Is this the hill? Is this the kirk? Is this mine own countree?

[steepholm]

Well, I've finally made landfall. Yesterday my final class was taught, and (since I will be on research leave in the autumn semester) I will not have to teach another until 2022. Of course, there's a lot of marking between where I am now (still sloshing about on the foreshore with saltwater in my sea boots) and the chalky uplands where I can actually do research, and I will of course continue to edit Children's Literature in Education and supervise sundry PhD students throughout; but still, a deep sense of peace has descended. Time to settle down and watch season 2 of the karmic Thai school drama, Girl From Nowhere, I think. (I asked on FB in vain, and I ask again here: does anyone other than me watch this show? As I've mentioned before, it's really not like anything else I've seen. I'd love to hear someone else's opinion.)

Meanwhile, I made my first ever visit to the Star and Garter, once the domain of Dutty Ken, St Paul's legend, and still with a tempting line in curried goat. This was actually my first pint of draught beer in over a year.



I got my second jab earlier in the week, with none of the unpleasant effects of the first, beyond a certain tiredness. Now I just have to hope that Japan gets its vaccine act together quickly enough for me to be able to take up the visiting scholarship at Tokyo Joshidai in September. I'd say the chances are 50:50 or rather less at present.

In politics, Keir Starmer's "Like the Tories But Less So" slogan doesn't seem to have been quite as inspiring as he hoped - and I gather he wants to change it to "Even More Like the Tories But Less So." Good luck with that.

Drive-by post achievement unlocked. Now, back to marking dissertations.

Comments

[cmcmck]

Tory light.

Heigh ho! :o(

We haven't been near a pub since the first lockdown.

[calimac]

2022, I think you mean. It's hard to keep track, I know: it changes every year. It doesn't help that I can't escape the feeling that there's something unreal about a year number beginning with "2", anyway.

[steepholm]

Quite right, of course! Will correct.