under another sun

So finally a smoother day. The train delayed this morning, naturally, but I made it into work only a bit late. Found myself relocated again, sitting next to Ana a designer I started on the same day with. Ana is from Mexico City and has eaten grasshoppers in Oaxaca too like I once did. Otherwise a day when I was briefed to write a newsletter report on an event, which obviously I did not attend. Piecing it together from various bits and pieces. Have been working on Schizophrenia this week, and it is an interesting area. One of the things featured at this event is a pod, into which you sit and have the opportunity to experience life as a schizophrenic, with visions and voices in your head. Lunch with Max, my erstwhile agency mentor and Julie from my old agency too. This was the highlight of my working week. We stole away to a pub restaurant and I ate a pie, chiefly attracted by the vegetables that went with it. The ladies having fish and chips. Great to see Max again, who I'd not ...

Up at an ungodly hour, which in my world is anything that starts with a six. Still greatly sluggish and feeling under the weather. Caught an earlier train to get into work for a nine thirty meeting, which did not happen. Enjoying the bus ride from Victoria however. Old friends Julie, and Max the Mentor appeared out of nowhere and hugged and kissed me, which was rather good if all too brief interruption from work. Not seen those ladies for some time, and we are hoping to make it out for lunch. Today, however, I only had time to go to the nearest food joint, an Eat, where I randomly bought a chicken and mushroom pie, which was strangely delicious. Afternoon more of the same, followed by a presentation at the end of the day, which went reasonably well. Today there was talk that they are wanting me to work next week too, and possibly the week after. A feat I am unsure I can manage without tearing off my shirt Hulk style and wreaking green skinned destruction. It is all good for the Ken...

Traveller's tales Rather tired after being disturbed by a 2am shouty drunks v police match at the end of the twitten the night before. Saturday however great fun, and after talking to Anna yesterday, I am much clearer about what I need to do in this new chapter if it is to be a success, and my head is full of next steps and Important Things To Do. Had coffee with Lorraine in the Lanes and then headed back up towards the smoke before making a detour to see the FB and Bouncy Max in Chertsey Meads. Was met at the station by Max with the two babies sleeping in the car. Had a splendid night with them, and Max the Mentor, eating the FB's excellent home made-curry and quaffing wine. All of us pretty restrained after Wednesday's leaving do. Bouncy Max had something like 8 years travelling and backpacking around the world so is a mine of good travelling stories. She kept a diary all the time, and we have talked two or three times about how this could be the source material for an a...

All's well that ends well An excellent last day at the agency. Arrived late, attended a meeting and then simply went to the pub for lunch with the FB and the Gnome and other creative chums. The FB bought me a nice plate of sausages and mash and we drank some boozes. Then back to the agency where I had a last minute meeting, and had a few chats - and read a few friendly emails. Then a trolley of drinks was brought in to the creative department and some of the agency drifted up. Barney made a really flattering speech and I said a few things, chiefly about the pride I felt in the agency and the people who worked there. Felt very touched. I was given a card with a picture of Frank Bough on it, which was fun, and they'd had a collection and there is enough money for a proper walker's anorak. I feel I have ended well, and with great affection and was tremedously pleased I didn't blub like a big girl. Then all down to the works bar to socialise with lots of chums. These includ...

On cracking and drumming Off to my chiropractor again, she is very sweet. She told me to stand on one leg facing into the corner of a room, as an exercise for my ankle. When I laughed, she looked at me sternly as chiropractors are immune to the absurd. Otherwise nothing much going on other than lots of work. Had a chat with Max the Mentor this evening - who I'd not caught up with for some time. Then I had a cheeky beer with John a very talented colleague who is an absolutely brilliant drummer. He has been on a variety of records, including this by Suncoil Sect . I've listened to this a few times, and think his playing is the outstanding feature of the record. Did my presentation today and managed to work weasels into the story. Not just any weasel, the symbolic weasel of high cholesterol, pictured below.

Into the Matrix Had to start work unfeasibly early. Up at 6 and soon rattling up to the Smoke. Worked like a maniac for most of the morning and through lunch, culminating in a presentation, with a nice lady Information Architect called Linh, of a year's content matrix of a rather enormous website. Went well. I wasn't entirely sure what a content matrix was until Linh turned all my scribblings about what should be on the site, into a content matrix. And during the meeting it was all stuff like... If you can see 4.4.2 on the site map, blah blah this relates to x in the content matrix which we see being delivered as an animation. Managed to get through it without having a nosebleed. My going part time may be delayed. In a swirling of cloaks had a conversation where I was told there may be an interesting alternative presented to me. I will carefully examine the mouth parts of this particular horse, but it is nice to have options. Max the Mentor's children running about the agen...

