THE 'PANAMA EFFECT'

Phrase used to describe the phenomenon whereby speaking excitedly with an English accent while gesturing with a Panama hat at something classical will cause other tourists to believe you to be an expert on the subject.

Associated symptoms may include:1. A sudden unwillingness to read guidebooks or the explanatory signs ("Why ( Read more... )

Sophia so good, as Anselm might say ( Read more... )

It may come as a surprise to some people to learn that I don't think I have ever deliberately listened to the radio in my entire life. I tended to regard it (when I regarded it at all) in much the same way that I might regard the £100 cash prize at the annual St Helena pro-am all-comers "Best Frenchman In A Silly Hat" competition - very handy for ( Read more... )

My mother just completed a huge jigsaw of the Rosetta stone. So I'm keeping myself amused by attempting to translate it ( Read more... )

"Can I see your student card?"

Despite feeling massively cynical about this election as a whole and predicting a disastrous outcome, I distinctly felt my spirits lift as I entering the polling station. My first ever vote in a General Election is not something to be sneezed at, after all ( Read more... )

Today in Roman History, we were talking about citizenship, and touched on the subject of diplomata, a kind of bronze passport that you got when you were granted the Roman citizenship. There were two copies made - one for you and one placed on display in the temple of Fides Populi Romani on the Capitol. Because everyone was encouraged to go and see ( Read more... )

I was somehow talked into attending Scottish Dancing last night. It was, I may say, absolutely terrifying to arrive at a hall full of people doing complicated things with their feet. Not to mention the person with the microphone giving instructions along the lines of "Immelmann turn, right shoulder, bandits at five o'clock, half figure eight and ( Read more... )

Not the world's most enjoyable New Year's Eve party, sadly ( Read more... )

Was it worth it? Four weeks of stress for three days of fun ( Read more... )