I’ve been podcasting. Fancy a listen?

… particularly another few comedy reviews, a brief trip to Cheltenham, my ongoing bad luck with transportation, and the joy of cooking german food.

It will however have to wait, as I have professional exams to complete. I’ll be back in about two weeks (I’m not even supposed to be here at the moment…bad Clair!).

In the mean time, don’t forget that we’re having a mini blog-meet on Friday, at The Albion at Blackfriars Bridge in London (sign up to their mailing list before hand and get a free drink). Unfortunately I have to be down in Exeter on friday, and so won’t be around until 8ish, but you’re welcome to come and join us!

The good thing about having spare holiday, but too much to do to take a week off, is the beautiful thing which is three day weeks and four day weekends. And what better excuse for one of these, than a birthday!

Wednesday evening was a lovely mill with friends, Thursday a trip to the Globe (Troillus and Cressida, excellent stuff, on for two more days I think, go and see it), followed by plinth watching and then a surprise trip to see Victoria Wood’s play.

Friday had a trip to Greenwich (and the planetarium!) then dinner with parents and a night time trip on the London Eye.

Marvellous, marvellous stuff.

Dan is insisting that he know the three best films to watch at the cinema. And so sure is he of his film choices, that he has asked the Hadrians Walkers for their three choices, sure that whatever we pick, his will be better.

Who am I to disappoint him?

My top three things that I would like to see at the cinema:

1. Slumdog Millionaire – Mostly because events have been conspiring to prevent the OB and me from seeing this, both individually and together.
2. The Lord of the Rings – all three films (extended versions) in one sitting, on a big screen. I would love it. (Although I might have to introduce drinking penalties for unnecessary plot deviations)
3. Mirrormask - Because it’s a beautiful film, and I think seeing it huge would be magnificent.

What are your three?

P.S. There was a wonderful addition to a plastic surgery poster I saw on the tube this week, someone had stuck on it a hand written sticker which said simply “You are normal, this is not”. Love it.

So, I got to meet the OB’s parents this weekend. It was a meeting that I could really have done with putting off for another few months, but they had this pesky thing called a “Golden Wedding Aniversary” that he really wanted me to be there for. And, as they live out in Wales, it couldn’t just be a brief pop in for a glass of wine and then run away again. Oh no…I had to stay overnight!

Fortunately, the OB’s brother, his wife and two little kiddies were also there, to happily divert attention away from me. And we were positively encouraged to go out for walks on both days to explore the local area (beautiful, beautiful area by the way. And I got to paddle in the sea, which always makes me happy).

And actually, I think the weekend went really well (if you ignore transport issues, which plagued us in both directions. They said I would have to come back again, which is a good sign, right?

And when we got back to London, we got to enjoy the delights of the Mayors Thames Festival…getting there with time to spare before the fireworks kicked off. And it was a good fireworks display….synchronised rockets were launched from two barges/boats that had been pulled out into the middle of the thames. The oohs and ahhs from the audience were loud and appreciative. Just a shame that it was so difficult to get away from the area afterwards, with seemingly little thought having been given to directing hundreds of people out of a very crowded area. Ah well, the important bits of the weekend were good!