A Last Post.

The last day of September. I told you time would fly. The NFL regular season is now 4 weeks old, a quarter gone. Term has started at last. Not had to get anyone sectioned yet but had an IT system meltdown this morning-why do people make things so complicated? It is also pay day-always good. Now that I'm saving so much money not smoking I can afford to buy the odd nice item now so raided John Lewis on the way home. After a curry at the Raj of India I'm home in the warm and reaching out to you all. Figures a little down this month but never mind.

Coming up tomorrow I am teaching. And again in 2 weeks time. I have been invited to co facilitate a creative writing workshop at the Mind PeerFest 14 conference with my friend Laura. We have decided to call it Picasso with a Pen: Painting Your Story in Words. I have some work to do but that should be fine.

I will also finally meet my tutor tomorrow for my last MSc module. There was nothing up on the system last I looked but must check out the site in the morning before I meet her. A week tomorrow is the Awards dinner. Still not checked out the DJ but hoping I will be okay.

Mood is good in the main. It will come under pressure in the coming weeks but that is just as likely to send me up as it is down. Not had a mini mania for ages. It sounds tempting but I count the cost after in angry friends. Oh well, maybe not such a good idea. See you in October.

I Heard a Voice.

The Land of the Living.

After 3 days not being at my best I appear to be back in the land of the living. I awoke without a headache for the first time since Tuesday. No paracetamol, still on the fluids but feeling more rested. And what a beautiful day to come back to. Unseasonably warm, almost sweltering.

Shopping done, quick drink  with my colleague James  before a walk ensued. Have to do something to shift these unwanted pounds not smoking. On TV a Tory MP has just defected to UKIP. We are in for an interesting election come next May.

As for later, I have to do some boring cleaning. I will then pan fry a couple of trout fillets-a new venture for me-followed by an evening of opera on the radio, Verdi's Othello is on. Happier days than of late.

I Heard a Voice.

Pills, Fluids and Rest.

Plenty of fluids. Isn't that always what Doctors say to those with viruses? For the past 3 days I've been popping pills, drinking copious amounts of water and resting. Whatever has afflicted me-and several of my friends-has certainly worn me out. I did manage to venture out for an hour or so, just enough time to brave the Turkish barber and to do a little shopping. A brief foray to support my friend's charity coffee party then I had to retire to bed. With luck it will shift over the weekend and I can be set for Monday. Yes Monday, perhaps the most chaotic day of my academic year-students arrive tomorrow.

Staying warm at home I'm listening to Mozart's C Minor Mass.Think I may read for a while. Having put it to one side for a while I'm back on Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Having been hugely disappointed by my venture into Henry James-how to write a book where nothing happens-in all honesty I wish I had stuck to the T E Lawrence when I was away. 3 new books arrived recently, 2 by a friend from the PGCE days and the follow up to Gabriel's Angel, Stranger Than Kindness. Might start on that tomorrow.

If my luck holds, next time I'm on here I will be feeling more human. Now there is a toast!

I Heard a Voice

Not at My Best.

In a rare midweek afternoon post you find me sat at home listening to the Simon Bolivar Quartet playing sublime Brahms, trying to stay warm and drinking copious amounts of fluids. I awoke feeling decidedly under the weather with a headache, sore throat and the shivers. God I hope this doesn't develop into anything nasty. So I'm dosing myself up with cold and flu remedy, trying to stay awake and listening to the radio.

All this is in sharp contrast to recent weeks of good health-and by that I mean mental-and preparations for the onslaught to come. I really don't have time for this so I hope it disappears as swiftly as it came.

I did force myself to eat a light salad lunch and will do something gentle tonight. Need to keep eating. No desire to do anything else at the moment.

It will go though sooner or later then the march goes on. Next stop Christmas!

I Heard a Voice.

Uninvited Visitors.

In recent years the streets of England have been filled with aggressive charity collectors trying to harass people and shame them into giving what little they have. All think their cause is more worthy than that of others. But we only have a finite amount to give. I have causes I support and even if they approach me in this way I'm irritated. Most charities pay young people to undertake this task. Most are politely dismissed.

That is much harder though if they ring one's buzzer, say they can't hear you then accost in the corridors of one's own home. That is going too far. Whilst it is a charity I have some sympathy for I certainly won't be giving to them after such an unwanted intrusion.

Still irritated I find myself rather restless. Haydn plays which is good, I ate a fine Beef Rendang I made yesterday-not enough chilli-and I consider what to do next. A book? Some writing? Not really sure. Oh that I could deal with the unexpected as well at home as I do at work. And all after a nice day.

The countdown to mayhem continues. Monday will be D Day. After the last 2 years I approach it with a little trepidation. But I usually cope even in the most testing of times. For now though I continue to wrestle with our new data recording system-finally we go into the 21st century. Even techno-phobe like me looks forward to that!

I Heard a Voice.

A Cold Stove.

