hello world

hello all, this is a new blog.... thank you.

An anachronistic gender bending idyll

I'm still in Edinburgh, which is brilliant. The period I was looking forward to, the fringe, is just hotting up. It actually started today, and I have already decided, it sucks. Edinburgh is already sooo busy, and I don't really have the money to take advantage of it all. I have been here for two months and I already feel like a disgruntled elderly resident. What is going to be really good, is the Book Festival.

I am middle aged beyond my years. Oh well, I'm engaged, so I never need to pretend to be young and exciting ever again.

Talking of Natasha, the best thing about being here is of course, being with her. We have settled into a frighteningly domestic regime. I am a housewife from the '50s, she earns the money, I do the shopping and cooking and stuff, and greet her at the door with a fresh ribbon in my hair. I love it, I would be quite happy to be a '50s housewife. The only thing I could hope for is a bit more personal space. If when we live together we have the most tiny of places, or even if I moved into a room permanently, at least I wouldn't be living out of a suitcase.

Our anachronistic gender bending idyll is threatened however, as is my louche reputation, by the encroachment of 'gainful' employment. At the very least I should have a bit more on my CV by the end of the summer. It is also helpful that I will not be running out of money, even if I have not been able to save, which was my original intention. I got work with a company that did traffic surveys and the like, long days, very boring, and very difficult for me and Natasha, (I had to wake her up at silly o'Clock in the morning, she had to come home knackered and sort me something to eat when I got back) nonetheless, the money was good. Unfortunately the work dropped off, and my attempts to get back in touch with them failed. Oh well, it frees me up to piss around in a cafe! A friend of Natasha's is running a place, profits to be divided by man hours. I'm doing my first shift tomorrow, we shall see how it goes. It could go brilliantly, the location is good, near a couple of decent venues, plus there are people around generally who might be dropping in for the odd cup of coffee. I am technically a volunteer, so there is no guarantee that I will get even minimum wage pay. Here's to hoping.

Is Edinburgh a useful term for the study of Medieval Europe?

Well, I am blogging from a bed of purple, Auld Reekie.

I arrived in Edinburgh on Monday, I have, in fact, completed my degree. Its all finished. Come the third of July I will be a "Bachelor", there is something pretty cool about that, after three years, I'm done.

I had two exams, for my two units. I think I did OK in both. The latter I had a bit of fun with, it invited me to discuss the use of the terms "Masculinity" and "Homosexuality". I set up two positions, firstly the unspoken assumption that they are useful terms, then the criticism, the position that seeks to reject the terms completely. I spent most of my time redeeming the terms.

Masculinity is too simple by itself, but there are medieval masculinities, I reject the three gender model, it does not account for the divisions between nuns and monks that develop in the 12th century, or the gender anxiety felt by monks. The man vs non-man model is more subtle than it sounds, but a more useful model is that of a continuum. Fighting man, leading into praying man, alongside working man. Most men fit somewhere between the models. Praying men are more similar too praying women than they are too other formulations of the feminine.

Homosexuality I do have to reject, homosex occurs (look up Peter Damian), homolove occurs (look up Anselm of Bec), they are not necessarily linked. If a monk is celibate, and all sex is forbidden, then there is no reason to get all het up about homolove. Interestingly similar reasonings separating homosex (levitical condemnations) and homolove (David and Jonathan), can be applied to the bible.

So, having done that, I am in Edinburgh, in the real world. I am not qualified to comment on gender/sexuality identifications after the Herrenfrage (see Jo Ann McNamara). I would love to say wonderful things about sunny Edinburgh, I haven't seen it yet this trip. Rainy Edinburgh is pretty nice though. I am having a wonderful time. Natasha is working at the mo, I am split between being a househusband, and job hunting. I'm going to be up in Edinburgh for the whole summer. Eventually me and Natasha will both be working; we'll be living like real people. That is pretty scary. The whole summer is a kind of trial run. So far it is going pretty well, watch this space.

Vote 2007 - The Aftermath

So the headlines are:

Labour: Not as thrashed as expected.

Conservatives: Not as successful as expected, but decent gains.

