under another sun

Barak Obama Barak Obama's ascendancy to president brought more than one tear to my eye this afternoon. The US has taken one massive step towards reclaiming its moral authority, and repairing the damage done to its image in the world. Of course being the first black president makes Obama's presidency even more poignant and I guess lots of people in the US are pinching themselves and asking if this this really happening. The yes we can , has become to yes we have. For many it must already seem absurd that the election of black person was considered impossible. With even a few hours hindsight, the river of history that was crossed today, can at last be seen for what it is: an illusion; a little ditch. Of course a black man can be president. Seeing the abject Bush - and the noxious band he had gathered about him - slinking off to the dustbin of history seemed to me like the end of a bewitchment. Like some kind of Narnia, the US was today released from a spell; from being a place w...

Blue Monday The most miserable day of the year according to psychologists . As I rushed to get ready, the cat knocked over several things in my bathroom and then fell into the (thankfully just flushed) toilet. I felt cheery enough, although of course a rainy grey Monday morning in January, aboard a creepingly delayed train to Victoria didn't exactly get the pulses racing. Surgical site infections with Betsy and Hannah today was fine, however, and I like everyone I've met at that agency so far. Watched the share prices of banks plummeting today. My understanding of these things not great, but it contributes to a sense of instability and unease. Obama is inaugurated tomorrow, which seems to be a really hopeful thing. Curses! My desktop order has been thwarted. NatWest stopped my credit card payment to Dell as a precaution, as it was an Internet deal. So I have to reorder the bloody thing. Fairly fuming over this. Ordering a Dell computer isn't such a strange transaction is it...

A new start for the US Floating about feeling smiley today, partially because of US election. It is important to everyone of course, but I was even more interested this year because of knowing the US much better than I did, having been there a lot in recent years. Lots of work. Up at 7 to finish FB work and send it through before official day started. Then onto my leafy Surrey pharma work. Reading through all that needs to be done (about 100 web pages by the looks of it) and chatting to Jamie who will be my point of contact. Also had chats with Anton, and with Mum. Also a kitten teleconference with their cat (still un-named though Mason has helpfully suggested fuzz-nuts and dip stick) listening to Calliope purring on my shoulder. Talked to Mas about US election which he has mixed feelings about having identified with McCain. I think John McCain to his immense credit, showed his true colours in the way he took his defeat: with enormous dignity, and a message of unity. In the evening Lo...

Gobama! A busy day... Woke at 6:30 with Calliope standing on my face. Then off to the quack's first thing for checkup. While zooming off to London, spoke to Mex who is still juggling career options, and Bob who is still wondering if moving to Salisbury was a such a good idea after all. Worked with two art directors, Betsy and Erica who, being American, were exceedingly cheery at the prospect of an Obama victory, as is almost every sentient being on the planet. Erica sporting a top with a stars and stripes on it, and Betsy doing various cheerleader type dances, and even a cartwheel. High spirited ladies both. We all worked fairly late, and then had I a fast and cheeky beer with the FB and Erica in the Distillers before the call of the seagull grew strong in me. The FB made me laugh describing his Frenchified heating habits to Erica: "I'll eat anything I can beat at chess". Spoke to Sophie whose mother is in hospital, and who is having a tricky time with her assistant i...

Notes on a Scandal Saturday found me needing to recharge my batteries after a tricky week. Slept in somewhat and started the day with a skype exchange with a sleepy Sarah. Then did Things that needed to be done such as having a haircut, doing laundry and so on. I am getting into the habit of taking myself to see films from time to time. Feels a bit strange to be alone but as soon as the film starts it makes no difference. Today being grey and sordid, I took myself off to the cinema to see Notes on a Scandal . Listening to my iPod downloaded film reviews is proving quite handy. It was an extremely good film that I would probably not have bothered with otherwise. It was actually bleakly funny, and deals with two teachers, one a year away from retirement, jaded and bitter with an obsessive streak played brilliantly by Judi Dench, and a younger and slightly flakey art teacher played excellently by Cate Blanchett. The older one becomes obsessive in a repressed lesbian sort of way over the y...