Plashing Vole
@plashingvole.bsky.social
Mild-mannered lecturer by day…mild-mannered lecturer by night. Welsh lit, politicians’ fictions. Fencer, cyclist, UCU. Dysgwr Cymraeg; tá gaeilge agam. Barnau fy hun.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
Read books; join unions; block cookies.
Today’s first-year class was Jim Crace’s The Gift of Stones, led by my excellent colleague Nicola. It’s a wonderful, tricky novel, an allegory of the social effects of deindustrialisation and of the role of the storyteller in any society, set at the end of the Stone Age.
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Today’s first-year class was Jim Crace’s The Gift of Stones, led by my excellent colleague Nicola. It’s a wonderful, tricky novel, an allegory of the social effects of deindustrialisation and of the role of the storyteller in any society, set at the end of the Stone Age.
Very against books are our managers, to misquote Evelyn Waugh.
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
Very against books are our managers, to misquote Evelyn Waugh.
I have my suspicions.
November 10, 2025 at 11:36 AM
I have my suspicions.
Idly plucked off the office bookcase my first (only) American edition of Dorothy Edwards’ Winter Sonata (1930). Dutton seemed to think it’s an untroubled novel set in England by an English author. Place not specified: subject is psychological distress: author Welsh and ended her own life in 1934.
November 10, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Idly plucked off the office bookcase my first (only) American edition of Dorothy Edwards’ Winter Sonata (1930). Dutton seemed to think it’s an untroubled novel set in England by an English author. Place not specified: subject is psychological distress: author Welsh and ended her own life in 1934.
I’m still mostly re-reading class texts but did squeeze in another Penguin Crime: Spotted Hemlock by Gladys Mitchell (1958). Good evocation of the atmosphere and culture of twin men’s and women’s agricultural colleges; plot becomes obscured by needless elements; very racist indeed.
November 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
I’m still mostly re-reading class texts but did squeeze in another Penguin Crime: Spotted Hemlock by Gladys Mitchell (1958). Good evocation of the atmosphere and culture of twin men’s and women’s agricultural colleges; plot becomes obscured by needless elements; very racist indeed.
If I recall correctly they’re from different roots and ré refers to lunar cycles/time while gealach is about the glow.
November 9, 2025 at 10:35 PM
If I recall correctly they’re from different roots and ré refers to lunar cycles/time while gealach is about the glow.
…going forward.
November 9, 2025 at 12:04 PM
…going forward.
Moronic and cynical!
November 8, 2025 at 10:32 PM
Moronic and cynical!
Ah well, it’s a long time ago.
November 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Ah well, it’s a long time ago.
That’s a very attractive plan.
November 8, 2025 at 6:09 PM
That’s a very attractive plan.
Thanks Tasha. Seems to be happening a lot recently, but I’d completely forgotten that particular episode.
November 8, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Thanks Tasha. Seems to be happening a lot recently, but I’d completely forgotten that particular episode.
No counter-argument from me. I took a French friend to see them once. After a while he said ‘they are very good, but where are all the women?’ The crowd from our place at the back was a sea of bald patches.
November 8, 2025 at 10:14 AM
No counter-argument from me. I took a French friend to see them once. After a while he said ‘they are very good, but where are all the women?’ The crowd from our place at the back was a sea of bald patches.
Oh god. The horror!
November 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Oh god. The horror!
First time I’d ever done well at anything too! Oh well. I’d forgotten about it for 30 years!
November 8, 2025 at 10:11 AM
First time I’d ever done well at anything too! Oh well. I’d forgotten about it for 30 years!
Vicars’ daughters eh?
November 8, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Vicars’ daughters eh?
Thanks Tim. I think I’ll appreciate that. Enjoy might be going a bit far!
November 8, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Thanks Tim. I think I’ll appreciate that. Enjoy might be going a bit far!
Diolch Bethan. I hope so too!
November 8, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Diolch Bethan. I hope so too!
That’s the kicker!
November 8, 2025 at 9:05 AM
That’s the kicker!
Privately I agreed (to the extent that I asked the departmental secretary who called us all with the results to check again) but what a thing to say on graduation day.
November 8, 2025 at 7:48 AM
Privately I agreed (to the extent that I asked the departmental secretary who called us all with the results to check again) but what a thing to say on graduation day.
NB: every line of this poem is a quote from a senior manager at said Russell Group university.
November 8, 2025 at 7:43 AM
NB: every line of this poem is a quote from a senior manager at said Russell Group university.
Yes, you’re spot on there.
November 7, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Yes, you’re spot on there.
Reposted by Plashing Vole
Today we have Strategic Vision. Yesterday,
We had financial imperatives. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have Strategic Vision. The quiet girl
At the back suddenly gets excited about a question,
And today we have Strategic Vision.
We had financial imperatives. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have Strategic Vision. The quiet girl
At the back suddenly gets excited about a question,
And today we have Strategic Vision.
November 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Today we have Strategic Vision. Yesterday,
We had financial imperatives. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have Strategic Vision. The quiet girl
At the back suddenly gets excited about a question,
And today we have Strategic Vision.
We had financial imperatives. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have Strategic Vision. The quiet girl
At the back suddenly gets excited about a question,
And today we have Strategic Vision.