Monday 19^th July, 2021 1800

Having emailed the spreadsheets with the student marks this afternoon I now feel that I am properly on holiday.

I still have plenty to do before Alice arrives next Wednesday (can't remember if I told you she cancelled her course), mundane things that need to be done.

Oh and the other day I went to BHG and as is (was) my routine, before surrendering the trolley I went to push it into Love Bread – the only place I can (could) get French baguettes and bread that only mildly tasted like cake – only to be confronted by a huge canvas curtain. Ok I admit, I wasn't paying attention on the way in because I make a point of always greeting the security guards (as I do on campus) and so no matter what bags I am taking into BHG they never tell me to put them in a locker, although anyone with me is not afforded the same courtesy. So I asked what the hell was going on? Seems they have either moved or they are having a refurb because the next time I went the noise from behind the curtain was as if from the Didcot chimney demolitions. Besides the bread they ain't good for much else, no doughnuts or croissants, both of which I would buy. Ah well.

I still don't have a health code thing on my phone. I am pretty sure the three options installed (and which I try daily) are only for Chinese people because I keep getting a picture of nasi goreng with two antennae which I assume is meant to represent aliens – me.

Despite her confident assurances that I would probably be fine at the airport (it's not her that would be refused boarding) I am meeting her on Saturday, when she will try again to fix it. If she can't then I might be in a bind. An expensive one. And I still haven't been jabbed. And I don't want a cotton bud rammed up my snout.

I may just get a decent timetable next term. The secretary supposed to be doing it has asked Jody for help! Just a pity she won't be doing the English major classes so I may still have to throw a tantrum to get my own way but I don't care, they have had fair warning and they know the reasons. This old croc is slowly but surely fading.

If that frigging bird will let me sleep in the mornings I may feel more energetic.