Lib Dems: Not able to make any progress, disappointing losses and high level gains.

Scotland: Got cold feet and hasn't totally embraced the SNP.

Wales: Moderate push against Labour.

All a bit dull to be honest, those are a precis of the headlines that have been scrolling across News 24 etc. In reality of course things aren't that simple.

Labour HAVE had an awkward election, if it were a general it would have been a '92. They have been under attack on all sides, and although they weathered it, they are still at a comically low base.

The Conservative story is pretty fair as far as I can see. They are STILL incapable of gaining support in proper urban areas. The LibDems are taking the voters who might be natural tory supporters. (Successful yuppie types in Manchester for instance). The woman on TV last night seemed to think that taking the sub-urbs was some kind of first step to storming the inner city. But leafy sub-urbs are natural tory ground, they should be able to assume those kinds of seats. And this isn't a military coup, David Cameron isn't holding his troops in leafy Trafford ready to storm such deprived naturally untory inner city slums as Didsbury...

The Lib Dems, on the face of it, have disappointed. A few councils have fallen, and Gordon is a humiliating loss, which can't help them when they have to bargain around the Scottish parliament. The official line appears to be that 2003 (when these seats were last up) was a high water mark, and they have done well to hold steady. The good news is that they have taken control of a handful of councils, and as I write are (just) in a net gain.

Scotland has been as close as it was always going to be, a combination of a very negative labour campaign, and some very negative headlines, seemed to have scared a lot of votes back to labour. On the other hand: The swing to the SNP has been pretty impressive, and again I have to mention Gordon, a reminder that Salmond is pretty popular personally.

Wales is the place that has given Labour the biggest thumbs down, by my count the seats are tied between Labour and The Rest on 26 each. the news has been making a major fuss about Nye Bevan, and Neil Kinnock.

Manchester has seen a modest Lib-Dem advance, last I heard Bradford is looking alright as well. I'll not be troubling the Jewel of the North with my maiden speech as councillor any time soon though.

Vote 2007 - Polls are Open!

Ok Poll day today. How I wish I could vote in Scotland. (a mix of LibDem and SNP if I could)

As it is I have voted, Lib Dem (although I was tempted to vote Justine - ahh for STV).

Scotland is more interesting so I'll look to them first:

It looks like Labour scare tactics have worked, the SNP lead has done a last minute '1992' collapse. So it looks like a very close tie, with the Lib Dems as king-makers.

The Lib Dems will be in an awkward position if Labour do suffer enough to be almost tied with the SNP, especially if the Lib Dems get a lower vote themselves. It could easily appear that they are proping up labour despite a swing against both of them.

It is also possible that the Greens will have to join a coalition (especially if the tories do any better than expected, or the Lib Dems any worse). Will that change things at all?

I would want a LibDem SNP coalition - if the SNP can drop the independence referendum. Which would be in their interest given they would lose it. The SNP will try and engineer clashes with Westminster in order to gain support for independence. Not Good. I hope the Lib Dems can restrain them.

If Labour are out in front then a Lib-Lab coalition would be my second preference. I would hope the Lib Dems would set out a strong raft of big policies to push through.

No-one appears to be suggesting a minority government (by the largest party). it could be chaotic, or, it could just work. An SNP minority would work well for the LibDems who could vote against the referendum, but vote through the policies (many) which they share with the SNP.

In Manchester I am hoping for some modest gains.

I fully expect to become Bradford's brand new, youngest, councilor...

Vote 2007

Maybe I will be repeating my epic coverage which you will remember from the General Election. Maybe not. (it all depends what is going on thursday evening)

I am looking forward to finding out what happens in Bradford, Manchester and, indeed, Scotland. Especially exciting to a LIbDem is the use of Preferential voting in Scottish Council Seats. I have a special interest in this particular election as I am standing as the Liberal Democrat Candidate in Toller ward, Bradford.

The Ward is currently held by two Labour and one Conservative, I am standing against the Labour incumbent. The seat is actually a weird one (thus the 2:1 split, and this is not unusual at all for the seat.

