A week away

Thursday 13^th January

The number of people who pass

Through working for us is a farce

Today we were able

To sit at a table

Raising Emma-wards many a glass

Friday 14^th January

A recce my ultimate goal

The merits of sites to extol

Fish and chip supper

But minus the cuppa

The hotel’s a miserable hole

Saturday 15^th January

Vindolanda and Chesters my aim

Roman forts the name of the game

Cold wind and rain

Migrainous pain

But a fabulous trip all the same

Sunday 16^th January

I walked on the wall up on high

Above me a glowering sky.

I lost my way

Around midday

But found it again by and by

Monday 17^th January

The gloomiest day of the year

Is really not something to fear

I drove too far

In my tin-can car

With the radio loud in my ear

Tuesday 18^th January

I should know better you say

Than to run around frantic all day

But every brings

Such interesting things

And work feels rather like play.

Wednesday 19^th January

Understanding Orestes is clear

When accepting the play’s insincere

An Hellenic day

What more can I say

Than I’m glad our next meeting’s so near

Thursday 20^th January

There once was a teacher called Ed

With Hebrew and Greek in his head

Now I’m sad to say

That he passed away

And we’ll miss him for all that he said

Delusions?

On Dawkins now I have spoken
My faith and spirit unbroken
Adoration and wine
They suit me just fine
All thanks to the win of a token!

(Long story)

Naming of parts

Put the rod in the hole where it fits
And your weapon won't stay there in bits
The forward assist
Is top of my list
Of errors which fuddle my wits

Return of the βατραχοι

Returning to primary Greek
Is a marvellous start to my week
Their enthusiasm
Fills any jaded chasm
Leaves me feeling humble and meek

Rounding up

Thursday 6th January

The twelfth day of Christmas is here
As Anglicans still can adhere
To the day that is right
While Catholics might
Make all holy days disappear

Friday 7th January

In the office I plotted and planned
For Latin to rule o'er the land
Discussion with friends
The joy never ends
Hot water my next task at hand

Saturday 8th January

A fabulous day about town
Showing friends all the sights up and down
A socialite me?
It never could be!
My sorrows in port I shall drown.

Sunday 9th January

Reading Dawkins around Sunday Mass
His arguments only sound crass
More snooker is on
So my sleep is all gone
Good thoughts I attempt to amass

Education education education

The government tinkers with schools
Universities facing new rules
Watch poverty grow
But not what we know
Resentment and anger it fuels

Pedagogically speaking I find
I'm caught in a bit of a bind
All ages I teach
And much enjoy each
For focus I'm just not inclined

Tragic

Now Sophocles addles my brain
When trying to teach him again
Lysistrata too
What am I to do?
But it's paperwork drives me insane

Cold comfort

A nature reserve and a swing
Help me feel that I'm free on a wing
Soft drinks in a pub
Then home for some grub
While my heart is still feeling the sting

A note

For those who tell me it's wrong
To randomly burst into song
In Oxford I've found
Where choirs abound
Such behaviour can help me belong

A limerick a day keeps the doctor away

I decided today that a limerick to sum up my day might provide a good shorthand for reflecting on my year as it happens. If I've had an exciting day (which is often!) then it can capture the excitement. If I've had a rubbish day then it might help lighten it up, and I like the contrast between the jaunty genre undercut by serious matter. I've even started writing limericks of Greek tragedy.

AJAX -

Salamis once bore a hero
But the Greeks renamed him a zero
He chose not to live
Not even for love
And fell on his sword saying 'cheerio'

I'm scripting on paper, as is my wont, but will update for anyone interested.

So, 1st January 2010:

In Cambridge I welcomed the dawn,
Then to Essex I drove through the morn.
At Freeport I sought
But nothing I bought
Seeing friends and their baby new-born

Not great literature. Let's hope I improve! I'll look up formal rules sometime.