I handed in the finished product yesterday; a process featuring little or no fanfair. I feel like the university ought to employ some people to clap and toss ribbons and put some flowers in your hair or something when this happens. Neither the binders nor the lady at the Graduate Research Office even bothered to say 'Congratulations', and so for a little while there I felt more like I had crossed some minor administrative task off one of my interminable lists, than like I'd just finished a gruelling four year rite of passage and begun my career as a professional philosopher. (Notwithstanding the impending viva voce of course, but I can't bring myself to worry about that just yet).
Hey, never mind. Laura was ready and willing to bump up the joy, and after a delicious lunch in the sunshine at Thyme Cafe and later a scrumptious dinner with the housemates, I consolidated my feeling that I have finally shed a huge weight off my shoulders and reverted to a nicer, less stressed and inscrutable version of myself.
This is a bittersweet post though, since I think it will be my last on this blog for a long time, or possibly ever. The coming term brings a huge quantity of work, and promises to take away a lot of my leisure time. Until that's over - come January or so - I think I will be too swamped to keep you up to date on me and Laura's news and continuing travels through the mild to moderate peril of academia. So unless the unthinkable happens, and Laura starts posting on here, I must say farewell to you all dear readers, and many kind thanks for patronising our humble blog. Be good to each other.
Drew.
