So what’s “the P” been up to this week?

• Writing a set of 88 piano etudes entitled “88″ for the pianist Hermes Theodorakis - this is taking most of my time.

• Playing basketball; last week we played the mighty Newcastle Uni basketball team. I got elbowed in the face and got a bloodied nose. So frustrated was I with the ref that he called a technical foul on me after I said some very nice words to him. I then proceeded to punch a glass door on my way to the locker room (and had to go to the hospital to find out why this isn’t a good idea). There was a lot of blood and pain and misery. I am now a bit wiser, but not wise by any means. I wish I had a video of all that; the moment had great comedy value. We did win the game however…

• Looking at the Emperor concerto (will start playing the piano again next week) and listening to Gould’s performance of it. I have to play it at the Pennine Festival next May.

• Organising the first stages of my repatriation: phoning people, asking about work there, trying to figure out what Nicola will do in Greece etc. So far, there’s little progress to report.

• Teaching my five York undergrad students.

Overall it was a lazy week as you can see and I enjoyed it; I get the feeling I won’t be getting many lazy weeks after Christmas so I will try to make next week more of the same (minus the injuries).

This blog will not be a news bulettin mind you; I will be writing to express my very deep and profound thoughts now and then - all will be informed so you can look at my exhibitionist diary.

Do comment on everything and anything by the way.