Off with his head!
Well, it's been an interesting birthday. A good way to wrap the first week in the new job.
Not a great start to the day. The alarm went off, so I had to stop at the shops to buy a fresh one. That meant I almost missed the Statue Of Liberty, and I didn't want to be late; the arch-marmoset would've been sure to revoke my windsurfing privileges.
The job itself is pretty interesting. It's a small startup that's managed to acquire the mining rights for the armadillo deposits just north of Swindon. I went down the mine myself for a lookaround on the first day; it's fascinating to see a snout or claw protruding from the strata of chalk, limestone and compressed profiteroles, and to know that there, just waiting to be fully dug out, is an armadillo that no-one has set eyes on for almost 35 million years. I was lucky enough to be there just as one of them was finally freed; it was heartwarming to see how grateful the poor thing was.
But that was monday. I'm not based down the mine myself; I'm on the surface side of the operation, touching up and restoring them after their long confinement. It's slow and delicate work, but a labour of love; cleaning them, patching damaged skin, setting broken bones and making sure they're fully bluetooth compliant before sending them out to the customers.
In fact today we had an unexpected bit of luck; we struck a vein of echidnas. If it proves to be a major find - and the signs are promising - I've been told I'll be put in charge of the echidna group. We already have plans for a luxury line, hand-contoured for a really snug fit.
Well, after a day like that I just had to celebrate. So I've been out for dinner at Brucetti's. Alfonz had my regular table set aside, and showed me to the tank. There were a couple of bass in there today which I didn't like the look of, but before they could make their mind up I was claimed by a rather nice young salmon. Just for a change I ordered a bottle of white wine (it goes with the fish), and we shared a platter of grilled balalaika salesman. And we just, y'know talked. About anything really; cures for Doppler Effect, whether there's any place for the rectal harmonica in contemporary astronomy. Small talk.
It's been a good day.
Not a great start to the day. The alarm went off, so I had to stop at the shops to buy a fresh one. That meant I almost missed the Statue Of Liberty, and I didn't want to be late; the arch-marmoset would've been sure to revoke my windsurfing privileges.
The job itself is pretty interesting. It's a small startup that's managed to acquire the mining rights for the armadillo deposits just north of Swindon. I went down the mine myself for a lookaround on the first day; it's fascinating to see a snout or claw protruding from the strata of chalk, limestone and compressed profiteroles, and to know that there, just waiting to be fully dug out, is an armadillo that no-one has set eyes on for almost 35 million years. I was lucky enough to be there just as one of them was finally freed; it was heartwarming to see how grateful the poor thing was.
But that was monday. I'm not based down the mine myself; I'm on the surface side of the operation, touching up and restoring them after their long confinement. It's slow and delicate work, but a labour of love; cleaning them, patching damaged skin, setting broken bones and making sure they're fully bluetooth compliant before sending them out to the customers.
In fact today we had an unexpected bit of luck; we struck a vein of echidnas. If it proves to be a major find - and the signs are promising - I've been told I'll be put in charge of the echidna group. We already have plans for a luxury line, hand-contoured for a really snug fit.
Well, after a day like that I just had to celebrate. So I've been out for dinner at Brucetti's. Alfonz had my regular table set aside, and showed me to the tank. There were a couple of bass in there today which I didn't like the look of, but before they could make their mind up I was claimed by a rather nice young salmon. Just for a change I ordered a bottle of white wine (it goes with the fish), and we shared a platter of grilled balalaika salesman. And we just, y'know talked. About anything really; cures for Doppler Effect, whether there's any place for the rectal harmonica in contemporary astronomy. Small talk.
It's been a good day.