Fri 17th September 2010

To Leeds University for the welcome meeting for the new Music postgrads.

I turned up at the right place and went into the foyer. There was a sign saying to knock on the opaque mirrored window, which I did. A secretary appeared to show me the way. How come university administrators are always so attractive?

Leeds Uni is very big and a bit confusing, but I eventually found the place. We were shown into a black box theatre with harsh strip lighting and after a bit of admin and some tantalising details about possibilities of using the university's links with Copenhagen, Gothenberg and Helsinki, we were let loose on the wine. Everyone was chatty and grown up and interesting. I like how at PhD level people finally start being serious about their subjects. Four of us then went down the pub.

I thought I was OK but I fell asleep on the train and woke up at Manchester Airport around the time I was supposed to be in Lancaster to babysit so that Kirsty could go out. I rang her, but she'd got her friend Karen there to cover for my absence, so that's two people I've pissed off.

I think this is an excellent start to a PhD.

3 comments

Comment from: Homer [Visitor]

I think you were wise to edit out the part you did! (I was up very early this morning)

Sat 18th September 2010 @ 07:20

Comment from: [Member]

Oh dear, nothing gets past you H!

I just thought (cough) it didn’t add anything (cough) to the coherence of the narrative (cough).

Sat 18th September 2010 @ 08:12

Comment from: jonathan [Visitor]

opaque and tantalising indeed! I’m going to have to start getting up earlier on Saturday mornings. I do think that all the best people fall asleep on trains though, if you haven’t woken up dehydrated and confused at Manchester Airport you have’t lived.

Sat 18th September 2010 @ 16:27

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looby, n.; pl. loobies. A lout; an awkward, stupid, clownish person

M / 60 / Bristol, "the most beautiful, interesting and distinguished city in England" -- John Betjeman [1961, source eludes me].

"Looby is a left-wing intellectual who is obsessed with a) women's clothes and b) tits." -- Joy of Bex.

WLTM literate woman, 40-65. Must have nice tits, a PhD, and an mdma factory in the shed, although the first on its own will do in the short term.

There are plenty of bastards who drink moderately. Of course, I don't consider them to be people. They are not our comrades.
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Tell me, why is it that even when we are enjoying music, for instance, or a beautiful evening, or a conversation in agreeable company, it all seems no more than a hint of some infinite felicity existing apart somewhere, rather than actual happiness – such, I mean, as we ourselves can really possess?
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I hate the iPod; I hate the idea that music is such a personal thing that you can just stick some earplugs in your ears and have an experience with music. Music is a social phenomenon.
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looby, n.; pl. loobies. A lout; an awkward, stupid, clownish person

Rummage in my drawers

The Comfort of Strangers

"Just sit still and listen" - woman to teenage girl at Elliott Carter weekend, London 2006

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