Getting older

Dear Diary,

Yesterday was nice, to see Jake and his family, and to jam, that perked me up a little bit.

Today was… the same old gig. I played for one and a half hours on a cheap guitar from the supermarket. It went really well. Had I played for another two hours (as I usually do) I would have earned only another fiver. Life, is not easy.

I just met another OU student, a Geo-scientist. He is equally as disillusioned with the University. Since graduation he is no better off than when he was before he began studying. That makes a total of eight post-grads I know who are either washing up, serving drinks, butlers, or unemployed. Since being barred from most any activity with the University, I am finding it more and more difficult to summon the motivation to study. I have an assignment which is really really late. The last other late one I handed in, I failed (by one mark)

One: I am not able to talk to any other Classicists. Two: If I go to see the one Classicist I know, I have a funny feeling that like Dr. David Kelly, I will be asked to "take a very long walk in to the woods" pearl-handled revolver and all. Three: A career, monetary gain and social advancement mean very little to me, compared with being able to conduct amicable discourse with fellow Classical scholars. I have included a copy of the letter, here, for anyone who reads this (which is very few people indeed).

Ever Dearest Didier,

I hope this finds you well. Please know that although it has been some years since I have been in touch with you, I think of our intellectual discourse often, with a great deal of fondness and nostalgia.

The University experience has been a transformative one, yet your personal experience as a student in Higher Education and mine bear similarities. They do not like what I have to say, and much like yourself (or even Pablo Picasso) I am marginalised. Even so, I have enjoyed spending two years studying lingua Latina and look forward to my final year studying ancient Greek language and Roman archaeology.

Included in this letter are a number of translations from ancient authors (by me) including Marcus Tullius Cicero, Pubilius Ovidius Naso and Pubilius Vergilius Maro.

I am immensely proud of being able to translate Latin so well, but the University, are not proud of me. Being abjured from keeping the company of learned scholars of du culture classique is a most bitter pill to swallow indeed, yet, this put me in mind of you, your refinement, knowledge, and wisdom.

I have learned that the pursuit of wealth, a career and social advancement is far inferior to being able to cultivate fruitful intellectual discourse, amicably, with another, equally as well acquainted with Classical culture; namely, your good self. In your own words, I wish nothing more than to "partage les pensez" chez toi.

Upon mastering the ancient Greek language, I would very much like to visit you once again, if it please you.

Know that I love you, as a brother, and have never met another single soul who matches your keenness of intellect, correct politeness, or sublime eloquence.

Yours,

In the utmost sincerity,

Mr. Maxwell Lewis Latham Cert. H.E. (litterae humaniores)