R and R Leave Program

Those who have been concerned of late that my heavy workload and manifold commitments are beginning to take their toll will be pleased to hear that tomorrow I am taking a break from my normal stressful routine and going on holiday. Of course I realise that on my return there will be a heavy accumulation of neglected duties—unrefilled ice trays, bottles to be recycled, and several emails (perhaps one or more of them requiring a response)—but I am confident that I shall tackle the backlog with renewed vigour, and even manage to bring myself up-to-date with the newspapers within a few days.

The holiday itself, though, will not be without its exertions. I am spending the week with my old friend Grumio, the Bruton Mews Bohemian, in a cottage in the Cotswolds. The pub is a good few yards walk away and from time to time we may decide to seek intellectual sustenance and a change of menu by making forays to the equidistant Cheltenham and Oxford; there will also be the pressures of the vibrant Stow-on-the-Wold market and the Bourton-on-the-Water aviaries to cope with. But we are hoping that in the afternoons and evenings some serious sitting about and a relaxed but closely-fought game or two of Laskers (or Lasca) will enable us to recover from any exhaustion which may result from frenetic morning activities.