Once again, it's been a while.

It's been a huge while since I posted anything, so I thought I would for a change. By a while I think I mean half a year. Never mind. In my defence its been a long time since I've had time AND something to say AND, frankly, really felt like it. Good defence, I think you'll agree.

I got a job today, just a wee part time one but it'll help keep me fed AND the bonus is that its for a book wholesaler, so its not a million miles from the book industry aspirations I have. Its a bus ride away on the other side of the city, but I secretly don't mind buses at all, there's always lots of interesting people on them - this morning, for example, there were a multitude, even a galaxy, of old ladies who, it seems, do exactly the same journey at exactly the same time every day since they were able to predict to each other who would next get on the bus. On the way back was an old man with a cap who said things like 'humph' and chuckled to himself, and had a barking cough which made the bus shake every so often.

Oh, by the way, I'm now doing an MA - still at Exeter, but, it seems, a bit more work than the undergrad. It's in English with Victorian Studies, and basically the second bits just to make me feel like I'm not repeating the same stuff all over again. I'm loving it actually, lots of victorian Dickens-ness (developing a nack for putting Dickens into every essay, verging on every sentence).

Also today I've been reading Little Dorrit (brilliantly, that was work). I've also been getting hugely excited about my latest venture (as some will tell you, I have crazes. But I think this world has need for people with crazes, just so long as there are also people who are a bit more consistent*) It's called SHARD (Students Highly Animated about Reading Drama) and it essentially consists of anyone who wants to sitting around someone's house for an evening, with a pint perhaps or a glass of wine, and reading plays. It's drama without the committment which I can see for many might seem a very bad thing, and I think they're probably right in a sense, but then drama without committment is far better than no drama at all. I've been pleasantly surprised at the keenness of lots of people I've spoken too, so I think we might meet for the first time Saturday week.

I'm boring you, sorry, but presumably you're reading this partly to find out what I'm up to, so harsh as it might be, I'm inclined to say you brought it on yourself.

Anyway, I ought to rap things up here. I'm heading for dinner with James and Lisa now, followed by the cinema to see Rendition. I'll let you know what its like (partly as a necessary outlet because James justifiably dislikes it when I launch into my critical analysis of a film on the way home.)

All the best

Dave


*Please don't be confused. The goatee I have recently begun to acquire is NOT a craze. That is what I would describe as an experiment which every man must (and mostly will) at some point undertake. And now seemed like a good time. It's a bit like national service in the States.