A funny thing [almost] happened on the way to the forum …
I’ve been in Italy for Christmas. No news, no TV, no interweb, just having a well earned break, soaking up Ancient Roman culture (and modern Chianti). Almost no geology. There was just a bit of confusion I had to settle with the tour guide between two of the local building stones, travertine or ‘tufa’ and igneous tuff or ‘tufo’. Other than that it was a complete break. Well, as much a complete break that a geologist can have – I was the one studying the plinths and marble floors and walls rather than the artwork in the Villa Borghese. But, hey-ho, each to his own.
I was, however, disappointed to miss the Italian earthquake on the 23rd, I was just a little too far south to be in the felt zone.
Image: EMSC
In other news, it is gratifying to have been selected (along with 99 others) amongst the 100 Best Blogs for Earth Science Scholars. I hope that in 2009 I can continuing blogging well and often enough to do this justice.
Which brings me on to first, wishing you all a happy new year and, second, to my new year resolution. I have learned that rash promises can seriously damage one’s lifestyle (alcohol free Januarys can seem like a good idea in late December but not so clever a couple of weeks later). Others, elsewhere in the geoblogosphere, have committed to publishing papers, chairing conference sessions and the like. I’m taking my inspiration from a Liverpudlian poet, Roger McGough – aim low in life, and miss.
