Departmental Photograph: What a commotion!

Today was the day of our annual departmental photograph.

The photograph here is of the group assembled on the "scaffold", before they are joined by senior staff, who will sit in the front row.

What a performance it all is. First of all, it has not to rain.... Our optimiistic receptionist always assures us that the day selected will be fine, but she isn't always right.

First I show you a picture of some of the great and the good who are destined for the front row. And here are more of them. It turns into a social occasion, with a nice opportunity to chat, but one of the photographers is amongst them, and getting restive.

This is the arrival of the hordes.

They are sorted into height order, before being led to the scaffold, and then being guided to their places. The senior people still are not in place, but continue frivolous discussions about "soft matter", and other arcane subjects.