Summer evenings

In the 'hootananny' beer garden.

Whaddup

How y'all been? Whatcha been at? Sorry for my absence from the blogging world yet again. The bank holiday almost melted London - unexpected humidity and 27 degree sunshine baking everything in sight.

I did my best to shelter from the harsh rays by snuggling down inside my beer jacket in the park and a variety of pubs. Alas, it proved fruitless and I felt increasingly rough and rubbish as the ...

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At some point soon, I'm going to have my healthiest day since 1996. On that day, much as this, I'll go about my business completely nicotine-free (as it is now 2 weeks since my last patch), will go for a bit of a run, and return home to nothing stronger than a cup of tea and an early night. I could have done it tonight, but it's the UEFA cup final and in honour of the 1st anniversary of my team ...

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Sittin' on the sill of the window

One reason for my lack of interesting chat these days is the view from my living room window. As we're on the third floor with no other high buildings around us, we have pretty much unbroken views due west, into the sunset and the final approach to Heathrow.

The spring evenings are seeing me increasingly mesmerised, just sitting there watching the planes flying overhead as the sky turns all ...

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Eurosceptic

So, my annual Saturday night in alone is drawing to a close, with the news that Eurovision 2009 has been won by a Norwegian Hobbit with over-developed eyebrows. An absolute travesty, when also in the final there was representation from purple-booted Moldovan man eater Nelly. My other hot favourite to win - Holland - unbelievably, didn't even make it through qualification.

I believe we can all learn something from the Netherlands and their representatives, "Topper". Their performance is truly glorious, and Moscow was that little bit less glittering this evening without them. I want them all to be my 'special uncles'. No idea what the big unit on the decks is all about though.

Electric Radio Brixton

Congratulations to Electric Radio, who broadcast from HMP Brixton, on winning a clutch of Sony Awards the other night. It was a joy to hear the sour grapes from Radio 1 the following morning, as they tried and failed to get their heads round how they had millions of listeners yet were beaten by a station with 800.

I know the station manager, and remember almost choking on my pint when he told ...

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Robbed

Yep, once again Ireland fail to qualify for the Eurovision. Takes all the fun out of it. Their entry wasn't actually too awful this year, and they weren't alone in missing the cut - Serbia deserved to go through just for the lead singer's afro, and I want all three of the the Dutch contingent to become my "special uncles". My friend Louise turned a bit lesbian when she saw the Estonian entry, ...

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Suddenly feeling very Polish

J is cringing under a blanket in preparation for song number 5 in the eurovision semi final. Polska Gola!

Have to say, the Eastern Europeans are generally legendary tonight - tongues so firmly in their cheek they're coming out the other side. Ireland took it seriously - nice idea but out of tune and a bit Avril Lavigney. Who knows how the taste of the continent will decide?

Loving the Serbian Afro though.

Euro nerves

Ireland are up next in the Eurovision semis.... Will they better Dustin the Turkey from last year and actually qualify for the final? The next few minutes will tell. Fingers being bitten.

At what point....

....in the growth of one's "beard", does the stubble become of sufficient length to dispose with soap and it is instead acceptable / more appropriate to shampoo one's face?

Behold the Tatmobile

Washed, waxed and ready for our one day road trip tomoro. 4 countries in 12 hours. See that Tattie cruise.

Ryanair baggage policy

Just checking up on the rules for cabin baggage prior to my flight back the Emerald Isle on Thursday, and noticed what appeared to be joke questions in the "FAQ" section:

Can I bring a self inflating lifejacket?
Can I bring an avalanche rescue pack?
Can I bring a Parachute?

Like so many Ryanair-related policies, what appears on first glance to be a piss-take turns out to be absolutely, solemnly true.

If you didn't laugh....

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10 weeks is up!

And I'm still fag-free!! Ordinarily I would now be patch free as well, but I managed to accidentally have a few patchless days since the 23rd of February (not that I'm counting or anything) so my first day fending for myself will be this Friday. Ordinarily, the worst possible day of the week to stumble into a life as a non-nicotine absorber, but handily I'll me at me maw's, which should hopefully help. Go me!

Happy bank holiday

aaah, you can't beat the May Bank holiday. An extra day on your weekend, the days are long and the weather suddenly finds an extra 5 degrees.

Been having a very pleasant one so far, and the sun is currently trying its best to burn through the haze to allow me to hit the park this afternoon. Added to that, I have a mere 2 days at work this week as we're heading back up to the motherland on ...

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