Got up early and completed essay. Not entirely convinced it's my best work, but its done on time and before my trip - so I'm pleased. Bumped into work people in town and gossiped a little. Some difficult news from a friend later. Visited, managed to get myself pretty mad about the situation, not convinced I was much use. Later, off to the Playhouse to see Charlotte Gray - interesting film, wonderfully shot - has the strange side-effect of making me want to live in France - which was probably not the intention. Pleasant chat afterwards. Early start looms.
Finally completed reading and started work on essay. Realised how flabby the old academic muscles have become over the last lazy year. Rattle off an introduction and some brief sketches of how I'd like to procede. Lost confidence and concentration about the same time. Attempted to find diversion which would keep me loosely on the trail - ended up reading almost the entirety of H G Wells "Love and Mr Lewisham" Sleepy. Much essay guilt.
Pay day coincides with Day Two of enforced leave. More rather weighty tomes arrive in the wake of the Terry Eagleton book - taking things to extremes as usual when I should be trying to get assignment done before heading off. Booked hotel for next week, then headed out to Bristol to browse bookshops etc. several beers and a pleasant train ride home. Off to my new local for the first time.
Last day of work before holiday. In despair of trying to find something to do, checked Easyjet site. Got very reasonably priced flight to Glasgow, since Virgin Trains reduction in capacity is making rail travel so expensive. Feels strange not to be looking forward to arriving at Glasgow Central. Need to find a hotel. Strange day. Slow, but awkward - so few staff that as one returns from leave, the next one is going. How will anything ever get done? Made tentative arrangements to go to the cinema on Monday.
Lost::MikeGTN
I've had a home on the web for more years than I care to remember, and a few kind souls persuade me it's worth persisting with keeping it updated. This current incarnation of the site is centred around the blog posts which began back in 1999 as 'the daylog' and continued through my travels and tribulations during the following years.
I don't get out and about nearly as much these days, but I do try to record significant events and trips for posterity. You may also have arrived here by following the trail to my former music blog Songs Heard On Fast Trains. That content is preserved here too.
