where art collides philosoperontap

and more brrrr

A cold start to the morning. Went downstairs at 6.15 ostensibly to make the tea and to use the laptop to reply to some Facebook comments. Foolishly “accepted” and Apple upgrade which wrote off the use of the laptop for 20 minutes or so and ended up replying using the phone which I could have done in bed. The kitchen was too cold to sit in bare feet and everywhere too dark to rummage around for my deck shoes. Could have put the light on I suppose:)

Now just killing 5 mins before taking the plunge. ie heading to the pool. Sgonna be a busy day. Packing, posting my Irish citizenship stuff, inviting people to the LONAP Christmas Party, making cups of tea etc etc. Also need to nip down to pick up the campervan awning from Coops’ to make sure it is dry.

The central heating has now kicked in.

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Felt good driving to the pool. Life is great. You have to take advantage of it while you can. Not many in the water and ended up having a lane to myself for most of the session. It’s impossible to forecast the traffic in the pool. What makes people decide whether to go or not. I suppose the colder morning might have put people off.

Now back having a toasted bacon sandwich (on white with HP Sauce obvs) accompanied by half a pint of milk drunk straight from the bottle. I’m eating the bacon sandwich with a knife and fork to avoid getting my fingers greasy and thus allowing me to type at the same time. The milk could be a little colder. It was left out whilst I was at the pool. Anne is not a milk drinker. Sgone now. I’ve washed it all down with a glass of 100% pure squeezed orange juice – vitafit – smooth no bits.

Quite a weak sun out there. Not a dull February day sun but certainly one struggling to make its impact felt through grey skies.

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Sent off my Irish Foreign Birth Registration application form from the Post Office in the Bail and then went for a haircut at Tom Viscone’s a couple of doors down. Going back to the car I noted the butcher in the Bail had closed its doors. V sad. Also unusual for him to just shut up shop like that. I’d have imagined there was scope to see the business. Maybe not, not knowing the details.

Quite cold sat here in the conservatory. I have the Dyson fan blowing hot air. Got a couple of jobs to do this pm. Nip round with Coops to look at a car, pack, stuff like that. I also have to retrieve the awning from the garage to make sure the renters had dried it out.

Featured image is of a near naked tree side by side with one about to get nearly naked.

Hampton by Hilton

Very productive LONAP board meeting yesterday. Preceded by a light Mexican lunch at the Street Food Chef – a top class burrito cantina in Sheffield. After the board meeting we had a couple of beers and a curry at the Agrah which was also very agreeable. A good day all round.

I’m now up and sat at the window of my hotel – The Hampton by Hilton. There’s a great view from the room. If I was pointing in the other direction it would be the concrete jungle that is Sheffield city centre but looking the other way it is surprisingly nice.

Now just waiting a few minutes before heading down for breakfast with rich at 8.30. After that it’s a saunter back to Lincoln in the jalopy.

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Breakfast was fine. This hotel is very well laid out. Everything in the room and bathroom was convenient. Plenty of power points. Easy controls for the shower. The breakfast buffet is compact but has everything you need. The toast came out perfect first time. The bacon and sausage etc was replenished from behind so no need for anyone to carry hot trays through the dining room. The waitresses are delightful. All good.

Just relaxing and typing this diary now. Rich has come down and we are chillin a bit over a cuppa. pic is view from my room.

my route home

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Now sat in the Tesco caff. Popped in to get some passport photos done for my Irish Citizenship Foreign Birth Registration. Going to pop around to the Smiths to get Nick to Witness the docs. This is the pack I’ve had to put together:

My birth cert ✔
My (our) marriage cert ✔
Mam’s birth cert ✔
Mam & dad’s marriage cert ✔
Mam’s death cert ✔
Grandfather’s birth cert ✔
Grandparent’s marriage cert ✔
Grandfather’s death cert ✔
Online application form submitted ✔
Two passport photos – tonight
Certified copy of passport – tonight
Witnessed application form hard copy – tonight

Nearly there now. Feels good.

