I'm pleased to see that over 600 of you have at least read some of my comments and I wouldn't be surprise if not all of you read through to the end.

Mike Ciavarelli and I discussed the possibility of doing a comparison of Italian and British Universities. On reflection, I could not decide where to begin but wrote the attached. It is part personal experience, part history and part Charles Dickens who was born 200 years ago today. If you don't understand the connection, read on.