A whale's heart is as big as a car.

Well, I don't think the Thames one's was, what with the whole animal only being a mere 18 feet long and all. Poor sod probably thought it had found some nice quiet inlet to die in and instead got tourists and vets and barges and rather a lot more publicity than a whale is used to.

I did find it quite heartening just how hard everyone was prepared to try and help what it's pretty obvious was, from the start, a terminally buggered animal - let's be clear about this, species that can find their way from one pole to the other in search of the best grub don't take wrong turns inland, as a general rule - and it gave a huge gift just in turning up and being seen and reminding everyone just what exactly we're at stake of losing if we continue to abuse the world's oceans.

Onto other things... today was the Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People's AGM, and so as of about three o'clock today, I am now a full member of the Executive Council of said GMCDP. This means I can vote in Executive meetings, and scare city councillors and things. 'Course, I could (and did) scare - ok, meet with - city councillors way back when I was a lowly co-optee, but I still reckon it gives me a bit of a psychological advantage.

Said AGM started at 1pm, but unfortunately I'd got it into my head that it was a morning meeting, and consequently dragged myself out of bed and rolled up at 20 past to a shuttered building, deserted carpark and the sweet siren of a very large alarm bell going off in my head. Oops. I got some quite productive things done in the gap, though - whole bunch of writing for my String Pedagogy portfolio.

In conclusion: My philosophy of teaching is that all my pupils should feel positive about their learning and playing. When lessons end, even if after only a short time, I hope that: the pupil has gained something lasting; I have learnt something from being their teacher; and we are both glad that we were there.

Awww, isn't that nice?