Heard back from the director of my old Oxford choir (the college one, not the B-team one at the cathedral)! I am so pleased to hear from her it's a little surprising even to me how delighted I am - but it has brightened what was already a very good day. I'm about two minutes from clapping my hands and twirling ( Read more... )

After the spring concert, my chorus breaks for the summer. (Many things in this town break for the summer. It's only reasonable.) But we are, just for these couple of weeks, back together rehearsing a Christmas program -- of all things -- to be recorded for Public Radio International early in June and, presumably, distributed at something more ( Read more... )

Two weddings in one day:  I don't recommend this.

Alarm Saturday 5am.  Long shower, because shaving.  Blow dry (I never do this!) so I can set hair on wordplay's hot rollers.  Spritzer (I never use this).  Then put the coffee on.  Then makeup (I seldom wear this), but not lipstick yet, because coffee, breakfast, etc.  And then finish packing.  Then the ( Read more... )

Yesterday morning, the sky was low and grey and made me think of England ( Read more... )

Urgh, I could give a detailed account of my weekend, but who needs that.  Here is the abbreviated version:

ThursdayLeft office 2pm.  At airport in plenty of time for leisurely check-in and actual meal before boarding.  Board on time.  Sit at gate for 4+ hours.  Miss not only own connection but all subsequent connections.  Resign self to spending ( Read more... )

So I'll be back in the 'hood next weekend to take my degree.  Arriving at LGW Friday morning, and while my family heads to the hotel I'll be coming up on the blue bus to get my gown and hood.  Anyone in town and want to get together for a coffee or three before I head back to London?  Saturday there will be little else but the ceremony, so not much

E-mail waiting for me when I return to my computer after dinner just now:Subject:  Inappropriate use of my personal e-mail address
From:  [a student in my college whom I've never heard of]
Date:  5:58 pm
To:  [me ( Read more... )

Well ( Read more... )

Gave a speech tonight at Going Down Dinner (yes, that is in fact really what it's called; yes, my speech made a joke -- obliquely -- of it).  Everyone was very complimentary about it; the Master liked it a lot (one can tell the difference between positive reactions comme il faut and positive reactions that are genuinely enthusiastic), and the ( Read more... )

I still hate packing.  It's not going any faster than usual, either.

For some reason, the last time I read Gaudy Night (third or fourth reading approx?), it occurred to me to wonder why on earth I haven't read any of the rest of the Wimsey novels.  All I can say is, thank god this didn't occur to me while I was in the midst of my finals, because I ( Read more... )