This afternoon, for the first time in a while, I encountered Maynooth University Library Cat at his customary position. Unfortunately he didn’t seem favourably disposed and when I tried to take his picture he turned his back on me. Luckily I was with a colleague who was strategically positioned to take the snap above.
It has been an unusually mild November until today, when it has suddenly turned colder and wetter. This alteration does not seem to have pleased Maynooth University Library Cat.
Maynooth University Library Cat was on post again today, staring at empty dishes to indicate that it was feeding time.
It is rather cold this morning…
…he is in there!
I ventured onto Maynooth University Campus today and guess who I found there? He seems fine although he wasn’t exactly a busy bee when I paid him a visit. No doubt he’s taking it easy ahead of the new academic year.
At least he’s keeping himself clean!
I thought I’d share this image of Maynooth University Library Cat, complete with daisy bonnet. He doesn’t look entirely gruntled with his new headgear, and I’m not sure how long it stayed on his bonce, but it’s nice to see him in fine fettle, though he’s getting a few more grey hairs. Aren’t we all?
For those of you who can’t get enough Maynooth University Library Cat action, I thought I’d share this instagram post that features a short documentary film made by some students about said feline:
The video is also available on Youtube:
Incidentally, Fiona Morley (who you see interviewed in the video) is Head of Digital Programmes and Information Systems at Maynooth University and, with her team, has given huge support to the Open Journal of Astrophysics.
This reminds me that today is the last day of teaching at Maynooth. There will be a short break until examinations begin a week today. This means that, although my sabbatical continues until the end of August, I won’t be missing any more lectures from today. I won’t be marking examinations either, but it is a reminder that it’s not that long until I have to resume such duties.
Yesterday, Storm Debi passed over Ireland. There was a red weather alert in Maynooth but, as far as I know, no damage apart from a few broken branches and fallen leaves. It was far worse elsewhere in Ireland. Meanwhile, here in Barcelona, it’s sunny and 25° C..
A few people have asked me about Maynooth University Library Cat (or Séamus as some people call him). I paid said feline a visit just yesterday, actually, but I could see he was busy, so I didn’t disturb him.
Yesterday morning final-year students theoretical physics students sat my first examination of the session, on Advanced Electromagnetism, and tomorrow another group will take my second, on Computational Physics 1. I collected the first scripts from the Exam Hall at the end of the examination at 11.30 and have actually finished correcting them. I don’t think I’ll come in tomorrow morning though. Correcting the second batch can wait until Monday. That doesn’t mean I get a break though because I still have to complete grading the Computational Physics Projects. It does mean, however, that I’ll probably be finished with examination marking for this session by the end of next week, in good time for the Exam Boards in June.
That won’t mean that I’m finished with examination matters for the year; I’ll have four repeat examinations to grade in August. When those are done, however, I won’t have to do any further marking of examinations or anything else to do with teaching for a whole year. My sabbatical starts on 1st September.
Meanwhile, Maynooth University Library Cat, has been patrolling the area in front of the Library, which is quite busy these days with students doing last-minute revision in the study spaces there. By the end of next week the examinations will be over, most students will have departed for the summer, many staff will be at home marking scripts, and campus will be much quieter.
In the Dark 