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!

Fourth day in court

Coming to court is different if you have good reason to believe you will actually be expected to do something. And I also came in company this time. I picked my fellow juror up, and we arrived fairly early. I got me a coffee and did a little bit of work before we were called in. 

This day, the main thing was questioning the defendant. And going through some juror documents, prepared by the prosecution and the defence. That took us all the way to the lunch break. In spite of what the weather forecast had said, it was another sunny afternoon, and this time I found a little bench not too far away. It was nice to have lunch there. And then I did a little walk through town. Caernarfon is quite beautiful! 

My lunch spot

After lunch, the only things that were still scheduled for in the courtroom were closing statements of the two barristers, and juror instructions from the judge. These were case specific. It all took longer than I thought. I expected us to be sent home when all of that was done, but that was not how it went. We were sent into a deliberation room to start, well, the deliberation. The usher took our smart watches and telephones away, and any other communication devices. 

We weren't quite sure where to start. But we started somewhere. And made some progress until the usher came in to tell us it was time to stop, and go home.

He told us to really really not forget to bring a packed lunch the next day. We would go straight into the deliberation room, and were basically not supposed to come out until we had our verdict. Mind that these deliberation rooms do come with toilets, and coffee/tea facilities.

We all went home. I figured we all felt the responsibility on our shoulders to come to a sound judgement the next day. Stay tuned to hear how this will  end!

Third day in court: getting started

I had faith that on the Wednesday, we would actually start the court case we were assigned. But before we got to that, I noticed a significant change. The stuffy room wasn’t stuffy anymore! The air conditioner was clearly working again. This really made a difference. 

And I was right. We, that is to say, 19 of us, had to be there at ten, and at about 10:30, 12 of us had our names called out. They basically made a new jury, but there was quite an overlap between the old one and the new one, including me. 

Soon we went into the courtroom, and were sworn in again. And then everything went into higher gear. We heard a more detailed description of the charge, and soon we were watching the police interview of the claimant on video. (I don't think "claimant" is the proper term, but I mean the person who had gone to the police to report a crime against themselves.) The alleged offence had taken place years earlier. 

After the interview we had a little convenience break. When we got back, the actual claimant was called in, to be questioned by the defence. I didn’t like that process at all. Their job is to tear chunks out of the other side. And they do. And the prosecution would tear chunks out of the defendant. I suppose that just is how this works, but it hurts to see it. 

We had lunch in the middle of the process. It was gorgeous weather, and I found a bit of grass with a low wall to sit in the sun and eat my sandwiches. I was contemplating a little walk too, but I was aware I would have to get through security again, which takes time, so I didn’t. 

After lunch, the process continued. When both sides had asked the claimant all they wanted to ask, we quite rapidly went through a whole lot more witnesses. One showed up in person, and of the other ones, the statements they had provided were read out. And then, suddenly, we were done for the day. Free to go! Things had really sped up. I figured the day after would probably equally speedy. 

I had found out another juror lived in my town, and was coming in by bus, which takes hours, so I gave her a lift home. And the next morning I would pick her up to do it all again…

Sorting out dissertation proposals in between court business

I tell the students in spring they can propose their own dissertation topic, and I add that it is a bit of work. I recommend them to start early if they want to take up this offer. Once term starts, they get busy with other things.

I never have much uptake before term starts. But as soon as it does start, the tidal wave comes crashing down. I got the first one in August this year, and a few more came in before the fieldwork started. I had five students giving it a go; two of them of students on the field trip. 

On the first day of term, I deliver an introductory lecture to the dissertation students, and then it really kicks off. I am getting so many proposals now. Twenty two students have added themselves to the initial five. And that is a big burden! Especially if you have to be in court all the time.

I try to get through some of them before I set off in the morning, and I brought a stack of proposals to my first court days. I often send some emails out in the lunch break, or even the short coffee breaks. And then I do a bit more after I get home. And I also have to deal with other work. Write a lecture I have to deliver Monday morning 9AM on the morning after my jury period. Get the exams ready. Prepare tutorials. And more stuff like that. 

A thresher shark (pic by Pierre Pericard), which features in one of the proposals 

I do like seeing what the students come up with, and seeing several projects making their way to approval is satisfying, but given the circumstances (what with the jury duty) I wish this option was less popular. And the students still have a week to come up with new proposals, and an additional week to get them over the line. I will be glad when that threshold is reached! 

Second day in court

Surely, something would happen? Probably after three hours of waiting in a stuffy room, and then an hour of lunch break, but after that, surely we would actually be reviewing some evidence in the case we were assigned to?

Caernarfon city scape, near where I parked

I appeared at 10AM, glad to see not much of a queue for security. I was through quite quickly, and could take my place in the stuffy room. I was mentally ready for being there for a few hours. I had some work I could do off-line, and got started. And I had a coffee.

The stuffy room was just as stuffy as the day before. I really don't like it. But at least the usher had mercy on us, and after a while he asked if anyone wanted to come with him to get some fresh air on the courtyard. I didn't need much encouragement! It was lovely to just pootle around for a bit.

I got into a routine. More work, more coffee, and then a second opportunity to go outside with the usher. And around 12:30, we were told we were to go into a court room again. Only for a brief while.

We found a different judge. He explained that the judge of the day before seemed to not quite have finished off a case she was expected to have finished off fine now, so she couldn't take this one on. This new judge had hoped to be available now, because there was a defendant who was expected to change their plea to guilt. That would cut their case short considerably! And free up this judge. But it hadn't quite happened yet.

Again; the defendant was present. This is very frustrating for us, but it must be a lot more frustrating for them. I know that they are accused of a crime, and that they might be guilty, and that being guilty of a crime is supposed to come with discomfort, but this seemed pointless and unnecessary. I am starting to think it might not be an exception to be dragged to a courtroom multiple times, only for precisely nothing to happen. And think as well of the victims of crime. They don’t like this hokey-kokey either.

We were marched back to the stuffy room, and after about half an hour we were let go. We were told to be back the next day at 10am again. Hopefully, something would finally happen! 

I gave a fellow juror a lift to the railway station, and then I went back to the office. I could get a bit more work done, but this time in comfort!