For Shamal's eyes only

As once for Gerard, so too now do I create a blog entry to show Shamal that the blog is not utterly moribund.

Let me also take the opportunity to note the wonderful panoramic landscape from my window, with autumnal hues varying beautifully in reds, yellows, greens and browns. Above the canopy our local buzzard was again gliding, banking and swerving, tilting his wings to maximise lift from the updraft Thereupon he glided over toward the crane near Mozartturm.

Let Shamal recall this little vignette once he has departed this other Eden, demi-paradise, this Germany, to take up his position as an Oxonian ( a [matriculated] member of the University of Oxford and, by virtue of this, a scholar (Shamal's pointer to OED, appropriately)). The pedantic attention to detail displayed by this imminent denizen of those halls of learning augers well for his speedy rise through the ranks of Academia.

It was a nice holiday, envy the children

They get a 2 week mid term break, those children, and I had to make do with a measley 3 days. It was good, though - the feeling of relaxation attendant on a time away from the constraints of workaday work. I can't really complain about the work, though - there are people with far worse jobs than I have and worse still, the unemplyed. But still, work of whatever sort is sort of vampirish, draining the life from the worker.

The long cycle wearies the aging bones somewhat and anticipation of hte Monday evening swim lets a tired sigh break from my lips, but I know that fresh energy will come to my aid when I take to the water and I will return refreshed in body and soul.

Took one of the less beaten tracks in the forest on the way back - some beautiful trees there and some fine birds to be seen. Of course bio-diversity is not particularly compromised round here - reports of diminution in bird variety were greatly exaggerated, as a cursory web scan showed.

My Steorn sim is going well, though there are a few unexpected results I need to examine in greater detail. The show goes on and hope is still high amongst the faithful.

Great to hear from some of the old school gang and uni chums now and then... ar fheabhas, as we say in Irish.