Well, I am afraid that the Presidential Blog has been neglected a bit of late. As you might have guessed, September is a slightly chaotic time in the life of an academic as all those things that you had planned to get done during the "long" summer period suddenly crowd in around you ahead of the return of students. Indeed, the students have started reappearing this week for Freshers and Induction with actual teaching beginning next Tuesday. So, your president has been gainfully employed doing the day job over the last few weeks.
I was supposed to be at CILIP's Big Day in Newcastle last week. This was something I had been looking forward to but, unfortunately, a family issue arose which meant that I couldn't make it and I was bitterly, bitterly disappointed to miss it. Tonight I am off to the opening of the Moray Book Festival in Elgin, an event which I spoke at last year. I've been out doing a number of local history talks over the last while including one on the Earls of Aberdeen to Ellon Historical Society and another on the use of the Census in Local History (as opposed to family history) to Aberdeen and North East Scotland Family History Society. I think I have something like twelve or fourteen such speaking engagements over the next year and have bookings right up to September 2013!
Next Monday, I am attending the official opening of Aberdeen University's wonderful new library. It will be opened by Her Majesty the Queen and there is a lovely programme of events across the day. I will, of course, be wearing the Presidential Chain although I fear it might not compete with those rather sumptuous ones which Her Majesty has as part of the Order of the Garter or Order of the Thistle ;o)
I am in the midst of doing annual staff appraisals at the moment so these two events are very nice diversions. Not, of course, that I don't enjoy doing annual appraisals you will understand. With that, it is time for the next one. Oh my cup runneth over.
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