I had one of those dreams this week – you know the one? You’re in a foreign land, or you need to communicate with someone in a language other than your own. I’m not sure, but I think I was having an awkward interaction with Italian-speakers. I managed to utter something in my finest pigeon-Italian, and was delighted to see the dawn of understanding spread across their faces. ‘How cool’ I thought to myself. Then – despite being in a dream, I had the thought that I must remember to write down that Italian word when I wake up, so I don’t forget it. I didn’t, I did. It was clearly gibberish – but at that moment, I convinced myself I was a polyglot in the making…
Chagrin – or ‘Foot in Mouth’
No, not me for a change…I was helping (doing) my eldest complete the routine car checks ahead of a fairly long drive he was taking. The final act was the tyre pressure checks – for which I had him removing the dust caps whilst I plugged in the digital inflater – with him following me around to refit the caps. He did laugh as soon as the words had left his lips, but he did suggest I may have set the machine incorrectly – as “that says nought point two ‘E’, dad.”
“Here you go son, shall I turn the machine the other way around for you…?”
(32.0 psi!)
What Student Union?
I had the delight and pleasure to be back at my alma mater this week for a research day, and a colleague and I went to catch up over lunch in the nearest campus dining facility. I don’t know why I haven’t really noticed it before now, but the cost of lunch was frankly astronomical for where we were. It cost £7.50 for a small bowl of chilli beef and rice. We seemed to have outsourced any financial benefit of the Student Union to private companies. I bet one can’t get a pint for a pound anymore in the SU bar – if they even truly still exist.
Still, at least we didn’t have any problem finding a seat…I can’t think why.
Stay Classy
Sometimes the sight of something just makes me smile, and I’m not always sure why – but nothing says ‘stay classy’ more than a teenage girl whooshing past you on an eScooter with a fag in her mouth. The bright pink hoodie just made it even better.
