its been a rough week, what with the sabattical set back, the news that i have the heaviest teaching load next year (if i get my contract) and the return of my allergic reactions (three this week). mind you the latter is clealy related to the stress caused by the former. its funny becasue quite often i dont feel stressed or rather i dont think my work should be stressful but it is. some days this i leave the office wondering exactly what i have achieved.. often very little despite doing quite a lot. but term is disappearing fast: a week on monday i fly to lisbon for the conference and then there are just two more weeks before we break for easter. so really its my 9 disserttaion students who should be stressing - their work has to be in to me in draft form by the 7th march if iam going to read them all before the hols. they hand them in on the 11th april. over easter i have two days teaching schoolkids and one eveing at a local history group (but both those sessions are written and ready) - so now the concentration has to be on book one. starting next week im going to aim at spending two days on it.

tonight ive seen one of the travellers - my friend had another operation last week, and has another booked for next week - so i should complain?
tomorrow night its dinner with a colleague, a dutchman and a siberian which will be lots of fun
saturday im relaxing then watching the arsenal
sunday i'll cook for the travellers
monday the whole circus starts again..