I am interested in the Scottish elections because I hope to make that cold country my home one of these days. I don't like the idea of Independence, but... PR, Lib Dems in government, Eurozone entry?? Put it like that and it sounds pretty good to me. It has been pointed out to me, by those better informed and more attractive than I, that the SNP's policies are the same as the Lib Dems. I am genuinely annoyed with them for there stance on coaltion with the SNP. Even if they disagree with the referendum I think they should be open to supporting it (and campaigning for a No) if it wins them reforms which are good for Scotland. Bottom line, if the Scottish want independence, they should probably have it, even if they are wrong to want it. That should clearly be the Liberal line.

Manchester is nothing like as interesting as Bradford in objective terms. But I am just as interested for personal reasons. I make no predictions for either council. I say only that the yellows might push forward a bit in both seats, if they are lucky. Both parties deserve it.

That has set my stall out, watch this space...

----

The T&A reportage about the council candidatures can be found here. There is a list of candidates at the bottom. The T&A website is, well, the website of a local paper, but it is improving all the time.

I will be keeping an eye on this area of the Guardian website, and these fora.

Hail Mary, full of wossname.

Another quick blog before I go to Liverpool, (later today, and I am going to Bradford on Saturday).

I have had to cart quite a lot of stuff to the library today, I had about nine books I wanted to return, plus a sleeping bag that I am lending out for someone who is hiking to Lindisfarne from Carlisle. (I also meant to bring Barbara Butlers book about the St. Cuthbert Way, but totally forgot). I am rid of the books, and am dumping the sleeping back at the chaplaincy, allowing me to re-arrange my bags and leave straight away.

Last Sunday I attended Mass at Avila House, which was an interesting experience. It is a testament to the massive impact of methodism/18th century evangelicalism that in a catholic chaplaincy the three hymns included Wesley and Watts. Metho's rule. I was vaguely familiar with everything, although I was unable to keep up with the Hail Mary beyond "Hail Mary full of Grace...", nor can I recite the creed. (maybe if I had known which creed, and had a chance to think about it). As a result there were times that I thought that they might have benefitted from a printed service sheet. (Of course for Love Divine all Love Excelling I probably didn't need the hymn book provided - ho hum).

The only real theological problems I had were, inevitably the Real Presence. So I wouldn't have received even if I could, it was nice to receive a blessing though. And ummm, hmmm. That is about it.

Of course Marian devotion is not in my tradition, I don't feel the need for her too pray for me now or at the hour of my death. But much of the Hail Mary is entirely biblical. The idea of dedicating a mass to anyone is also alien, and of course the references to the dead went right over my head. The thing is, I didn't really find myself reacting against these. The more I study Christianity the more I can see how such ideas originated out of genuine theology, and real pastoral need. Even today they clearly speak to people. I can't say that they are wrong as such, only that they mean nothing to me. The only thing that threw me was the sacramental nature of the mass.

Gathering

Perhaps I had better avoid blogging about cricket for now, maybe I'll try again after sunday.

Thesis is going quite well now I have prioritised it, I've got some good wordage for the historiographical section, and I am working on the write up of my own investigation. The most interesting bit will be the application of the latter to the former.

I spent the weekend in Birmingham - Newman House, at a very pleasant SCM Gathering, it was a little under populated (normal for spring apparently) but that kind of worked out because we had a lot of business to get through, and the people who came were mainly hardcore SCM. I was paying a lot of attention to the two workshops I went too, Movement editorial, and Marketing the Movement. I am now writing papers on them both. The former a Discussion paper, the latter just writing up what the feeling of the session was. There are disadvantages to doing this, but It is the best way of getting things across without delaying the GC meeting, which was plenty long enough.

GC was quite pleasant though, productive if nothing else, lots of exciting things are happening in the movement, I hope I can hang around to see them come to fruition. I get the feeling that there is the potential for something real exciting to happen, for us to reach a tipping point and start bringing together all the brothers and sisters in Christ who need each others support to realise their faith in a complicated world.

