Our team's Christmas meal today at lunchtime. A dozen or so of us marched off to a local hostelry for a feast and a half. Fairly rolled back to work. Of particular note was the presence of my predecessor. I'd only heard of him by rumor before, but it appears he does exist. Enjoying retirement, roaming the city and its markets on a bike, popping up for events like lunch. Felt about as odd as encountering a new member of the team at TheOldPlace last Thursday. Fractures in the fabric of things that don't feel quite 'right'. But I can't put my finger on quite what it is.