ITEX... we survived!

Well. I've just got home from the 'ITEX weekend' in Jersey. 11 mad friends, two chaotic houses, one very very long walk, a lot of Love Bars, peanut butter sandwiches and packets of crisps, and a few bottles of beer and cider thrown in - makes for a mad, tiring, but rewarding weekend. A good time was had by all, I think (as the organiser, it's always a bit difficult to get a perspective on how things have actually gone, but I think it was all ok!).

Massive thanks go to my parents, Kelly, and Amy for putting up with the chaos and being excellent hosts. I hope tranquility has returned to your houses tonight and that we've not left anything behind or forgotten to do anything!

The walk was certainly a challenge, but we all did amazingly. Richelle and Naomi were an excellent support crew, picking us up when we dropped and getting to the later check points ahead of us to encourage us and point us in the right direction. With varying degrees of pain and injury, we managed the following:

Sally - 17 miles
Tania - 20 miles
Me and Steve D - 26.2 miles
Marty - 30 miles
Steve B and Rich - 32 miles
Helen - 35 miles
Pete - 48.1 miles

Yes, Pete did the full distance! Massive congratulations to him, and to everyone else - I think we all went further than we thought we could, and it amounts to fantastic personal achievements all round.

There are some photos in the usual place, but Rich has more (and better) which will probably appear here at some point over the next few days.

The walk also sees me having completed one of my New Years resolutions - so that's one down, and 8 to go. I had a number of fantastic birthday presents last week, but by far the most inspired and thoughtful was a collection of gifts from Na, Steve, Helen and Pete, themed on my resolutions (a Love Bar for the walk, The Godfather to read, An Affair to Remember to watch, a sleep mask, an Italian DVD, a wooden bracelet for luck on not falling over, a toy saxophone, a map of Bali, and the London by London book). Fantastic!

I am however left with some general aches, and a slightly more concerning pain in my right knee... having already damaged the ligaments in my left knee (now mostly healed) and torn the cartiledge in the now infamous frisbee incident last year, I was a bit worried about how that knee would fare on the walk - very well it seems, because that knee feels fine now. The right knee however, not so - it hurts, it much the same way as the ligament pain did in the other knee. I'm really hoping that there won't be any lasting damage and that the pain will ease off.

So, Pete, Helen, Steve, Sally, Naomi, Steve, Tania, Rich, Marty and Richelle: Same place, same time, next year...?!? ;-)

New

So, as predicted, a slow blogging week, again. My impetus for this has dwindled a bit. That's partly because I've been really busy, and this has not been a good week at work. It's also because I'm being distracted by a rather nice new influence in my life. I'm not ready to reveal all yet, but it's sure having an impact on me, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.

In the meantime, for a week which includes my birthday, the forthcoming week is looking all a bit stressful!! Too much going on at work, which is adding to the stress, and then the Walk of Doom, as Steve has finally dawned on us... oh dear. I have blisters from wearing nice but painful shoes to the UHSU Ball on Friday (pictures in the usual place) - and having blisters at the beginning of a walk which is blatantly going to give me blisters is not a happy state of affairs!

Still, when I've had a go at it, at least I'll have done one of my New Years Resolutions!

Blurgh

Another sparse blogging week... and this post is not going to be a long one. Words fail me - I just can't anything down! It's been a mad and intense week, and I'm just not sure that I know how I feel about all sorts of things that have happened.

One think I do know though is that the Bon Jovi gig tonight was totally fab, so that's all good.

More later, when I have a bit more ability to work out which letters should go in front of others to form words for constructive sentences - and then I'll be making a bit more sense!

The big one

Well, it's been an unusually long time since my last post... probably because I've really not spent a great deal of time in front of the computer for various reasons (well, not this one anyway, the work one, yes) including this.

I said in my last post that life is a rollercoaster.... well, it sure is. At the moment I feel like I'm on this one currently the record holder for the faster coaster in the world. Things are constantly changing all around me, and I'm finding it a little hard to keep up. On the whole, things are exciting, stimulating and... uh, interesting. I'm feeling slightly dazed and confused, but I just need to get stuck in and get on with it.

