Oh, I'd do almost anything else. Washing up is the worst

Yeah. And given some of the strange emails I got as an academic (e.g. all myths derive from gestures you can make with a hand), you'd be extremely suspicious. It would def be the discussion point in the corridors.

I want to have been there for the conversation with the translator.

'We need a translator for a large number of texts in [ancient language]'

'What period?'

'20th century'

'...'

It's also genuinely interdisciplinary in terms of the different areas of the ancient world that are examined by the different authors, even if it skews more towards Greek/Roman sources.

I think that's part of what makes the different chapters to read together.

One of the things I'm most proud of in this collection is that the contributors span the range of academic career from some who are ECRs (and PhD students when it started) to emeritus professors. And it was edited by two people who are now both independent researchers.

It took 6 years from conference to final collection. Between teaching intensive contracts, Covid and leaving my academic job, I wasn't entirely sure I was actually going to get this finished.

But thanks to very patient contributors and an excellent co-editor, @skil.bsky.social, it now exists!

Have realised there's no messaging system here (well done, Fiona). So you can contact me on LinkedIn instead. Yes it is a horrible site, but it means I don't have to give out my direct contact details.

www.linkedin.com/in/fiona-mitchell-

'X will be taking on that role in the next academic year. For the benefit of continuity, feel free to contact them about this issue'.

Probably easier to get away with this from June onwards.

Forgot one of these:
- I am ill so much less often! Not catching freshers flu has really improved my wellbeing during the autumn.*

* I am aware parents with children of school age will not have this luxury because of all the bugs passed around there.

If you're about to leave academia or thinking about it (especially if you're an ECR), feel free to message me. I have no expertise beyond my own experience, but am happy to provide any info I can.

Recommendation: if possible, do not move house the same week you change job. This is very not fun and does not assist with the transition.

The toughest ones:
- I had a pretty strong identity crisis (which says something about how academia depends on you identifying with your job)
- I felt immediately booted out of a community. While I have some contact through research and social media, the network I built felt like it just fell away

The tougher ones:
- I miss the feeling of being an expert in my area of work and being viewed as one
- I miss the sense of value from my teaching and supervision
- There was a pretty substantial culture shock in terms of both work and how to get it

- No marking, meaning there is much less of a sense of impending doom in Jan/Feb
- I have done about as much research as I did during my teaching-focused work (edited collection out soon!)

The good points:
- Much better work life balance: I do not work at weekends/evenings or think about doing so
- More flexibility for taking leave when I want to, making holidays much easier and more frequent
- I get to live where I want and don't do the ridiculous academic commute

Exactly this

When framing accessibility things, I often want to say 'you will probably need this too' or some version of it