staff group meeting

Went to the National Gallery at 6.30 for a quick guided tour of some of the paintings. Apparently, before Leonardo, artist in the 16th century portrayed distance with straight lines, rather that diffusing colours. Charles I was an avid art collector, but when he was beheaded, most of it got sold. His successor, Charles II bought it all back. Napoleon left Maximillian to die at the hands of the Mexicans, when he repeatedly refused to help out the stranded fellow countryman. During the second world war, all the painting were taken to a Welsh mine for safe keeping, then one per month was brought back. People used to form long queues to glimpse at which painting was brought back.

Had dinner in Zizzi's, an Italian (chain?) restaurant on The Strand. The pizza was surprisingly good, after the piece of crapola I was served in Pizza Express a few months back. I drank lots of red wine. The chat around the table was re-run of all the previous conversations I have had: not being paid enough, moving companies, living in London, costs, shares and work. People talk about work, I talk about work. We all nod our heads, but we do not have any idea what the other person is saying. I drink more red wine. I don't even know what I'm saying. In Silicon Valley, there is a higher percentage of autism than any other part of America. Something to do with the brains of overtly logical, but socially inept people having children with other logical, but socially inept people.

Got back home pissed, and took the piss out of Olav. Carroll had to piss in a pot in the morning, but I think he forgot. Pissed the chance away.