This week has been what is supposed to be a rest week at work - a time to catch up on all the things we never have time to do usually. The only problem is, I've not really done that, because the quiet time bought out my rebellious streak, and I spent a lot of time enjoying short days and reasonable lunches... which is why I now find myself at the end of a three hour stint of work on a Sunday, with more to go before I'm ready for tomorrow. I am at least very much enjoying sitting in the garden in the sun working, rather than being stuck inside - thank god for wireless internet, again! - although the laptop is getting sunstroke...!

The show was fantastic - and very funny. It is a credit to all involved in Act2 that such a show can be pulled together without too much stress, and with a hefty dose of fun and humour along the way. I very much enjoyed mucking in with the crew and being 'one of the boys' on the production side of this one. I'm also going to take this opportunity to say that I think Marty did a fantastic job on his directorial debut - your influence on the play, and the actors, really shone through, and it is a great credit to you - so shut your noise and take the complements!

Also since my last post, I went to the England vs Barbarians rugby match at Twickenham - it was a fab match and a great day out - and then on Bank Holiday Monday I did some things I really enjoy and haven't done for ages - wandering around London, having a Harrods picnic in Hyde Park, going to a pub quiz (albeit that we weren't very good), and did some other stuff. Great. Exactly the kind of stuff I should do more often.

Life is a rollercoaster...

just gotta ride it.

Having excelled myself with my previous long post, full of information, updates and innuendo, I've exhausted my blogging insipiration for a while I think.

All sorts of complicated things going on, most of which not directly involving me, but seeing people turn to me for support - which is a nice position to be in in a way - I'm always happy to be a listening ear and be dispensing some (probably useless) advice. I can only hope that it does some good somewhere along the way...

Resolution Review

In January, I posted what amounted to 9 New Year's resolutions.

They were:

1. Learn to play the sax
2. Learn to speak Italian again
3. Watch more films
4. Try to get less injuries
5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk
6. Do as much travelling as possible
7. Get more sleep
8. Spend more time exploring London
9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

Although it'’s not half way through the year yet, which would be the logical time to do this (but hey, I can'’t be logical in all aspects of my life!), it has occurred to me to review how I'm getting on with them. So, as at Saturday 20 May, roughly a bit more than a third of the way through the year, here is my progress report on each resolution so far:

1. Learn to play the sax

No action at all. Rubbish. Need to hire one to give it a try

2.Learn to speak Italian again

Also no action at all. Maybe I need to do what The Stig does when tearing cars round the Top Gear race track and listen to language tapes in the car

3. Watch more films

This one is actually going ok - see the list on the right hand side. The long plane journeys to Vegas, Marty and Richelle's crusade to improve my film knowledge, and the Naomi-originated film nights have helped!

4. Try to get less injuries

This one has actually been successful too - touch all the wood in the world! So far this year I've not had any major injuries, so far as I can remember, but do comment and correct me if you think I'm wrong! My knee is still playing up from the stupid frisbee injury (see a post about the beginning of September), especially today (see below) so that'll keep me in the feeb club for a while!

5. Make a good attempt at the ITEX walk

Well. There has been training going on, so that's got to be a good start! At the moment I'’m thinking that a realistic target for my '‘good attempt'’ would be halfway - 24 miles. That would still be a major achievement, so I'’d be happy with that. It's only 5 weeks away now!! Today Helen, Pete and I completed 17 miles (in just under 6 hours) and, apart from my stupid knee, not much hurts at the moment, so that's all good. Tomorrow I'll no doubt be suffering, but at the moment I feel ok, and that gives me confidence that I'll be able to make a decent attempt at the ITEX... might need a bit more training first though, and not sure where that's going to fit in!

6. Do as much traveling as possible

This one is panning out ok too. I've been to Edinburgh/ Glasgow, Las Vegas, and Aberdeen so far. I'’ve got 5 trips to Jersey, a trip to Edinburgh, a trip to Singapore, Bali and Lombok, and a trip to Canada booked. Plus a potential trip to New York and a possible trip to somewhere in Eastern Europe. And New Zealand, Fiji and San Francisco for Christmas and New Year. So I reckon I'll be able to give this one a great big tick at the end of the year!

7. Get more sleep

Hmpf. Might be better to skip this one. Given I'’ve had only 1 night where I've had more than 7 hours sleep since I got back from Vegas, I'm clearly failing miserably. If only the body and mind could actually function perfectly on four hours of sleep a night, I'’d be a happy bunny.

