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Yesterday we dusted off our academic finery for the Deans Court hall photograph. In the interest of saving a few hundred pounds, I took the picture using my tripod and a timer. Too bad my hood was crooked:

Still, I think that formal wear is an excellent way to kick off reading week: that blissful nine day stretch without a lecture in sight. What thrilling excursion have I planned? Room 111 in the Mathematical institute — my office. If all goes according to plan I will actually understand the Banach-Tarski Paradox by the time the week is out. Ah the joys of MT5825: Measure and Ergodic Theory…

On a lark, I decided to enter yesterday’s Maidens Debating Competition, put on by the St. Andrews Union Debating Society. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. In fact, I only learned the rules of parliamentary debate ten minutes before the competition began. To my great surprise, I somehow managed to make it to the final round–a public debate in Lower Parliament Hall on the motion “this house would ban overly skinny models from the catwalk and print ads.” I was randomly assigned to first opposition.

The whole thing was quite surreal: a formal procession, gowns, dispatch boxes, wood paneling. I felt like I was at Prime Minister’s question time. Although I was incredibly nervous, once I stood up to speak I really started to enjoy myself. For those who are wondering, I was in fact wearing my William and Mary graduation gown, complete with PBK pin (don’t worry, I didn’t wear the hat). To my even greater surprise, I ended up winning the competition and £100 in prize money. The evening ended with dinner in a lovely Indian restaurant, some traditional lewd drinking songs, a pier walk and cloister races. It was a quintessentially St. Andrews day.

In other news, I’ve dug myself even deeper into the G&S Society. Just in case being in the chorus doesn’t use up quite enough of the time I should be spending at the library, I’ll be singing a few solos and duets at the first semester concert:

I Know a youth (Robin) Ruddigore
When The Night Wind Howls
Oh Maiden Rich In Girton Law ( Capt. Fitzbattleaxe) Utopia
Oh Zara!, a tenor all singers above (Fitzbattleaxe) Utopia
Strange the views (Notary) Grand Duke
Sprites of Earth and Air (JWW) Sorcerer
Brightly Dawns our wedding day (Nanki-poo) Mikado

Ah Ruddigore…

I just got back from the first rehearsal of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, which I’ve finally decided to join.  It’s so much like Sinfonicron (William and Mary’s G&S Society) it’s scary.  A few differences amused me:

1. At St. Andrews, membership in the G&S Society gets you 10% off at the best pub in town.
2. They base a vocal warm-up on the phrase “I would like a gin and tonic.”
3. Rather than pretending, everyone actually is British.

I just can’t believe that I’ll be singing that infernal madrigal from Ruddigore again.

Kevin, if you’re interested in taking our show on the road, come to Scotland and we can show them a Modern Major General they’ll never forget!

Those of you who follow golf may be aware that the Dunhill Championship has been going on at St. Andrews this weekend. In addition to professional golfers, a number of celebrities are taking part in this year’s event. Yesterday I headed down to the links to watch and took my telephoto lens with me.

The weather in St. Andrews is incredibly changeable. One moment there isn’t a cloud in the sky and the next it’s pouring rain. Yesterday was no exception. It became very cold, very quickly as I waited near the 17th with my friends Charlie and Kamaren. With only one umbrella between us, it was a very wet experience.

But in the middle of the rain, I recognized one of the golfers. Perhaps you will too:

Yes, that’s Hugh Grant waiting to tee off at the 17th. Here he goes:

Sorry to disappoint, ladies, but he looks a lot older in person:

Eventually the sun came out and we had a chance to dry off. It was around this time that I recognized another one of the players. Ghostbusters and SNL fans, you’re going to love this:

Yes, it really is Bill Murray and no I didn’t steal these pictures from the web: I shot each of them myself. The best part was that Bill was several strokes ahead of the professional with whom he’d been paried, at an impressive eleven under par. Here’s Bill sizing up the course:

My action shot of Bill Murray didn’t come out too well, so here’s the frame just prior to his swing:

After I finished taking these, I walked across the street to the math building for my 4:00 tutorial. What a town.

