Just finished my first own CERN Guide tour … some people, mainly trainees, from the Swiss branch of a big pharma company somewhere in the ‘German’ speaking part of Switzerland had the “pleasure” (original quote :) ) to be touring the LHCb exhibition and the Delphi under ground area with me … was quite fun!
And there is more to come I guess/think/hope …
Saturday Picknick & Sunday BBQ

Since everybody seemed to be gone or busy I finally didn’t go skiing this weekend. Instead I spent some time working at CERN and had two nice chill-out meals.
Saturday we went up Saleve to have a picknick on one of the peaks with a nice view of the Rhone valley and the alps. Unfortunately someone (who’s name shall not be mentioned, not me) forgot the lighter so we couldn’t get the BBQ going …
To make up for this we met again today to have the BBQ in my garden (picture shows view from my window) … hmm!
IIHF World Championship ’09
The World Championships in hockey are about to begin … exactly seven days left!
This is the perfect time to take part in another one of my online betting games.
In the recently refurbished and renamed section “Honour & Glory” you can now try to gain both.
I added some new statistics and features to the system …
LHC Status and Plans
Many have asked me about the status and the restart of the LHC since I am back at CERN.
So to wrap it up a little … the official CERN statement [press release] is still, that we foresee to have first beams in the LHC at the end of September this year, with collisions following in late October!
As far as ATLAS is concerned we will have most parts of the machine up and running already starting this month for commissioning and cosmic data taking …
Thanks to all who remembered …
Thanks for all the good wishes and such things …
Even though I am not in Berlin these days, there will of course be a party! Most likely I will make up for it in July, maybe August!
For those in and around Geneva, there might be one next weekend … details will follow.
Those who forgot, will have their chance to compensate by bringing large and expensive gifts ;)