Back in court

We managed an entire court case in three days in my first week of jury duty. I knew they could make us do another one in the second week. But on Monday, we didn’t have to come in. On Tuesday, we didn’t have to come in. I was starting to think the chances they would actually call me back in at all were looking slim. But then, on Tuesday afternoon, I got the dreaded email after all. I had to be back on Wednesday morning. 

I picked up my nearby fellow juror again, and we went through the by now very familiar security check. And we were back in the jury room, surrounded by familiar faces. We heard there were two cases scheduled for the day. They had called up thirty people for two juries. 

After a while, we were given the eligibility questionnaire for the first case. I recognised a name on the list of relevant people, so I figured I was out for that one. And I was glad, as that case was expected to take up Monday as well. I was timetabled from 9 to 5 that day. 

Then nothing happened until close to noon. Then the usher came in and called a number of names. These could go now, but would have to come in the next day. These had been put on that first case. She said she would find out if the rest of us would be put on the other one. But somehow, there were only 12 of us left. No room to manoeuvre! If any of us knew anyone on the list, they wouldn't have a jury. Had they sent too many people away? But this was not ours to figure out.

The usher came back and told us we were dismissed until 2 pm. Not enough time to go anywhere. I went to my car where my lunch was, and had that. I had brought some reading so I decided to do that.

Back at 2 pm, we were asked to fill out the questionnaire for the second case. They thought it would take some three days. Somehow, there were 16 of us now. It turned out that a court employee had phoned the people who were not on the other jury but who had been sent away anyway, and were already on their way home, whether they could possibly come back.

I declared that I really didn't want to be on a case that could run into Monday. And at about 3:15, another court official pulled some names out of a hat. My name was among them. I was back on a case. Oh no. And immediately afterwards, we went into the courtroom to start it.

This case did not have a defendant present. The judge explained what the situation was, and the barrister for the prosecution set out what the case was. Immediately afterwards, she started questioning the main witness. But as it was already quite late in the day, when she and the barrister for the defence had no more questions for the main witness, we adjourned for the day and could go home.

By then I did have faith that we would manage to round this case off before the week would be over. Phew! managing to somehow juggle court and work had been difficult. It would get a lot worse if our case would bleed into the totally crammed week after…

There was a walnut tree next to the court building! I foraged some snacks...

Not in court; in the field

I knew I might not know before Monday 5 pm whether or not I would be going on the annual field trip to Llyn Llydaw in Eryri. I had made sure my colleague Lynda was well-prepared to do it without me. And I had organised a demonstrator. And given all necessary documents to Drew, the technician who would join as a first aider. 

By 5 pm on Monday, there had been no message from the court, so I could go myself. And all preparations had been done! I only had to rock up. 

I went to campus, where a coach would pick us up. There were about five trips going from the same location at the same time. The last coach to arrive, and squeeze itself a place, was for our trip. 

We got to Pen y Pass, divided the students into groups, handed them the necessary materials, gave them (and us) an opportunity to go to the loo, and set off. We did the usual thing of passing all sorts of rocks along the way, with which the students could practice their skill in recognising striations. And the we got to the lake. It was a gorgeous day! We were very lucky. 

Look at the little student groups dotted around 

Picture with fewer students but more sun

After a bit more talk they went on their way, looking for, and then measuring, glacial striations. And that meant that Lynda, Kate the demonstrator, and me had to walk around and check all groups were indeed measuring striations. And that paid off, as not all were. The vast majority was, though. 

At some point I sat down with Drew and had my lunch. I had brought my stocky solid food flask, which had been part of race loot. It was Tuesday, so I didn’t want to have my main meal in the early evening, as that would interfere with track training. 

When the students were done I got them all together for a debrief. Everyone was confident in their results, and in what to do with them. We could go back to the road. 

I thought it had been a success. It had been great weather, nothing went wrong, we had a great group of people, there were no indications the data wouldn’t be fine. Couldn’t wish for more! 

Back at work

On the Friday of my first week of jury service, we were done in the early afternoon. And by 5 pm, there had been no email to say that we had to return on Monday. I was thankful of that. I had plenty of work to do!

That Monday I biked into the office again. And I had to try to tackle the backlog. Lots of students who were trying to have their proposals for their own dissertation projects approved, reminders that I needed to update this semester's exams so they could be scrutinised by internal and external reviewers, doing the preparation for the field trip… there was enough to do!

A dinoflagellate (pic by Tintinnidguy); there was plankton in one of the proposals

I also went to have an external coffee with Susan, as I was sad and she was providing some support. That was kind.

