First day at work and boy is it different: a couple of days ago I was walking along Fifth avenue and now I am back at the office in the UK. Feel a bit sad still as I miss my woman but I think to alleviate this I will need to arrange for another trip to the US in the fall. I was really perky the six weeks prior to my travel as I had a vacation to look forward too. Feel a bit run down as well - developing a dry cough and feel as if I have a cold on the way. I am a bit disappointed with the work (or lackof) at the office - there were a number of projects and tasks that should have been completed in my two week absence but no, on my return everthing is still as it was. Some of the equipment is still in the boxes!

What is the US doing now? I feel that the gunsight is now moving off Iraq and trundling over to Syria instead. Now Syria (I think) is a sponsor of a number of terrorist organisations and that a war will start with Syria around the fall of 2003. Afghanistahn is still in ruins and where is Usama? No sign of him and I think Saddam will go the same way. The American military is now quite confident and buoyant - I have ignored the nay-sayers stating that everything was a failure and that Rumsfeld was playing the Armchair general. As look, this war is now effectively over in four weeks with about 100 fatalities for the coalition. While I don't support the war, one has to admit it was carried out quickly and effectively. Now there is chaos and disorder on the ground and the reuse of Saddam's own police force....this time backed up by Americans. Funny thing peace isn't it?