Beardless youth.

Although, technically, I´m not really a youth anymore. I´ll be 29 in 2 months. Eek. How alarming. (Fear not, I have´t exchanged my premature senility for a premature mid-life crisis). Anyway, I felt the time was right to ditch the face fungus. Between you and me, it was looking pretty horrendous - I had these triangular wisps sticking out of my jaws and my face was beginning to assume a sort of upside-down rhombus shape. Besides which, the tash in particular was threatening to become more of a maintenance job than shaving so the deal was going awry. So, now I am fresh faced and bumfaced once more and everyone keeps telling me how young I look (and how nice, so there´s some consolation): I may try again before this jaunt is done, although I anticipate firm resistance from La Jefa, when she arrives (soon!).

Had a very amusing weekend. On Friday I went out with some of the teachers to this small bar near my house, which is looking distinctly like becoming my local. There´s lots of wood in it, the music isn´t too obtrusive, the drinks are many and the people few. Perfect. And, not being Blighty, it´s open forever. On Saturday I attended the inaugural Spaceship Speakeasy (Speakeasy is the name of the institute where I work and spaceship, well, who knows - the eccentric academic director decided to call it a spaceship for some unknown reason). Basically, it was a social event designed to get the students talking English in a more informal setting. We were convinced that no students would come and it would just be a big old booze up for the teachers (hooray!) but some students did come for a bit and much fun was had by all. Especially the teachers. Rum was abundant (nice Cuban rum), there was music (by 2 of the teachers on violin and guitar) and late on it descended into poetry briefly (I gave them a blast of Ode to a Nightingale which was the only thing I could remember at that point although that was overshadowed by the academic director´s demented rendering of Richard III). Anyway, it went on for a long time and I didn´t hit the sack until after 4. Hurrah. So, a fun weekend.

My students have acquitted themselves reasonably well in their second test although I have a few slackers that need a shake up. I might make them stand in the corner or something. Lines, maybe. The cane. Who knows. Anyway, all is well. Bye.