... Engineering, Psychology, and Product Design to understand and develop the ways we make sound, and the effects on our community.

Tell me again how music and arts were a waste of my time?!

Arts in schools are being cut back right now. I consider the arts possibly the most important subject. 7/7

And I now have a lab (!) doing research on music technology. What started as another interesting diversion is now a funded activity. One former student is working with a local youth orchestra, two have gone into luthiery. We're partnering with active researchers in Physics, Electrical... 6/7

Now, as an educator, I can see students who did music or arts at some point. The idea of daily practice, and progressing slowly through 'little and often' effort is second nature.

Students who focus on academics are the same ones who cram, procrastinate, and/or struggle with setbacks. 5/7

After the credit crunch, I went back to Uni. I started lunchtime art classes and evening guitar lessons again. They helped me break up long periods of individual research, and meet people from other disciplines to share ideas with. Arts are surprisingly common hobbies among researchers. 4/7

... I was given jobs in dynamics, noise, and vibration - things other people find difficult - because I intuitively understood movement, decibels and octaves.

Sometimes, I would spend my holidays visiting galleries or going to festivals. Beaches are so dull... 3/7

At Uni, music helped me make friends outside my high-pressure course. I used art to visualise and draw maths concepts. Gigs were a way to blow off steam and relax.

At work, I stopped all creative endeavours. But... 2/7

Fortunately it looks like an old problem that was repaired, but they used damp seal and wallpaper to stop the wall breathing. Boarded up the chimney to stop ventilation too. So it got damp again 🤦🏻‍♀️

My mother grew up in the 40s and was a maternity nurse. Her "advice" is alarming. You never buy anything for baby or redecorate until it's safely born. You avoid telling people you're pregnant. She couldn't comprehend baby showers. Babies need to be fat af and never cold, rain is terrifying...

I've been thinking about this a lot lately, listening to a lot of folk. There's all these cautionary tales and bits of history dressed up in a 'harmless' jolly song - lots of Irish history not taught in English schools 🤔 - Even herbal remedies for ladies... 😉 Seems like it's becoming important again

Anyway...

... THE DARKEST ALBUM EVER WRITTEN 🫣😳🤣 Cue me having a seriously extreme teen Manics obsession 💋 Libraries are the best!