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New Year's
Jan. 2nd, 2009 03:20 pmIt's a singular irony that one has less time to write and update, rather than more, when one is on holiday.
Of course, it helps to actually be on holiday, instead of constantly called upon to offer direction to people whom one would think ought to be able to guide themselves.
Minerva, that is not to say that your company was at all unpleasant; in fact your presence was one of the few things that made Tuesday's grueling itinerary at all tolerable. I quite agree with the droll sentiment you expressed on Tuesday evening. In fact, I believe we ought to impose a time limit on discussion of any one student; it's impossible to credit that even as much as a quarter-hour should be necessary to review any of their records for classification. Furthermore, if Sedgwick and Burroughs cannot be trusted to understand the difference between texts on Charms theory and texts on theoretical charms, they have no business remaining on the Board of Governors.
At least the new History of Magic editions have been approved. Though Merlin only knows whether Binns can be convinced to teach using it. (His tutelage was woefully inaccurate even when I was a student! But there is no real way to keep him permanently from the classroom, more's the pity.)
(On Tuesday afternoon I was able to bring to the Lord Protector some concerns about His son's recent exploration at Buckingham. We had an ... enlightening discussion. I remain confident as ever in Our Lord's plans, inscrutable though they may at times be to those who lack his foresight or puissance. Nonetheless, I am more assured now, knowing that He acknowledges the risks inherent in His latest venture, and has agreed to seek additional avenues to success.)
Wednesday there was a programming meeting at the WWN, which went as well as expected. It had the advantage of affording me an opportunity to honour my promise to Miss Parkinson that she might see first-hand the sort of thing that occupies too much of my time. I daresay she was grateful for the chance to quit Grimmauld Place for a little while and get some fresh air.
We then spent New Year's Eve quite amused by Draco's and Harry's attempts to keep themselves awake to watch the calendar turn. The camp at Stroud was given fireworks, which we could see from the courtyard, but the upper balcony over the guest wing afforded the best view.
Yesterday, after attending to the first of the month accounting, I took Narcissa down to New London for the New Year's Day performance of Le Nozze di Figaro. Met Mulciber and Warrington there as well (Ari and Pandora being still on holiday through to-morrow). Unfortunately, we were disrupted during the second interval by an urgent appeal from Minister Umbridge, the Lord Protector being disinclined to answer her first request for counsel. Upon hearing her concern, I was hardly surprised that Our Lord thought His direct intervention unnecessary, but the matter did take rather longer to resolve than I might have thought.
At least I was able to rejoin our party for supper at the club following the performance. Still I was most disappointed to miss the third and fourth acts - Narcissa told me that the Sull'aria was a triumph.
Of course, it helps to actually be on holiday, instead of constantly called upon to offer direction to people whom one would think ought to be able to guide themselves.
Minerva, that is not to say that your company was at all unpleasant; in fact your presence was one of the few things that made Tuesday's grueling itinerary at all tolerable. I quite agree with the droll sentiment you expressed on Tuesday evening. In fact, I believe we ought to impose a time limit on discussion of any one student; it's impossible to credit that even as much as a quarter-hour should be necessary to review any of their records for classification. Furthermore, if Sedgwick and Burroughs cannot be trusted to understand the difference between texts on Charms theory and texts on theoretical charms, they have no business remaining on the Board of Governors.
At least the new History of Magic editions have been approved. Though Merlin only knows whether Binns can be convinced to teach using it. (His tutelage was woefully inaccurate even when I was a student! But there is no real way to keep him permanently from the classroom, more's the pity.)
(On Tuesday afternoon I was able to bring to the Lord Protector some concerns about His son's recent exploration at Buckingham. We had an ... enlightening discussion. I remain confident as ever in Our Lord's plans, inscrutable though they may at times be to those who lack his foresight or puissance. Nonetheless, I am more assured now, knowing that He acknowledges the risks inherent in His latest venture, and has agreed to seek additional avenues to success.)
Wednesday there was a programming meeting at the WWN, which went as well as expected. It had the advantage of affording me an opportunity to honour my promise to Miss Parkinson that she might see first-hand the sort of thing that occupies too much of my time. I daresay she was grateful for the chance to quit Grimmauld Place for a little while and get some fresh air.
We then spent New Year's Eve quite amused by Draco's and Harry's attempts to keep themselves awake to watch the calendar turn. The camp at Stroud was given fireworks, which we could see from the courtyard, but the upper balcony over the guest wing afforded the best view.
Yesterday, after attending to the first of the month accounting, I took Narcissa down to New London for the New Year's Day performance of Le Nozze di Figaro. Met Mulciber and Warrington there as well (Ari and Pandora being still on holiday through to-morrow). Unfortunately, we were disrupted during the second interval by an urgent appeal from Minister Umbridge, the Lord Protector being disinclined to answer her first request for counsel. Upon hearing her concern, I was hardly surprised that Our Lord thought His direct intervention unnecessary, but the matter did take rather longer to resolve than I might have thought.
At least I was able to rejoin our party for supper at the club following the performance. Still I was most disappointed to miss the third and fourth acts - Narcissa told me that the Sull'aria was a triumph.