resurfacing

Well.

I've now handed in my MPhil dissertation and, having been home for a week, am loitering in Cambridge for a few days to tie up loose ends.



I was locked in the library for most of the summer, but they did let me out to play occasionally. This gave me the opportunity to fall in the river clutching a punt pole. I went right under for a few seconds and managed to keep hold of the pole underwater and when I surfaced. I did find it was hard to swim back to the punt with one arm while holding onto the pole with the other arm. I also went to an Alice in Wonderland unbirthday party, ably organised by Caro, wearing rabbit ears.

Another nice break from work was Tim and Rachel's wedding, after which they were punted to their reception by the best man Chris. The more amusing part of the proceedings was that the photographer was in a punt behind which had to keep up.

Over the bank holiday weekend I went to the Grapevine Christian conference on the Lincolnshire Showground. Wow (12,000 people with some pretty good teaching and music of varying styles and personalities). Two of my sisters were playing in the orchestra. I lasted one night camping and settled down to the daily shuttle run by car.

On Friday I managed to set off the fire alarm by burning an omelette. After the excitement was over, I ended up having a 2 pm brunch of cold burnt omelette with golden syrup.

I'm still waiting for my MPhil result, but expect to return in October to begin a PhD. I will be living in Link House, a big house for international postgrads, as a token useful British resident.

VLADIMIR: That passed the time.
ESTRAGON: It would have passed in any case.
VLADIMIR: Yes, but not so rapidly.

(Samuel Beckett, Waiting for Godot)

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is
today."
(Chinese proverb)