8. Spend more time exploring London

Really need to pay more attention to this one. I've managed to visit more restaurants and bars, but that isn't really what I had in mind when I made the resolution. I've got some exploring planned for the forthcoming bank holiday, so that will be a good start.

9. Complete the BBC Big Read Top 100 book list (which I've already been attempting for the past two years, I'm 45 books in!)

Ho hum. So this one isn't going too well either - I've not got my up to date list here, so I'm not sure what the actual numbers are, but I have a feeling that I'm up to 52 - so not much of an increase since January! I have lots of books ready to be read, but am seriously lacking in the time to read them.

Not too bad. A further review will follow some time in the next couple of months when I get a similar sort of urge to do it - but an update on the Itex walk will follow in advance of that, as it's on 23 June.

In the meantime, I'm very much enjoying being at home on a Saturday night. I can't remember the last time I was - and I've not woken up in my own bed on a Sunday morning for 8 weeks... that sounds deliberately debauched, just for my mum! I just hope I can sleep for a substantial period of time... I'm all set, clean sheets, clean pj's, just had a bath, nice dinner and a glass of wine, plenty of exercise today... let's see what happens!

I love having the occasional night like this where I can potter round the house and not do much - and I've just had a lovely dinner (tuna, Jersey potatoes (Yay!) and roast tomatoes). Such nights remind me of Saturday nights at Uni, when everyone used to go home and leave me to my own devices. It could have been lonely, but it wasn't, because I relished having the time completely to myself, being able to do exactly what I wanted to do, and having some peace to catch up with myself.

That's exactly what I'm doing tonight - it's 'Kate time' - and it's important. I'm alone, but I'm not lonely. Such nights add balance (and much needed rest!) and I can't help but think that I need to have them more often. The trouble with that is that it would mean compromising on other things, which I don't want to do. Ho hum. Time for some dessert to help me solve that conundrum...

Champagne

Tonight I have had a fantastic night with Helen, Pete and Steve, welcoming Steve into London life. We went here and here. At the former, we had dinner next to Andrew Lloyd Webber. At the latter... notice the date of the relaunch on the link. We happened in there and found out that they were intending to be closed, but because they finished the refurbishment early, they were open, so we were one of the first to experience the new surroundings (we went there a few months ago, and the decor has changed a fair bit). But, to be honest, it's not really about the decor - it's about the view.

28 floors up, and a nearly 360 degree view of London. Amazing. Awe inspiring, and 'happy and proud to be in London' thought provoking.

And to leave you with a quote we stumbled across in the drink menu on champagne:

I drink it when I'm happy, and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry, and I drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it... unless I'm thirsty.

Update: Very touching post about the evening from Steve here

Damn we're grown up

For the second time in as many weeks, I'm getting some inspiration for a post from Steve's blog (and stealing the wording of the title too). This is not good, it's got to stop. But, in the meantime, it kind of illustrates the point of this post...

Because we are grown up, in more ways than one. The title is prompted by Steve's comment on his blog describing me and accompanying a photo of me (a particularly horrendous photo, but he will be correcting that on threat of death - won't you Steve?!?) in a post about his birthday celebrations on Friday - which were really good. And mean he's a year older, so he is grown up in that sense, but he actually means something slightly different.

It's taken Steve and I a lot of time and effort to get to the stage of friendship and understanding which we enjoy now. When we spilt up (for he is my ex, just in case you don't know that) we were forced to deal with everything pretty quickly for a variety of reasons, and I firmly believe that forced us into establishing a strong and determined friendship. Had we not had that push, I'm not sure what would have happened. Maybe we would have worked things out to the stage they are at now anyway, but it would probably have been a whole lot harder and more complicated.

I'm very proud of us. We've built a strong and supportive friendship, although a lot of people don't understand how we have. I'm not sure I do all the time either, but I don't really care to analyse it too much, because it works, and that's what's important.

I've had another experience recently where I've had to draw on that kind of strength. I've learnt the true value of being open and honest with each other, of being realistic about your own strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly I've learnt that a sensible approach to things can ensure that people don't get hurt. Oh, and I've learnt the value of rhythm too.

Strong and lasting friendships are built on the basis of being sensible, honest and grown up.

Pictures from the weekend and various other recent things are in the usual place: here.

My 100th post

It might be a long one, it might not. The words in my head have not been forming themselves into bloggable sentences for some time now, hence the short and punchy postings.

