Pub last night.

[zotz]

Eric gave a talk yesterday that is assessed, apparently, towards his PhD performance, so we went to the pub in the evening. I can't quite work out why people go the Pear Tree these days. It used to be a good place to go to see people, because a lot of people went there even though it was expensive. Now it's quiet, but still expensive. Comfortable, too, but nothing out of the ordinary. Having said that, CJ's friend Diana was there after some sort of practice on the Meadows. I therefore discussed Beltane with the workmates, and the importance of not living in Edinburgh without having been at least once. Nick and I obviously swapped "It's not what it used to be" stories, but nevertheless dared people to go along and try to say afterwards that they weren't impressed.

I'm amazed that a couple of them have been in Edinburgh for two or three years and not just haven't been, but haven't heard of it.

Eric amused himself by filling out "I saw you" cards for those sitting around him. I thought of deprecating this abuse of a fine public service, but actually most of the ads these days (going by the current List, which is the only set I've looked at in several years) seem to be for and by people who already know each other perfectly well. It was always an odd notion and I've no idea if it ever worked for anyone.

I've spent longer today working with people on the microscopes than I have in a long time. This is very good.

The filter wheel's still working.