1. Went into work in the morning, got some spectra done. Not quite happy with them - the 'blue stuff' pretty looks like oligoclase. Tried subtraction - no joy either. Next thing - X-ray... sigh... it'll take AGES to pick up tiny-tiny-tiny grains; with no guarantee they're not contaminated.
Simon is a bastard. Will tell this again and again.
2. Got a day ticket and consequently - flexibility to hop-on/hop-off for today. In my new capacity (as NMS staff and member of ASVA) visited the HMRoyal Yacht Britannia. It is not beautiful, but rather huge and kind of a cruiser; also her navigation is old. I mean OLD. All these wires, telephones, tumblers, telegraphs...) But I liked it a lot. It is so useful and comfortable, with a good balance of British simplicity and luxury. A compact palace indeed. The interiors are rather modest. HM the Queen and HH Duke of Edinburgh had separate bedrooms, separate offices, and it is obvious from the day protocols they have a little chance to meet - so busy with work and 'people'. Apartments of the crew - officers and sailors are also very amusing. They have everything onboard - postoffice, laundry (for which the sailors were charged 6p per shirt, 22 - jacket to keep it running), kitchen and a hospital. Actually, the Yacht can be turned into a full-scale hospital within 24 hrs - as the guide said. The museum staff did great - there's a smell of iodine in the 'sick' rooms - full impression. In general, everything is neat, polished brass, mahogany, carpets and silver, nothing excessive. One of the Royal dinner menu displayed was rather simple; of course it's not chicken wings-french fries (or - chips here)-coke, but wine is inexpensive, no crazy-looking delicacies. In the early years the family was taking RR with them - and there's a garage for it onboard=)
3. Talk @the NMS went fine.
4. Wednesday night = dance night here for me. I wrote sort of a 'report' on the dance in
msds_talk. Yeah, it was enjoyable evening with Edinbop; meeting old pals, sigh... pity have to leave so soon. Interesting took the bus No5 from Church Hill to Chapel Street, and the venue is near the Mosque. Such a religious environment :/
5. Looking forward to dancing on the weekend home!