The South West

Arrived in Cornwall to spend a few days with the Aged Ps looking at gardens and St Ives. We're staying in a gorgeous cottage not far from the Eden Project and the weather, so far, has been lovely. And according to the BBC this morning we may well get away with relatively dry weather. Fingers crossed. The cottage also has free wi-fi - hurrah - and so I should be able to keep you updated with news. Only news at the moment is that DD has landed safely in Minorca and is about to enjoy a free holiday she managed to blag whereas my friend Karen (originally from Scotland, now in Brighton) has managed to gain a temporary promotion to Grade 7 so well done her. That's all. J x

Someone left my cake out in the rain...

Really? How likely is that? Have you baked a cake? And then have you left it outside and forgotten about it? And then its rained. I don't think so. It is a sublime song though. Been to some bars with DD tonight. Big mistake. As always. But I love it and I love her.... That's all. J x

The Day After

So the party was a huge success. Thousands of people. Hundreds of cocktails. Canapes to die for. And a barman who turned up at the door in a soaking wet shirt that clung rather alluringly to him and through which you could see his tattoos. My head hurts today though. Thank you to everyone who came. Hopefully I wasn't rude to anyone. I shall post some photos (if I can remember how to do it) once I get them from the official photographer. I believe there may even be a dvd...! Huge thanks to my party organiser for making it all run so smoothly. That's all. J x

Party Minus One

Well, the flat looks good. And all this rain is washing the terrace. Now all I have to sort is the music - and wouldn't you know it but my iPod chooses this moment to play up. Hey ho. These things are sent to try us... Bed time soon because Frau Party Organiser arrives dead early to make me do loads of last minute things. Oh and my bloody tuxedo doesn't fit because I'm a fat bastard! So its jeans albeit not George at Asda jeans... That's all. J x

Update

The little orange munchkin thinks my flat is the nicest one in City South (he cleans others apparently). I agree. But I bet he says that to all the boys! That's all. J x

Party Minus Two

So, 2 days to go. And my flat is being cleaned by the smallest, campest, orangest gay munchkin one has ever seen! He seems fairly efficient though. Apart from that there's still loads to do and yet my party organiser extraordinaire sails though it all serenely. We've had to change bar staff - the original mixologist has dislocated his shoulder. The replacement seems good though. He mixed me a martini last night that was very tasty indeed. Drinks have been ordered from Asda. Panacea are supplying the glasses (this will truly be a mixed bag party...). Its a shame I won't have my additional wardrobe installed by the time of the party (see below) but c'est la vie.

In other news, London was fab although I'm not a huge fan of Legally Blonde the Musical (despite the fact that I appear to have been ear-wormed by omigodyouguys, one of the songs). Great to see Fig though and we're still best friends which is fab. He did tell me that he'd bumped into an old friend of ours from University days who I haven't seen for ages but he didn't give him my telephone number, just told him to look me up on Facebook. Of course I'd discontinued my Facebook page (never used it really) so now I've had to reinvigorate it just in case he tries to look me up. I hope he does. Would be great to talk to him again.

The wardrobe was a laugh a minute. Went to Ikea ready to purchase (superb staff by the way) only to find they didn't have all the bits and even the bits they did have couldn't be sold because there was a quality stop on them. And even if they could be sold the builder hadn't brought his roof rack for the car anyway! Complete farce. And still loads of stuff lying around the flat that should be in a wardrobe.

Incidentally, the spell check on my computer doesn't recognise the word Asda. And that's why I use an Apple computer... That's all. J x

In London

Been shopping (hurrah), seen the 4th plinth exhibition (I like the enormous blue cock) and now taking a well earned rest before meeting up with young Figster for a night of jollity, musicals and... well, lets leave it there shall we? What else could one possibly want? J x

To London

Off to London. Legally Blonde, Fig, Dover Street... could it get any better? Will report back soon. J x

I'm Turning Japanese...

...who are these strange people with their strange hieroglyphs. And why are they so interested in me and my goings on? I understand why you, dear reader, hang on my every word. Indeed I often do it myself. But the Japanese? I wonder if there is a way to instantly translate what I type in English into hieroglyphs? That would be fun.

Anyway. So what is news? Am currently sat at home awaiting a man to come and measure me up for some shutters. A man called round yesterday and did very little and yet charged me £175 for it. I'd left DD in charge. Say no more. DD and a tradesman in an enclosed space. Doesn't bear thinking about. I bet he was wearing overalls too. They do that up here.

So what else? Went to see Corrie last night (50 years of Coronation Street in 2 hours, live on a stage narrated by Jim McDonald and written by Jonathan Harvey). It should have been pure comedy gold and so it proved. Not the original actors of course but we had 5 people (2 men and 3 women not including Jim McDonald) playing about 50 different characters and they were fantastic. We saw Gail get married 4 times (each time declaring that this time it would be different because she could sense it - naturally it never was). We saw Deirdre and Ken, Deirdre & Mike, Deirdre & Ray as her hair got shorter and shorter. There was a barge, a tram, the ghosts of Elsie and Ena, Hilda and her little brown parcel back from Stan's funeral. We laughed, we cried, we had a stonking good time. If you get a chance, get a ticket.

