A New Academic Year Begins…

t’s been a lovely summery day in Maynooth so far, despite the summer having definitely ended and therefore having to return to teaching at the start of my penultimate academic year as a university teacher. The campus was very full this morning, and I was stopped many times on my walk into the office by new students trying to find their lecture theatres. A common (understandable) mistake for the uninitiated of Maynooth is to think that the Science Lecture Theatre is actually in the Science Building. To add to the excitement there was a fire alarm in Pugin Hall, where I sometimes go for lunch, so the building was evacuated. The kitchen staff and others were taking the opportunity to bask in the sunshine before the alarm ended. I think it was a false alarm. In any case lunch was available as soon as they opened up again, and no harm was done. It’s hard to believe that it is two full years since I returned from sabbatical, but at least I’m teaching the same modules this semester as I did…