Category: NEWS
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A rare trip home to Nottingham
In truth, I stopped seeing Nottingham as home many years ago. I’ve long since become a citizen of nowhere—or perhaps everywhere, if you prefer a more glass-half-full view. I chose Rugby as my UK base not for sentiment, but for logistics: it’s on the West Coast Main Line, nestled between two motorways, and within an…
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The town
It’s taken 2 months of living in Rugby before I’ve managed to get feet on the ground in the town centre. Like most UK town centres, Rugby’s is somewhat past its peak. A very large out-of-town retail complex – when combined with the impact of online – has left the high street sad and strange…
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The Hell House Chronicles: From Chaos to Clarity
In August 2024, I achieved a significant milestone: securing my “dream job” at a prestigious business school in London. Elation quickly set in, though tempered by the realization that this new chapter would bring substantial challenges. I had been enjoying a high standard of living in Birmingham with minimal costs—a balance that simply doesn’t exist…
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Saying goodbye to my beautiful office
The thing I loved most at the University of Birmingham was my amazing office. It was such a unique space, such an opportunity – over the course of months I made it incrementally more cosy. Moving out was sad, it was not so long ago that I thought that the University of Birmingham and that…
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Special Buys and the German Invasion
Who doesn’t love a bargain? Well, asides extreme anti-capitalists and anti-consumerists perhaps? (which obviously I am not – although I’m all for stakeholder capitalism) LIDL and ALDI have changed the UK retail scene and from my narrow consumer perspective, they have changed it for the better. Before I switched away from the “big four” I…
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A Third & Final Spring on Campus
Sadly this will be my final Spring and Summer at the University of Birmingham. It kind of feels over before it began, even though it has been 2 and a half years since I joined UoB. It leaves me with a few months to get around to all the things I should have got around…
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Birthday weekend
It already feels like a lifetime ago but it’s only 3 odd weeks (I’m doing a bit of catch up). I’ve rediscovered a love of ice skating so that was a highlight, asides cake and a re-production of Christmas dinner (which like a pet, isn’t only for Christmas).
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International Teachers Programme & Amsterdam, Jan 2024
The ITP is the most prestigious training for university teachers worldwide so it was a genuine thrill to be a participant. The first of three weeks took place in Brussels. I was delighted to have an opportunity to visit because it’s unlikely I would have done so without a work reason. The programme was bracketed…
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International Teachers Programme 2024, Europe
Last week I was delighted to hear that I had secured a place on this prestigious course, which was developed by Harvard and then migrated to Europe more recently. My School sends two faculty each year and I am incredibly grateful for its generosity and my inclusion, as the fees represent a substantial investment on…
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Last day of the longest September heatwave on record (UK)
Yes it’s been hot and on this final day it was very humid too. On an all important trip to pick up an online order I took a circuitous walk around the Seven in Worcester.
Dr Martin James 