When I started this blog back in August, I wasn’t really sure how long I’d keep it up, especially when, although I could access it for a while, my access from work was blocked. That was probably a very good thing, because it means that I can’t come on Blogger and unleash my frustration in the middle of the day. But it also means that I can only blog in the evenings and at the weekends – and this has the effect that the majority of my postings are affected by alcohol. I’m assured by those who are bearing with me and are still reading (although there's not been any comments for a while, so they may not still be with me!) that this makes my blog interesting to read, especially when they know I’ve been on a night out and can log on in the morning and see what I’ve been rambling in the small drunk hours of the morning.

I might also therefore be giving the impression that I drink a lot. On balance, I certainly drink more now than I did a few years ago. But my circumstances are completely different – I have a different job, different flat, different friends and a different relationship situation. This has an impact. My job falls into the ‘work hard play hard’ category, and if I couldn’t sustain a fulfilling social life, I don’t think I’d be able to manage the work. I need to get out and do normal things with friends in the evenings and weekends to add some perspective to my life. There are often massive contrasts, such as a few weeks ago when I was at a black tie dinner with some big big big wigs on a Monday night, and the Act2 gang were at karaoke at a formerly dodgy pub in our student town. Weird – but good.

I love that kind of contrast, and I also love my job. I think however that the time is nearly here for me to have a month off the booze. I did that last year, and the year before that, and it made a big difference. Trouble is, when I’ve done it before, it’s been in the winter, and it seems easier then somehow – now that we’re into May, the evenings are lighter, beer gardens are open, there are BBQ’s, and we’re into ‘birthday season’. Maybe I should aim to do what I vowed in Vegas instead (whilst battling a grade 10 hangover) – never to drink so much that I get a hangover.

The slight problem with that is that my hangovers are a bit unpredictable – I can get a shocker from three and a half pints of beer one time, and then the next time I’m completely fine. So I’m not sure that’s going to work either… but I really should pay attention to being a bit more sensible.

So, summer is here. I love summer. I’m very much more a summer person than a winter person. As I sit here on the balcony at 9pm, the sun is setting over the city, I’m having a glass of wine (oopss; see above!) and thinking that the feeling I had at the BBQ on Wednesday that good times and things are ahead is still here. I like it. On the whole, I love my life. I’m in a happy place, and I like it.

I’ve also done one of my favorite things tonight – cooked myself dinner. That might sound like a run of the mill chore-like thing to do to some, but actually I love cooking, and find it very relaxing. Trouble is, it’s not really very compatible with the aforementioned work-hard-play-hard lifestyle, and I don't therefore get to do it very much, and it's great when I do. Most people take eating at home for granted. Another one of those contrasts eh…

Those contrasts which are part of my life, and they add to it – I embrace them and make the most of them.

So, a long post. A varied post. The 100th post. I’m not sure that I’ve done that significant landmark in my blogging history justice, but at least there are coherent sentences, and not too much alcohol influence.

Onwards, to the weekend. Looking forward to it, and it should be comparatively relaxing compared to the past few. Perhaps apart from the 18 mile walk on Sunday – eek!

Number 99

There are (finally) Vegas pictures here.

There are also no sensible words forming themselves into sentences in my head, so this will be a short post.

Steve has posted about last night - it was really a very good night, and I too have a feeling that it marked the beginning of something good.

The next post will be my 100th, so I'm going to save my effort for that!

Exhausted, but happy

So much has happened this week that I just can't condense it into anything sensible, not least because I'm totally exhausted and I ache all over.

It's been an eventful week, finished off with a fantastic weekend... and I'll leave it there for now.

Pictures from Andy and Lyndsay's wedding, which was just perfect, and very special, are in the usual place.

Pictures from Vegas should be there on Wednesday once I have Helen's and we therefore have a full set.

Sleep for me now, much needed!!

So much I could say...

There's so much I could say about tonight, but I can't. Work confidentiality and all that, don't want to get Dooced!

Also, Blogger wasn't working when I logged on, so most of the drunkeness which would normally be here, is actually here on t the messageboard. Hee hee.

Run Pete Run

Collapsed on the sofa feeling guilty. Spent today watching Pete run the London Marathon, which he did spectacularly well, despite the rain. Apart from now I'm really tired, which is rubbish, because all we did was wander round London a bit, he ran 26 and a bit miles, so I have no justification for being cream crackered!

