My son turned 2 this week, and it seems he's reached the classic creepy phase. He just said to us, "Scared - there's a lady in the house." I'm torn between finding it freaky and wishing we actually had a house rather than a flat!

Folks: I hate asking again but urgently need ££ to apply for long-term settlement in the UK! Help a gay trans academic stay in the country where I've lived my whole adult life. Fees are due to go up soon – all donations/boosts really appreciated. gofund.me/31cfc90c

Article-related rollercoaster: went back to an article I've been considering for years; realised a book already seemingly deals with one key aspect; worriedly read the book but it's much more light-touch on my topic than it seemed; end up simultaneously pleased and disappointed.

It's frustrating when work citing newspapers neither gives the article title nor the page number, just the date - leaving the reader to trawl through a whole day's worth or articles to find the right one.

Recently, I've been bothered that my hair is thinning and receding, but before he went to bed today, my two-year-old just told me I have beautiful hair, and it suddenly feels just a little better.

Yet another way I can tell my son is related to me: he just ate some cake, saying, "This way. Cake in the mouth. Now it's in the belly." A philosophy I live by at times of high stress/marking load.

A big moment: this morning, I taught my first class unmasked since March 2020. It felt weird and normal at the same time. Precautions: Covid booster four days ago, all windows open, air purifier next to me, Enovid nasal spray beforehand, and C02 monitor to check safe levels.

Among all the horror going on in the world, this little Franglais sentence my 2-year-old just said spontaneously cheered me up a bit: "I got ladybird like Petit Ours Brun has doudou."

Today I went on the Tube for the first time since 2020. I got more or less verbally abused twice for being one of the few people still masking on public transport, including by a woman shouting at me in French 🙃

My toddler likes to stand on a chair in front of me when I wash up. I've called this the Père Lachaise washing-up method.

Just finished my final seminar of the academic year, and 3/16 students were present. I know there are financial and other reasons for absences, and I empathise with students in difficulty, but attendance really has been absolutely awful this year.

Good news coming from France. ✊✊🇫🇷

Haven't been active on here for ages, and finally made the move: follow me at drjamesconnolly.bsky.social. Not sure how much I'll use it (reducing social media use). But my first post there is a clip of my first ever attempt at stand-up, partly talking about WWI, if that tempts you!