The kids normally don't answer as Gaeilge (unless they want something) but their travel opened their minds. They won't eschew Nintendos (or 'no-friendos') to study languages but had little difficulty understanding Austrian ski instructors. They seemed mystified as to why people would be negative about minority tongues. Tyroleans speak their own dialect and High German when they must. Most speak passable English. Dutch speak English, German and sometimes other tongues - albeit with strong accents.

Manchán should try finding proper German speakers in rural Tyrol.

19 January, en route to Milan THE alarm sounds. Quickly switching the buzzer off, you want to luxuriate in bed for a few moments.

Suddenly it's much later. Cufflinks won't "t through sleeves. The car won't start. I am late. Traffic is heavy, weather is bad, hard to get parking, and the flight is overbooked and closed. I seek alternative ways to Milan, buy a new ticket, sprint to the gate. Texting and calling to reschedule, I arrive in London airport running for a connecting flight, when the real alarm wakes me. It's only 5am and the flight isn't till 7.20! Just a dream - or maybe premonition.

Taking no chances, I leap straight of bed!

20-25 January, Istanbul WEare nervous organising a technical seminar for Iraqi ministry officials. So many things can go wrong - travel, security. Yet 16 people congregated in Turkey from eight different origins.

It's not always so smooth: Last time we brought Iraqis to Ireland, we specified 'no ham in their sandwiches'. What sandwiches came? Ham and cheese! The second day came bacon, lettuce and tomato. "But you only said no ham!"

The third day came roast pork.

The Muslims were understanding.

They are more interested in substance than detail. The best contributors don't hassle. Moaners don't contribute. The lesson is, leave nothing to chance.

Iraqi technicians tell me I look like Mel Gibson as William Wallace in Braveheart, produced here in Ireland, with the FCA playing supporting roles. I have also been accused of looking like George Clooney in Syriana.

Normally you can skip out of conferences to make calls, check emails and conduct urgent tasks.

This Seismic course lacked a spare minute.

Why weren't we taught like this at school? The key is to make things relevant and useful - as with languages. Education is about getting people to think - but not what to think.

Funny how long you can invest in an industry without understanding the science. I now realise how imprecise techniques can be and wonder about past setbacks.

Investors generally ignore science.

When there's a breakthrough, such as Elan's Alzheimer's drug, there is a euphoric assumption that there will be few setbacks. But biology doesn't work like that.

R+D is a jigsaw, where you're guessing at the ultimate picture. You have few pieces, and those are rough-edged and could fit in several places.

Technology can suddenly leap forward. Seismic's origins are partly in anti-submarine warfare but the arrival of accessible computers and useful software transformed oil exploration.

Experience and insight resides in people who have retired or even been made redundant. Managers often act correctly without knowing why. Knowledge exists within organisations and is not always written down. Even when recorded, it often lies unread in files.

Older people have a healthier scepticism about computers because they learnt when they had to think and grasp principles before running software. Grey hair gives the gravitas to challenge senior management and accepted wisdom.

Some have closed minds and fear computers. Others remain more open than their grandchildren. The future will be generous to educated retirees with open minds. It will be harsh on those unwilling to adapt.

But just as people can learn, they can also unlearn: The Nintendo generation has lost contact with objective reality. Many would rather stay in plush of"ces than camp out in the field looking at rocks.

Computer models are useful tools but they're only modelling a complex world. When they drill dry wells, they sometimes try to force the geology into a flawed model to explain failure.

They are often blind to the limitations of their techniques - which are often responsible for failure.

The Irish diamond explorers illustrate the difference: Kalahari gambled on a magic technology inadequately related to real world conditions. It got broker support but lost money and was acquired for paper. Firestone promotes brilliantly to London institutions. But while institutions stay invested, they haven't profited: Firestone's share languishes below its 1998 issue price. African Diamonds neglected promotion to institutions and didn't pioneer technology. Instead it applied common sense to existing prospects and brought in partners.

Its share price soared an adjusted 20 times in under four years. Just as it's easiest to grasp probabilities by thinking of bookie odds, I relate physics to snooker.

Typical of geophysicists, we then plan our evening's entertainment without reference to maps!

23 January, Istanbul hotel WE receive international channels and debate media as well as message. BBC delights in every opportunity to embarrass Blair's Middle East policy. Today it's highlighting international surveys about US foreign policy. But the mainstream media should lead with facts and follow with opinion. Of course, even 'facts' are subjectively chosen and presented. But the Financial Times and International Herald Tribune have a healthier approach than our media: first news, then op-ed.

Breathless can't sells papers. But it's childish to let others do our thinking - or read columns to be scandalised. Yet as INM shareholders, we want to sell papers.

24 January, Istanbul HOPEFULLY shareholders appreciate that I'm missing my Tuesday night run and Wednesday evening soccer.

Turkey has gone sour on its unrequited love for the EU. Was the turning point when George W Bush called for Turkey's admission?

Immediately EU citizens and Turks became suspicious. Even the liberal US state department is sceptical of further European integration. Many suspect that Anglo-American enthusiasm for EU expansion is partly motivated by desire to dilute the EU.