They come in thick and fast. The marks fly in, the lecturers look at me questioningly, pleadingly. I point at the red tray, beneath the sign that says INSERT MARKS HERE. Generally it is okay. It is the people who have been here for years that pretend they don't know what's going on that really wind me up. You WERE here in the summer, weren't you? I ask, as someone asks me where he is supposed to sign. It was only a couple of months ago, after all.
I arrange a few exams overseas for some of our students. It is a nightmarish process, primarily because there is no clear directive on what I am supposed to do, let alone how much I am supposed to charge. I talk to the British Councils in Bahrain and Khazkstan, send off the exams, it all goes smoothly... In Bahrain, the student is caught sneaking furtive looks at bits of tissue paper. He begs the invigilators to ignore the incident, but they confiscate them and send them to me. I am only mildly surprised that I am not sent a hand as well.
Three new people start work this week and I'm in charge of two of them, such timing! We struggle to find them things to do, the office is getting more and more organised as we direct them to all the piles of crap we've been ignoring for years. There's stuff lying around from the 90's that we just keep for the hell of it. We are all so busy and you couldn't ask a new person to check people's results! I have two more days of boards starting today, the new girl in my office will be doing this with me next year, but for now it's just me. I have in fact been doing more than half her job since I took over, because we just haven't had anyone we can trust doing it. No-one who is capable of more than one thing at a time, anyway.
A lecturer dies suddenly over the weekend. Rumours of suicide abound, until a heartfelt email goes out from one of his friends. Now we all believe it's just a tragic accident. Too early for jokes, thanks.
Tonight I am going to a gig for the first time in like, forever. It will be awesome, presuming the world doesn't end...
