Thanks a lot guys,

very detailled and informative answers!
Apparently there are just now "absolute" true rules such as:

Airplanes always land in the same direction as they took off.
Airplanes take off downhills and land uphills.
Airplanes both take off and land with headwind. etc...

Alas, no rule without exception ;-)

Still, the elevation of the RWY being in its centre (as claimed by D Ramapriya) still denies any logic as far as I can see.

John