Did do a post Agrah video but it was after a few beers and I’m somewhat slurry 🙂

at Coops’

Sat in the corner of Coops’ garage waiting for the campervan to be returned. Nobody else around. Keith has gone to the dentist. Coops is on the way to South Wales to Paul Floe’s funeral. Floey was a very popular guy at Lincoln Rugby club and a huge part of the community. He was an Unitarian minister and eventually moved on at a Parish in Porthcawl in South Wales. A minibus load has gone to the funeral from Lincoln.

Quite interesting being sat here in the reception area. Radio 2 blaring away. Lots of tools, tyres and other garage features scattered around. Could probably be tidier but it is a working space.

Bloke just been in asking if we had any work going. It’s tough out there. Miserable day to be traipsing around as well. He needed to tidy up a bit too really. Unfortunately I am not the right guy to ask.

Featured image is “engines”

feels dark out

It’s 05:57. Dark. I’m awake. It’s an effect caused by going to bed at a sensible time. In my case this is normally triggered by the news on the TV. Anne wants it on. Anne is interested in current affairs. There is never anything on I want to listen to. Politics. Problems. Lorry driver sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing a family whilst using his phone whilst driving. Rarely anything jolly. So I go to bed.

I normally switch on the radio on a 30 minute timer. By the time the 30 minutes is up I am asleep. Usually I pick up a book and read a bit. Maybe only a page. Then I drift off. Sometimes if the radio is not switched on Anne asks if she can have the news:)

I like these dark mornings. For some reason. I also like the light mornings in the summer. At that time of year I will normally go and sit in the conservatory to write, if I am up. Not in November. God is it November already. In November I will sit in the TV room, without the TV on. It is cosy.

My brain isn’t totally in gear at this time of the morning. This stuff is written on autopilot. I’m not interested in making a coffee to wake me up. Not a big coffee fan and it would have to be the good stuff anyway which would be a bit of a faff. I’ll make the tea in a bit.

It was good to see that my loaf of bread was well received. John, it must have been him, has been scoffing it. I’ll make another when I get back from Sheffield tomorrow. That should last us until we go to Krakow on Friday. It’s all very well getting it right once. The proof will be whether I can replicate the success. I am confident.

One good thing about coming downstairs to write at this time of day is that it makes the time go quickly. I refer you to the Third law of the internet. That’s the one where if you are surfing the web a hot drink always goes cold before you finish it. Fact. Lying awake in bed trying not to disturb Anne is hard work. Not a productive use of my time either.  

Now I will have written 400 words or so in twenty minutes. That’s 1200 words an hour. Productive enough I’d say. Of course they aren’t necessarily good words, or they haven’t necessarily been strung together in an interesting, good to read way but that’s neither here nor there. Really. It’s better than the old monkey sat at the typewriter theory. The one where if he sits there long enough he would write the complete works of Shakespeare.

Hang on a monkey has just walked into the room and wants to borrow the laptop for a minute…

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Hey give me back the laptop ape. Sorry about that. He’s gone now. I expect he went to the kitchen to fetch a banana. We have some left from when I went to Waitrose on Sunday.

Anyway as alluded to today I am off to Sheffield. LONAP board meeting. I like going to LONAP board meetings. They are always fun. Always something interesting going on. I have decided to drive although in the past I have taken the train. Today it is more convenient as I have to pop down to Coops’ to be there for the return of campervan Betty from a weekend hire and also pick up the parcel from Firth Road. The drive time is about the same as training it  but without the waiting at the station time. I realise that training it would allow me to do some stuff on the journey but today I’m not sure it’s going to work out. It will certainly be quicker driving back in the morning.

Before I go I’ll leave you with a bemusing little tale. Last night as Halloween. Anne left a sign on the doors saying “Please don’t ring the doorbell. Just help yourselves to sweets” with an arrow pointing downwards towards a bowl of sweets illuminated by a candle in a little pumpkin. Some little bugger took the candle!!!

Featured image is the result of letting the monkey at my laptop. He pressed print.

from the Wragby Road Arena

Back in the pool this morning after a somewhat indulgent week and a half. Still have some travel in the calendar but it is coming towards the end and I’m quite looking forward to a sensible few weeks before Christmas and its insensibilities. Weetabix and banana for breakfast and now a pot of tea in the office.

