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The trip to Brussels was definitely a success. Possibly the most peaceful place I've ever been to that's also a seriously important capital city. Thought it was just the Sunday effect when I got there last week, but turned out that's just what the place is like. All the pedestrianised bits help, of course. Also the lack of people I was obliged to talk to. There is much truth in the idea that hell is other people who want me to do things (okay, so the first part of that isn't original). A few seriously exciting moments:1. Finding Dali's 'Temptation of St Anthony' in the Musee des Beaux Artes.2. Listening to a choir practise in the cathedral.3. The quayside in Ghent, which is one of the prettiest places in the world. Brussels has a huge number of zebra crossings and touristy signposts - good thing. Some of the signposts don't point the right way and it's quite hard to identify individual buildings - bad thing. However, on the whole, a reasonably stress-free place to navigate. The unjoy of the prospect of school tomorrow. Now that our GTP guy's returned to his own school, I have six extra lessons to teach, three of which are brats who'll need to be sat upon like a wary elephant on a carnivorous mouse. The other three are year 10, who I need to train to my way of doing things, because I've got them for the next two years. Sigh. Still, will be nice to see everyone.
14th of October - six years since we matriculated. Also Jamie's 25th and the anniversary of the Battle of Hastings.Well, I think the idea of romance with David is dead. Apparently the email wasn't supposed to be as propositional as it sounded. Or at least that's what he says. Still, given how much of an argumentative, moody, patronising, annoying, odd-gaited twat he was being last night, I'm not sure I care all that much. So God knows what all the flirtatiousness and strange conversations were about. Talking of God, I've been reading the new Dawkins book, 'The God Delusion'. It's brilliant. Since I started reading it, I keep noticing the amount of pro-religious wording of things and attitudes in the press more. For example, there was a front-page article in the London Lite (eugh) last week about a man who'd been shot. The first thing one was told about the victim was that he was a 'committed Christian' - so I'm supposed to think him a more valuable member of the human race, then?? It's disgusting that people who believe unquestioningly in the haphazardly transmitted drivel of a minor religious sect can apparently be valued more highly than people who consider actual evidence a better reference point. Don't even get me started on faith schools or George W. Bush.
Seemed to have reached a plateau with David. Maybe I should have told him about the blind date on Saturday (which really isn't going to produce results) - spur him into actually doing something. If that's what he wants to do. Jamie's not being in the least bit helpful. He could easily ferret around for information if he put his mind to it. Busy week ahead.