I also invented a new description for my politics. When I say that I am a Liberal people assume too much. I hung on to Liberal Capitalist for a while, but it isn't much better, most people interpret that as 'half arsed capitalist', also Liberal has religious connotations I am not happy with, because it is used so poorly byboth self identifiers - and by those who sling it as an insult. From now on I am going to be a Radical Capitalist. I am still a Liberal really, and it is Liberalism that fuels my political philosophy; but I want to reclaim radicalism for the center. Religious position is harder to describe. I'm a Methodist, I am Liberal, but don't want to define myself as either. I'd like to think of my Churchmanship as 'Free', and maybe my theology as 'Radical', but I am not so sure what I mean by Radical in relationship to my theology. I'll get back to you all.....

Exams, Damn Lies and Statistics

Exams now all over and done with; A big cheer for that - I am gladly anticipating the recommencement of university proper. I think despite my initial misgivings my Industrial Society was the best. I answered questions on working women; whereby my thesis was that things had gotten pretty bad for women; as pre revolution they had been able to do good jobs for moderately good pay; including jobs such as spinning which could be done in the home. These jobs where then mechanised taken out of the home and in various over ways made the sole preserve of men, pushing women either out of work or into really menial proto-industry. I answered a question on Education and literacy, saying why it got worse and why it didn't matter; finally I answered on on the Standard of Living - namely explaining why historians believe it got worse nowadays - a nice meaty historiographical piece.

Now it is my intention to get lots of reading done during the next week - a bti of preliminary for my new modules, and also a bit on A-S England so I can talk to Nick Higham about it. That is the plan anyway.

It turns out that Simon Hughes is gay, I get the impression that the Lib Dem community is singularly underwhelmed by this "Revelation". Unlike The Sun which has indulged in a number of particularly dodgy borderline homophobic puns; "Limp Dem", "Another one bites the pillow". They are just bitter because they weren't told earlier; and with coverage like that would you?

Finally I am just browsing the stats for this blog for the first time in ages. Apparently 52.94% of the people who have found this site have done so with the search term "Mark Oaten" there were also searches for "mark@oaten" and "lib dem rentboy leadership". People have also been searching for "Courgette Golden Dawn" "We'll drink a drink to lilly the pink"(I get a few lilly the pink related searches actually). People searching for "People who died for what they believed in" where directed towards this entry on the film Downfall. Whoever searched for "women's role in early britain 500-1066 ad" was probably disappointed. I'm fiddling with my side bar a bit - I do know it currently duplicates information; I am planning to scrub the second set.

Any Questions

Just listened to Any Questions; available here on listen again. If you didn't know it was a special featuring deabte between the three candidates for the Lib Dem leadership. As you will know if you pass your eye to the right (on my blog anyhow) I intend to support Menzies Campbell. This discussion softened my opinions on both other candidates namely Christ Huhne and Simon Hughes. However, in two crucial ways Campbell solidified my faith in him.

Firstly; against an admittedly friendly audience his was the most assured and confident voice. If I thought that then it is quite possible that the electorate at the next election will think that. It is not just a case of his being assured in this context; it is the fact that he the Right Hon. Sir Menzies Campbell QC OBE MP is a statesmanlike figure he sounds like and acts like a minister. Thus I think he; not the chap in the yellow taxi, nor admittedly experienced but unknown "Cameron", would be the one to bring the party an authority and credibility which it now needs. AFAICT people still recognise Lib Dem policies as positive and intelligent; thanks to Charles Kennedy they also see it as being a down to earth - sometimes too far down party; I am hoping that Ming can make people treat the party seriously and see the party as a trustworthy candidate for government.

Secondly Ming seems to fit my ideas of how the party should exist best; concentrating on traditional Liberalism that appeals to the historian in me; he snuck in references to Beveridge and John Stuart Mill and Keynes; all of them heroes in the development of Liberal Britain. His adherence to the center - anti authoritarian - left is appealing; and rings with what I understand liberalism to be. Consistently on policy he rang true.

Overall it was a good showing - relatively little major disagreement; I think though what Huhne said was good he underperformed really - the bloggers 4 Chris crowd will point to the quality of what he said, but I think he allowed himself to be ignored somewhat; and some of his best statements were so obviously in agreement to everyone else so as to be pointless. I think the whole affair was a good showcase for the Lib Dem front bench of tomorrow.

