Journal Entries
Back here!
Posted Oct 5, 2012
Amazed to find that my last journal entry here was 6 weeks ago!
Since then I've had a wonderful holiday in the Ile de Re - fantastic weather, great food, beautiful hotel, completely relaxing. Before I went, I thought that if I got bored on the island, I could go to La Rochelle to the cinema/museum/shops, but not a bit of it! Didn't feel bored at all. The island is pretty flat and has 60 miles of cycle routes, so I hired a bike and just spent every day pottering round the villages, ports, salt marshes and beaches ...
Back at work, we had our last Open Day of the year (notable for the fact that 20+ of the students who'd booked to attend didn't turn up, despite a reminder email we sent them a few days beforehand, tsk tsk!). Then the freshers arrived - and a new College Principal - and now the next admissions round is getting going, so I'm eagerly checking the computer every morning to what new applications have come in. Never a dull moment!
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Latest reply: Oct 5, 2012
Away - and back again
Posted Aug 27, 2012
On Saturday took the train to Cromer (2.5 hours, via Norwich) to meet my sister and her OH, who were there over the Bank Holiday weekend in their newish touring caravan. All started well: they met me at the station and off we went to Wroxham, where we had coffee while sheltering from showers and watching boats negotiate their way through the low, narrow bridge. From there we continued to Potter Heigham, and then back to the caravan site near Cromer.
Abandoned Plan A (barbecue) in light of the threatening clouds, and bro-in-law cooked dinner in the oven instead. Genuine Cromer crab as the starter, then steak etc, then strawberries and cream. Yum!
50mph shaking the caravan and awning for most of the night. Raging toothache. Sleeping on the sofa. Not the best night I've ever spent.
Sunday - started off with torrential rain, but gradually cleared up, so we had a nice jaunt to Sheringham, Holt, Blakeney ... and walked out part of the way to Blakeney Point. Decided not to stay a second night, so came back home and dosed myself with red wine and Ibuprofen - much better night!
Will have to try and get an emergency dental appointment this week, as I'm going to France at the weekend, and don't want to be suffering from toothache there.
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Latest reply: Aug 27, 2012
Gearing up for A-level results
Posted Aug 9, 2012
This week I have been mostly photocopying, envelope-stuffing, and chasing Directors of Studies who haven't yet provided me with reading lists and/or letters for their incoming first-year students.
Yesterday, my colleague and I stuffed 25 different documents into each of over 100 envelopes. Today I got a phonecall from one of the afore-mentioned DoSs, to say that she was changing the time of her meeting with the first years. This meant we had to take one of the documents out of the envelopes, and replace it with a new version ... 100+ times. 
Next week, the first few days will be taken up with decisions about those applicants who have missed their offer conditions, with lots of counting up totals, as we are a bit tight on rooms this year. Then Thursday I will have my least favourite day of the year, when the applicants who have missed their offers ring up, and I have to tell them we can't confirm their place. 
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Latest reply: Aug 9, 2012
Update
Posted Jul 21, 2012
Can't believe it's 5 weeks since I last posted here - extraordinary!
Have been on holiday in Cornwall (well, 5-day break). Looe was very pretty, B&B was brilliant - and cheap - but the weather was mixed to say the least. Some breaks in the clouds, but the only time I took off my fleece was in the rainforest biome at the Eden Project! Started feeling unwell during the last night of the holiday, six-hour train journey home with streaming cold, and when I got back, started throwing up.
Now OK again, but had to have two days off work, which is very unusual for me - I'm hardly ever ill (something to do with being a doctor's daughter). Felt really grim.
Anyway, now hoping for a bit of summer. Sat outside at the pub this evening and had a couple of glasses of wine - first alcohol for a week, so my liver has had a rest too!
Have resisted the Stieg Larsson trilogy for a while, as I'm not keen on violent stuff, but a friend strongly recommended them, so took first one with me to Cornwall - now hooked! Bought the second volume in a charity shop down there and can't wait to start it. Fully occupied with book group titles at the moment however - re-read most of Wolf Hall on the train home (and was rewarded with nightmares while feverish as a result), and am now halfway through William BoydWaiting for Sunrise. Also on the list: another Wm Boyd: Ordinary Thunderstorms, Bring Up the Bodies (Wolf Hall pt 2), and various other street party and charity shop purchases ....
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Latest reply: Jul 21, 2012
Busy social Saturday
Posted Jun 16, 2012
Started this morning with a private screening at the Arts Picturehouse for friends' 25th wedding anniversary: Hitchcock's "Rear Wimdow". I'd never seen this before, and enjoyed it very much. Grace Kelly's dresses (and tiny waist) are amazing. A few people thought it was a rather unusual choice of film, but Mike explained that it was one of the few films he and Sue both loved. About 90 of us watched the film in the big screen, then we had drinks and pastries in the bar.
Headed off to Mill Road and called in at the Covent Garden street party, which was just getting going with some very loud music from a Pink Floyd tribute combo. Couldn't stay long, as I had to meet a former Newnham student at the Pickerel pub. I had set up a meeting for her in connection with job-hunting, so she wanted to buy me a drink.
Joined her and a few friends to walk along the river to the May Bumps - last day today. Newnham 1st VIII had started in 4th place and done very well: bumped on Wednesday and Thursday nights and rowed over on Friday. We got to the Caius hospitality tent in time to get some Pimm's before the Women's 1st division race, but although Newnham rowed very well and kept up with Downing for most of the race, they were bumped by Jesus in the final stages, so back to third place.
Got home to find that some delivery company had tried to deliver a parcel - can't think what it could be, but will be very annoyed if I find it's the new modem from Virgin, as I have taken the day off on Monday specifically to take delivery of it.
Quiet evening at home.
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Latest reply: Jun 16, 2012
annie_cambridge
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