In my exalted position, one tires of hearing the National Anthem played every twenty minutes. That, and the peculiarly prevalent smell of fresh paint ..... However, news reaches me that the Jacobin radicals at Bradford University are to dispense with the National Anthem at the Graduation Ceremony because it doesn't address their 'rich variety' of students. The president of the Bradford AUT (Another Useless Tantrum) says it forces atheistic republicans to acknowledge two institutions they do not believe in. How sad, but how typical of mealy-mouthed liberals to whine about being asked to stand up for a minute only to respond by denying those who do believe in God and Country the opportunity to express it. Writing this in Remembrance Week makes clear to me that the country doesn't deserve its heritage of duty and sacrifice. The people most likely to be disappointed by the change at Bradford are those who come form the richly various backgrounds where patriotism and love of God are not embarrassing foibles but the backbone of society. Only the bearded, barefoot, vegetarian liberals will be smirking as Bradford's Chancellor confers degrees to the sound of Billy Bragg.
My sedan chair carriers cut across the managed meadows so I have little experience of the revived traffic-calming scheme. The problem is everyone trying to leave at once and this is easily solved - everyone draws a number form a hat and even numbered cars leave in the first half of an hour, odds in the second half. Simplicity itself.
The Vice-Chancellor's column starts elsewhere this week. One welcomes him to the Bulletin. Of course, there are concerns that Tales from the Bothy might pale next to my pronouncements but I say this to my devoted readership - give the lad a chance, he may prove us all wrong!
I'm still very concerned about Swanborough Manor as a suitable habitat for un-housetrained consultants from KPMG. I'm not opposed to using it as a bed-and-breakfast establishment for truckers, travelling salesmen, hucksters and quality assurance inspectors from the QAA. We could set up a carnival in the grounds and use young faculty members to ride the rears of the dodgem cars.
Today is Friday 13th and no doubt all sorts of eerie happenings are likely. Personal computers may work for the whole day without breaking down, essays may handed in on time, and someone in Sussex House might decide not to send out a ludicrous memo asking for something to be done which we don't want to do, by a date we can't meet ..... sends a shiver down my spine.
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Friday 13th November 1998
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Prinny writes ...
