Greetings all!

Yes indeed, it is me, conclusive (well nearly..) proof that I am still alive and that I apparently do still read Imperium.

I note with interest that the time of year for elections has rolled around once more (indeed it is somewhat late as it was technically due in January) and I quite understand Andrew's desire for a rest from the role.

As those of you who were around when Andrew took over will know, I have anticipated a time (with some disquiet I must admit) when Andrew would step down and Imperium might founder once and for all or worse, end up in uncaring hands.

In the months since my laying down my labour of love and the subsequent sad mortal loss of our dear, tireless Fabio and the more insubstantial but nonetheless undesirable loss for the game of veterans like Kimball and Katrin, I have found myself in more mellow vein regarding the future of Imperium than I would have expected.

Indeed, as Andrew knows, I placed the eventual loss of these very key veterans as a sure motivation for my eventual decision to close Imperium down.

However, Andrew and the rest of you have slowly changed my mind, as surely as the desire to maintain control over my labour of love slipped away to be replaced by fond memories and a happiness to see a new group of people finding enjoyment without feeling any jealousy, rancour or other negative emotion.

I therefore wholeheartedly welcome this experiment with a new phase in Imperium's history, with a post-Andrew umpire, in the hope that he too will continue to respect the worth and value of this unique game and let it continue to bring enjoyment to the lives of current and future players.

As to the request for editing privileges by our good Caesar, I have no objections.

Last but most certainly not least, it is incumbent on me to have the honour and the privilege to do with Andrew as I have done for one or two other umpires before me and I was fortunate to have said of me by the great (and most probably late) Rich DeBaun: My compliments and thanks for a superb job Andrew, well done, Most certainly deserving of a grass crown for stepping up and saving our 'army' when things looked grim. I wish you a happy return to the back-benches, hopefully free from those annoying but hard to resist bouts of paternalism that afflict those lucky enough to have adopted this particular child for any length of time. May your Republicanism be great and your taste of omnipotence fade to a dim, somewhat wistful memory.

Ave atque vale!