New year’s eve 2012         1700

This will be a short entry. The thaw is almost complete on campus roads with the notable exception of the immediate vicinity of the block where I live of course. This means the first fifty yards outbound and the last fifty inbound require “stabilisers” and extreme caution unless I want to test the metalwork in my shoulder in a manner not recommended.

I completed examining another class this afternoon, leaving one to do on Friday morning early and the final one in the afternoon before I sit back and relax. I now have three days off and of course had I not cocked up with today’s lot I would have had Saturday to Thursday free instead of just the three days but never mind.

I don’t think it matters where in the world you are, I firmly believe that students are universally of the opinion that teachers have not only just come down with the last shower of rain but were also never students themselves and never pulled the same stunts. Half way through testing today’s batch I took a short break to go to the loo. I told the remaining ones who were waiting outside not to even think about sneaking into the room to look at the marks while I was away because what I had written was not necessarily the score they would receive. Even I don’t know, because as I have said before, I put two figures in the computer and the website crunches them and produces a different result - and I have yet to figure out the formula it uses. They were shocked when; on my return; I immediately asked which of them had contravened my instruction and nonetheless sneaked in. They didn’t have the sense to realise that prior to leaving I had aligned my pencil on top of the face-down paper so that unless they replaced it carefully I would know it had been moved. It doesn’t matter because with this class I think all the scores will go up, but it did make me laugh that they now realise I am not stupid.

My shopping, which was only ordered on Thursday night, has appeared quickly. The cat litter is being delivered to my door in an hour because I pay 10y instead of two for the privilege - I don’t like carrying 20kg up to the third floor. That should just leave one delivery of pizza sauce and the all-important pizza trays.

Thanks to Cinny’s efforts I now have a replacement hotplate. She really is very good, mind you she just sent me a load of proof-reading for the newspaper which she would like back by tomorrow! I suppose my next couple of hours are spoken for.

I am not sure I will make it to midnight but as we aliens have nothing planned it hardly matters if I miss Big Ben. All that remains now is for me to thank my readership for their time and wish everyone, regardless of location and time zone, a happy new year and hope that 2013 is healthy and prosperous for all! Enjoy your parties folks!