The Conservative Party Conference continues to provide a rich seam. I’m almost sorry I’m not going in tomorrow. Some fundamentalists wield biblical slogans, others manifestos and soundbites. But they’re all basically the same: they lay blame for the world’s problems on anything and everything other than themselves.
Now she’s COOL. And this is 7.20am, note. The commitment.
Continuing the football theme… This is Carol, my mother-in-law, and yes, it is quite fun to have a mother-in-law with whom I can go to the football. Joe is still responding reasonably well to the family campaign to turn him into a supporter of approved clubs, and credit to him for still claiming to be a Morecambe and Brighton fan (Family United 1, Peer Pressure City 0).
I think Carol was still smiling a second after this shot, by the way. Not so happy at the end of the day however: Morecambe 2, Bristol Rovers 3.
I got interviewed by ‘student TV’ today so found myself in the annual chaos that is the Freshers’ Fair. I know this picture is a bit blurred but as you can’t read the sign, it says, ‘Gardening and Permaculture Society’. Now I am not at all mocking this guy: I have found myself interested enough in gardening over the last few years. And though I didn’t talk to him, he seemed pretty sweet. But I’m sorry, if you look up ‘walking cliche’ in the dictionary, it says ‘see him’.
All parents know that nights out become difficult to arrange. So if we’re going to have one, let’s do it properly.
After 6 days of work, I finally reach the weekend. After 6 days of rain, the sun finally comes out. And it’s about time I put a photograph of the wife up here.
At this time of year there is an element of the holiday rep about my job. One lot of students are about to finish their time with me but as they do so, the next lot are on their planes in, ready to start the next cycle. Today I had drinks with some of those who were departing. Cormac, my colleague (being Irish) and I had Guinness; Huiyu & Dalal caffeine. But it’s all the same in the end. They’ve worked hard this year as have we. We all deserve it.
At this meeting I attended today this guy was taking photographs of everyone, as soon as they opened their mouths. He was a nice guy, though. At the lunch break I said, ‘You’ve been taking photos of everyone, now I’m going to take your photo, and put it on my web site.’ And so, I did.
Recently, any emergence of the topic of the return to school has meant that grouching and complaining is sure to follow from Joe. Nor does he profess himself ‘bothered’ about seeing his friend Ishmael again after their weeks off.
At 3.05pm out come this fairly bouncy pair of kids and Ishmael asks if Joe can come round for tea. ‘How was school?’ ‘Boring!’ J cries in an enthusiastic voice. It’s like the Lord’s Prayer. It’s just one of those automatic responses you give without conscious thought.
One of the nice things about Joe is that he will engage very well with adults, having no problem at all with social situations. It makes it much easier to also be ourselves when among friends, to relax after the efforts of the week just gone, and not have to constantly be looking out for him. (That’s orange juice he’s drinking, in case you were wondering.)
