In this strange complex of time and space anything can happen

nhw, who's currently stuck at Heathrow, trying to get to Belfast on a flight that was supposed to leave at 06:55. Update: He's made it to Liverpool by train, and will sail from there overnight.

violetdisregard, who's currently on a bus to I'm-not-sure-which-London-airport, planning to fly to New Zealand. And not just for a jolly jaunt, either: she is moving there for (at least) two years, and this is the day she picked to move. Oops. Update: apparently she's in the check-in queue now, and although the airline say there might be a delay, they're still optimistic enough to be aiming to set off on time.

stompyboots, whom I've a horrible feeling is trying to get back from Ibiza today, and is quite probably relying on being able to work en route.

Fleur WINOLJ, who ditto north Italy, and who really hates flying even under normal circumstances. I mean to the extent that she has to take Valium to do it. (Despite being a travel journalist...)

Those remaining members of the summer school staff who were planning to fly back to the US today. (Thankfully the vast majority of the students went on Tuesday).

Anyone else who gets caught up in all this.

Still, it's a damned sight better than having to extend sympathies to 3+ plane-loads of dead people and their relatives.

Also: what happens when news agencies try to file their copy really quickly. And don't you just feel the pain of the young lady who commented, "Eight hours without an iPod, that's the most inconvenient thing"?

The summer school began officially this evening, with a faculty meeting for us tutors, followed by an opening dinner for all. This took place in St. John's college hall, with faculty members sitting on high table, and the rest of the hall completely packed out with students. With welcoming speeches, wide-eyed newcomers, and a healthy scattering of the sort of eccentric academics that I think only Britain can really produce, it all had a rather Potteresque feel to it. And I certainly enjoyed the thrill of eating at St. John's high table in an official academic capacity - even if only temporarily.

Now things are really kicking off, I'm feeling quite whipped up in it all. The students are all American, mainly from Rhodes College, Memphis and Sewanee, Tennessee. Those I've met so far all seem very keen - mainly in a freshly-scrubbed, jacket-and-tie sort of way, but I was pleased to spot one young lady with purple hair and all dressed in black at dinner! I hope she is on my course.

Meanwhile, my colleagues all seem very nice so far, although I do stand out a bit by being blatantly the youngest, and also the only one who hasn't taught on the programme before. Still, we had an interesting conversation about drag over dinner, which took in Bugs Bunny, Lily Savage, Vesta Tilley, Benny Hill and that 'yeah-but-no-but' girl from Little Britain. Got to be a good start.

Should I choose to, I can go on an almost infinite number of pre-paid trips and excursions over the next few weeks, taking in plays at both Stratford and the Globe, early cathedrals, Cotswold villages and even a weekend excursion to Ghent and Bruges complete with choral concert! How much I'll get involved in that side I'm not quite sure yet, since too much of it will very quickly soak up the small amounts of free time I still have left to do my own things and, y'know, actually see my friends a bit before I move away from Oxford. But I'll probably be tempted along for a few of them. And I'll certainly be attending the swanky black-tie dinner they're having on Tuesday to mark the Fourth of July. Time to get out my big purple ball-skirt, I think. :)