Ralph the Wonder Llama

So. I see it’s been nearly a month since I said anything. Well, I’ve been busy, believe it or not. No, really. I’ve no idea how I ever found time to go to work.

Anyway, in the past few weeks I’ve had a week-long visit from Claire, which was great. In a distinct contrast to our earlier days we ate healthily, went for a hike in the Pentlands:

and did a couple of laps of Arthur’s Seat. She was keen for a swim in the lake, myself, less so. Still found time to visit the Edinburgh CAMRA beer festival, mind. Noice. And she brought the sun with her, as usual, which was excellent. No idea how she does that.

After that I did some overdue and (partly) profitable Access work, and then I went to see my folks for a few days, during the course of which I spent a day in Eastbourne visiting an old school friend of mine, Tracy. This isn’t the sort of thing I’d normally do, but I made an exception here, since we were good friends a long time ago. One of those days that passes in a flash.

On the way back from Sussex I stopped over in London to say bon voyage to JJ, who is beginning his new life as an engaged man in Canada even as we speak. We had a fine evening in South London Pacific, apart from the bit where someone crunched my toe into a bleeding mess. Ow. Next day we cleared out JJ’s loft and played a little street hockey. I took the train home (first class, mind – cheaper than standard, and very civilised) along with a few things I nabbed from his charity shop pile, and I am now the proud owner of a lava lamp:

I’ve sort of always wanted one but never owned one. Till now. It’s ace. Man.

Once I got back I had a few tweaks on the Access front to sort out. On Saturday I won the lottery (not that I’ll be retiring on a tenner). On Sunday I was distracted by the awfulness of the world cup final. Yesterday I achieved an ambition by getting a contribution posted on the Grauniad’s Over-By-Over commentary, on the deciding England v Bangladesh ODI (see 26th over of Bangladesh’s innings for context, 31st for my tuppence worth).

With all that lot going on I haven’t got as far as I’d have liked recently with the book, but work resumed properly today, and I have several clear weeks ahead, during which the only other thing to do is plot where to escape to next…