Stars and conversations

[alt_sinistra]

A surprisingly pleasant afternoon in New London yesterday. I handled a variety of errands both personal and professional, had a chance to catch up with my mother over tea, and enjoyed dinner with a couple of astronomer friends.

(Students: I’m working on arranging a visit from one of them, likely in March, to talk about the new telescope designs and related charms. I promise she’s a lot more interesting than that description sounds, and she has some very funny - in hindsight, anyway - stories about ways the charms went wrong in testing.)

I came back to find a draft article waiting for my comments, too. Those of you who’ve helped with data collection for the royal star project may want to have a look, as it talks about the process to date and some of the early results. Copy will be up in my office, of course.

Comments

Private message to Poppy

[alt_sinistra]

Poppy -

Much better day in New London this week. Mum insisted on meeting up with me in between the other errands and tasks - and she passed on a book she thought you might like. Friday, for tea? (I’m sure it was an excuse for her to see that I’m taking care of myself.)

Also, more than a little interesting gossip. First, I’m certainly not the only person under much closer scrutiny at the moment at the Ministry, and I can’t decide if that’s encouraging or disturbing. Second, there’s also this - well, you heard about the gladiatorial games as part of the Frost Faire?

Mum said that Theo and a number of his set have been encouraged to sign up, though he’s scarcely kept his hand in that kind of thing (even less than I have). And I heard more of the same from various people at the Ministry, and from both Dai and Gilly at dinner tonight. Varying incentives and reasoning, depending on who’s being asked, too.

I can’t help but wonder what the goal is of drawing in so many people, a number of whom will clearly have less experience than those they’re facing. I’m sure it’ll keep your colleagues at St. Mungo’s on their professional toes, mind.

(And I suppose I’ll see for myself: Raz obviously has something of a professional interest, and the last night is one of the highlight events of the Faire, so I suspect we'll be there.)

Private Message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_pomona]

I'm glad to hear your time in New London was pleasant, and your upcoming speaker sounds quite intriguing--perhaps more to the scholarly sort of student than the dueling/orienteering/Quidditching sort, but some balance is all to the good.