How I (sometimes) work

Challenged as I was by Georgina to answer the questions about how I work - I thought it rude not to do so..........but consider yourself warned - it ain't pretty. There is a plan - if only I could find it.

Location: Cambridge (UK)
Current gig: Faculty Librarian, English Faculty
Current mobile device: iphone 4
Current computer: Probably Dell (Uni has an agreement with them) with  - yes a very nice widescreen flat monitor.
One word that best describes how you work: one word? eek? impossible - I will allow myself two: focused and forgetful

What apps/software/tools can’t you live without? GoodReader, Google calendar, facebook, Google maps (lapsed Geographer), Thunderbird (I love email)

What’s your workspace like? Ah, depends when you look. Currently looks quite pretty with new chairs and a hand-made quilt wall hanging.......
Mostly my desk is roughly akin to the many many layers of sedimentary rocks that you might see in the Grand Canyon. Yes, I've lost the odd thing, but mostly I know where everything is. Once the piles of paper start to topple then I might have a tidy up.

What’s your best time-saving trick? Always go out at lunch break for a brisk walk. Saves making  a huge numbers of errors, and generally I've solved one of any number of problems by the time I get back.

What’s your favorite to-do list manager? Google calendar is brilliant for a project management approach to a task, breaking it down into manageable chunks of stuff that must be done by x or y. When things are serious good old pencil and paper to-do lists.

Besides your phone and computer, what gadget can’t you live without? ipad

What everyday thing are you better at than anyone else? Moving at the speed of light during a 5 minute conversation with staff from one subject to another, to another. We're all exhausted at the end. Also - sending emails with instructions. My logic is - send an email before I forget what I was thinking about. (see last point below)

 What are you currently reading? Trashy novels - can't even recall the current title. Though recently I have avidly read some 'Rough guides...' for Vancouver and Grand Canyon. (told you, I'm a lapsed Geographer.)

What do you listen to while you work? My own voice muttering.

Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert? Introvert definitely. Love my own office, can come out to play when I choose.

What’s your sleep routine like? Well for someone who has 'done' kids the one thing I'm brilliant at is getting up early in the morning.

Fill in the blank: I too would love to see Heather Lane answer these same questions.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Keep asking questions

Is there anything else you’d like to add? To deal with the two words up above: Focused - When stuck into working at something I don't need to switch off email etc etc to concentrate; I just don't notice anything else. Forgetful - it could be an age thing, or just there's too much in my head to keep it contained and I just cut swathes of conversations and information clean out of my head - hence the prolific emailing.

Well - I told you it wasn't pretty.