Author: Maren Deepwell

A new version of the ALT online newsletter to the implementation of which I contributed has launched at http://newsletter.alt.ac.uk . On my own blog you can read about my garden, a recent trip to Flatland and see apostcard from Sheffield. Cemeteryscapes is taking a summer break this year but the archive or posts is of course available throughout the summer as well.

News this month: The new ALT website to which I have contributed has recently launched at http://www.alt.ac.uk and also has some information about me as a member of staff. 
There is also much news on my blog, including an update on my first cucumber plant and various afternoons spend in the garden moving small plants from one pot to another – all of which are signs that the first harvesting of this year’s crop is coming ever closer. 
I have also taken the plunge and am now working on completing my CMALT portfolio, which should help to bring my skills and experience in learning technology into focus. 
The cemeteryscapes blog meanwhile has had some really interesting guest contributions recently, including one on boneyards and homes made from old ships. 

Already a quarter of the year is over and the tax year is coming to an end as well, which means it’s time of year end procedures and looking forward. Planning dinner 4-6 months ahead may seem a little excessive, but when you are growing all the non-animal part of your meal, it’s never to soon to start.
Cemeteryscapes is currently running a series of posts on objects and cemeteryscapes, starting with boneyards in the US. If you are interested in the burial, recycling or decay of objects, particularly large ones, this is a good time to send us your contribution. 
My personal blog is also getting ready for the greener time of the year and you can follow my experiments with new plants this year, particularly my first cucumber plants. At the start of March I also celebrated 25 years in education, which not only points to a relief that formal education is for now a thing to be enjoyed by others, but also to the way in which learning never stops.

It’s mid-March and I’m afraid this month there’s little news as I have been too engaged with things outside the online realm to be able to do much otherwise. BUT – there is updates to come to all areas of this site within the next month. Enjoy Spring!

This month sees the first birthday of my personal blog. To mark the occassion I have written a review of the first year of posting, which you can read here. The review also contains a countdown of the 5 most read and shared posts over the past year: At number five its “Chutney & air travel” (the chutney was a first attempt, but utterly delicious, in case you are interested). At number four – “On happiness on a national scale” – a topic which I am sure we will all hear more about in future. Number three is a seasonal favourite: “Decorating the Christmas Tree“, which I am afraid may become a recurring theme as it’s one of those activities I cannot do without. In second place, and my personal favourite because of the things it made me think about when I wrote it, are my “Thoughts on Education – Standing out from the crowd in 4,000 unformatted characters“. Yet the undisputed front runner and most popular post in the past year has been an unexpected one, one which was about finding something and wanting to share it with you: a knitted sausage dog. 
Meanwhile Cemeterscapes has also had an influx of contributions on topics such as aerial photography of cemeteries, birds in cemeteries and a very popular guest contribution from Sebastion Linnerz: 11 ANGELS.
Finally, work on updating and adding content continues and announcements regarding progress will be posted here.