Mark Oaten and Exams

Well those two exams are done with; yesterday I had The Body In Society which was a bit sticky in places - I'm not a big fan of questions set so vaguely; I like broad but not so broad that ones head falls out, or something like that - I'm going to stop this sentence now. Todays exam was A Liberal Nation, and was much better - nice questions that I could set out nicely and, hopefully, answer well. I am glad they are over with though. I have a week to go before the next one; which could be quite nasty - being a spot of economic history; I may have to remember numbers.

I am looking forward to this evening; seeing everyone from MSCM again is always always jolly (although I have seen a fair handful already what with one thing and another).

Lastly I want to point out that Mark Oaten, who I am sure is a wonderful person but who always strikes me as a fascist toad of a chap, has dropped out of the Lib Dem election race. Which is actually, as Sellers and Yeatmen would say A Bad Thing. Why oh why?? I hear my thrilled audience ask; because what we want (read: I want) is a competition, not left versus right, because that doesn't exist obviously, but between attitudes in the party. The differences are minor in most regards; however if there is no electoral option given to the party the economic liberals will never be quelled. Anyway heres the link to the BBC story, the official announcement is at three.

Yorkshiremen and Mingers

It is very good to be back in The Great Puddle; especially now the girls are around again. I went out last night, to celebrate being back I suppose, I had a very good time despite the fact that anyone I knew from before that evening went home early. I started the evening with a desire to not drink too much and thus not spend too much. Needless to say I failed miserably in both regards, spending too much money on a variety of tipples; including the excellent Boggart's Best they were doing in Font (which by the way not only serves damn good beer but look after it well).

My loan installment appears to have come through I am glad to say - tomorrow I am going to do a little minor shopping - and pick up Bede's Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum and a collection of Saints lives I have been recommended. Today I got to see a few people from Church who I had not seen for what seems a very long time; and it was grand to do so. I have done a little revision today, but you'll be glad to know I didn't let it get in the way of my education.

Today I have researched the candidates for the Lib Dem leadership bid; making use of the BBCs video content to catch the speeches made at the hustings in London, my leaning is very much towards Ming*. This article makes clear some of the advantages he has over Hughes, although some of the arguments in favour of Hughes are very compelling; my father reasons that a vote for Hughes is a clear vote in favour of what the Meedja calls either the "left of the party", "Yellow Bookers" or "Social Liberals", so whoever wins will have a clear direction. I will almost certainly detail my trauma over the next few weeks possibly in great detail; far greater detail than anyone could possibly care about.

I also have been researching the origins of Yorkshire County Anthem Ilkla Moor Bah 'Tat** prompted by a discussion of the same, whilst crossing the same. It is a well known fact that the words of While Shepherds Watched can be sung to the same tune; it is less well known that that is the song for which the tune was originally intended. The Wikipedia confirms this. I cannot find confirmation for the suggestion that it was common practice amongst Yorkshire Choirs to learn tunes to comical or non sensical words; using the real words only on a Sunday and in formal performance.

*Which by extension would possibly make me either a Mong or a Minger; my preference being for the former - camp space opera references beat toilet humour level punning anyday.

**[On] Ilkley Moor Without a Hat; and according to some versions without any Trousers eithe

Bradford for a Bit

I am coming towards the end of a pleasant time knocking about at home; I wouldn't say I've done much exciting but enjoyable nonetheless. I have been making slow and steady progress on revision. Boring as I have been finding it. I've done my usual trick of trying to bump into people when I can; but not put enough effort into it; which I will regret slightly when I am back in Manchester - I don't intend to return for some while. It has gotten to the point where I am definitely favoring Manchester over Bradford - even my brief stay after New Year which I thought might have been crushingly dull was good fun; and I got to go for a drink with Andrew and with James, so I kept busy. I return to Manchester on Saturday, hopefully tomorrow I'll give blood. I intend to drag others along with myself.

Well nothing interesting to report today; nothing I can mention, I hope I have more for you soon.

