River

Some might remember that there is a "magic" river through the village. It only runs every six or so years, the rest of the time it's a dry ditch - you can see a photo of the bridge we use to cross it to get to Jopper's Bank to watch cricket.

Anyways. Even after all the rain (and there's not been enough for flooding or damage down here) the river is still not showing any sign of flowing! Earlier in the year it was in water as far as World's Wonder (or some such which local name) but it receded. The other night I popped out to grab a glass of refreshment at The Mermaid and almost drowned wandering up the road but still no chance of a Bishopsbourne Regatta!

Ontario bans employees using Facebook

Does just what it says at the top. This link goes to Michael Hotrum's blog and he links to a paid for service so I've mooched around and found the story on CBC Canada

Home again!

Back from a week at OU Residential School. I was working as a learning adviser at the University of Sussex, looking after a group of science students. Great fun and not dissimilar to working on a holiday camp (done that so I know what I'm talking about!). It was hard work too though and I am completely cream-crackered right now, I've been asleep much of the day and now I'm trying to get the washing done.

In the photo I'm engaged in one of my favourite activities - opening a bottle of fizzy wine. This was to celebrate the retirement of a colleague who has spent 53 weeks at residential school since 1980. The orange tape attached to my belt has my keys on it - that way I don't lock myself out of any rooms - and the badge has a black strip behind the "Open University" wording showing that I'm staff. Student's badges are colour-coded to show the course they are studying, blue indicates SXR103.

Conference

Conference in Greenwich yesterday - I was Jacqui Bennett and helped Anna with her presentation. Gilly Salmon headlined and there was sushi on the lunch buffet. T'was a funky sort of day.