My dreams have been very appropriate to the start of September, the traditional back-to-school time. I dreamed that I was, indeed, back to school, starting my last year. There was a great deal of pomp and circumstance to do with the final year students being nearly grown-ups, but also we got reminded a lot to wear our uniforms, to be polite to teachers and to do the homework promptly. And yes, there would be corporal punishment when we didn’t do well enough.

My dream self was baffled by the contrast between being expected to behave like a responsible adult and yet to be treated like a child in many respects, including very possibly being caned. The uniform was particularly constricting: I thought I should be allowed to choose my own clothing.

The dream ended with me about to be caned by the deputy headmistress for initiating some sort of uniform protest in the corridors. I woke up incredibly upset about it.

How strange that something that I’m so fond of in real life would prove to be the subject of so much angst in a dream.