A tiresome Tuesday Appalling dreams all night, woke up and had to turn the lights on at one stage to dispel the night terrors. Nice note from Sprinkles this morning designed to cheer me up. And being on the train with Anton this morning managed to stave off the gloom for a bit. I realised today that I have some kind of stomach bug, which is making me feel drained and peculiar. Work a tedious slog all day, and left at 8:00pm after being given some extra work at the last moment. However had a pleasant interlude: lunch with Max the Mentor who was telling me about her weekend in Cornwall and a romantic dilemma she finds herself in. All good gossip. Also cunningly booked Friday week off to do more of the dragon walk. Finally finished A short walk in the Hindu Kush by Eric Newby on the train going home tonight. Interesting but I agreed with one of Anton's friends who had said his attitudes were a bit maddening. Newby is very much a product of his time, depicting most of the foreigners h...

Maxed out Bouncy Max was leaving to go on maternity leave, and me and the French Bloke (judiciously, as he was responsible for the said pregnancy) attended a leaving lunch with a large accounts posse, which also included Max the Mentor. I found myself happily sandwiched between the two Maxes and opposite the FB. After work I hurried to the tube station, where I bumped into Mick. He was wearing his policeman's uniform (during the conversation I could see a young agency creative creeping past looking alarmed). I had not seen Mick since Paddy's wedding, and he was a great schoolfriend of mine. Mick has recently separated from his wife and claimed to be living near a leper colony in Brentford. We will go for a cheeky beer soon so I can establish the facts. Then I zoomed up to Highgate in north London to see Sophie and Andros, and their bairns. Arriving was a bit of a relief as I was gripped by claustrophobia deep in King's Cross station, squeezing down a twisty passage crammed ...

Friday, Skyline and more Lynching Up surprisingly easily this morning having been entirely sensible the night before. Off to work, and met Max the Mentor not far from the office, who linked arms with me and we walked companionably into work. Today was her twentieth year in the agency. Made me think how one of the things about working at the same place for seven years is that you do make some good friends. For me, not a bad day, worked on another pitch blog, and was taken out for some Italian grub by a nice suit called Nicoletta to discuss the overarching strategy for a new pitch. I like her and we had a nice chat. Her fiance is the pleasant opera singer I met a few weeks ago. I am going to get sucked into a world of pitching again for the next couple of weeks. Back to work and the Gnome and I were slightly bogged down. Felt enervated and so I focused more on coughing impressively. However I encountered an even more jaded-looking French Bloke in a meet during the afternoon. He is simpl...

Friday in the company of ladies A cheery Friday. I am still quite quiet at work, and was tempted out for lunch by Max the Mentor. Went to the Distillers which is fast becoming the agency pub since reopening and once inside we chatted to all and sundry. Max took me into a local cobblers, and did some shoe business. She told me she was wearing a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes which she said had cost a fortune. They were nice greeny multicoloured things and, admiring them, I felt I had stepped accidentally into an episode of Sex in the City as one of the gay best friends. After work I met Mex my ex-wife, in Victoria and had a nice time catching up. Her fame is growing and she will be on TV again soon. And her website been nominated for the Bloggies . All richly deserved. She seems to be keeping incredibly busy, and it was good to see her. During the day I was delighted to get a call from the very nice indeed Sarah to thank me for flowers I had sent her, as I had missed her recent birthday. She...

A white morning Woke up to snow, which of course fell silently. It made me remember the opening phrase from the Coleridge poem Frost at Midnight "The Frost performs its secret ministry". It made the train ride seem like travelling through a different country. And the countryside looked lovely. I tried unsuccessfully to take some photos through the window. Arriving in London the tube had been plunged into disarray after the inch or so of snow. It never used to be like that when I was a lad... etc. There were no tubes from Victoria. Eventually one turned up and the morning walk through the graveyard was beautiful. Work was fine too, and I received a bonus which was a nice surprise. Slipped out to lunch with Max the Mentor and ate a steak and ale pie, and had a fast post Christmas catch up. She said she got her daughter a karaoke machine but ended up singing on it herself all Christmas morning while her family complained about the groaning. In the evening I avioded the worst of...