Wandrings

As advertised. However, not many ballads, songs or snatches this week. But as I mentioned, I went to London last Tuesday to the BL. Renewing my reader's pass was as easy as showing them my reader's number and driver's license. Although one of the admissions officers asked me initially if I was SURE I was renewing it. Guess I didn't look old enough to have already had a reader's pass. And I'd even put on a blazer for the occasion. :) Had a lovely lunch with my friend Emma in Islington at a restaurant (have I finally learned to spell that?) called S&M--for Sausages and Mash (what were you thinking?). Mmmmm, sausages and mash. Had a bubble and squeak mash--has cabbage and peas in. And really good ginger beer. Then returned to my lovely copy of Tristram Shandy with marginal notes.... think they might be by a guy named Thomas Grenville. Returned totally knackered on the train and was just starting to get the Valentine's Days blues when I walked into my flat and discovered that Andy had sent me a dozen roses. Is he sweet, or is he sweet? (have to have a think about that one.)

Then on Thursday went to Oxford. Hung out with Maeve and Renata--and introduced them to each other. Went to the Bodleian, where getting approved to look at my books was much more difficult, but finally accomplished. Duke Humphrey's Reading Room is lovely. Mmm, dark wood and books.... Got what I really needed to get done done on Thursday, so spent Friday wandering Oxford with Renata. We went to a theology lecture (interesting) and rehearsed with her choir. Wonderful to get to sing with a group of confident, talented musicians again. And to sing with Renata again! We were the second soprano section. :)

And on Saturday, I went on a uni-organized trip to Stratford and Warwick with my three female flatmates. It was fun... Warwick was great. Kind of kitschy but fun. A lot of waxworks... including waxworks of Victorians, which I find funny because Ruddigore at least implies that they were seen as "resorts of impiety / Placed by the moralist under a ban."

And speaking of Ruddigore and impiety, I gave a talk at the Bham Postgrad Forum on Monday. 25 minutes. On Gilbert and Sullivan. It was fun. Nervewracking but fun. And it seemed to go over well. So I'm happy.

And I should go work on my essays.