25 November, 2009 | Leave a Comment

It seems my blog was infected with a worm, which means that some readers may not have been able to read or leave comments.  I think this was a problem for quite a while, but only one person contacted me about it.  I didn’t know a blog could get infected with a worm, but it has been exterminated now.  No, I didn’t pick up the worm and put it outside to go free in nature.  The worm is dead.

In other news, I am slowly slipping into madness.  No news there, really, but I’ve decided that I will go away once term ends.  I’m not going home for Christmas, because I really must be alone.  I need to get a ton of writing done – in some ways, the success of my PhD depends on me producing an incredible number of pages during the term break, since it’s my only time off of the year.  I won’t be fit company for anyone.  I must be obsessive about the book.  However, I decided yesterday that I cannot remain in London for the whole break.  I am going into a real slump.  London is dark, my “home” is dreary, my neighborhood is a slum, I’m tired of my routine and I am on the verge of major burnout because I’m writing so much.  I’m also feeling resentful that I’ve had to put my whole life on hold for this stupid PhD.  So I need a change of scenery, I need to unplug and I really need some mental stimulation.  So off I go.  I can take my laptop with me and write from anywhere just as easily as I can write at home.

My main destination will be Rome, but I think I will do a train trip: London-Paris-Geneva-Milano-Roma.  I’ve never been to Geneva or Milan.  Thoughts?  This journey isn’t set in stone at the moment, but I need to book it soon.  I may be on the road in just three weeks!

1. Comments RSS

1. lisa Says:

   November 25th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

   We did a similar loop. I think that train travel always helps writing. Maybe you can get a nice 3 wk pass so that you can hop on and off wherever you want. Geneva is great. But the Alps is always nice this time of year.

2. Anglofille Says:

   November 26th, 2009 at 2:02 pm

   I don’t know much about Geneva, but I did some reading last night and it looks wonderful. I’m reading up on the Alps but it’s so confusing! I wouldn’t even know where to go. I don’t ski or anything, but I’d just like to see it. I’ve seen the Alps in summer but never in winter.

3. william Says:

   November 28th, 2009 at 4:22 am

   A train trip through Europe sounds marvelous!!!

4. WeWanderInIllusions Says:

   November 28th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

   I think a trip to the Cotswolds would be lovely!!! Don’t you think so, William?