The week following was very busy with a quick trip to Belfast to check on the prototype instrument at Queen's College, a day long conference on applications of Dynamic Mechanical Analysis at King's College in London, and training for technical specialist at our London area facility.  Not a lot to post except it may of been the loveliest weather I ever saw in the UK. 

The dinners at Malik's in Gerrards Cross were fabulous as always and the company cafeteria's English Breakfast was amazing if bad for the heart.It turns out they do bacon rolls too, and they reheat theirs in a panni press so they are dripping with grease when you get them. I don't understand how anyone here lives past forty on this diet.

Saturday I flew home including a unplanned trip to Oklahoma City due to first weather and then refueling. I missed Ben's performance at the Art's Garden due to the delays. The Calvados got home okay but I had some issues with customs where one of the managers has decided that Texas residents are only allowed to bring in one liter despite the laws saying we can being in 1 liter duty-free. Instead of paying duty on it, he wants them confiscated and poured out. I avoided the bullet this time but it appears I need to write my congressman about arbitrary interpretations of the law. However, considering the current administration attitude toward its citizens, I suspect I better get used to it.

Politically, it was interesting to see almost every Indian I spoke with talked about President Bush and compared him very favorably to the present administration.  Other Europeans and Brits were beginning to realize what many of us knew - that the Democrats are protectionists and trade is going to be more restricted now. I hope they enjoy it because I suspect we won't.