The Hero Returns

Like Mad Max, I've spent too long on the roads. Or more specifically, on the Car Parks and Transport Management Plan Committee. As a non-driver, my contribution is roughly equal to the Pope publishing a version of the Kama Sutra, though I did speak up for those of us who'd like to see walking and cycling encouraged.

The meeting largely consisted of bickering about the terms of reference, which appealed to my barrack-room lawyer side, and there are certainly important issues to cover. Is access to car-parking space an equality and safety issue? Or should be be discouraging car usage? And so on… though sometimes I wonder what I've done to deserve this. My suggestion that each staff member be given a free pair of Heeleys didn't go down well.

If I should get cancer, carry me to a meeting

I've just been to a committee meeting. It took 90 minutes to get through 40 minutes' worth of largely inconsequential meandering. If I had a terminal disease, I'd appreciate how slowly the time passed. I haven't, and I didn't.

Coffee spoons? Lucky bloody Prufrock

He measured out his life in them (it's in 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' by T. S. Eliot). I fear, after this morning's 2.5 hour meeting, that my life will be measured out in minutes approval and Any Other Business. My brain is leaking from my ears and no substantial work (research, marking) has been achieved.

Wacky Wednesday's here again

Hello all. Despite the mirth occasioned by the Perfect Ponies discussion, today's one of utter misery. Four meetings, one of which I'm partly leading (yuck) and all of which are going to be awful - redundancy, restructuring the curriculum etc. etc. then an all-nighter finding a way into Much Ado for ver kids, because actual teaching and intellectual struggle comes a very poor second to bureaucracy in this place.  No time even to go fencing. Grrr…

Any listening to/reading the new Hitchhikers' Guide sequel, by Eoin Colfer? Cynical Ben is, and isn't impressed. I haven't received my book, but quite like the radio adaptation so far.

Definition of a meeting

An event which starts gloomily and ends in misery. Every time I sit round a table at the moment, I get up even more despairing. I get the sense now that the university management is making things up as it goes along. The latest joy is the announcement that the new degree programme should be proposed by next Friday…

Missed me? Didya didya didya?

Hurrah. Two meetings down. The first one (research) was useful. The second one was UCU (Universities and Colleges Union) Negotiating Committee in which we don superhero capes to defend our members against the depredations and stupidities of management. At least, the others do, and I listen in shock.

This time, I've emerged with another job - deputy secretary. Damn. What's being going on in the world during my absence? All I can concentrate on at the moment is my incredible back pain.

Mischief managed!

For you little student darlings, I've just sat through a 2 and a half hour meeting to restructure our curriculum. Nothing will change for next year, but anyone around the year after that has a real intellectual treat in store. We think. Possibly. Maybe, anyway.