The extremes of reality... From sublime family relaxation and a boat ride of wind-swept peace from a Malaysian Island, to speeding through Hamburg, Paris, Italy and Holland in five days of intense commercial discussion, then an unexpected deviation to Chile after the tragic death of a close colleague.

Strategy and learning via two days in Tuscany - an intensity driving through that perfection and history, countering negative visions. Self preservation, protection, credibility. Can we make time stand still? The looming threat is always there.

Sometimes, even the grime can't disguise true perfection. Through a dirty window inside the Ufizzi, over the Ponte Veccio.

Given that we are intelligent enough to conceptualise Humanism (e.g. Poliziano)

Humanism asserts that the nature of the universe depicted by modern science makes unacceptable any supernatural or cosmic guarantees of human values.
Obviously humanism does not deny the possibility of realities as yet
undiscovered, but it does insist that the way to determine the existence and
value of any and all realities is by means of intelligent inquiry and by the
assessment of their relations to human needs.

...how is it that Fascism ever got onto the starting grid?

Is it possible to have faith in Humanism? Or to have Faith in Humanism?

If Botticelli's Calumny of Apelles is anything to go by, we have the right to ask the question.

Vale CPG... this afternoon there was sunlight on the top of the mountain. In the end, the tussle between religion and pragmatism is only considered by those left behind.

Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it....