(no subject)

I have a theory about overwork. My theory goes something like: take a day off (as far as you can, anyhow: the momentum of overwork niggles) and don't panic if every book, conversation or TV ad makes you cry. It's a sign that things are fine, really, and that you needed a day almost-off.

I wonder if I can get as far as a day once a week almost-off?

NB Pain days don't count as rest days, in case you were wondering.

(no subject)

I have a little announcement. exp_err and Elizabeth Chadwick have each won half a prize. At least I think they have. It might be two other people. I need to go back and check.

I'm not terribly good at running competitions, am I? I don't think I even qualified what the prize would be. And now at least 30% of you are shaking your heads and wondering what on earth I offered a prize for, anyway.

We have a working title for the writing trip to England next year. To remind you, it will be just over two weeks, mostly in York and three days in London. Yes, that one. The first advertisement will appear soon and there will be a local (Canberra) briefing on it later this month. What's really cool is that the university has worked it so that people can buy just the land content and can come from anywhere. It's a bit more expensive than we hoped, because accommodation in the UK is not cheap, but it's happening. I keep explaining to the university that the time will be divided into four : it's about writing and learning and discovering people and places, but it's also about having fun.

When the advertisement comes out I will post it here and I will award those two half-prizes (two of the suggested titles were merged, in the meantime I really, really need advice.

What on *earth* is a half-prize, and how do I award it?