I didn't get as much done as I hoped I would, but at least a fair bit. And by the end of the day, I noticed I didn't have an email, again, to summon me back to court. I could work on Tuesday too! 

Goodbye Neil

It has happened. On this blog, it will look like it pretty much came out of the blue. In reality, it didn't. In reality, there were things going wrong quite early on. And we tried to make things work, but we have failed. So Neil and I have split up. 

I am sad. When we had good times, we had really good times. But if we had bad times, they were pretty bad. And in the end, there was just too much of that. But I will miss our adventures and the laughs we shared and all those things.

At least we split amicably. That matters. And we both understand what happened. 

I will just throw myself into running now. And work (not that I have a choice). And then in time, probably dust off my profile on the dating sites…

Having another try at the stove

I had left the repair of my stove unfinished months ago. But I was having another weekend without Neil (no things aren’t going well), and the fire season had started, so I figured this was a great opportunity to pick this work back up again. I had already, some weeks ago, taken the old and too-thin fire rope out, and chiselled the dried glue out of the groove. So basically, everything was set to start.

The first thing I needed to do was unclog the pot of glue. I suppose that it's just one of those things with glue. But then I could put a good ribbon of glue in the groove, put the next iteration of fire rope in it, and cut it to size.

New rope in position 

The size seems ok

You set the glue with heat, so I prepared a fire in the stove, hung the door back in (and put the other door back on the other stove) and lit the fire.

What is the verdict for now? I think this size of rope might do the job. You need to use a bit of force to close the door now, but I suppose that means that when you do, it does seal. Now let's hope it all stays put for a bit. I think the stove will be in regular use in the coming months. I will find out!

Fifth day in court

We all came to court with heavy hearts. We held the fate of several people in our hands. We knew we may have to come to a verdict that day. 

We went through security, and headed straight to the deliberation room. We handed in our phones (I had made sure not to wear my smart watch) and got settled. We had to go into the court room for the bailiff (so far referred to as the usher; I think they wear these separate hats depending on circumstance) to be sworn in, and then we could start in ernest. 

What we discussed there has to, obviously, stay private. I think I can say we didn’t find it an easy task. There even were tears. We needed some two hours to reach a verdict. And we found one of us willing to be the foreperson and tell the judge what the verdict was. 

The procedure is that you basically ring for the bailiff, and they then come to the room. Without asking what the verdict is, they go tell the judge. I had no idea in advance that the whole courtroom stays put, waiting for the verdict. I assumed everybody gets on with their business, and only when the jury has reached the verdict do they try to organise that everyone comes back to the courtroom, but no. They just sit there. It can take a long time! At least the judge and the barristers can have their laptops there. Maybe everyone except the defendant can have their laptop there. The defendant is probably forced to just be bored out of their skull.

We lined up again, now in altered order, as the foreperson has to sit in the position of juror number 1. And soon we walked into the courtroom, for the last time. We got a little speech from the judge; he acknowledged that it is a difficult task, and that jury duty always comes at an inconvenient time, but it might be an interesting experience. He thanked us. And then an official asked us if we had reached a verdict, and our foreperson said yes. She asked what the verdict was, and he said "not guilty”. And then the judge thanked us and we were off.

Back in the deliberation room, the bailiff started chucking all our paperwork into a bin for confidential paper material, and told us to keep an eye on our mailboxes; we were booked for another week, but it wasn't clear yet if there would be another case they could put us on. If they needed us, they would let us know by email. If you haven't been told by 5 pm that you're needed the next working day, you're not needed the next working day.

I hope this was the end of my jury service, but I won’t know until I either get another email to call me up, or until the next Thursday, 5 pm, if I don't. Fingers crossed. The judge was right that this isn't interesting experience, but that doesn't mean I want to repeat it…

Fire season has started

It has been autumnal for a while. I was starting to long for lighting a fire again. Fires are so snug! But there is little point in lighting a fire if you won't be in the room to enjoy it for long. 

During my fourth day in court I was looking forward to go running in the evening. I knew the weather forecast was a bit rubbish, but after all that sitting in court, listening to difficult testimonies, I wanted to run off all that stress. And I was glad I went. Yes it was wet, yes it was windy, but it was a nice group and I enjoyed the running. And this was a run with the option of pizza afterwards, so no time was wasted. We were done quite early. And quite many of us went to the pizza place, but I went home.

After my shower I decided there was still enough time left for a fire. It was great! Outside the weather was awful, but I was snug, now in my dry clothes, and with a cup of tea, by the fire. This season has been opened!