Posted: Oct 21, 2011 12:26 am
Ah, I've been busy preparing for various forthcoming hectic real life events, so I've only just alighted upon this.
A happy day indeed ... and I look forward to seeing our new member of the officer corps buffing his boots and polishing his sidearm in the very near future.
As for any fear he may have about doing a "half-assed" job, or cocking things up, I'm minded to recall the words of one of my Entomology Society colleagues, who, when I joined the staff of that organisation, said to me "Look, don't worry about a thing, we're all amateurs at this game, myself included". When I tell you that the individual who uttered these words to me is a scientist with an international reputation in his field, and who has species named after him, this puts it into perspective.
So likewise, I'm going to say to you, old friend, don't worry about a thing, we're all amateurs at this game.
Not that I consider myself to possess anything remotely akin to the reputation of the scientist I've just quoted above, who has spent the best part of 40 years diligently beavering away in his field - to match his output, I would probably need to live to the age of 110, not something I foresee happening unless I'm extremely fortunate. However, I thought I'd indulge a little bit of humour with the above. It's one of the perks of the job.
A happy day indeed ... and I look forward to seeing our new member of the officer corps buffing his boots and polishing his sidearm in the very near future.
As for any fear he may have about doing a "half-assed" job, or cocking things up, I'm minded to recall the words of one of my Entomology Society colleagues, who, when I joined the staff of that organisation, said to me "Look, don't worry about a thing, we're all amateurs at this game, myself included". When I tell you that the individual who uttered these words to me is a scientist with an international reputation in his field, and who has species named after him, this puts it into perspective.
So likewise, I'm going to say to you, old friend, don't worry about a thing, we're all amateurs at this game.
Not that I consider myself to possess anything remotely akin to the reputation of the scientist I've just quoted above, who has spent the best part of 40 years diligently beavering away in his field - to match his output, I would probably need to live to the age of 110, not something I foresee happening unless I'm extremely fortunate. However, I thought I'd indulge a little bit of humour with the above. It's one of the perks of the job.