Surprise Treat This weekend H and I popped into town to get some of the Christmas shopping out of the way. I don’t know about the rest of you, but when you both work full time, Xmas shopping can be a bit of a panic. Luckily, someone invented the Internet and it’s now a lot easier. Plus, if you don’t want to wait, it seems a lot of shops will let you reserver and pick up the goods when you drop in. Instant prezzies and very little queueing. Good stuff indeed. Once we’d got most of the presents out of the way, H stopped off to look at the shoes. She got some fabby new heels and some new tops. […]

Hey kids! Say what time is it? Well, call me Paris Hilton* because this and next week is going to be shopping and (with luck) dancing. Okay, more Paris CrossRoads Motel. So sue me. 😛 Shopping On Thursday, I had a happy jaunt around a local retail park with some of the girls from the Nottingham group. I spotted a nice skirt in Next (but I didn’t try on) and some nice shoes in a store down the lanes. I’d forgottern how nice it is just to stroll about with out a care in the world. I wonder if I can wangle a day off work for some serious shopping? Dancing Next week is the group’s Xmas Do in Derby. […]

Hi everyone, Bit of a strange week this time around. Well, maybe not as strange as last week (!!) but odd none-the-less. Loss This week a work mate left for pastures new. We did the usual thing, had a whip round and went down the pub for a farewell drink. He’s headed off back down south and, if I’m honest, I miss his company. It’s odd, but sometimes as a guy you forge quite strong friendships with other men. I don’t know about the rest of you, but it doesn’t happen very often and when it does, it’s not pleasant. Chemistry As a bit of break from my usual literary diet of fantasy / science fiction, I thought I’d give […]

Hey folks. How’s it going? Sneer or cheer? For the first time in a long time I watched the Pride of Britain Awards. Normally, that kinda thing doesn’t pique my interest, but somehow I ended up watching it (tissues at the ready). To be honest, I found it really quite refreshing to see everyday folk be rewarded for their bravery or hard work. To often, it’s easy to snub these type of events and write them off as total cheese-fests. The thing is, it wasn’t an award show for The Best Soap or another golden gong for some Hollywood bigshot; these were everyday folk doing extraordinary things. The man who risked his life to save a mum and her child […]

Hello folks. Urban Walks Today I had the luxury of a walk between our two main offices. A pleasant jaunt through a semi-urbanised environment. Twenty minutes away from e-mail and the telephone ringing. Just me, the autumn sun and a gentle breeze. It was one of those perfect English autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life. ~P.D. James Comedy News Programmes Not so much Have I Got News For You, but ITV’s persistance at turning itself into an episode of Brass Eye. While flicking through the TV channels tonight, I stumbled across the Tonight programme where they were discussing the new Borat movie. Is it racist? Is it comedy? Well, comedy, like beauty, is subjective. Is […]

Hi folks! How is everyone out there in blogland? All well I trust. Phew! What a week. Feels like it’s been Monday to Friday at 80mph. It is, at least, now over. Those of you who took the time to email, my apologies for not replying sooner. Nothing but good news to report this week. Dontcha just love that when it happens? Evening All Thursday night was Nottingham Chameleons and it was a just right. The day before I’d been wondering just what to wear. You know how it is. Dozens of outfits, but which one. Do you find you get stuck wearing the things you like? Your fave t-shirt, tie or, for some folk, dress and boots. After much […]