Today, on the eve of my last regular day in the office, I gave 53 years of index card notes to the Balliol library, about 1200 cards in all. I will keep writing, but I hope this means the collection will be safe no matter what happens up ahead.

My beloved Copernican Principle asserts that if you want to know how long something will last, your best starting estimate is how long it has lasted already. Balliol was founded in 1263. As Copernican precautions go, this looks about as good as it gets.

[10 August 2023]