Monday 1 February

White. The ground was white when I woke up. Is this the way it is going to be? My cleaning lady said the February forecast says worse than January. I don’t think she referred to the spring-like weather I have recorded, but the winter chaos they had earlier with snow and 18 degrees below. Still, once again I had a full night´s sleep. Can Oxford really be like this?

I rushed downtown, almost. Locked my self out and had a maintenance guy meet me to open the door to my corridor so that I could get into my unlocked room and get my key. Then I cycled downtown to complete my shopping. No, I have not gone mad, but since I haven’t bought trousers or suits the last ten years my wardrobe is needy and to tell the truth, with a beauty like the one I am marrying, I mustn’t look like a tramp, must I? Anyway, my Russian funds were dedicated to a purpose like this.

Once at Austin Reed, I realized that there is more to a Canadian guy than meets the eye. To begin with I was a bit frustrated since we didn’t find the suits at all. He said he’d hang them aside, but hide them or hang them in his private closet, buying them just in spite? But while today’s shop assistant went upstairs to look for them, I found them neatly to the left on the hangers among the 42´s. Furthermore, he had located an extra pair of trouser. So when it comes to Canadians I must adjust my newly acquired prejudice: They simply don’t want to appear nice, but they really are just as nice as the rumour has it.

Still, I wasn’t sure suddenly. I am 34 short in trousers, but was I really 40 short in jacket. Regular felt so much more comfortable. I looked really smashing in jeans, lumber-shirt and Austin Reed jacket. But even with correct trousers and shirt on, I wasn’t confident about size. The female assistant wasn’t sure herself so she called for “a male opinion”, which was a bit odd to me. The manager appeared once again and spoke from his experience of tailoring, fitting and adjusting suits, about proportions how legs and body should appear 50-50 and contemporary fashion and classical cuts. All in all: I am 40 short. The problem was there were three suits. The sum added to a lot of too much with extra pairs of trousers and a belt. The manager noticed my concerned inner dialogue I guess and said “Perhaps we can do something still.” Then he went away. “What about my extra discount”, a devil on my right shoulder cried. After a while he came back: ”I was thinking of the XXX society” he told the assistant and explained something to her about accounts. When he was done I had got 50% to start with, buy to get one half price, and finally an additional 15% discount. Now I mustn’t gain any weight the next 20 years.

Today´s hectic schedule has been slightly reduced since this will be Week One. Therefore, the afternoon screening is cancelled. Mondays will otherwise be nice: Independent American Cinema, Lecture, Screening and seminar 13-17. 17.15-20.15 British Cinema: Industry and Text. Warren Buckland was cool. Subtle Gervaisian self-ironies. It will be a module on reception studies first of all, which suits me perfectly. I have already narrowed my master essay down to either Hal Hartley screenplays or Tom Perrotta, as far as primary sources are concerned. Ideas were bubbling and this was just an introduction. Very promising indeed.

Coming home, I went for a run, my first here in Oxford. Sweet. And in the evening, ordering Hal Hartley screenplays and setting up this blog, I felt satisfied. Finally, I will have time for the writing I want to do. I have got it bad. As I write, hordes of party people bellow and bawl outside my window, titter and tatter announcing their departure. Yippie.