Alastair has some useful thoughts on this here.

In other news, I've been playing around with a wordpress blog. I'm definitely going to move, I think. They've just changed the way some of the functions work on this site, specifically to make it more irritating I think! Anyway, it'll be a little while before the new one's ready for public viewing but I'll let you know.

When I opened the parcel, I smiled. Two packages, one in pink tissue paper with a green ribbon and one in green tissue paper with a cream ribbon. This was looking very promising! As you can see I was not patient enough to untie the ribbon and look for the sellotape. The tissue paper was torn to reveal...

And here it is in full:

I love the way Samantha's quilted this in non-straight lines to give more texture, and I love the way she's followed the pattern of the blocks in the centre section, so that the bigger squares stand out.

But that wasn't all. I said two packages, remember? The other contained these beautiful fabrics. And on top of all that, she's sent me this cute little bag and some other pink and green goodies, including watermelon popping candy. How cool is that! I haven't had popping candy for at least twenty years, but I think now is the time to start again.

Thank you Samantha for taking so much trouble to send me something I really, really like.

My favourite game in the world ever is 'the book game' in which people bring books and read out the blurb to everyone else. They then have to write a plausible 'first line'. These are all collected in and read out along with the real first line, to much hilarity and some kind of voting system.

I still remember Chris Green's version of the opening line to Rudyard Kipling's 'Kim' featuring a llama and some exceedingly good cakes.

Anyway, James Oakley evidently remembers those good times too and has a link to a similar (though less fun) version of the game here.

My quilt arrived from the exchange. It's full of pink and green and cream and it's beautiful. Pictures will be along later. Plus my partner also sent me some beautiful fabric that I've had my eye on for months and several other lovely pink and green things all beautifully wrapped and gorgeous. This will require a full post later.

Also this morning, a CD of "Greek Resources linked to Duff's Elements" courtesy of Matthew Sleeman - thank you VERY much indeed!

Last night I went to see the new Harry Potter film which I enjoyed enormously. I think I shall model my teaching style on Dolores Umbridge. I'll paint my new office pink, and I'm fairly sure my flatmate is already planning to buy me some plates with kittens on them. If you've signed up for Summer Greek, you should be very afraid...

Here's a challenge for you: Harry Potter chat up lines.

From the film: 'I've never Stunned anyone like that before.'

From one of my LJ friends: 'Haven't I seen you before in the Mirror of Erised?'

Can you do better?