Strident

First day of term, crippling back pain, and four hours lecturing first year undergrads. Okay, probably only half that was spent actually lecturing.

One of the many weirdnesses of academic life is the huge yawning gaps in it. The last lecture I gave was more than 6 months ago. I only dimly remember how even to do this stuff, which is fucking nerve-wracking. Though it is also the best part.

I scraped through, I think, although the second outing felt a bit harsh. (Did I mention there are so many students we have to duplicate?) No idea what the audience made of it — I’ll probably find out eventually — but I wouldn’t blame them for thinking “who is this twat?”

I mean, really: who is this twat?

Pros & Cons

The world is on fire, fascists are on the march even in the People’s Republic of Islington and winter is coming, but at least we can wallow in the existential horrors of Noah Hawley’s characteristically excellent take on the Alien franchise.

Green Death

Today’s lesson — not the only one, but notable: don’t go to Wales for a week without emptying the food recycling bin. In a heatwave. Oh god, the maggots.