Grand weekend, thanks to the execution of The Plan:

• Sit in garden
  
• in sunshine
  
• reading Catch-22
  

To great success. Granted, I didn't finish the book, and I did start some marking (not something I usually partake in, but I'm doing it as a favour).

But then the housemate was back and suggested we go up and visit the Wildman's new allotment site. We watched him being introduced to it by a strapping no-nonsense lady with a ponytail, and then we stood and looked slightly overwhelmed at it. Then we went back to the house and drank white wine on the patio. Very civilised.

Slightly prosaic entry today, but more to come when I've settled a certain issue of technical synchronicity...

Of course, what I should have said first, is that yesterday I was clearing out the garage of my old junk, with Mum burning what we got rid of. Amongst all the debris, I found some (typically) unsent letters one to Wardy, and another to Lee Marley (off of 1st year halls). Both of them, but especially the latter were about that fateful, shitty 2nd year in QUB, and the summer that followed.

Some of the details in there I'd completely forgotten (seeing as it was seven years ago now), but it's nice to have it documented, if only for my own sanity. What a fvcked-up year that was...

"It'll all go in the book", as the man says.

Back home since Saturday, I'm unusually chilled at this advanced stage. I thought we'd be wheeling around the countryside visiting relatives, etc., but the lessons of Christmas seem to have been learnt, mercifully.

Anyway, first time on the PC with any degree of privacy since the girls (in whose room Dad's PC has found its place) are in Omagh and Belfast.

In work news, Louise has asked if I want to supervise an undergrad off of Oxford Uni for 6 weeks over the summer (would clash with my though-of planning trip/GSFC general visit), and there are ATST fellowships. Which is very interesting. Dunno if they'd be at all interested, as my instrumentation (esp. optics) experience is v limited.

In other news, the ten-hour takeover on Monday was great to listen to, and himself was well pleased with the feedback and the general successful execution of the experiment. (He sent webloggy feed back links like this one.)

Consider the titles now (mostly) updated. I still have to edit things like apostrophes, but that's got to be a detail.

Latest James news (not that there's been any on here, shamefully) is that he's got a mobile, but texting trans-atlantic seems to be distinctly not working. Cocked-up codes? Who knows...

I'm off home now, though. May as well be the master of my own hours for a couple of days.

Took the opportunity of a quiet day to do this.

Good thing I'm not vain.... Will update the titles at some point in the future.