I’m now “waiting for the conference host to join” at a webrtc based video conf. He is late. I’m not willing to wait too long. He arrived. We had the chat.

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Bowl of Heinz tomato soup for lunch with a chunk of cheese and my home-made bread. It’s stood the test of time. ie one night. I think I might have found my vocation:) Been somewhat told off by Anne for buying more flour when we already had loads in the cupboard. It was a spur of the moment purchase in Waitrose and I didn’t know what ingredients we already had. We didn’t have any yeast so that bit was worth buying. I also bought some seeds but found they were roasted in soy sauce so not appropriate. Ah well. Will eat them sometime. Anyway I’m going to be making a lot more bread. It’s a good skill to have especially if what comes out is high quality.

Had a nice 90 minute chat on the phone with Mair from Radio Cymru. Longer than planned but it matters not. Then did a short facebook live broadcast see it below. I think I’ll be doing more, maybe when there are more people around.

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Just back at looking at a car for Anne. John needs to be insurable on it. Will need to look at it with Coops and also see who would insure it. The insurance is a job for tonight.

Featured image – pumpkins very kindly donated to us by Martin Britten from his allotment.

nice lie in

Clocks went back this morning. Yay. A relaxed start to the day although somewhat tempered by the fact that at 9.30am Anne discovered that John’s hockey meet was at 9.30am. He got dressed, ate a bacon sandwich and brushed his teeth within 5 minutes and we were out of the house. Those that had already arrived were huddled under the canopy of the university sports centre entrance to avoid the drizzle.

Got down to watch the match at half time. We (Lindum 6ths) were winning 2 – 0 v Hull University 3rds. The final score was 4 – 1 so nice to see us win. I’m getting to quite like hockey. Just waiting for John now and drop him off at home before nipping to the shops for a few essential supplies.

I note btw that the max temperature in Krakow next friday is 4℃ with a min of 0℃. I will be taking my thermals. I may even purchase a stout pair of shoes. My around town walking shoes are starting to come apart. Ve shall see.

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Just back from Waitrose. Forgot my Waitrose card which was a nuisance as it meant I couldn’t use the scanners as I went along. Instead went into the self scan area at the checkout. Before going I’d asked John what sort of bread he wanted. Brown. Whilst pushing the trolley around the store I had a brainwave. I’d bake some brown bread. Got home and told John. “Oh” was the response:) I’m doing it anyway. Before I start on the sausage casserole.

For some reason I’m listening to the Birmingham v Aston Villa game on radio 5 live. They are billing it as “The Second City Derby”. What a non name.

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Featured image – the ingredients for the sausage casserole: sausages, bacon, garlic, onions, mixed herbs, thyme, bay leaves, chopped dried red chilli, worcestershire sauce, dark brown muscovado sugar, tomato puree, tomatoes, red pepper, mushrooms, chicken stock, butter beans. I may have missed something but it matter not. The recipe visible is a red herring btw. I am not cooking chicken tagine.

It’s been a productive afternoon. I’ll posts pics of the bread when it’s done.

This video is far from the definitive version. I think I may have to do another in a more structured manner and using a fuller bottle of HP.

This video is fine and poses the question “What colour is the sky?”

fall and are swept out of sight

Great to wake up in my own bed with my girl. I made the tea and at breakfast had a bacon sandwich with a glass of milk. Aahh. The mail included a replacement M&S credit card. Hmm. I’d only used it once because they had some sort of offer on that Anne wanted to take advantage of. Paid off the £10 owing and then cut it up and forgot about it. Called them up this morning and cancelled the account.

There is now a huge pile of washing from ten days away and a few jobs to do. The main one is to nip down to the post office to pick up a book that they tried to deliver. Jan Morris’ book on Trieste. John also brought me a book about the Gulags back from his trip to Leningrad and Mockba. Plenty to keep me going.

Back in the UUUK the weather is autumnal. It’s jeans and jumper weather rather than the shorts and t shirt of Madreeed. That’s ok. I like the autumn. It’s cosy. I may even light the fire tomorrow afternoon. Just because I can.

