The mist of melancholy

This post is an edited extract of an email exchange between editors of The Project Manager (TPM) and Engineering World (EW). My only conclusion is that we're a strange bunch. Except Rob, he's all good.

From my beloved Rob, as forwarded by TPM to EW:
On behalf of AIPM i'm happy to give permission for Engineering World to reuse/reprint the article "Making it Big" from the Oct/Nov 07 issue of TPM, as long as appropriate credit is given.

TPM: My managing editor just wanted me to mention that if you wanted to edit down the article, to send me the edited version to check over before it goes to print as she’s had bad experiences in the past.

EW: No worries, I tend not to edit the articles in EW – except for style consistency type edits.

Is that a storm brewing again out there? Last night’s sunset down the beach was awesome as the mist of melancholy fell over the city.

TPM: It does look a bit dark. I walk home so I did notice a ray of sunshine yesterday evening. Apparently there will be a partial eclipse tomorrow afternoon but it doesn’t look like we’ll see any sun the way things are going.

EW: Yeah, I was just reading about the partial eclipse on the Sydney Observatory website! The sunset yesterday was tucked behind the clouds so this red glow pulsated through the bubbling grey clouds, not setting them off in a huge red sky – more just a deep set heart throb under a semitranslucent alien skin. Or maybe it was just blood rushing to my head and tinting my eyes...

TPM: (replies so as not to offend but changes the subject) I just had a look at your website and I realise your publication covers water engineering. Our next issue has the theme of ‘water’. Do you have anything that may be of interest to project managers? It doesn’t have to be technical; actually we prefer if it wasn’t technical.

EW: (sends a selection of articles)

TPM: I am also interested in:

• Water Conservation Principles On Commercial Premises


• Harvesting Urban Stormwater


• Establishing a Water Futures Market

Not sure if you have time to send me those to take a look at sometime this week, but I’m most grateful for your assistance thus far.

Do you think the clouds will clear for the eclipse this afternoon?

EW: (sends requested articles) Here you go.

If the clouds don’t look like clearing, I might fly down to Antarctica for a peek... or I’ll dream a little dream and look at the site http://shadowandsubstance.com/

And my recommended daily dose – a website that changes every day http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/

Happy Chinese New Year! May the year of the rat bring about new beginnings...