It’s a portrait of a stranger in a pub (the Kro Bar on Oxford Road, Manchester, as it happens), but it’s also a self-portrait. This is me, this is how I feel at the moment. I need a break. But I’m getting one, after tomorrow.
Bye bye to Rebe, who – via a roundabout route – is now off to live in Belgium for a year while her husband does post-doc work there. One of my recently-graduated students (see Dec 14th), and a very good advert for her native Costa Rica.
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.
Being 42 