Anyway, I've had a lovely weekend hanging out with the boys (mainly, joined by Tania and Helen and Pete's family for some welcome female company). Thank you boys. I'm enjoying a rest from the testosterone now though!

So, on to facing the week ahead... having just bought an EXTREMELY expensive dress for a black tie dinner tomorrow, I'm hoping that that will make me feel good for the start of a week about which I am feeling very apprehensive for all sorts of different (and kind of complicated) reasons.

Still, I have a wedding to look forward to, in Aberdeen, on Saturday. It's going to be great, a gang of my old Uni housemates back together again. So very much looking forward to that. Just got to get through the week first...!

(PS photos from Vegas still being prepared and exchanged between us girlies... more soon)

Viva Las Vegas

Well, it's Wednesday. I'm back. I have a touch of jetlag, a large dose of the post holiday blues, and the very slightest hint of a tan.

I was due to report back two decisions and some photos. To take the easiest first - there are photos, lots of them, but it's going to take some time to sort them out. Also, Na, Helen and I will be compiling all our photos in to one set for here. So, they'll be there in a few days. There are a couple at the bottom of this post to whet your appetite though...

As to the decisions: Na, Helen and the cocktails were helpful. I've decided that on the professional one, my philosophy is 'you've got to be in it to win it', so I'm going to chuck in an application and see what happens. That might be slightly easier said than done given the deadline is the 30th April, but we'll see. A concentrated effort at the weekend and some point next week should do it.

On the personal one, well, that's perhaps not so straightforward, but the philosophy is probably the same. One of the (many) films I watched on the plane(s) had a great line in it: "Who cares if you get in a mess in your life. At least you know you're living it then."

The photos:

Decisions, decisions

So. Work is slightly better, if only because it's the end of term, and of course because Vegas is 35 hours or something away. Thank God. I can't wait. It really has been a hell of a couple of months, and I'm very much in need of a rest, mainly from work, but generally too. And Vegas seems to offer the best solution - pool and spa time by day, and then food, drink and partying by night. Wicked.

I'm also planning to give myself some 'clear thinking' time... time away from work, people, all sorts of other things. I need to make two decisions. The first is related to work, it's a professional decision about whether to continue pursuing something I've been trying for for a long time, or whether to give it up and stick with what I'm doing now, and am apparently good at. A difficult choice, and a major decision to take. It will affect the rest of my career for the rest of my life. I've always been career motivated and ambitious, so it's a major life decision, it's not just about 'work'.

The second is related to me, it's a personal decision about whether to take the plunge and attempt to resolve something which has been bugging me for a long time. It might have a major effect on me, but if it all goes wrong, I'd hope that it would be solvable and I could move on just fine.

Hmph. I think that all of this is going to be very much aided by a number of tasty (but probably expensive) cocktails and a bit of girly bonding time.

Photos will no doubt result from the trip too, there's not been any for a while. Not sure why that is.

So, check back here next Wednesday for (a) two decisions and (b) photos

Getting stronger

I've had an utterly horrible few days at work, but things are improving. I can honestly say that I was more angry (that deep down, burning incessant but somehow calm anger) than I have ever been on Monday. I had to isolate myself and not talk to anyone for a good few hours, and then my poor Mum took the brunt of it (thanks Mum ;-) and thanks also to those who took my MSN ranting!). I've calmed down now, and all is well, but I won't forget how I was made to feel. All becuase of one man... I can only go so far in describing things on here, but some of you know what I mean and the situation to which I am referring (and those who don't can be explained too off line).

But, the bottom line is that I'm bigger and stronger than that. He'll fall on his sword eventually! I honestly believe that such experiences can only make you stronger. My boss said to me on Tuesday that she couldn't understand how I'd survived without losing my temper. And I'm not sure that I can either. But then there have been a few situations in my recent-ish past where I've felt like that. I'm not sure how it's ok, but it is. I've made it. I'm a strong and resilient person. I'm willing to learn from my mistakes and reflect on the situations in which I have become involved and then move on.

Steve's blog struck a chord with me today - his title is "Somedays I love being me". And, well, I'm going to steal that philosophy. Somedays I love being me. When I was standing on the balcony about ten minutes ago, drinking a(n unnecessary extra) glass of wine, looking at the stars, and absorbing the natural calm of the river, I thought, yeah, I love being me. And not only that, I'm proud of me.

