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It seems I've been using Twitter in place of writing here in recent times. Here's a selection of what I've been up to.

Last weekend I went to Manchester for a birthday party and to see msbhayvn. Though driving up gives flexibility in when to leave (and return), I find motorway travelling quite tiring, even as a passenger. Well, that, and it takes an age.

Self-directed maths learning is going well. I've mentioned on occasion the puzzle site (projecteuler.net) that I saw a year or so ago which caused me to be motivated enough to start learning a bit more. Anyway, the Saturnday night of last weekend I solved my 99th and 100th puzzles. Current areas of research are Ramsey Theory, combinatorials, and Diophantine equations.

On Wednesday I went to the dentist. I've had an occasional toothache for a while now and so decided it was time I sought help. Turns out that some treatment I had when living in Manchester wasn't done well and it's failing and become infected. I've got some strong antibiotics and some work scheduled in a couple of weeks. 200 quid :-(

Thursday evening I went out for drinks with saucy_goth who I met at Reptile a couple of months ago. As much as I like owning a place, it is a bit far out from town making it hard to socialise at short notice, so it's great to have someone relatively local with whom I get on well.

Friday night I was going to give some private Linux tuition but the guy cancelled. I was pondering going bellringing but dropped plans at the last minute to help a friend in distress, and we ended up going for sushi and cabaret. The cabaret was really quite awesome. One of the acts in particular
( cut for the sqeamish ) I think the audience were unprepared, judging by reactions. (Other acts did not have the kink aspect, so I think they were lulled into a false sense of security). By a weird coincidence the place we went to took us past where I would have been ringing.

Yesterday I went to Borough Market for the first time ever. It's hard to believe that I've been living in London for something like 4 years and never managed to make it. I'm glad I did. I acquired some lovely chilli hot chocolate and some chilli chutney. Thanks to _onlysmarties__ for the suggestion.

last night I went out to a charity quiz which was raising money for the Cats Protection League. It raised in excess of 650 pounds. Plus I enquired about housing one. I keep mentioning it but have decided that I'm ready for it. Hopefully by writing I'm committing myself!

Today was bellringing in Hampstead, and I was in charge, covering for the regular person who was away. It was a good session; I do so much enjoy being able to

Tonight I am off out to the Pembury Tavern, having not been there since Jan 1st. I shall be leaving once laundry is done. Who else is going to be there this evening?

Due to working excessive hours in recent weeks I was very kindly given a day off in lieu. I decided to take that last Friday, giving me a long weekend.

Thursday evening I got the train up to Manchester to see msbhayvin. Hard to think that it's something like 5 years since we first met. We had originally intended to go out for a curry but by the time I'd arrived in Manchester our intended establishment had closed, so we went for a chinese instead. Far, far too much food.

Oh - speaking of feeling old, On Friday it was the Christmas play of my old hall of residence at uni (my other reason for heading to Manchester). It was 10 years ago when I first went there. They play itself was a rendition of the first of the Alan Ayckbourn Norman Conquests trilogy, Table Manners. Thoroughly entertaining.

Afterwards I went for a drink in the hall bar. Full of memories, that place. It was 80p per pint when I first went there.
It being the first time I'd been back for the best part of 6 years I didn't recognise more than a single person. During the play, I notice that one of the cast had on what looked like a hand-knitted sweater and which had some very interesting patterns. When she came down to the bad she no longer had it with her. I asked (explaining that I was a knitter) if I could take a photo, so she popped across the road to her flat and gave it to me! Most unexpected, but makes it easier to duplicate. It wasn't the colour (beige) that I was interested in, plus it was ripped in a few places, but the cabling is decorative without being too complex. I'd sort a photo, but I've left it at work so it'll have to wait.

On Saturday I got the train down to London and then the coach up to Oxford for cheshcat's 6th birthday. Bit of a circuitous route, perhaps, but it worked out cheaper that way. Happy coincidence - I got on the coach at Marble Arch, only to be greeted by friend_of_tofu and alex_tiefling. Better yet, there was a space at the table for me to sit. Uneventful journal up, but stimulating conversation.

The party itself was great fun, and lasted for most of the weekend. nearlyeveryone was there - too many to name. If you ever get a chance to play Warewolf with alex_tiefling then I can wholeheartedly recommend it - he doth make an excellent GM.

On Sunday morning anarchist_nomad went bellringing, and then we all went into town to look at art work.
I came close to buying some prints, but had too much to carry so decided against it. I'm considering buying something online though.
Sunday evening we did some more ringing, and then went back to his for some handbell ringing. I haven't done nearly as much as I'd like but after an hour it was beginning to fall into place. Decided that I couldn't be bothered heading back late on a SUnday so stayed another night and got the coach down straight to work the morning after.

All in all, a fab weekend.

I'm somewhat tired having been doing work on my personal website for the past few hours. I should head off home and eat, I guess :-)

I'm heading up to Manchester tomorrow night, returning to London on Sunday evening. Saturday I'll be at a reunion so unavailable, but other than that I'm free. Who wants to meet up? (If after Friday then best to phone/use SMS as I can't guarantee Interwebnet access)

*luffs to all*

Friday morning, though I booked it off work, I got bored and installed Nagios on the work servers so that we can be alerted when stuff goes wrong.

Got a train up to Manchester and headed back to xugglybug's place where we got pizza and watched Phenomenan.

Saturday headed into town for BiFest, which was fab. Was great to meet up with people who I don't get to see very often. I miss Manchester loads, having spent almost a third of my life there, though I love London too. A weekend doesn't seem long enough - I may spend new year there if I don't move into another place here in London (if I do then I'll most likely host a party myself). Introduced a few people to the wonders of the game Set.

Sunday: went into town again and met up with phuturatica and was introduced to Suburb - lovely place, and cheap too. Randomly saw Chris. Stayed there much of the afternoon and headed to Moon Under Water for food, only to find out they'd sold out of most dishes. Still had a fab meal and left for the train shortly before 2000. It would've been a 2 hour journey, getting me home for 2230 ish, though my train was cancelled so I had to do it in two stages changing at Birmingham. I got home at 0130 ish, later by than the original journey would have taken.

Didn't have the energy to do anything other than sleep, so flopped into bed.