You may find this hard to believe but I haven't cooked since last Sunday. My stove which is usually so active has not been switched on at all. I just haven't felt like cooking so be making do and getting by. All that will change later when I do a Greek lamb casserole with lettuce and dill. Inspired by Beka and Mike's honeymoon I dug out a little Greek book I bought a few months ago and decided it was about time I tried it out. Today will be followed up by a halloumi and grape salad tomorrow-looks rather good. The grand affair will be roast pork, back to old favourites for Sunday lunch.

Another week has passed and things started to get interesting yesterday. Saw an old face and had some serious advising to do but we got there in the end.

Our Scottish friends decided to reject division from England, Wales and Northern Ireland but the political pundits are already talking of change all round. Devolution to the English? That would be interesting. Time will tell if we become more federal in our outlook here.

For now it is Bruckner on the radio and perhaps a book. Cooking starts at about 5.30 pm-can't stay away any longer!

To Change or Not to Change?

A historic day. History in the making. Changing the course of history. Such terms have been bandied around a lot recently in the British press. Putting my historians hat on, and yes that is ultimately my background, I cannot help but chuckle in that everything that ever happens changes history. Indeed everything has a history a fact that dawned on me when under pressure during my PGCE days. The question though is will historic days be remembered? Most events are not recalled. Only the big ones are recorded for posterity.

Today is polling day north of the border. Scotland votes on whether it becomes independent. Not all Scots get a vote, those living in England are excluded. Tomorrow we will wake up to something new or a modified same. Living in a democracy the Scots are very lucky to have that option. Not all around the world have the right to self determination via the ballot box. I do not know what the outcome will be. Neither really do my Scottish friends who do not get to vote. The Nationalists say the better together campaign is running scared. I might agree with them bearing in mind they have wheeled out the man I called the "arrogant one" in Charon's Ferry, the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown. But he was always popular in Scotland.

What strikes me from what I have followed and struggled to understand is that there are an awful lot ifs and buts should Scotland vote for independent. Battles won on rhetoric, nationalism and emotion seem to be devoid of much solid planning on how Scotland will run itself. Yet that is for them to decide.

Among the right wingers who drink in the Hedgehog at least one is hoping they go on the grounds that would guarantee a Tory victory in English elections for the foreseeable future.

We will learn tomorrow what will happen. For now I still work through the quiet inertia of the remaining days before the students return. It will not last.

I Heard a Voice.

Relentlessly Positive.

This morning I attended my 6th Vice-Chancellor's address to the University. I missed last year's as I was on holiday. My recollection of my very first was utter confusion. All was confusion in those days. Since then there has been a mix of trumpeting our success and doom and gloom. So it was with some surprise that I listened to an overwhelmingly positive address.

Living through 13 years of New Labour taught me a new word, spin. Of course most statements to the public are spun to an extent. It is really exciting the outlook sounds so good but given what I have heard from a number of sources my ride for the next 9 months could be rocky. But I'd be bored without the excitement.

Back at home I took tea, watched Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall drumming up I vegetarian feast that even I would relish it, and contemplating cooking or going out. Laksa won so I'm off out shortly.

As I stand on the cusp of another manic year I feel well placed. Mood is good but not too good. I'm not too anxious and there will be change. Whether it is change that I will like time will tell. But life would get very stale if it carried on in the same way year in year out.

I Heard a Voice.

A Gentle Saturday.

A week has now passed since the epic wedding. Beka and Mike are on a Greek island having a honeymoon, the autumn sun of earlier has disappeared, and I'm making the most of a gentle Saturday before the pandemonium that awaits me in 2 weeks.

A quiet day of shopping, tidying and organising my cluttered desk has ensued. There are still bargains to be had in the shops as summer disappears, managed to get a most splendid coat with 70% off today. I'm going to Bali for my dinner, a slow cooking of pork shoulder with chillies-lots of-ginger and Kecap Manis. I do so love the latter although it is some time since I used it. I discovered it in Amsterdam in 1999. That time I went alone, a strange experience. Back in the days before I found the Holy Grail. That was a long time ago.

I'm sure I'm just talking to myself here as no one seems to be out and about in blogland. Maybe someone will read this later.

So into the silence I bit farewell until the next time. See you all then!

I Heard a Voice

Autumn Beauty.

Most of you may have noticed that I'm not really a morning person. So going to bed last night I wasn't really looking forward to such an early start to return to work. Yet the the morning that greeted me was so beautiful in the bright autumn sunshine with that tell tale chill in the air. The leaves are already beginning to turn. Give it a couple of weeks and the main route into town will look more like New England in the fall than Hertfordshire in autumn. I don't approve of the lack of pubs in my town-it was conceived by a Quaker-but the tree lined avenues are most special. Few sights offer such early morning beauty a a sun lit autumn morning.

