Six years! Crazy to think so much time has passed! The meningitis outbreak is worrying.

That’s quite a small roundabout for MK.

Bernese are lovely dogs.

New German appliances in our kitchen. The fridge beeps if the door is left open, the washing machine beeps every minute after a cycle if you don’t open the door and the induction hob beeps whenever it detects moisture spat from a bubbling pan. All very stress inducing.

They’re fab! I had my first ever go on a potters wheel a few weeks ago and loved it.

Let me know the details and I’ll see if I can wrangle things around in my diary. Meeting with archive friends is very much needed.

Thought of an idea for a new reality tv competition. We’ve had tatooists, make-up artists, sewing and painting. How about finding the best amateur male grooming practitioner? We could call it ‘Manscape Artist of the Year’, hosted by Stephen Mangan.

Sometimes, being a freelancer can be tough, especially this time of year. Today, though, has been a good one. Current projects still excite and a new client brings new challenges and new rewards. A good way to end the week.

Part of the haul of books I purchased during Facet’s Christmas 50% sale… perhaps not bedtime reads.

New Year’s reading.

While chipping adhesive from the back of a tile with a chisel and hammer last week, my wife remarked that I looked like the Disney version of Geppetto.

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Wild guess for me too.

Woolly socks: 4 pairs

Peak Christmas Sockage haul…

It was rather good!

I’m going to avoid the door to jokes about 5 1/4” floppies you’ve left wide open; was it a good read? The audio tape I was digitising was all Sleeper, Oasis, Divine Comedy, etc. but I did find an interview on the B side!

I am digitally transferring audio cassettes of what should be interviews from 1998, part of a charity archive I’ve been cataloguing. Some tapes are full of interesting conversations, while others are full of Britpop.

We have shared that activity this afternoon, then.

It is now asking me how I would reduce the risk of ‘natural phenominenon (sic)’… Where to begin? Judging by films like 2012 and San Andreas, not being an arsehole is the main mitigation. Can I put that in the form I wonder…?

Filling in a risk assessment for a trip to India next year. My employer wishes to know how I’m going to reduce the risk of contact with animals. Tempted to reply ‘I won’t seek out snake charmers and refuse any opportunity to wrestle with a tiger or bathe an elephant.’

a woman in a green dress with a white lace collar is sitting in front of a wall that says tv land ALT: a woman in a green dress with a white lace collar is sitting in front of a wall that says tv land

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a baby is making a funny face and smiling . ALT: a baby is making a funny face and smiling .

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I saw it 3 times in the old ABC cinema in Walsall in 85. I loved it and still do. My daughter saw it in the cinema the other day and I had no idea it was back in cinemas.

He’s adorable!

Congratulations!

Saw a nice job advertised - digital technology and collections role. Part time 4 days a week onsite in central London. £28k. When you minus the season ticket costs for commuting, I may as well take the cafe job at my local community centre offering £21k for the same amount of hours. It’s pathetic.

Well envious! That looks amazing!

I remember attending a conference dinner in Lancaster about 20 years ago, where Chris Bonington was to be the after-dinner speaker. Sadly, he had to cancel at short notice and we had Bruce Jackson instead.

Thanks BBC, I was on tenterhooks waiting to hear what Noel Fielding had to say about the death of Robert Redford…

A ginger cat sitting nonchalantly on a sofa.

Custard is practicing his nonchalant, sitting at the bar pose.

Happy Anniversary!