Hi Nicky:

Thanks for the recent e-mails - particularly the revelation of HARITROLL, clearly a major leap forward in your career (or would that be full circle?). We await (with baited breath, whatever that is) the next episode (and perhaps even the preceding one).

The climate change debate goes on... and on.. and on. Actually many geologists remain sceptical about the role of humanity and CO2 emissions in the climate changes that are occurring (most of the many scientists involved tend to be climatologists and atmospheric scientists). Yes, the physics seems reasonable but the earth has changed its climate many times before from hot to cold and from cold to hot without the aid of human intervention.

In many cases through mechanisms such as volcanic eruptions, plate motions, changes in ocean currents, solar radiation, meteorite impacts and any number of various cyclical interactions that are not understood. In fact the global climate went through a significant cooling period from 1935 - 1975 that is well documented and coincides with steadily increasing CO2 emissions (including World War II) - no one seems to have a very satisfactory explanation.

Maybe this is more in your line of work, but I was always a bit uncomfortable with the premise that mankind could affect the climate - "hubris", I think it is called. What seems to be clear is that the climate is currently changing (although there is some dispute about whether it has now stopped for a few years) and there will likely be considerable impacts - on agriculture, sea levels, vegetation etc. Dealing with those impacts is the urgent issue, not vainly trying to stop something that we don't understand. King Canute had it right, telling the sea to retreat is not going to work. Reducing emissions may very well not work either - at best it will take 50-100 years and that is far from sure.

Over here it is as cold as ever, snow on the ground and more to come - and people wonder why Canada spends so much on energy consumption!

We are both fine - down to Toronto for a week after Christmas to see Judy's family and Peter's family. In February we go to California to touch total unreality for a couple of weeks. I am designing too many theatre sets (a great exercise in unreality) but it remains fun and creatively rewarding.

Alison's estate got sorted out, although against her express wishes, her ashes are to be buried in Kingsthorne, Hereford, so that they will be near the Anderson family. She wanted them to go to Lechlade with the rest of the Riddihough/Guenaults but Colin and the boys decided against it. I expressed my concern about this. I may go ahead and put an inscription on the Lechlade gravestone anyway.

The closest we came to England this year was Paris in October. We are not sure whether we will make it next year either. Visiting Martine and family in France is probably now more important when we can afford it..

I hope that you are keeping well, fine tuning your sense of humour as best you can. This is time that everyone wishes Merry Christmas. I remember you singing one of the Christmas songs with Krishna substituted for "Christmas" at Dartmouth - sounded good. So all the best for the New Year - keep in touch.

Love

Robin.