It was a busy time on the University campus.

BD was over from Canada, actually attempting to leave, but forever being dragged into new projects. Even Belle took a punt at signing him up for some madcap scheme of hers.

All the University’s offices and halls of residence rooms were being upgraded. My new room was number 4, next to that of PhD graduate FR. It would have been a good base with its large bed and sink, but I was both disappointed and angry that I was expected to share with three others, all of whom were male international PhD students.

I tried to contact TPR by phone to tell him that I would now continue to live at home to finish my own PhD. SL, however, was keen to move on campus now that she had switched the registration of her own doctoral study to the School of Applied Sciences.

Meanwhile there was a lot going on in my personal life. I was responsible for my sister S who had just started secondary school. It was my job to meet her at 3:45pm at the gates of Ian Ramsey School in Stockton-on-Tees, then accompany her home to the White House (Hartburn) at the end of the day.