As Michaelmas term gets into full swing, I have enjoyed a busy weekend combining uplifting engagements with different parts of the College community here in Oxford with a quick burst of art therapy in London.

Saturday morning began with Matriculation, about which I wrote last week. All went smoothly, supervised by our Dean of Degrees and taker-of-the-register, Gail Trimble. The Freshers looked very smart in their group photo in Garden Quad, making the most of the bright sunshine and coping as best they could with the low temperature, against which sub fusc regrettably provides little protection. ‘Lamb and Flag’ scarves – an iconic item of neckwear that sells out almost immediately whenever a new batch is released – were alas deemed inappropriate dress for the occasion and temporarily confiscated.

Later in the morning, I attended the annual meeting of the William Pitt Society, which brings together current and old members of Trinity who have kindly promised to remember the College in their wills. As I told the assembled gathering over lunch, bequests have been an important source of financial support for college life, although they have in the past included a four-poster bed and a collection of ethically dubious erotica (available to consult under supervision in the Old Library), as well as hard cash.

Sunday morning found Sharon and me back in London for one of my favourite artistic events of the year – the Frieze and Frieze Masters fairs in Regent’s Park. The main Frieze fair hosts a huge collection of weird and unaffordable modern art, ranging this year from a boulder in a hammock to a spiky meteorite on a cushion. The even more unaffordable Frieze Masters is a one-stop shop if you require a 16th-century French memento mori skeleton, a Corinthian battle helmet or the skull of a triceratops. At both, the wealthy-people-watching is as entertaining as the artworks.

Then back to College for a buzzing Evensong in the Chapel, where I counted an amazing 35 or so in the choir stalls – although there is still room for more. It is wonderful to see the choir at such strength, in good voice and with our amazing organ scholars conducting and tickling the ivories to great effect. Josh gave his first talk of the term on ‘belonging’, with Moe the dog once again deployed to great homiletic effect.