Just ‘cos it’s something really rather cool that happened to me, I am going to write a new journal entry. Then you guys can read about it. Which is great, ‘cos then you can see how boring my life is that this sorta thing (you’ll find out what shoutrly) excites me.

Now, granted, depending on your point of view, this may have excited you also. But probably not if you’re a fighter pilot… or Jeremy Clarkson… But I am neither of those. I am a university security officer/administrator/general dogsbody.

I spend most of my time holed up in my little, draughty office trying to avoid my staff, customers and, most of all, managers. But there is a landline phone, a mobile phone, a pager, a two-way radio, an email inbox, a door and, most annoyingly of all, a little doorbell on a window hatch. The bell irritates me. I’m one step away from throwing the phone at it. Hard.

Anyway, most of my day is spent answering the same dull questions over-and-over again. Often to the same goddamn person. Or arguing with the caretakers, trying to get them to do their job around their numerous extended tea-breaks, which is hard. I am only their ‘line manager’ when they want me to do something. But yesterday, yesterday, we had a special guest or two.

First, was the Chancellor of my University, one Mrs Shami Chakrabarti CBE, a leading figure in Human Rights politics. And short. And intensely funny and interesting. That’s quite a dose of excitement. Along with my second highest-ranking boss, Professor Janet Beer, the Vice Chancellor. She’s interesting, approachable, pleasant and, most importantly, is ultimately the reason I get paid. So big smiles needed. Then, as a third, we had the Chief Constable of the largest (non-metropolitan) police force in the UK, Ms Sara Thornton QPM. All these wonderful people of so many after-name letters, you say! How could it get better?! Well, it can.

Fourthly, we had a Fellow in creative writing. Maybe you would know him. His name is Mr Philip Pullman CBE. Yes, the mastermind behind the His Dark Materials trilogy and many other wonderful novels. I almost peed myself from the excitement.

Then, we gave them microphones, their favourite piece of writing and an audience of 250 people. And told them to debate about the significance these books have had for them and how they inspired them.

I won’t go into uber detail, but two very interesting choices. Mrs Chakrabarti chose, of all things Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Not what I would have expected, though a very pleasant surprise. Mr Pullman even had to read it. His first dose of Potter. Mrs Chakrabarti looked immensely smug.

Mr Pullman chose a poem, by one Mr William Blake: ‘Auguries of Innocence’. Here are the opening few lines:

To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.
A dove-house filled with doves and pigeons
Shudders hell through all its regions.
A dog starved at his master's gate
Predicts the ruin of the state.
A horse misused upon the road
Calls to heaven for human blood.

Anywho, afterwards I had a quick chat with Mrs Chakrabarti over an orange juice, before popping back to see Mr Pullman. I managed to get a little autograph, and some highly inspiring advice.

As most of you are probably completely unaware, I have been trying to write a book for the last three years. Recently, I decided to start again, for what must be the fourth or fifth time, after months of not getting a single idea. I’ve been banging my head on the desk for hours at a time hoping the repetitive percussion will knock a few brain cells together and spark off an idea by fluke. That or knock me out. The latter happens most. Anyway, Mr Pullman, on hearing that I had taken so long and scrapped several attempts (I didn’t tell him about the ritual self/desk-harm) smiled, and told me that he has never successfully written a book that hasn’t left him in an intense state of desperation, sometimes for months at a time.

Relief. Utter, blissful relief. I am not necessarily a failure as an author, even before I start. It happens to him to. He said so. And for my sanity, I’m going to believe him, despite comments in the debate about never trusting an author when they talk about their books.

Oh, and as a side note; on the way home I came up with a multitude of new ideas, one (possibly two) new character and a possible ending for the book.