The Plashing Vole

Puck Fair is one of Ireland's premier (and oldest) cultural events. Turns out that our friend Anita, who lurks on this blog, is Puck Ro...

I'd almost forgotten: some months ago, it was announced that the university, despite being several million pounds in deficit, had contra...

I hate country music. Rhinestones, whining, reactionary lyrics. That's what I thought anyway. Turns out that loads of the music I like i...

Now that my debit card's gone, I keep seeing things I'd like to purchase. Oh well, it's good for what passes for my soul, and as...

The Guardian has a piece today on how to arrange your book collection. They're very scornful of my chosen method: alphabetical. Actuall...

Back from the dullest meeting on earth, held in a weird, circular classroom. In between interminable discussions of grades, I sneaked a few ...

Mercury Prize nominations are up - now the NME awards are simply an excuse to plug hairgel and because the Brits are merely for best markete...

I'm about to experience life as a non-consumer for a week or two, thanks to some utter, utter, bastard who defrauded my debit card last ...

Happy birthday to my sister Catharine, who is 33 today and back in New Zealand. Hope she didn't fly Air Kiwi - it's a flightless air...

It's a modern folk song. Zoot won't like it because there's no guitar picking. Or guitars. It's Éamon Doorley, Muiréann Nic ...

My old friend Adam seems simultaneously to have discovered political satire and Photoshop. I don't necessarily endorse his views - I...

Yes, David Mitchell not only shares my opinions, he writes about them much better. This week's column was on cricket, holidays and air ...

Cynical Ben has been to the opera - Rufus Wainwright's supposed revival of the genre in particular - Prima Donna , and came back with mi...

I've seen some strange things today (and yesterday). The Waterstones notice above the cycling books reading 'Peddle Power' - I d...

Morning all. How are you this sunny Monday morning (if it is sunny and Monday)? I had a lovely weekend. Amongst other things, Imaginary Frie...

Well, that just about wraps it up for me. I've handed in a slipshod essay and Australia have handed the innings to England with about th...

Amongst the many weird and wonderful presents I received this week, the weirdest was from Pritpal, my esteemed colleague. He presented me wi...

Or, does English cricket have an image problem. A prize if you can spot anyone young, black, female or poor-to-middling in this wonderful sl...

The cricket coverage is here . England collapsed in the lower order, then recovered for a while courtesy of Anderson and Onions. I know that...

Morning all. I've got a stupid amount of work today, including the entire essay on Threshold Concepts that I've been reading for all...