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Today I submitted my final maths TMA of the degree. Whatever the results there will never be an other degree maths-TMA.

Apart from one question, I think that it was one of my better efforts. Which is immaterial, as it is what I feel that matters to me, here, now. In three weeks or so, when I've sat the exams, then pass or fail, there is no need for me to do any more sums.

For five years maths has been a large part of my life. I didn't mean maths to be part of my life; it is computers, or more accurately computing, that I wanted to study. So why did I do maths?

Because it didn't matter at the start of my degree: I could change direction if I didn't like maths, and it was still points to the end. And I knew that a certain knowledge of maths was going to help me. But by stages maths crept closer into the heart of my brain.

One particular moment stands out in that process. My tutor, Allan, showed to us, intro MS221ers, a brilliant proof about fibs [Fibonacci series], I can't remember the details but I remember being blown away. This was something that I wanted! To prove something that way...

Perhaps the greatest reason that maths matters to me and my head is that I met great friends on the journey.

I don't know how it is for you but for me it is only on the maths courses that I've met people that I love. People that I can sit in the pub with, people who I can vehemently argue with without them bearing a grudge, people who share my madness.

The problem is that me head doesn't dance to the beat of the maths drum; I've found it incrementaly more difficult to do maths, whilst finding it easier and eisier to do computing...

Been here before <sigh />

More maths then. <grin />