2006

I am now in Manchester - A new year back in The Puddle. Two major things have happened since my last missive, two major parties in fact. One family affair; which was very jolly indeed, all the more so because it was hosting both my dads sister and brother's families. And the latter was Ben's New Years party - at which very little sleep was had; this was very very good fun; meeting friends and strangers - and a handful of occasional acquaintances from a few years back; Overall summery - just debauched enough; and a good way of starting the year.

I don't know why I am attaching much importance to 2006, I am usually pretty skeptical about new years as being a pretty arbitrary point. It is quite easy to look back this year and see definite progress and movement. I am established at Uni; and have had quite a troublesome last semester. I moved into a period of extensive singlehood; which I haven;t been particularly distressed by, and has been quite a good thing at times. I have made a whole raft of new friends and acquaintances; and last night I got a blast from the past in the form of some people I had never really expected to see again. It also helps that it was a good do last night; and that today was quite bright and cheerful when I was waiting for my train out of Mytholmroyd.

P.S. This is the best documented year of my life yet; being the only one where I have kept up somesort of journal (i.e. this) up throughout.

Festive Fun

Well I hope everyone is having a lovely Christmas; I sure am. It is pretty jolly to be sitting here at home listening to Joy Division with Tabitha, but it gets even more exciting than that. Firstly, it has been nice to be back in the Jewel of the North, to unwind, to bump into people a few times etc. Its always nice to have someone else cooking for me and with me, especially when its my dads food, its also just nice to be getting honest Bradfordian pavement under my heels again - I have been into town more than a couple of times, and I always feel at home when I am. Being Christmas there have been a fair fistfull of festivities; parties and the like - a few more are due. All have been immensely fun - I haven't overdone it either (although I more than made up for it in advance my last night in The Mighty Puddle).

Christmas day was particularly nice; I spent all day in one place - not worrying about the usual stresses of getting to Harden mid afternoon me and my dad had my dads sister and family around for lunch; when they went we watched Doctor Who(very good; I am expecting Tennant to be even better than Ecclestone is such a thing is possible) and generally slobbed around. The most challenging thing has been Araucaria's bumper Christmas puzzle (with a Pride and Prejudice theme). In the run up to this Christmas I have been a little ambivalent: firstly, I have felt not especially festive - I am entirely perplexed as to why; secondly, I was getting more than usually fed up by the accompanying feast of Mammon. As a result I was snottier than I should have been about Angharad's desire to get the Cat a stocking for instance. Nonetheless come sunday morning I was all a sparkle; the morning service was positively frolicsome and Christmas dinner came together in an unbelievably smooth and relaxed manner.

Tonight I go to see my mother; I shall stay the night in order to be sped towards Kendal to see mum's brothers family. I only hope that all are well when I arrive. this time tomorrow then I shall have seen most of my accessible relatives; my dad's brother was briefly visited the day I came home. However, there is still a family party on friday towards which I am gladly looking.

I hope to see even more of people before I go west again, I also hop eto get a decent amount of both 'R and R' (rest and relaxation) and 'R and R' (reading and revision)...

Have fun everyone; now I have a machine gun...


HO

HO

HO

Various Events

Well I am writing this between my lecture and my seminar from the History Cyber Café – It always amazes me that this room is near empty even when the library is packed; I suppose in theory its not meant for work; but then not everyone at the library machines is working; and I betcha some of them are history students as well.

There is much to much to report. All essays and tutors are well and truly sorted, I even got round to grabbing a few books from the library to take home other Christmas.

Talking of festive things… the living room at park view is mighty festive with the addition of my Christmas tree; goodness knows where it’ll go when I get home; perhaps I’ll loan it to Angharad or something. I went Carol singing on Sunday instead of going to KISS; that was mighty fun even if someone had been messing around with the words (‘oh come all you faithful’ indeed; and what’s wrong with ‘very God’) oh and noone sung the descants for Once In Royal which was also upsetting to me. On Friday (Really stretching back now – I can barely remember last week) I had the girls of MSCM for dinner. I did them ‘Dauphinois Surprise’ (it had a layer of Mushrooms under it) and Provencal Stew (I would have called it Ratatouille but I fancied a change) both went down pretty well; the left other Dauphinois was my lunch on Saturday – and the Ratatouille was magically turned into Lasagne (with the addition of more tomato, passatta, more aubergine and courgette, a little soya mince and the left other mushrooms) I haven’t finished it yet; hopefully I’ll do so today – allowing me to create something altogether different for Wednesday and Thursday (something that’ll use up all remaining potato and onion – maybe potato and onion soup; with courgette fritters). Last thing that pops to mind is that I went to see Narnia; and very much enjoyed it, but was a little concerned by C.S. Lewis’ apparent dualism, I’ll think about it when I have a) reread the book and b) rewatched the film.