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Back from the trip to the post office. It was abandoned in its infancy because a traffic alert kicked in saying it was an University Open Day. It isn’t worth going anywhere near town on these days. The traffic is so bad. The Firth Road depot is bang in the middle of it all. Instead went straight to Waitrose to buy ingredients for the sausage casserole John and I are planning for tomorrow evening.

Anne has been out blowing the leaves away from the front drive. I think they end up in the green bin. I suppose I should know:) We have big leave issues in the back garden at this time of year. It’s a non stop battle. Dad has been sweeping up the leaves in The Grove in the Isle of Man. Mam used to do it but it is good that he now gets up and does these jobs. Innit.

More as it happens…

Just spent 45 mins or so sawing wood at the bottom of the garden. Unfortunately I’ve lost the main bit off the chainsaw so that’s unuseable. Probably a good thing as it’s dangerous but very handy when you want to slice through lots of wood in a hurry. Anyway I thought I’d prep some for tomorrow afternoon. It doesn’t look as if it is going to be particularly cold but it is in keeping with the feel of the season. A warming sausage casserole, perhaps with some nice crusty bread and a log fire in the grate.

Took John out to play footy in Welton at around 14.45. Picking him up at 16.45 then dropping him back home before meeting Geoff Thompson for a swift un in the Prince. We are off to Jezzers for an hour then the Tap and Spile.

Part 2

The notable thing when taking off from Madrid airport is the ring of mountains that encircles the place. The curtains have been drawn between the cabins and I can smell food from the galley. I have an empty seat besides me so the flight is going to be as pleasant as a flight can be. Champagne will be consumed. As well as this laptop I have my Bose phones on and am listening to some jazz. I also have The Prado Guide purchaysed at the museum a week ago. A heavy book, both weight-wise and reading-wise, it is keeping me interested. I pretty much finished the History of Carmarthenshire book whilst at the RIPE conference. Read as much of it as I wanted to for the moment anyway. Need to see if I can now track down a reasonably priced volume two. The weather has improved considerably since the visit to the Prado. As I leave it is just like an early September day in the UK. So Madrid is about 6 weeks adrift of that. A menu has been distributed. One choice is salmon and triple cooked chips and fine beans. Struggling to see how triple cooked chips are going to do well out of it. Will opt for the Moroccan Lamb Tagine instead. Although this has been a week of over consumption I am looking forward to the taste of a proper bacon sandwich with a glass of milk for breakfast and a familiar beer early doors. As I recall we are off out to the Dawkinses for drinks early evening before heading to the Tap and Spike to see the Activators. Jezzer and Clare are going to a Halloween fancy dress party at the Burton Village Club. Rather them than me. Interesting landscape down there in Spain. Like a painting. Ridges, valleys filled with clouds. Dark ochre grey surroundings.

Guitar dances. Foot taps. Head nods. Words in front of me stay still.

Food arrives. Gin and tonic. Red wine. The evening starts.

I have a pretty tight connection in London. Flight lands at 18.10. I have hold luggage to collect. It is notionally 40 minutes by public transport to Kings Cross Station. The only direct train to Lincoln leaves at 19.06. I may make it or I may not. Fortunately my vast experience of the travel game resulted I’m my buying a flexible ticket so if I do miss the 19.06 there is another train to Newark at half past or thereabouts and my most gorgeous wife Anne has very generously offered to come and pick my up from Northgate Station. I am a lucky man.

The champagne has been opened. No pop. It’s a screw top. Safer. Innit. Boring though. I bet in the old days of BOAC they would have dished out the real mcoy. I quite like champagne. Decent stuff. This stuff is ok but nothing special. We usually go through between 60 and 80 bots at my xmas bash. I like that. Decadence. This year it isn’t my bash anymore. It’s a LONAP bash. What I was wearing when the titanic went down. I think champagne fits this as a “hey if I am going down I may as well not know anything about it and champagne would help with that”. The party the end of the universe. Or iceberg. Take your pick. A penguin suit would be appropriate, seeing as there is an iceberg involved though it was the wrong sort of ice. For a penguin it would need to be the Southern hemisphere. There is a knack to holding a party. It is a knack that I possess.

