At least 41 years (and counting)

Another 4 point loss, and such parallels with the running out of stones in the last after one huge, crucial miss that ended things earlier.  As you wonder if the Gush might ever win it at this point, so long have been the struggles.  Funny to see the last failure noted here, back in 2007.  Pre-Chicago St. Pat's, when there was so much travel and excitement and freshness on the mind.  You had just met C. at Oxford weeks before, it was the first time meeting the new legal neighbour across the street, and a move into the first proper legal office beckoned.  Nine years on, and still striving after wind, to quote the good book from The Standing Order in Edinburgh.

So much meaningless law on the plate now, so much striving in circular arguments these months.  How to phrase them just so, and wondering what word or turn of phrase or slide will serve as the ultimate convincer, as other procedural arguments play out.  All so foolhardy, and uninspiring.  Which leads in its turn through the depressing phase of winter, the difficulty in rising, the dirty piles of clothing and uncleaned floors a sign of the troubled and saddened and unmotivated mind.  It is for this that I think and hope that T-cook could act as saviour, a last best chance, if only to force the hand to action, and compel a more vigorous confrontation with the wonder of the natural world. 

The time to sort things draws ever closer.  The Ides of March and then the Fool of April.  Take it, I think.  And if the lasting result is that you end up with an expensive shack of a place that has fallen down around you, then not to worry, of course, for it is within you to pick up the pieces and build again amidst the existing and ancient shelter. 

There have been many promised spaces for writing, and none have met the test.  Make 803 the one.