Where to begin?

So much to write about, so much to think about, so much to digest. Way too tired to post anything last night, so here on my 2nd day will have to do.

First question that arises to all those avid readers out there: how much do you want this blog to include observations and journal like entries about the change or how much just to concentrate on differences between the two universities which was the original aim. Comments please!

Needless to say, after problems getting to sleep in any case, an early start after three weeks vacation was a bit of a shock but the commute worked out pretty much as expected- can set my alarm for all of five minutes later than before! Good news is that my annual season ticket works on the other side of the short ferry journey which I'd not expected. Particularly good news as ait was a very wet morning. So two buses and the ferry rather than bus, ferry, walk.

Arrived in plenty of time so stopped in the nice, if expensive, cafe across the road for an orange juice and pain au chocolat. Definitely comfort food.

Right, let's get it over with. Let's talk about the major disappointments that were the first five minutes of the day and then move on. As I'll have to. Office space was the subject of much discussion and joking before I left my old job. And I think the worst of the jokes and my worst fears have come true. Not only a very small space with very limited storage, but also very publicly in a gold fish bowl and on a major ground floor thoroughfare. No locking the door when out of the office (which I'm vaguely surprised makes me as uncomfortable as it does), no place to 'escape' to, hardly any room to put anything. I may be wrong, but I don't think that will change after the extension opens. Secondly, the computer. It's fairly slow and not even XP yet which is a bit scary for someone working in information and expected to train students with. Now that is supposed to be changing (in fact, they had hoped it would be done before my arrival) so that's only temporary. But what I doubt will change is the inability to access the C: drive, install software and so on. I think that will rule out syncing my PDA, installing a scanner or even using opensource software such as a mindmapping tool like c-map. However, those are issues I'll take up with those concerned as soon as the moment arises and there may be solutions. But life is going to be very very different. Meanwhile, although the accounts were set up no one seemed to have a password for logging on so that was out of the question until day 2 when it arrived mid morning. (To be fair, the admin staff sent the information had forwarded the email but with three days leave this week didn't seem to have quite foreseen that I'd need the info before I could access the email!) It was interesting to note that in fact the email account has been active since the 18th so there was even a little bit to be going on with. Including a good friend who'd thoughtfully sent a welcome which was, umm, welcome.

H, starting today as well in the job I didn't get, and I had both send in photos and applications to have a staff card ready already. Neither had been done. But by that stage that was quite a minor disappointment. They'll be another 2 or 3 days.

But aside from all that. For a first day it was much as you'd expect and cheery enough. Tours of the library in some detail, meeting lots and lots of people, trying to remember names and sometimes succeeding sometimes failing. Meeting with the Head. Lots of notes which I'll be able to turn into fuller posts at some point, but perhaps the most interesting feature immediately was the almost constant observation was that the place might be different, the people might be different, but the issues faced are going to be exactly the same. I'm sure I'll feel very comfortable very soon in that regard. It was noticeable that at a first pass the staff here do, on average, seem to be somewhat older - perhaps that's why I'll fit in now! Getting too aged for TheOldPlace!

One thing I did notice to my frustration was a complete inability to refer to my previous life with any other pronoun than 'we'. Right, I'll allow it for a first day but it must not happen any more! (I should note that I was dutifully avoiding the "on my last ship it was different" syndrome, but inevitably as I was introduced to people there was interest in comparing the places.)

By lunch a walk outside was a must hoping the sponge might be able to absorb just a little bit more in the afternoon. In fact, builders working on the extension damaged a power cable resulting in no power from about 3pm and we were all sent home at 3.30pm. I was pretty exhausted by then, so that was no great loss. Ran into family on the way home by chance and so was able to update them on how it had all gone.

But that's quite enough for Day 1.