I’ve had a really busy few days since I arrived, the most exciting of which was when I went to BBC Radio Oxford with Professor Stephen Harrison to record our contribution to a series of Horace programmes under the title, ‘Classical Essay’, to be broadcast by BBC Radio 3 in the week commencing 17 December 2007.

We had to work through a live link to Bristol and they could pick up noises from our studio in Oxford that we couldn’t even hear ourselves! The wonders of technology.

Since doing the recording a horrible thought struck me, when I was asked to speak so that they could get a sound level, I recited ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb’, I hope they don’t get it mixed up with my Horace poems!

Forgot to mention the reference to Kybald Twychen, this is the old house where I’m staying which was once the home of Eduard Fraenkel himself.

When I arrived on Monday I had to reposition the furniture so that I could find a piece of level floor for the desk. I have enough trouble with computers without trying to work on a slant! But the house has great character and I feel very cosy here.