We got back our student experience evaluations for our teaching in semester one. I'm pleased to report that I managed to bring Structured Programming from being one of the most unpopular courses in the university to one of the more liked, with 83% of respondents giving the thumbs up to the course and 95% to my teaching specifically, and no negative ratings. In particular, I was pleased that 100% of respondents indicated that I "treat students with respect".

I particularly was glad to read this comment:

Liam is an excellent communicator, educator, and convenor. He consistently takes time after his lectures to answer student questions and support them with the course content. His live coding is impressive, and he battles through IT issues without losing it, which is impressive in it's own right. His lectures are engaging and for those who attend I believe it to be an excellent learning experience. By doing crowd informed live coding he engages each of us in the process of solving the problem the first time, while he demonstrates the new concept. This leaves you feeling like you CAN do it. That the new concept isn't so alien, because you saw all the steps to build it. This is a huge confidence booster going into the lab, as now this is the second time you are trying to implement the concept, alone this time. He was quick to address student concerns on the forum and consistently asking students for feedback and suggested improvements. He showed genuine concern in the students that were struggling in the midsemester exams and adapted the course for their expressed needs. He is an excellent educator and I hope to take more of his classes in the future.

The ANU Logic Summer School is back again this year, and I will once again teach my ITP course. The timetable is not yet finalised, but I will likely not have to teach it all over two days as I did last year, which is a relief. It will likely run in the early days of December.

If you or your students have an interest in logic or verification, please consider sending your students! We also have some limited scholarships available.

Dóminus fortitúdo plebis suæ, et protéctor salutárium Christi sui est: salvum fac pópulum tuum, Domine, et bénedic hereditáti tuæ, et rege eos usque in sæculum.

Today I didn't attend my usual All Saints Ainslie as I was visiting Sydney, so I attended Christ Church St. Laurence instead. The choir was mens voices who sang the gregorian mass setting cum jubilo as well as The Call by Ralph Vaughan Williams, a setting of a poem by Herbert:

Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life:

Such a Way, as gives us breath:

Such a Truth, as ends all strife:

Such a Life, as killeth death.

Come, My Light, my Feast, my Strength:

Such a Light, as shows a feast:

Such a Feast, as mends in length:

Such a Strength, as makes his guest.

Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart:

Such a Joy, as none can move:

Such a Love, as none can part:

Such a Heart, as joys in love.

It was a very restorative service, even for my (Buddhist) in-laws. I believe that my usual choir performed "Thee we adore" by T. Frederick H. Candlyn in my absence, an arrangement of adoro te devote.

Omnes gentes, pláudite mánibus, iubiláte Deo in voce exsultatiónis. Quóniam Dóminus excélsus, terríbilis: Rex mangus super omnem terram.

Today we were in light numbers at All Saints Ainslie but still pulled off a solid performance of How's Day by Day

Day by day, dear Lord,

of thee three things I pray;

to see thee more clearly,

to love thee more dearly,

to follow thee more nearly,

day by day.

This service included the baptism of many children all from the same family, so it was a rather special service in that respect. Later in the month we will have a confirmation service with fourteen (14!) confirmees, which is a promising sign for the health of the parish.

Ego autem sicut olíva fructificávi in domo Dómini, sperávi in misericórdia Dei mei: et exspectábo nomen tuum, quóniam bonum est ante conspéctum sanctórum tuórum.

As our director has started a UK tour with his secular singing ensemble, I have taken on the job of interim director at All Saints Ainslie, where we sang today Howell's My eyes for beauty pine:

My eyes for beauty pine,

My soul for Goddës grace:

No other care nor hope is mine,

To heaven I turn my face.

One splendour thence is shed

From all the stars above :

'Tis named when God's name is said,

'Tis Love, 'tis heavenly Love.

And every gentle heart,

That burns with true desire,

Is lit from eyes that mirror part

Of that celestial fire.

I think they transferred the feast of St. James to today rather than to the following Sunday (which is closer), because they want to focus the service next week on confirmations with the Bishop.