This requires constant vigilance. It's so easy to slide back to negativity, as I am at the moment. A very good reminder to reframe my perspective, thank you!

Even in Dublin you couldn't get away with much. My mam and dad went out for the first time to a pub all the way across town from the tennis club they met in to avoid the gossip.
And bumped into a friend from that tennis club.

I really think we need to make dying a more acceptable topic of conversation. My mam said she really regretted not having some hard conversations with my dad. But he avoided the topic and then she was left with all the decisions when he was in the ICU and after he died.

My dad was a Dublin gent and never wore jeans, slacks all the time. He did wear tracksuits and such for golf and tennis. Shorts were worn rarely on holidays (though a lot on the tennis court).

So sorry for your loss. Sounds like a true gentleman.

Another thing uniting students of all stripes is that his diploma was revoked. The students had planned protests about that before he was arrested. Nothing like feeling the result of years of hard work and exams can be ripped up to make people angry. Not addressing that could also lead to problems.

Çanakkale

Terrific news Pat! Delighted you've got support for your Bosporus project!

That's the one for me too, absolutely blew me away...

I'm sorry for your loss.
So many preventable deaths and so little responsibility...
Again and again and again.

Happy Christmas Pat, been a damp and miserable one here. The weather I should say, the Christmas has been quiet and peaceful!

Wasn't he in Sharpe with Sean Bean?