Editorial

My last two Editorials have been all-out rants, but with this issue I'll take a detour instead into something a little less scathing (though probably more vomit-inducing for those of you who dislike sappy writing - like me! On the plus side, when I'm through with this Editorial, you'll welcome the next vicious rant!)

As many of you already know I am leaving as President this month, and passing the Presidency on to Andy Holland (The Queen is dead - long live the Queen!) It's been an amazing few years for me, and I've enjoyed every minute of helping the Pagan Society (well, except for the times when everything went wrong, minibuses didn't get booked because our application for one was forgotten, weirdoes showed up and made a nuisance of themselves, and that wretched morning after the Pagan Pancake Party in my first year which I'm sure some of you still remember due to the lack of clothing...) I've learned more from the people in the Pagan Society than I have from anybody else, and I'm certainly a different person than what I was when I came to university. It's been a blast celebrating the festivals with you, seeing sacred sites around England with you, and drinking with you, and I am grateful that I had the chance to give something back to the group.

I also need to thank the people who have supported me throughout my Presidency and before, whether it was by pointing out that I should run for President in the first place, allowing me to rant at them when things went wrong, being a general dogs-body, sticking up for me, or just turning up to the Pagan Society events. *Cue Oscar-acceptance speech*

My thanks go to my committee this year - Andy, Jon, and Nic - who've been marvellous even when their degrees demanded all their time and attention whilst at the same time I nagged them into doing things for the society! To people like Alex, who haven't been on the committee (yet) but have nevertheless contributed tremendously to the society by writing articles for this magazine, driving minibuses, and being a regular at the socials. To all those who have given talks - Crane's Egg, Dave, Phil, Wendy, Rebecca, Ronald Hutton, Claire, Peter, Juliette Wood, Vaughan, Alex, Steven Knight, and so many more people who I've inevitably forgotten. To the people at UK Pagan, for welcoming CUPS to their monthly moots at the Rummer Tavern - Helen, Jon, and Lydia. To Paul and Jon, who have helped me organize and create rituals throughout the last few years. To Sam who never fails to create a fantastic bonfire at rituals. To the cool Quakers on Charles Street who didn't mind a bunch of Pagans running around their meeting house. To my fiancé Simon - long suffering soul who has had to put up with me being an over-stressed, ranting, Pagan freak, and who has had to carry 40+ decks to my Tarot talks. To my Mum, Dad, all my relatives, God, my dog, my manager, my backing singers, my make-up artist, the guy who drove me over here in the taxi... *Insert other Oscar-acceptance speech clichés here*

I'm bored writing this sappy Editorial now. It's not vicious enough. So, to conclude - I love you all (except the weird ones who I don't love at all), have had a great three years, and can now happily show the good old one-fingered salute to all the people that didn't think I could do it or tried to muck me around. *Points and laughs*

My best of luck to Andy (he's going to bloody need it!) and his Treasurer and Secretary, Alex and Pip. May they be... er... punctual (Andy, punctual?) and ensure the future grooviness of the Pagan Society in the year to come.

Blessings,

Kim Huggens