The walk book looks like a lovely holiday read! I have been spending a lot of time with Arctic histories (some great work done in recently), women in Egyptian archaeology, and bicycle touring of places I would like to spend time in. Just finishing “The Mother Tree” and need something more uplifting.

In Vancouver I found many places with a single, large facility open to everyone. It worked. This summer I was struck by how open UK toilets were at sites we visited. “Women’s” frequented by dads with kids, male attendants…no one cared. It’s insulting and damaging to everyone to segregate anyone.

Sorry to hear this Sarah. Thinking of you and your family.

One of the most beautiful places on earth as far as I am concerned.

True, but in many cases the next gen is going to have to forge a new path that is distinct from any I could advise on. Uni here is being completely reimagined. Maybe it’s better if we don’t constrain that process with our knowledge. Not that I really believe that, it’s just a sad, confusing time.

I am worried our program will be cut and wondered today how long it makes sense to hold on and risk being made redundant vs cutting your losses and leaving. We all love our careers and what we do so much we are willing to fight to the end and put ourselves in very precarious positions to do so.

Make soap!

But it is a spectacularly beautiful place - you just need to be prepared. I wouldn’t work anywhere else.

Both polar bears and black bears are a threat where I work. Black bears are easy to scare off, polar bears less so - but it means the whole team must do fire arms training to be prepared and Inuit bear watch is usually hired. Electric fences are a must if camping.

Interesting. I require background noise - music - to focus. Sometimes I start to get anxious and frustrated while working and then I realize there is no music is the background and that solves it. Not a huge podcast fan - talk doesn’t hit me the same way, but it can put me to sleep.

Thank you. I will have a search!

Thanks!

Discovery is much worse. But the whole thing does my head in. And I have a very small selection of folks I follow. I just don’t want to get caught in the trap of despair as if that is the only possibility.

It’s an overwhelming time - and it’s not you Sarah. I just wish there was more to counter the venom with action and hope. I also wish the other place was a closed loop that I didn’t have to partake in. Is money made by reposting things from there on other platforms?

OMG Neil, I am glad you are ok and home to recover. Wishing you the best.

Yes, definitely not “decisive”, but happily “enough”

I was wondering if you would say something about this