8.00 am. A time for reflection, repentance, restitution, and resolve. 8.30 am. A little Blackboard updating, a little inbox deflating, a little filial communicating, before preparing for this afternoon’s Abstraction lecture, and collecting my thoughts about research matters that’ll be undertaken in the next few weeks. In the sound studio, next to my study, I continued processing the S/SNA files in the background, while adding a single guitar note:

10.30 am. After the period of settlement and establishment during this last two weeks, I reinstated my old regime. On with various, small funding applications to support the publication of the next CD and start-up administration for the ‘Daughter of “Noises of Art”‘ conference. 12.30 pm. An early lunch, before a return to School for the afternoon’s teaching schedule.

1.30 pm. The first BA Dissertation tutorial of the year on a topic that crosses painting and music. 2.10 pm: Abstraction, and into Cubism:

I’m aware that the students’ reticence to speak up in lectures in response to questions is caused by a lack of confidence coupled with self-consciousness, rather than a dearth of intelligence and knowledge. We need to work on this. As I remind them, it’s better to say something daft than nothing at all. Rarely is ‘daft’ so far from the mark of what is required.

3.00 pm. A discussion with Penny Icke of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales about an ‘inspirational’ project, to be run by the Commission, that will permit students, creative writers, and professional artists to access their archives with a view to generating creative engagement. Even as Penny and I talked, names and faces from within our community came to mind as being ideal candidates for the occasion. 4.30 pm. To close the day, a PhD Fine Art tutorial.

7.30 pm. Time to prepare for tomorrow’s jaunt to Stourbridge, where I’ll be representing the School at a higher education arts fair. Well, it’s day out:

Afterwards, I updated modules, registers, and notifications about coming events.

We live in strange and unsettling days. The freedom to be, act, and speak according to conscience and with due regard for the best interests of others — which we once considered sane and self-evident — is threatened. Fear and panic have corroded that freedom; control has replaced trust; blame and shame have become the primary motivators; compliance and surrender are made the touchstones of loyalty; statistics become the measure of reality; manipulation is masked by good intentions; and plans substitute for vision. As a consequence, the heart is made heavy; the soul shrinks; the spirit is broken; and the intellect, bound.

Historically, liberation has always been the powerhouse of productive change. Moses said to Pharaoh: ‘Let my people go!’ Thus began a journey that led to the Promised Land.

Towards another life.