Whist I think of it you should know I am typing this on a MacBook Pro. It was the top of the range when I bought it a few months ago at around £1500. The top of the range is now £2300 thanks to the fall in Sterling against the dollar. Good job I already have one. Thanks Brexiteers. Thanks a bunch. £100 got us 95Euros from the cashpoint last week. It wasn’t so long ago it would have been 120 Euros. I am bitter about this. It isn’t that it is really affecting me. It’s just stoopid. It’s the economy stoopid. Good job the laptop will last me a fe years, I reckon.

Another (admittedly small – 187ml) champagne has magically arrived at my seat. good oh. Keith Jarret is playing the piano just for me. It’s pretty laid back stuff. A snare, hi hat and a double base to accompany him. The audience claps appreciatively.

An hour or so to go. It’s a relaxing enough trip. It’s been a good time away overall, with Anne for the first bit then the pretty exhausting conference schedule. It’s great when Anne and I go off on trips together. I am smiling just thinking about this. She has spent the last 24 years staying at home looking after 4 very demanding kids. Now her rewards are starting to come.

This guy is hammering the keys, whoever he is. Not looked. I bet pianos don’t last long with him. You can perhaps shut your eyes and imagine lively music with a strong piano line.

Ooo. Biggles up front has just said we expect to land at 17.55, 15 minutes ahead of schedule. Still plenty of time for things go wrong but a good sign. I doubt his name is Biggles btw. That was just me being naughty after gin, red wine and champagne. Stay tuned.

Made the train with zero seconds to spare – they reopened the doors for me. Thanks to Matt Walster for the taxi share to Stratford International. 9pm pickup Lincoln Central.

BA8754 non stop to LCY

Homeward bound this evening. It is still morning however. Had a bit of baguette with jam and butter for breakfast together with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice and a cup of tea (2 teabags in small teapot).

Checkout time is noon. I’ll be checked out before then and into the last conference session. Don’t need to leave until 2 ish assuming traffic is bad and it takes 45 mins to get to the airport. Flight is at 16.45.

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Currently sat in Geoff Huston’s talk on IPv6 performance. He is always very entertaining. V6 is a lot less reliable than v4 in many parts of the world. By the looks of it. I’m checked out. Duffel bag in the care of the concierge. Heavy.

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People have started to leave. I see flight paths appearing on Facebook. Taxi to airport with Rob Lister and Paul Thornton. I drew the short straw as they were going to T1 which came before T4 so I got dumped with the taxi fare:) The Iberia lounge is rammed and seriously needs some detritus collecting. At least they had cheese and ham sandwiches on offer which I was pleased to consume with a small bottle of water. Now have 90 minutes until departure. You are almost certain to get a lot of drivel out of me in that time.

Upon reflection RIPE73 was a successful conference. We will discuss it further at the LONAP board meeting next week but I think we got some good exposure.

The lounge has started to empty out. Must have been a lunchtime rush hour!

Featured image is the bottle of Tokaji we had last night. V nice.

Rubaiyat

Skipped breakfast this morning although I did nip down for a quick reviving espresso which is something I don’t normally do. Had a phone call with Mair from BBC Radio Cymru to discuss my forthcoming appearance on the Betti George show so thought I’d better be as awake as poss. In the end all we did was schedule an hour for a chat on Monday afternoon.

Last night Rob Lister and I went for dinner with Stefan from ECIX. Foie gras and steak and chips. Followed by more drinks back at the hotel. Urgh.

These conferences are a bit dull from a diary perspective. It’s the same thing every day. Conference talks, coffee break chats and then eating and drinking. Tonight is the Grand Dinner at the Madrid Casino. It’s very nice. I’ve been for a gala dinner there before. At another conference:) Not going to this one though. Have a better offer. See featured image.

Oh and we have our first rental booking for annesvans. More in due course (it’s late)

sat by the pool

My belly is full. The food at the RIPE73 lunches is perfectly acceptable with plenty of choice. I tend to have salad but these are still quite substantial. It’s been a busy morning of chatting to folk and doing my little videos and now I’m just sat in the meeting room using the wifi before the next session starts. At that time I will move to the terrace as I’ve some work I need to get on with.

