Planning Ahead

In a couple of days, there will be a coach trip and friends in Manchester will be visited. Maybe the Quirky Muffin will go on sabbatical, or maybe there will be cover posts. At this point, the former seems more likely, given the current writer's block. Words are not working out well in any way except for the blatant blathering of streams of consciousness. I could go on like this indefinitely, but the post would meander all over the place and eventually end up in a tirade about rice pudding. `How is it possible to rant about rice pudding?', you might ask, but it's better that you not know.

Ah, coach journeys, the last bastion of even vaguely civilized travel. The baggage is safely locked away, there is no overbooking so seats are guaranteed, you get rest breaks every few hours in which to wander around, and there's no significant air conditioning except in extreme circumstances. Also, the stations are on a level so there's no messing about with lifts or stairs. Air conditioning... People with sinus conditions hate air conditioning as if it were some diabolical artefact, an evil device sent to torture and abuse. With some thought, they're right. Horrible things. Let's remove them except in arctic and jungle environments. Hee hee.

Coach journeys seem romantic, in part because of their presence in old movies. Who will ever forget the singing sequence on the bus in 'It Happened One Night', after all? Oh, that's a good film, a romantic odyssey. I never would have given Clark Gable a chance if not for 'It Happened One Night', so poisoned is he by association with 'Gone With The Wind'. I've never seen 'Gone With The Wind', to be honest, but it has been so lauded and was so successful that it must almost certainly be a terrible melodrama. Almost certainly! 'Casablanca' might perhaps be good, but 'Gone With The Wind'? Never! If this isn't prejudice on display, then I know not what is going on!

Ahem. Decorum is restored.

Yes, two long long coach journeys are not to be feared, especially as they will allow lots of time to get caught up on the French backlog. This first year of the OU degree has to end nicely or reflect badly on the courses to follow. Courage, imaginary readers of the Quirky Muffin, it can only improve from here.

Let the probably sabbatical commence, with resumption in the middle of next week.

O.