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Today I

1. did what I'm supposed to do which is to study for my final exam. So I read a book about the late Roman empire. This is in fact one of my favourite periods in history - and historiography. We obviously only have a vague idea of what was actually going on, therefore I find it fascinating (and sometimes slightly puzzling) that historians present their version of events with an authority suggesting that they have travelled in time, and not simply studied the limited amount of written and archaeological sources available. To be honest I found Gore Vidal's novel "Julian", presented as an autobiography, just as convincing as biographies of the same emperor by esteemed historians. At least Vidal made clear that it was a novel.
2. listened to this song repeatedly. So good. Headphones on, please, those backing vocals deserve your attention.
3. continued the slow process of decorating our living room. Phew. I'm sitting on my bed surrounded by photographs, trying to choose. Luckily I have radio documentaries and the new Indietracks compilation to keep me company.
4. cycled round the neighbourhood, as usual (I should stop mentioning this! I do it every day!) and realised that one thing I like about it is that it is quite unkempt. I mean, there are gaps between houses where there are bushes and grass and, well, nothing really, and there are old factory buildings and new buildings which are weird and apparently uninhabitated. And then there are parks and churches, obviously, and the train tracks. It doesn't really feel like a city, it doesn't feel like the suburbs either, it's a weird in between thing. The streets were deserted today (bank holiday). Ah, the hymns to my neighbourhood. There's a reason why I still live here, after all, but don't worry, it won't go on forever.