A Christmas lecture

In my first interview for an academic post they asked me why I wanted to be a university lecturer. I said something like, “Well, I like lecturing,” and quickly realised it was the wrong answer. Nobody trusts a smart alec, especially one who enjoys public speaking.⇑

At least my reply was honest, though nowadays that may be hard to believe. Back in the 1970s all you needed for a talk was a set of multicoloured felt tip …