jurisprudence with a twist
Today was our last jurisprudence seminar of the term. For the first 30 minutes, Martha Marie was going on about normative systems and whether they qualify as law. Everyone around the table was nodding enthusiastically although it was a safe bet to imagine that their minds were on other things like dinner and TV and other things that might help to warm you up in the winter.
Then out of the blue, she says 'since this is the last seminar of the term, I thought we might have a little party. How much time is left?'
Theo tells her there's still one and a half hours to go.
'Great- let's party!' and then she indicates a table to her left. I suddenly realize its covered with snacks and wine (and water which not suprisingly does not get touched for the rest of the afternoon) 'Help yourselves!'
Everyone is kind of numb for the first two or so minutes wondering if she is serious so we are kind of frozen in our seats. Is this some kind of prank? But she's getting up and pouring herself a drink so everyone jumps into action. We start filling our plastic plates and getting wine but everyone is still looking at everyone else with a look that says 'What the f...?' Within five minutes, there's a party atmosphere and everyone has loosened up.
So here I am, drinking wine in the law bulding and biting into some chocolatey thingy thinking this must be the hippiest jurisprudence seminar of all time. Andy joins me later and we have an interesting conversation. He was the quieter member of our presentation group
but he can talk when he wants to. Martha Marie is amusing the American duo somewhere in the corner-she's going to get some Christmas cards for this. If we had more lecturers like her, we'd be acing our modules! The whole thing gets more surreal as I think about it. More wine. Talking about a lot of things. Nick telling us a funny story to prove his bad luck with girls (and I assume the wine is already working on him because Martha- Marie is there when he tells it)
Four glasses later I am walking back to Wantage, a bit tipsy and thinking 'that was pretty cool for a law seminar!'. The Christmas formal is on tonight, but of course I'm not going to make it.
Continuing the lets-believe-in-romantic-love season, here is the second poem of the promised series. This one is by Lord Byron. He may have been 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' but screw me if he couldnt write a good poem.
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
'She walks in beauty' Lord Byron
Then out of the blue, she says 'since this is the last seminar of the term, I thought we might have a little party. How much time is left?'
Theo tells her there's still one and a half hours to go.
'Great- let's party!' and then she indicates a table to her left. I suddenly realize its covered with snacks and wine (and water which not suprisingly does not get touched for the rest of the afternoon) 'Help yourselves!'
Everyone is kind of numb for the first two or so minutes wondering if she is serious so we are kind of frozen in our seats. Is this some kind of prank? But she's getting up and pouring herself a drink so everyone jumps into action. We start filling our plastic plates and getting wine but everyone is still looking at everyone else with a look that says 'What the f...?' Within five minutes, there's a party atmosphere and everyone has loosened up.
So here I am, drinking wine in the law bulding and biting into some chocolatey thingy thinking this must be the hippiest jurisprudence seminar of all time. Andy joins me later and we have an interesting conversation. He was the quieter member of our presentation group
but he can talk when he wants to. Martha Marie is amusing the American duo somewhere in the corner-she's going to get some Christmas cards for this. If we had more lecturers like her, we'd be acing our modules! The whole thing gets more surreal as I think about it. More wine. Talking about a lot of things. Nick telling us a funny story to prove his bad luck with girls (and I assume the wine is already working on him because Martha- Marie is there when he tells it)
Four glasses later I am walking back to Wantage, a bit tipsy and thinking 'that was pretty cool for a law seminar!'. The Christmas formal is on tonight, but of course I'm not going to make it.
Continuing the lets-believe-in-romantic-love season, here is the second poem of the promised series. This one is by Lord Byron. He may have been 'mad, bad and dangerous to know' but screw me if he couldnt write a good poem.
She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellowed to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.
And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!
'She walks in beauty' Lord Byron
posted by Minzo at 6:50 PM
1 Comments:
she never did things like this when i was there! how bloody unfair! (packing bags to head back to Reading and muttering to myself)
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