Relief

I just received the photos from the conference, and they look great. I especially appreciate the ones from the closing remarks - I think you can see my joy and relief!

A Letter from the Proctor

I just received this in my inbox. Only at Oxford would could I imagine being warned about slipping on a mix of champagne and eggs. Below, the letter (with some paring down):

Dear Candidates,

In our “normal” lives, the Proctors are Tutors. In this capacity we should like to wish you very good luck with your exams this summer.

In particular, there is no tradition of the abuse of food in “trashing”. The very idea is a recent invention and one which is particularly offensive in a city where there are many homeless and hungry. In previous years some members of the public have been injured by slipping on flour wet from champagne and eggs.

We should therefore like your help in keeping people safe, and stamping out the abuse of all foodstuffs. No flour, no eggs, no beans, ketchup, let alone rotting food or worse. In addition, pubs may not admit students covered in foodstuffs.

Closed champagne bottles, flowers and balloons and biodegradable confetti are all fine! But please – NO FOOD ITEMS or GLITTER or SILLY STRING. Rotting food, vomit, broken glass and other items causing litter are simply not what any of us wants to see. They are a disgrace and potentially dangerous.

Good luck with your exams and enjoy finishing and celebrating in College.


Senior Proctor
&
Junior Proctor

Trinity Term 2010

Ahhh!

The conference went swimmingly, and I feel so pleased.

Rather than doing schoolwork, I spent much of Monday afternoon on a funny gig poling around a couple of visitors from Connecticut, of all places, on a punt.

Punting: wonderfully scenic, surprisingly difficult. The 20 foot pole used to push the skiff - actually a section of pipe - is heavy, but oddly buoyant. You have to force it down, find a bit of bottom, then push off, using the trailing pole (properly known as a quant) as the rudder.

They asked questions about whether or not there were beavers in England (no) and if I would like the contents of their catered picnic basket (yes!). All around a good day.

Soapy

Some clear signs that I have the conference on the brain?

This morning I tried to wash my face with a palmful of conditioner, and last night I started to squeeze my face soap out onto my toothbrush. It's really a good thing I don't drive, perform surgeries or tend to small children.

My disappearing neighbors:

Click to enlarge.

The Simpsons take on grad school:

With thanks to my friend Will.