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Friday 8 July 2011

Their exits and their entrances* ...

Today I will be leaving my current place of employment – a Sixth Form College in South East London – for the last time as a contractor ... and going straight to Knuston Hall in Northamptonshire to attend COW 2011.

To mark this I have included photographs of the exits (and entrances) of both educational establishments; the Sixth Form College ...


... and Knuston Hall


* The title of this blog entry is a quote from Jaques speech in Shakespeare's play, 'As You Like It'. It seemed rather appropriate in the circumstances.

All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.

16 comments:

  1. "Cry havoc and let slip the COWs of war..."

    Enjoy the weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Have a great weekend and enjoy your well-earned retirement Bob.
    You and your wife can now do all the things you couldn't fit in due to the demands of the job.
    Didn't manage any of the museums in Winchester - will definately have to go back.
    All the best.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hope your ankle feels better and that you have lots of fun over the weekend!

    Yes, we are all players. I play with toy soldiers. (-:

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes, enjoy your retirement - I'm be joining you in 2 weeks, likewise not through choice!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bob

    Sure hope you have your teeth, though..

    Regards

    ReplyDelete
  6. Well done Bob. Talk to you online anon.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Best wishes to you and your wife for your retirement and hope you enjoyed COW.

    Steve

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pat G,

    A very apposite variant on the original quote ... especially as the field next to Knuston Hall was filled with young grazing bulls over the weekend!

    It was a great weekend, and a report will follow later today.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  9. Jfidz,

    Thanks for your best wishes.

    Sorry to hear that you were not able to visit the museums in Winchester ... but it will provide you with a good reason to go back there.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  10. Fitz-Badger,

    Thanks for asking about my ankle. It is still a bit sore, but the swelling has gone down considerably.

    I also play with toy soldiers; they are great, aren't they?

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  11. Xaltotun of Python,

    Sorry to hear that your retirement is not a result of your desire to retire, but is due to circumstances that I assume are outside of your control.

    I hope that you enjoy yours as much as I hope to enjoy mine ... even thought I suspect that I might just get a 'recall to arms' in September.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  12. Arthur,

    I certainly do have my own teeth. I know because I have just put them in!

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  13. Conrad Kinch,

    Many thanks. I look forward to hearing from you again very soon.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  14. Steve,

    Thanks for your good wishes.

    COW2011 was a very good weekend, and I hope that the report that I will write later today will give a flavour of what took place.

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete
  15. I trust you see yourself leaving behind the soldier and becoming the wise judge for a while.

    -Ross Mac

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ross Mac,

    Nice to know that you got back from Historicon safely.

    I would like to say 'Yes' to your comment, but the old combative attitude is a difficult one to lose. That said, I do have a 'fair round belly with good capon lined' ... and have done for many a year!

    All the best,

    Bob

    ReplyDelete

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