Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.

…well, perhaps not the reaction that most accurately describes what I did actually feel.

But, in all fairness, this term is seeming to not be as such a big jump as last term. Having not done further maths, the huge jump from school to Oxford-style work was even larger than I had thought, but this term is seeming to be a fair bit better already. I’m understanding the start of all my courses (apart from Analysis, but who could hold that against me?), and the problem sheets are being done at a reasonable pace – so much so that I actually had some free time this weekend! I know, crazy talk!

Went to Robin Wilson’s talk on Tuesday at the Invariants soceity – (he will probably read this at some point, so “Hi Robin ”), and I obviously can’t say anything bad. Not that I would anyway, it was really interesting, and it does prove that maths lecturers can be pretty good speakers too! The talk was on Charles Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) and his various literary and mathematical works.  Sainsbury’s ice cream afterwards is always good, although maybe making Charlotte eat most of it wasn’t the best idea. Ah well, she enjoyed it.

The mathematics black tie dinner was on this week as well. Thursday evening saw the 1st – 4th maths students, along with some of the staff, meet in the bar for some friendly chat (maybe not too friendly, considering some people there had just got their collections marks back…) and a delicious meal in the hall. Enjoyed it a lot – especially since we got our calculus tutor to come out clubbing with us afterwards.

Also… it started snowing this weekend! Pictures are on my Facebook page (here), though I’m not sure if you’ll be able to view them without a Facebook account. I swear there was an option there to share with non-Facebook users at some point or another… anyway, we made what I believe to be the first snowman of the week in Oxford (that I saw, anyway). The university museum looked like it had the most undisturbed snow, so we created Mr Snowy. Interestingly enough, on my way to my computing lecture the next morning it was still there, but an hour later when I was heading to the museum for a maths lecture it was gone, a few pieces of snow left in it’s place. Pesky maths students…

Next weeks seems to be full of snowy fun too (at least, the weather says so, and they’re never wrong…) so there will probably be even more photos and such up then. Or at least more exciting tales of wintery, snowy Oxford.