Talking to Phil in Germany last night,

He wants me to visit him for a couple of weeks at the end of October, which I am agreeable to, though it rather skews my travel plans--I am thinking now, if indeed my expected insurance settlement will admit of an end-of-life European Grand Tour,  of flying first to St. Petersburgh in September (hopefully before they turn the water off in the fountains at Peterhof), then flying or going by train to Prague--Phil advises me that air travel is very cheap in Europe these days, so flying--then perhaps to Vienna, and from Vienna to Madrid and the Escorial (I must must see the Prado).  Then Lisbon and Queluz.

Just talked to Kirsten, told her my plans, and to keep practising, because I hope in the first weeks of September to be playing Haydn symphonies on her piano with her.