It’s Friday evening, and for once, I’m actually going to publish my blog on the evening I write it. What that means is that what I say I’ve done this week, I’ve actually done this week, as opposed to several weeks ago because the post was scheduled. Today, I have been on annual leave. I’m sitting in an Airbnb in Welwyn Garden City, wating for my daughter and her friends to need collecting from Fantasy Forest Libertalia, much like I did in July at Sudeley – except this time it’s a flat so I’ve been able to cook my own meals and I will be able to work without going out to a cafe or pub! Because even though I am on leave, I will be working this weekend.

I’ve spent the week getting things sorted before I’m back on campus (or trying to at least). I’ve spent some time working on my major grant application for the ESRC, but I’m now waiting on my co-conspirators and some others for a bit more information that will allow us to finalise the bid and submit it. I’ve written a short book review for the Historical Association, and I’ve done some work on setting up my moodles for the 2026-27 academic year. Then finally, I settled down to start preparing the witchcraft module I will be teaching this semester.

It’s interesting to revisit this module. I first taught on it way back in 2018, but this time, of course, I’m delivering all twelve weeks, not just four. It’s a lot of work to put together a module, even when you have inherited the outline and lecture slides – you still need to update things and make them your own. So even though I am on leave today and Monday, I’m still going to be working this evening and throughout the weekend. And on that note, I’d probably better get on with it.