Last night was relatively quiet. A few beers and then a pizza in the place over the road to the hotel. Skipped the social bash which was in a nearby night club. Not my thang really. Got up at 9.30 in time for breakfast before it shuts at 10 I think.

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Now outside by the pool. On one of the loungers. Shoes and socks off. As you do. No knotted handkerchief though. There is plenty of shade under the tree.

RIPE73 Day1

Slightly bleary eyed start to the first day at RIPE73. Someone was having a loud conversation in Spanish in the room next to us at 1.30am. I had to stand by the connecting door and say shhhhh equally loudly. Fitful sleep after that until we decided to get up at 6.50 for Anne to leave at 8am for the airport.

The breakfast room was surprisingly busy at that time of day with what looked like several coach loads of tourists forcing us into the overflow section around the bar. Whether it was just too early for me I know not but none of what was on offer looked particularly appetising. I had some croissants and fruit and yoghurt. Note the photo showing carrots next to the baked beans!

Anne got away on time and I went back to bed. Now all signed in to the RIPE73 conference and now doing stuff. This week will be all about social media. First vid has gone live on the lonap Facebook page. See below. Also we are looking for more page “likers”and followers so feel free to take a skeet and share here. This also being Spain the timings of the day are skewed to take into consideration local practices. The conference starts at 10am and lunch is between 1.30 and 3pm. In fact the first plenary today isn’t until 3pm so I’m a little early for the craic. 646 folks signed up for this conference. That will be a lot of cups of coffee during the course of the week And a lot of beer.

btw can you tell which is the real me in the photo in the lift? Was taken last night. Couldn’t have been this morning as a) I’m not wearing my lonap shirt and b) the lifts were all heaving as the people from the breakfast room began to take their luggage down to reception to catch their busses.

Stay tuned for updates.

bring out the water butts

Another wet day on our feet in Madreeed. Apparently they have had five months without rain so it is badly needed. Can’t begrudge em that.

Late up agin and consumed a very fine spanish omlette for breakfast with HP sauce.

Metro’d it to la Latina for the El Rastro flea market. See vids below. Then Metro’d and walked to the Naval Museum. Not a mention of Francis Drake although Nelson was credited with killing off the Spanish navy. Lots of walking.

Lunch in a caff called MasQMenos fwiw. Iberico jamon y brie sandwich rustico.

Walked back to the Intercontinental to pick up our stuff then taxi to the Melia Castilla which is going to be my home for the next 5 day’s RIPE conferencing. Will be able to unpack and find out what exactly I forgot to pack when coming out last Wednesday:)

Just chillin for a bit now.

very wet day in Madreed

Well and truly wet day. The rain in Spain stays mainly in Madrid etc. Another relaxed start then bought two tickets for the Madrid City Bus tours. The stop was conveniently just a short walk from the hotel and saved us having to hop in cab or bus in both directions. The concierge lent us a brolly which was to come in very handy during the course of the day.

We switched from Route 2 to Route 1 at Plaza Sol and rode around to the Royal Palace which is must be said was fantastic. Interesting to see how the kings and queens with whom the English were often at war lived. Some wonderful art in there. Interesting suits of armour.

Had a late lunch in the caff at the palace – chicken and chips with mushy peas. Well it might as well have been mushy peas. It was mixed veg but seriously over cooked. Ah well. It hit a spot. Then back on the bus on a very wet upper deck to Sol again and a chocolate and churro at Los Artesanal 1902, or simlar. Very thick and rich choc. After that we called it quits and retreated to the haven that is our hotel room.

One of the stops en route home was outside the Hard Rock Caff. We saw a waiter come out looking for someone. Looked as if someone had done a runner.

Anne watched The Bake Off whilst I ready my History of Carmarthenshire book. We had planned to hit Mercado St Miguel again tonight but I think the rain will drive us to somewhere more local. It’s still pelting it down now. Very relaxing from the perspective of an open hotel room window. There’s a big demo in town tonight so we are probably better off avoiding it anyway.