Halloween is always an interesting day at school because of the students wearing costumes. It is less interesting at home because almost nobody comes trick-or-treating down our cul-de-sac.

One of the very best things about teaching is that while I have two sons at home, I tend to accumulate daughters at school. My newest daughter is really delightful!

Currently listening: Elton John’s boxed set To Be Continued... For all his excesses and inability to edit his material, he is still one of the finest songwriters I’ve ever heard.

Currently reading: The New Space Opera is a fine collection of far-future sf, including some outstanding stories by Robert Silverberg, Alastair Reynolds, Stephen Baxter, Kage Baker and Dan Simmons. Oh, to write that well...