Nun better

Laura's been in: more lovely presents, along the theme of The Culture, Cheese and Pineapple (which you're all joining, aren't you?). As well as a copy of John Burrow's wonderful A History of Histories, she gave me some miniature Marmite-flavoured cheeses, a French Scrabble birthday card, a tin of pineapple chunks and, in honour of my school days, miniature Nun Bowling, with nun-shaped skittles. These will be making an appearance in the pub later. Thanks!

Normal service is resumed

Ho hum, back in the office, with a PGCE day to look forward to tomorrow. Lots of work to do for that in this month. I need to go swimming today too - all that standing around eating delicious pierogi, and zupa gulaszka, and kabanos etc etc hasn't done my waistline any good at all.

At least I was greeted with two books in the post: Jessica Mitford's The Making of a Muckraker and The American Way of Death - wonderful, spiky books. I also bought a couple of books yesterday: Adam Roberts' alternative steampunk history Swiftly and John Burrow's magisterial A History of Histories. I only went out to buy birthday presents for other people!