Page 52 of The Examiner

And it’s not even the only reason I was the best person to lead this project. I know myself. I’m a racehorse: I function best at the front. I can give instructions, solve problems, motivate people, lead by example. I’m a perfect storm of confidence, talent and ability. Whatever it is, I know I can do it. The feeling is more than the words I know to describe it. I’m young, I’m here and I want it all. Everything it’s possible to get out of life – the most, the max, everything.

So Gela gives me the role of ‘financial manager’. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear both my grandparents had been bending her ear, in my grandfather’s case from beyond the grave (he died in August). I played every card I had, but ‘Jonathan is the lead and nothing will change my mind’ is all Gela would say. I mean, I guess I’m basically second-in-command. I still get hands-on experience making the actual installation, but I won’t lie: it smarts to this day.

So, as the conclusion to my introduction, I’ll say this: in the execution of this project, if anything happened that shouldn’t have – if something went wrong, and if every last one of us seems to hold a different opinion about what that was – remember: there wouldn’t have been any problems at all if I had been project manager.

Doodle message group MMAM(FTP), 8 January 2024:

Gela Nathaniel

Happy New Year, MMAMs! Hope everyone enjoyed the break. RD8 were as good as their word. I’ve arrived at my desk to find an email from their museum. What’s more, they can GIVE us bags of old components they were getting rid of anyway. Some of you have mentioned how keen you are to work with salvage, for environmental reasons. Let’s discuss the visit tomorrow!

Alyson Lang

FYI, the code on the studio keypad has been changed to F4815A.

Gela Nathaniel

Are you there now?

Alyson Lang

Yes.

Gela Nathaniel

Everything OK?

Alyson Lang

Yes, fine thanks, Gela.

Doodle message group [Private] Hannah and Gela, 8 January 2024:

Hannah O’Donnell

Happy New Year! The Admissions Office has nudged me. They still haven’t received diversity forms from your MMAM group.

Gela Nathaniel

Sorry! You’ve been chasing since September. It’s been frantic here, with the final project and – if you remember – some discord between students.

Hannah O’Donnell

It’s just a few boxes to tick and a signature. If they were set up to complete online I’d message on Doodle, but technology hasn’t caught up with this part of the admissions process.

Gela Nathaniel

I know. So sorry. We’ve got to organise a trip to Somerset.

Hannah O’Donnell

Our inclusion policy is under scrutiny, and they need to know who attended which school, etc., for the next prospectus.

Gela Nathaniel

Some of our students are in their forties and fifties. Does it really matter which schools they went to?

Hannah O’Donnell