But his every word will still be awaited, his every written statement demanded by newspapers.
Two things seem certain: it will involve giants and be awaited with justifiably bated breath.
Souls can't move that quickly, and are left behind, and must be awaited, upon arrival, like lost luggage.
Full results are expected in 2006, with interim results available by the end of 2004, and will be awaited with interest by the transplant community.
Whether letters from Mr Gates will come to be awaited as keenly as missives from the "Sage of Omaha" remains to be seen.
ITV's figures for Royal Ascot and, above all, next year's National will now be awaited with perhaps a hint of apprehension.
Cavendish's views will be awaited with interest once the expected announcement of his move to Sky has been made, perhaps next week.
And for the foreseeable future each quarterly troika review will be awaited with bated breath as the conditionality of the loans require not only considerable effort from Greece but also a bit of good luck".
"Certainly they will be awaited with trepidation in some quarters and with undisguised relish in others where ugly scenes are the beginning, the middle and the end of any football match.
"It follows that the formation of a new government and the approval of its program should be awaited and that actions prior to that would be premature". The United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations, a group of Middle East peace interlocutors known as the quartet, had recommended last month that Israel delay freezing the funds until after Hamas forms the next cabinet.
Developments are to be awaited with interest.