Coming home soon, and very much looking forward to doing so. I’ll miss folks from up here though.

Made me Chuckle...

From : Bradford Trade Justice Network
Sent : 06 December 2005 21:33:30
To :
Subject : White Band Day III

Please come to Centenary Square from 10-11am this Saturday (wearing your
white band, of course!) We hope to be wrapping Terry Rooney MP in a big
white band as part of our campaign for trade justice.

Best wishes,

Bradford Trade Justice Network


What a lovely idea - I shall probably be in Albert Square on the day instead, If anyone can get me a picture of Terry Rooney wrapped up in white I would be most pleased.

Also in my inbox this morning (t'other inbox though); Nick Higham Agreeing to be my tutor. So I crossed the first hurdle -- I emailed the right one. (Students at manchester may or may not know that there are two Nicholas J Highams, one medievelist and one mathematician)

Chuckiebum...

I handed in all my essays hurrah!!

Today (and to a lesser extent yesterday) has been quite productive. The last few weeks have been pretty busy, it is in fact my opinion that the whole semester has been pretty relentless, but these last few weeks especially so. In the time when I have been writing essays etc I have neglected somewhat all the small but important domestic tasks that one should complete to best maintain ones home. So today I cleaned and tidied; no longer does my floor host all the notes I never got round to putting away, no longer is my bathroom covered in dust (I did clean my bathroom but only doing the important bits). i find a nice tidy and clean room very pleasing indeed - makes me feel much more in control of my environment.

I have also just finished the second section of Nick Higham, The Convert Kings I am reading this because I will be covering the period in my long essay next year, and it seems possible that the author will be supervising me, if not he'll be supervising me on paper with Martin Ryan - his student supervising. All very intimidating; to be potentially discussing Bede with a man who just wrote a book about the subject could be interesting.

Oh and another thing...*
I met Charles Kennedy on Thursday: Inbetween lectures I had the opportunity, which I took of meeting him of being in a group of people chatting with him in one of the MMU cafeterias(cafeteria, cafeterii???) There were bundles of people taking photos and notes, both press and Lib Dem types - plus Channel M videoing. He gets publicity, ManUniLibDemSoc and a few hangers on get to chat with the party leader- everyone wins. He is a particularly chatty type, as I suppose one learns to be in that sort of job. Seemed friendly and genuinely open to discussion; I certainly didn't detect him trying to edge the conversation towards what he might have wanted to talk about.

Brownie Related Goodness

Probably the last blog of November; not long till I'll be able to say that I have been blogging for a year; certainly longer than I have ever kept a diary running. So in that sense it was probably a success. My private scrapbook is currently accompanied by a box full of things I have never got round to 'scrapping' in. I'll think more on that theme later perhaps.

I am happy to report the successful production of two batches of chocolate brownies; including one batch of experimental chocolate orange brownies; sadly not experimental vegan brownies, I forgot to check for vegan chocolate, and wasn't entirely sure about the most intelligent way to do egg substitute. I also took collection of some banana loaf and buns from Georgina who is unable to come tomorrow. "What's tomorrow Owen??" why dear reader tomorrow is the fair trade brunch - from 11-1 at Whitworth park I and my beautiful assistants will be distributing all manner of yummy things all for a pound. (In quantities somewhere approximating a light lunch or large breakfast). We even have Gluten free cakes! I am really hopping it all comes together OK, especially as I was trusted with a lot of the organising side of things!!

Also today I finished my Christianity essay, allowing me to hopefully start my (already begun) Liberal Nation essay tomorrow. On Monday I shall hunt for a tutor for next year (yes I know I should have done so already - there was always something more pressing).