Published: 5 May, 2009, 18:39
Edited: 22 March, 2011, 11:35
Hello again,
First, let me make an apology for my prolonged absence. I have had a bit of a strange run of misfortune that has left my mind elsewhere. If you saw the surgery, you know that I had to cure my horrendous snoring in our laser program a few weeks ago. But what you probably didn't gather was that due to a slight human error, I ended up bleeding quite profusely from a pair of singed nostrils.
Nothing to do with the technology I might add, tools are all very well and good, but even the best can fall afoul of a little human fallibility. Waking up with a frankly unfeasible amount of gauze wedged into the old nasal cavities, I didn't really feel like writing to you all, some of whom may have been about to sit down to a meal, recounting the nitty gritty of that experience. And I will refrain from doing so now. If any ghouls really feel I must share this story, leave your e-mail addresses below and I will indulge you privately.
And then I managed to damage my foot on the last of Moscow's icy steps before the current balmy interlude, and limped becrutched around the city for the best part of two weeks cursing my stars for rotten luck – my stars and the cab drivers who made a pretty penny from my condition as I was unable to use the metro easily with my tripod gait. Don't believe me? Go and Youtube our latest "Glonass" program, and if you are as eagle-eyed as my dear mother, you'll spot a John Waynesque walk as I talk to the camera.
Anyway, if any of you have kept faith with me, and I trust my previous diligence means a couple of you might have, you may be wondering why the wanderer has returned. Well, on RT at the moment I'm interviewing spacemen. Not little green ones I may or may not have imagined under anaesthesia on the operating table, either. I mean real bona fide Cosmonauts.
It was an absolute pleasure. A Canadian, a Russian, and a European about to go off for six months and further our knowledge of the solar system, and allow their bodies to be experimented on in order to bring closer that great adventure science has planned for a manned trip to Mars. Generous with their time and knowledge, incredibly thoughtful, and as lively an interview panel as a journalist could hope to meet, it was an easy day's work, and a huge amount of fun.
And all credit to you, the RT viewers as well, because it was you who supplied the questions. Maximum points to all those who contributed a query, as they were as intelligent and pertinent as the answers the guys gave you.
If you get the chance, do check it out either on the channel or here on the website. I don't think you'll be disappointed.
If you've read this and not written me off weeks ago as a feckless wastrel then thank you. I'll try to be more prolific in the future.
And before I go, a special "get well soon" to the convalescing and the crutch-bound as you have my sincere sympathy, brothers and sisters.
As always, if anyone has any ideas for programs or features you'd like us here on Tech Update to cover, do drop me a line. I promise we do investigate all your suggestions, and even if you haven't seen one you've given to us on the show yet, it doesn't mean we've forgotten about you or that you won't see it soon.
It's been nice to chat, let's not leave it so long next time!