Just settling in, adapting to the new time zone. Had a walk around the city today – its a lot bigger than I thought it would be.

I like this town. It’s very people centric, with strong limits on cars in the city center. Pedestrians, trams and lots of bicycles and scooters.

Just a nice place to be.

Perth to Heathrow is a long flight – 17 hours. I was glad to see them deviating to avoid Crimea.

After that it was a rushed connection to Gatwick but we made it with 10 minutes to spare

So now we are in Bordeaux and starting to relax

Trips beginning. Hopefully I’ll get into holiday mode soon.

Anyway, long flight ahead.

Just at the ASM for NSANZ – a really excellent scientific conference. Its being held this year in Brisbane, at the Sofitel. Not a bad venue.

So far, its been pretty good – and I’m looking forward to the meeting

It’s been a long awaited trip. Delayed by COVID for years, and a few other complications.

Catching up with our friends from Sydney, and planning a holiday for Europe in just a few months.

Its a nice timeout for a long weekend.

Bike ride today 40 Km. Its been a while. Not to mention that it was rather cold in the morning. But worthwhile for just getting back into it.

It’s been a while since I’ve gone out to any sort of musical gig. But I couldn’t resist this one.

I’m sure I’ll stick a couple of pictures up as the night progresses

Had a great new year’s eve. Probably the geeky highlight was having the ISS pass overhead and wish us a good new year. Its actually a night shot but with a long enough exposure that it kind of looks like daylight. You can see the constellation Orion, and in the middle of it is a streak of light, travelling at 8 Km per second at 400 hundred kilometres away.

I had to blink at this. A rhyme generated by an AI. Instructed to rewrite Hamlet in the Dr Seuss style of green eggs and ham:

I am Hamlet, Prince of Denmark,
And I have a tale to tell.
It’s a story of ghosts and murder,
And a kingdom in a spell.

I do not like my uncle, Claudius,
I do not like the throne he stole.
I do not like the way he killed my dad,
I do not like his wicked soul.

I do not like my mom, Gertrude,
I do not like the way she acts.
I do not like the way she married him,
I do not like the love she lacks.

But then I met a ghost, a spirit,
Who looked just like my dear old dad.
He whispered to me, Hamlet,
“Avenge me, make him pay, my lad.”

“He killed me, Hamlet, Claudius did,”
“Poured poison in my ear.”
“He took my crown, my throne, my wife,”
“And filled my kingdom with fear.”

“Revenge me, Hamlet, take him down,”
“And right the wrongs he’s done.”
“Avenge me, Hamlet, do it now,”
“Before it’s all said and done.”

So I did it, Hamlet,
I avenged my dear old dad.
I killed Claudius, and Gertrude too,
And put an end to all the bad.

I did it, Hamlet,
And now my story’s told.
I avenged my dad, and found some peace,
But the price was high, and the toll was bold.

The end, Hamlet,
My tale is done.
I hope you liked it, and enjoyed the fun,
Of my story, Hamlet, the Prince of Denmark.

ChatGPT – 2022

Its hard to get your head around the world we are heading into

New blue car. Less CO2 emissions than my old one.

Its pretty nice. Not much else to say really.