Buoyed by this I faced the day. Lots of e mails to deal with, coffee with our excellent chaplain and a phone interview. Never done one of those before. It was not for a job but for my Service Improvement project on my MSc which has been nominated for an award for innovation. I assume it must have gone okay as next stop is Black Tie ceremony in October. Exciting stuff although I suspect I will be an also ran in the great scheme of things. Nice to be included. I wonder if I can still fit in my Dinner Suit which has not been worn since I gave up smoking?

Back at home I did a fiery Vietnamese dish of chicken stir fried with lemongrass and chillies, a glass of Chardonnay, and a Handel opera. Not too bad a start to the back to work phase that now faces me. How long until I get tested I wonder? Not long I guess, I have had to go to hospital with detained students in the first week of each of the last 2 academic years. Here's hoping for no repeat of those scenarios.

I Heard a Voice.

The Final Day.

All good things must come to an end. Yes today is the last day of my holiday. Tomorrow I return to early starts, expecting the unexpected and generally being bust pretty much right through to April. The next few weeks will see me undertaking some of my least favourite parts of my jobs but I'm sure we will soon be up and running with important things.

Fortunately the sun has been shining and generally agreeable. I went for a 40 minute walk which was good. Given how much I'm eating not smoking I think I will have to try to make that a regular event. Where I'm going to find the time though I have no idea.

By way of a change I'm listening to the Bruch violin concerto, not listened to that in some months. Some days too since I listened to any opera.

The time has flown but in the main I have enjoyed myself. Seeing Ros, my fantastic birthday and then such a splendid wedding. I guess I have been spoiled by good things this summer. I'm quite fond of autumn as a general rule. No doubt it will fly to Christmas, then the dark months of February and March will slow my mood. But that is leaping ahead. Far too much to do before then.

I have chosen the Middle East for today's food, some chicken roasted marinaded in sumac, cinnamon, lime juice and olive oil, perhaps some harissa and cumin potatoes to go with it. On my last day I must have some fine food.

I Heard a Voice.

Touching the Sublime!

What a day! Where do I start? It was truly sublime at Beka and Mike's wedding. Looking radiant if anxious, I managed to get her to the the church on time, didn't stumble over my reading and all well went down without a hitch. And the sun shone.

Such a magical day for some of my oldest friends. My speech brought out a lot of emotion in those gathered and was hugely well received. We feasted on roast hog-got through an entire 60 kg pig-the bar served real ale and the music was loud. Too loud for my dad so we sadly left a little early. Actually that was pre-planned but we had such a great time.

Waking today I now have to face reality after such a fantastic event. I will drive home late tomorrow morning-here's hoping the traffic is okay. A day at home devoted to watching NFL games that I am recording tonight. Then and only then do I return to the University. At the moment it is far from my mind but it will loom large when I'm back in Hertfordshire.

So I must make the most of my last few days. Happy times.

I Heard a Voice.

Preparations On Going.

It is Thursday evening UK time. In 36 hours the wedding will be underway. Having chatted to both bride and groom today it is all going more smoothly than I anticipated. I can get into my new suit and shirt-was a little worried about the latter as my weight keeps creeping up off the cigarettes. I will do another reading through and reminder of my speech prior to our church rehearsal in 23 hours time.

So I think I have done all I can do. Now to focus on our curry night and enjoying the end of my holiday. Thankfully the sun is shining in Kent, I'm catching up with a few people and my mood is holding. Sleep still a little erratic though.

I'm trying not to think of next week and the return to work. No doubt there will be plenty that comes in during my absence-many e mails to discard.

I guess we are now in the autumn. The NFL season starts tonight-hurrah-and the nights are drawing in. Year 8 will be underway. I wonder how it will pan out?

I Heard a Voice.

A Milestone!

20,000 hits on my blog right now! Can't believe it. Many thanks for all your support over the last 4 years.

I Heard a Voice.

Don't Look Back, You Can Never Look Back.

Parking in most towns in England is a nightmare. It also gets worse with every passing year. Some years have passed since I last drove in Cambridge; viewing it now I'm not sure I will risk it again. When one has lived and worked in a place for some time one learns all the free parking areas. That is especially true working in the community; and all the good coffee shops.

Today I took a little trip into town and parked in my old road. I felt a strange pang of nostalgia there. Then I thought about it for a while and remembered the utter loneliness of being a new comer there and also the fear and anxiety I had creating a job from scratch. Thinking about that I realised that it was exactly 7 years ago today that I moved to that road.

Did I think I would be in the same job 7 years later? Not really. I had never done a job for more than 2 years before. Someone said when I started you will either last 6 months or 20 years. 20 years, I cannot imagine that doing what I do now.

Back at home I'm listening to the marvellously haunting songs of Michael Head. It only just occurred to me that most are in minor keys. Beka's parents knew Michael Head. Tortured man I would imagine. I've been practising my reading for Saturday, a Shakespeare sonnet. And reminding myself of my speech.

I drive down tomorrow for happy days. This has been a long time coming. See you all when I see you.

I Heard a Voice.