Groundhog Day

After such a lovely French sojourn it was brutal catching the 05.28 Piccadilly Line train from Hammersmith to LHR T5 yesterday morning.

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Taxidermy

You don’t see a stuffed animal for ages and then three come along, This beaver was an unusual centre-piece at a lunch party in London last week.

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Walkies

Yesterday’s treat was a morning walk terminating on a sunny terrace for a delicious lunch washed down with gallons of jammy rosé. There are sixteen of us and, remarkably, still a few spare bedrooms but only nine chose to walk. The others had tennis boot camp with Robert. 

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With the Gersois

Flew to Toulouse yesterday; the thirteenth ‘plane I’ve been on so far this year. The trip is a belated birthday weekend staying with friends in the Gers.

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Viking Sky

I was in a City wine bar drinking a glass of the house white with a friend who started telling me about her holiday last month.

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International Driving Permit

I have happy memories of skiing holidays in the 1970s. The pattern was to load up a VW Golf and leave London after work on Friday evening to catch a channel ferry.

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Conversations

On an Election Observation Mission there are opportunities to chat, not always about election methodology. A UK observer told me that he had been Master and huntsman of the Pimpernel beagles and jolly smart he must have looked in his uniform: green coat, old gold collar, green stockings and black cap.

Observations

There was a distinct end of term feeling yesterday morning as we loaded our trunks on the coach taking us to the airport. I was looking forward to getting home but I will be back soon for Round Two of the Presidential Election.

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The Birthday Paradox

“In a room of just 23 people there’s a 50-50 chance of at least two people having the same birthday. In a room of 75 there’s a 99.9% chance of at least two people matching.“ This is the Birthday Paradox.

A Tourist in Ternopil

The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was built 1749 – 1779 and, as you will see, exemplifies Ukrainean baroque.