Dissertation progress

- occurrence of "subversive" and "dangerous": frequently enough that it sounds as though I am talking about Lord Byron rather than a literary motif
- occurrence of "the male gaze": once, which is too often
- quotations from Freud: legion
- generalizations about the Victorian era: all packed into one intense paragraph
- references to a character as 'Whatshername': one
- plot: almost completely lost

I'm very slightly enjoying myself by now, though. And it's fun to whisper "quitter" at people sitting next to me when they go for buttery dinner, even though I did just go for a two-hour coffee break.

Back.

In the computer room, where I've been on and off since this morning. I type very slowly while seeing people wander in and out, often greeting each other for the first time since the Easter break. Have noticed that whenever someone asks "How was your vacation", no one will admit to having had a nice one. They either say "it wasn't much of a vacation, really", suggesting that they did a lot of work, or "nnnngh", suggesting that they feel guilty about not having done enough work. I was an "nnnngh".

Outside there is sunshine and daisies. I might just go and roll in them for a second.