It's not often that I'm proud of me. I'm a self critical kind of person (although I'm aware I might not always come across like that) but just sometimes I give myself reason to be proud. And I think I have this week. And I'm going to carry that with me. It makes me stronger.

Gazing

I've been sitting here gazing at the screen for some time now. An awful lot has happened since I last blogged, some good, some bad, some indifferent. And I just can't work out a way to get it all onto paper (well, keyboard) and make sense of it all. So I'm not going to.

Suffice to say that I've had a great weekend doing normal things with normal people... well pehaps not so normal on balance, but I love them all the same! Thanks for entertaining me guys and girls xxx

one way street

Constantly heading up a one way street.
The flow is going the other way.
The prevailing sensible choice is going the other way.

But somehow you keep on going, against the tide. Hit it headlong and like a bull at a gate, and the force of everyone else will throw you back, like surf breakers on a beach.

Make your way, gently, slowly, building confidence as you go, bringing people on board gradually so that they understand what you want, and why you want it, and that, even if they can’t understand, they can see that you desire it so much that you’re going to carry on regardless. Eventually, you’ll get to the top. Won’t you?

The top, where it’s busier, the traffic is flowing in both directions, but despite that, there is a natural sense of harmony. Everything just feels right some how.

But, when you’re still on the one way street, there’s something missing. A glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, the much needed sense of tranquil calm and satisfaction which the top promises is enough to spur you on.

A hint, a touch, a kind word. It’s enough.

Wipe out

I am shattered... just finished my second 14+ hour day in a row, and I'm set for another one tomorrow too.

I'm counting down the days... 8 working days until it all changes, and therefore hopefully improves (although it's a shallow hope, I think it'll just be different rather than better)... and 22 days until Vegas. I've not quite gone to the extreme of working out the amount of working hours left to go yet, but give me time!

Wireless

I'm beginning this post thinking it will be a long one, but let's see what happens...

I'm currently sitting on the sofa, drinking wine and watching West Wing. A regular Saturday night in then... albeit that I've not actually done this for longer than I can pin point to remember. My Saturday nights are usually spent in various places not involving being at home, so it's quite refreshing to be here. I feel like I'm catching up with myself. I was originally planning to spend this weekend seeking the assistance of Marty to wash, t-cut and polish my old car, ready for it to be sold, but he's visiting parents... so I've diverted to a favourite pastime... painting!!! We're having a red wall in the lounge, and a nice cream colour in the bathroom, probably with a Griffiths original painting on one wall.

I love painting and decorating. Sad huh... but, there's something very theraputic about spending a few hours making a radical transformation to something and then assessing the effect at the end of the day, and for however long it lasts into the future, until you decide to change it again! Whilst I would most love to be decorating my very own flat/house, I'm content for now to be helping Stephen out.

As I said, I'm currently in the lounge... very much enjoying my new laptop with the cool wireless technology. I've got this and my old desktop linked so that I can access everything from both... and I was even able to have MSN conversations from the bathroom earlier - whilst I was painting, rather than doing anything else!

It has, as usual, been a big, bad, mad week at work. But, I'm counting down the days, firstly to the end of March (10 working days), when everything changes, and secondly to the 13 April, when I, along with Na and Helen, will be Vegas bound! Can't wait. The high point from this week though was that my manager managed to get some feedback about me out of the big boss. Who, apparently, although I think this makes him certifiable, thinks I'm exceptional, performing astonishingly well, tackling difficult issues which no one has ever taken on before, and he can't think of anything negative at all.

I was quite literally gobsmacked and speechless, which as anyone who reads this knows (as does my manager), is a very rare thing. A pretty good way to end the week though, and a very good boost at a difficult time.

In celebration, I toasted Tim's birthday with a number of these. They are passionfruit beer, from a rather good Belgian bar called the Dovetail in Clerkenwell, which has the biggest range of Belgian beers in London, including the rather amazing passionfruit one in the picture. Had I not been totally knackered from the night before, many many more of those would have been consumed!

And, the final paragraph. My last post was rather emotional... and rather jumbled up and confused. I was also in danger of revealling rather more than would have been sensible about some of my inner most thoughts... and I remain very thankful today that I didn't.

Normal service is resumed.