Well, if you're reading this in New York, Detroit, Toronto or Ottowa, the chances are that it won't be right now. I don't know what's going on there... currently watching it on BBC News24. Bit scary if you're claustrophobic.
And Neil's been producing Mrs Mills for the last two weeks, in for M&L, which has been hilarious for me, at least... Interactive radio (must post the picture confirming this soon -- it's at the orifice)
Oh yeah! The heatwave! It knocked everyone here out completely. Things have now -- however temporarily -- returned to how they were in the good oul' days: somewhere around 20°C. So where did I decide to go during the hottest weekend on record in England? London. Eejit... Still, met Neil in the King's Head (I think) by Blackheath for the West Ham opener of the season. Then many nice boozes on Blackheath with Neil himself, Ben off of the OfficialChartShow and Hosie. I passed out, uncharacteristically, on the heath, and Neil -- bless'im -- stuck his hat over my face so I wouldn't end up looking like your typical Brit-abroad. I remember going into the adjacent Princess of Wales and the Dutch barmaid not sweating a drop, while our multitude lined up along the bar sweated like MG in a bank... There are also pictures (in my T610's rapidly filling memory) of random people sunbathing/sundrinking (?) around us. A really nice day and good craic was had, along with much beer, random bubbly, white wine (cheers, Hosie), pringles and a bag of M&S goodies (like strawberries'n'cream, Wimbledon-style). We even managed to get home rather quickly via the taxi rank which I remember vaguely from one of the old PhD/RAS scam visits. (Cheers, FPK!)
and back in Studio Sloan saw that I managed to get to sleep (without necessarily knowing when it happened). I awoke, as is often the case, to find one of Stretchy's mates on the adjacent sofa (under a duvet! The madwoman).
Spent Sunday afternoon, then -- which was really the hottest day ever -- in the Big One, where Neilo had to cobble together a Busted live set for the OfficialChartShow with HiThisIsWes. Who I saw in the flesh. Only hours before, however, I learnt the full meaning of the phrase "it'll be curtains for Wes". It's based on the second funniest thing I've ever heard anyone say. The annoying thing is, it's under wraps for good. Until Neil's book comes out, anyway...
Thence to the Waxy O'Connors for several (five, I think) ice-loaded pints of Magners, straight out of the bottle. Thanks to Gerry for introducing us to this in the CR, and getting Paddy to introduce it to the CR itself. Great stuff if you're parched (don't care what the Tall Green Man says about apple juice for girls).
I should've remembered that the train times were all shot to pieces on the way back, though. I thought I'd catch the 21:45 to Guildford from Waterloo: it wasn't due into London till 22:30, which meant I'd missed my bus. Hence, a taxi ride. But not before I'd wandered down to the bus station in Guildford to find one, then wandered back to the train station. And on the way back to the latter, what did my still-drunk eyes perceive but a man in trunks swimming in the Wey! CAPITAL MAD BASTARD. Still, probably not just as dangerous as swimming in the strule, à la Bones (with his ensuing medical problem).
Then Posh Ben was back on Monday, replete with blondified (but conspicuously uncut) hair, and suntan. Git.
(Interestingly enough, Ben off of Saturday's drinking is called Ben Newby! How coincidental!)
But the prize for News of the last nine days goes to Anna.
My little sister,
who used to hate all forms of schoolwork,
got:
3 A's
Mum said she was crying with happiness, and Dad wasn't far off. I'm very proud, and god bless Scott for giving her a shout today about 14:45. (Much obliged, fella.)
That makes all three of us students at QUB, then.
Phew. Well, tired now. Four very long days. I've tinkered with the air conditioning to make it less hostile to Swiss people, and it seems to have worked. Difficult to say for sure if it's still working alright, but the office is no longer like a fridge in the evenings, which means I can get through the backlog of tasks in my diary.
And hats off to Chris B for getting that job in Camberley he was after. Very well done, mate. Couldn't have happened to a nicer fella. I missed the Barbie Chez Aggie tonight, but not out of spite :) (which he knows).
