I'd be glad to never hear all the other stories told again. They were such a fixture of meetings and conferences for so many years that I'd prefer we found someone better to talk about.

This isn't a partisan point either. It's that the political system doesn't allow a shutdown to happen. The civil service just carries on until government decides how it should change.

It's as if we learnt nothing from the 90s.

Congratulations, but as your bio points out, you've been a college prof for 30 years. Junior colleagues aren't playing the same game that we were.

Ant people are fun people. Is that Yvette? I'm very jealous.

In Icelandic we have 'Ókind' for monster. But the translation is un-sheep. So everything not a sheep is dangerous.

I always love it in a talk when someone says "I didn't know the answer to this so I asked ChatGPT" because it means I can take a nap.

How does not teaching languages help students develop a 'global mindset' as set out in @uniofnottingham.bsky.social's Global Engagement strategy?

At last they'll be able to keep up with the latest news from Rathbarry, including the ever-mysterious opening times of The Fish Basket on Long Strand.

Just don't let them near any white clothing, or anything else that might stain.