhist-send-off-at-funerals

I mean, there is a sense which a vacuum cleaner is quite dim and doesn't have a nervous system with a feedback loop which puts it well below the level of even a worm. But still.. early days yet.

[warriorsavant]

Good luck with the move and all that it entails.
Some people find overwhelming, but feels like that like me, you are highly organized about it. (I'm annoyed if I have any boxes left unpacked by the 1-week mark.)

[tcpip]

Well, normally I would be like that but this move has a big window so I can pick up any odds and ends even over the coming week.

This said, I am ruthlessly systematic, and will clear a room at a time in a relentless and determined manner.