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I managed to acquire lurghy of some description whilst working at the shelter over the Christmas period, and ended up going straight to bed when I got home from officejob on Monday. I slept pretty much the entire time until 5am this morning.

Last minute plans take me to Cambridge to see robin_bloke. Leaving somewhat later than I'd intended. Oops.

On Saturday I did some ringing at Church which was arranged as a surprise demonstration for a birthday present for one of the people on a London Walk which was passing through the area. Whilst I was out a flyer got put through my door. We seem to get a lot of junkmail in this area but I do like to keep an idea of the sort of things that come through. The flyer that came through was offering gardening/paving/etc services. I called them up and they were working in the area.

They came round within half an hour and were available to start work on Monday! Impressively fast - too fast, in fact, as I'd need to book the time off work.

This means that yesterday I've had landscape gardners in sorting out the rear garden. They've finished the paving started by the previous owner (which I always intended to do but realistically knew I'd never make the time) and laid decking to raise the level of the lower patio.

It's not quite finished, but it's already looking awesome. Will be done tomorrow, as best I can tell. I'm already giving thought to summer parties, so watch this space.

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Today's nice surprise was being given 25 quid for Saturday's "performance". I didn't even know we'd be getting money for it - I do it for the love of it. This just made it all the more awesome though.

Speaking of ringing, I've had a couple of really good weeks at the advanced practice I go to.
( technical ringing stuff that will be of interest to maybe 2 or 3 people, written here mainly for my own reference )
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Had curry this evening in an attempt to fight off what seems like an incoming infection. My brain still works, but I've got the symptoms I often have prior to being knocked out by an infection, namely aching arms/back/shoulder muscles, accompanyied by a cough.

It's a different kind of ache than is characteristic of overexertion - not that I've done much labouring in recent days. Hopefully the curry will have the desired effect.

Friday:
Went out drinking in Printworks with some non-LJers Russ and Matt (who stayed in the same halls as me at uni) and other fellow Linux geeks. It started off quiet, but by 8 or 9 it was actually had music bleating out at a stupid volume. Depsite this place being chosen because it was a Wetherspoons, we since discovered that it is part of the Lloyd's chain. I'm wondering how long after the smoking ban comes into effect that bar workers will start asking for music to be lowered, lest their hearing be damaged. It's not the fact that it was music I didn't like (I'd object if it was music that I did at such a volume, because it makes group conversation impossible, and one-on-one conversation almost impossible), but also that it was needlessly loud, and too loud for the equipment - I could hear the sound distorting.

We sought refuge down the road to the nearby Sir John Oldcastle and had a fab night. I might even have found a place to live as one of the people present is selling their place in Burnt Oak in order to move to Japan. It's a little further out than I'd like, but not a complete deal breaker.

Saturday:
Went ringing for a wedding at St. Bartholemew the Great in Smithfields. I since learned that this is the oldest Anglican church in the country not to have had strucural work done on it. The bells are also the oldest peal in the country, offically dating from 1510. On top of that, it is the fourth church to appear in the film Four Weddings and A Funeral :-)

Evening was a fabulous meal in Mildred's in Soho. FOr such an avid carnivore, I really enjoyed the meals put on by a vegetarian restaurant. We were in the function room upstairs as there were a large number of us. Best thing was the "interesting" artwork on the walls. I wonder if anyone got any photos. I forgot, annoyingly. Pondered going to a house party afterwards, but decided against it due to having a headache.

I got home and worked out the probable cause - I'd not had any caffeine that day. Oops. Maybe I should take this as a hint to cut down.

Sunday:
No morning ringing, so I had a well needed lie-in. Instead we rang a quarter peal for evensong, thus completing 79. Ring a quarter peal on my 101 in 1001 list. 3 parts of Parker's 12-part Grandsire Triples, for those who care, of which I suspect there'll be 3.

Today:
Stupidly busy at work - it's not suprising I feel I'm nearing burnout at times. This evening I'm viewing the house in Burnt Oak. *fingers crossed* Well, later, otherwise I won't be able to type very well:-)