This past weekend marked the first coordinated social activity at Deans Court not involving one or more pubs. Contrary to popular opinion, postgrads really do know how to have a good time. On Saturday we held the first annual Deans Court Southern Barbecue, featuring slow-cooked ribs and chicken, American-style. It turns out that one of our number, John in the red sweater below, is a Cordon Bleu trained chef. He had no trouble cooking for 55 people:

Many very full bellys later came the Deans Court Olympiad. Given our culinary overindulgence, this might not have been the wisest move, but that didn’t stop quite a crowd from lining up to paricipate. Yours truly is close to the middle wearing light blue:

On sunday night, the girls from North Street Annex hosted a bonfire on the beach during which our North American contingent (Canada and U.S.) attempted to demonstrate the proper technique for making smores. This was only partially successful, but everyone still had a great time:

Not to make you all jealous again, but the East Sands are absolutely stunning at dusk:

Watching the moon rise over the North Sea is an experience I won’t soon forget:

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update, so here’s a brief summary of what I’ve been up to in the past few days.

Yes, that is a picture of the Mathematics Building, where I’ve been spending much of my time lately. I’m sorry to report that it is the least attractive edifice in St. Andrews. Still, I love the quasi-futuristic logo:

I’m taking four courses this semester: Forecasting, Measure and Ergodic Theory, GLM and Data Analysis, and Statistical Methods. So far they all seem quite reasonable; it seems that William and Mary has prepared me well. My professors are a bit eccentric, but in a charming sort of way. No complaints here.

In contrast to the views of the Mathematical Institute, the views from it are quite nice. Far in the background you can just make out St. Andrews Bay and the Old Course:

I’ve also spent some time out on the links, which are conveniently located to the Institute. First an obligatory shot of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club:

Isn’t that nice? If you’re interested in playing the Old Course, it will run you around $250 this time of year. And don’t forget to watch where you walk:

Fortunately, the Links Trust offers fantastic student discounts. So fantastic are they that even I have signed up for golf lessons. If there was ever a time and a place to take up golf, this has to be it. Here’s what I can see when I look back towards town on my walk to the driving range:

Besides school and golf, I’m trying to decide which societies to join. The short list includes: Debating, Hill Walking, Gilbert and Sullivan, and Fly Fishing to name a few. I think that Debating and G&S will make the cut, but I’m still feeling things out at the moment.

I’ve also been hanging about the music department. I played a scholarship audition the other day, and am hoping to start a piano trio. In case Meg is reading this, I would like to inform her that St. Andrews has a female a Capella group called “The Accidentals.”

I could go on, but I think it’s time for tea…

I had my first taste of golf in St. Andrews yesterday when I went down to the driving range to hit a few balls. I’m an absolutely terrible golfer, but the scenery was wonderful. Even without much background in the sport it is easy to appreciate the grandeur and tradition of the old course. Here I am teeing off:

Far from discouraging me, my poor performance only strengthened my resolve to take golf lessons, which are incredibly cheap for students. Once I’d run out of balls, a few of us from Deans Court decided to take a closer look at the Cathedral and St. Rules. We couldn’t have picked a better afternoon. Here we are squinting into the sun at the very top of St. Rules tower. From left to right are Charlie from Sydney Australia, Pete from Long Island, Kamaren from Rochester by way of UVA, and of course yours truly:

Just to give you a taste of the atmosphere here’s what St. Rules looks like from the ground:

And here’s a view of the Cathedral from the very top of St. Rules:

Am I making you jealous yet? Don’t forget that in three months time I’ll only see the sun for around three hours a day.

In my first official act of stupidity, I locked myself out of my room and building today. In my own defense, the doors are incredibly tricky: they lock whenever you shut them. Still, I don’t think that my warden was too pleased to have his afternoon run disturbed. I’m not sure if corporal punishment is practiced in Scottish postgraduate residence halls, but he is called a warden after all.

Crisis averted, I tried to attend the Fresher’s Debate, “This House Believes That a Women’s Place is in the Home,” only to find it filled a full 20 minutes before the start. Clearly these Brits enjoy a good argument. It’s all very fancy apparently: white tie, red robes, lots of grumbling and a song in latin–my kind of evening.
On a related note, St. Andrews Ale is surprisingly good.

Here’s what I can see when I walk out of my residence hall every morning:

The spire belongs St. Andrews ruined cathedral, overlooking the bay. Moving in a bit closer you can see St. Rules tower in the background. I have yet to climb to the top; I imagine you must be able to see for miles on a clear day.

Finally, a view of South Street with the ruins in the background. My front door is just our of sight in the left foreground.

It’s impossible not to be in awe of this place.

Without a doubt, the highlight of last night watching a lass from Yorkshire and a lad from Edinburgh be hyponotized by a man from Devon.  The girl was particularly amusing, but then I’ve read too many James Herriot books…

More pictures later, I promise.