What else? Went to see the touring production of Les Miserables and was happily surprised. Really enjoyed it. Only bad bit was Eponine who appeared to think she was auditioning for X Factor rather than playing a street urchin.

What else? Went to Swansea, saw the Aged Ps, had fun, got wet, saw lots of cricket and tennis. Ageds are doing fine though you'll all be glad to hear.

Otherwise all quiet on the North Western front. Work is good. Flat will be good once I get shutters installed and get round to ordering a new wardrobe from Ikea. And then its the party - don't ask me, DD is in charge. But before that we have Pride this weekend followed by a weekend in London with the Figster and tickets to Legally Blond. Hurrah. So that's all. J x

Holiday Hey Hey Yeah Holiday

Is that a song? No idea. Do I care? No I don't. Now have a week off work and really looking forward to it. Those who know me may find this fact surprising given my avowed love for my job - but its all been getting a bit on top of me recently. So I'm looking forward to a week off - 2 days in Manchester sorting stuff (as my good friend and party organiser DD would put it) followed by 3 days in Swansea (at least one of which will be spent on a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales) followed by a trip to Les Miserables at The Lowry with my good friend Jim. Now those who know me (you know who you are) may well express surprise at these plans since you will have heard me say on many an occasion that I'll never go and see a touring West End show in the provinces again (unless I haven't seen it in the West End first). But I thought "what the hey" how can they ruin a show like The Glums even if they don't have fancy barricades? The songs are so strong that it should be a good show anyway. Well, watch this space, famous last words and all that. I'll let you know. Have to go now and do stuff so that's all. J x

Antiqueing

Is that a word? Should be since its what I did yesterday in Lancaster (nice) and Morecambe (not so nice) with DD & Bryn & Michelle. I bought an old 1940s suitcase. Shall fill it full of old theatre programmes. May start a collection of old suitcase since I have a lot of old theatre programmes. We also had lunch at The Midland in Morecambe and navigated its bizarre rules and regulations regarding the taking of refreshment (times and locations - there are all sorts of rules). Cool place though. Old hotel updated by Urban Splash. Pity they don't run it. Then back to The Midland in Manchester for cocktails. A very nice day.

On leave next week. Back to Swansea on Wednesday and then back up to Manchester on Saturday. That's all. J x

Spring (?) Cleaning

Have spent the entire day cleaning out cupboards. Let no-one tell you I don't lead an exciting life. I did go to Canal Street last night though. That was fun. Well at least it was once we moved off the main drag and away from the hen parties and stag dos. Discovered a new bar down a back street - all very sleazy but it does one good to have a little sleaze in one's life from time to time! That's all. J x

Jokes

Oh, give over. It could be worse, I could be sending these to your mobile phone...

Sign outside an Australian gym (apparently): Fat and ugly? Want to be just ugly?"

Also, on twitter:" Gutted. This bird invited me to a party but I forgot to RSPB".

Thank you, my name's Jonathan and I'm on here for the rest of my life.... J x

50,004

Whoo hoo. Curates egg week. One exam pass. Three (count them) new trainees. Very happy with all that. One (expanded) Leadership Team meeting where everyone behaved like Civil Servants and didn't want to change anything and in any case spent most of the meeting arguing about First Class Travel and how they should be entitled to it. Didn't get half of the stuff done that I should have. Not so happy about these. So there you go. Curates egg. Managed to see DD a great deal which is also good. And went to Toy Story III with Gill & Sara. Not so enamoured with the film but lovely to see the ladies. Party planning carries on apace... That's all. J x

P.S.

DD rained all over my parade on the "really exciting idea for the party" front so its going to be dead boring. Sorry. J x

49790

Not that I'm one to boast but 210 more hits on the blog and we'll have 50,000. That is pretty phenomenal. And I just want to thank you all - including our regular Japanese contributers -for sticking with me for four years. I have now passed the four years since diagnosis point and the four years since the end of treatment point. I think that calls for a vodka martini or four. I'll see what I can rustle up - although obviously not on a school night (my job is precarious enough in this age of austerity). Thank you everyone. I'm not sure I could have done it without you. Here's to four more years (now where have I heard that phrase before?) That's all. J x

Tatton Park

Bloody ace. Was the Halle firework concert tonight. Went with Jane and Bill (as per) and had a fantastic night (as per). Not too many people talking through the music tonight. And even Myleen Klass wasn't too annoying. Have also had an idea for my party which is really exciting. Watch this space... J x

To London & Back

Don't buy the sandwiches on Virgin Trains. They're rubbish apparently. But, All My Sons is fantastic, gripping (thank you Bryn), dramatic (thank you Michelle) and emotional (Denise). Suffice to say we all thoroughly enjoyed it and some of us were moved to tears. Wannamaker and Suchet are class acts and well worth the ticket price. And the Apollo theatre is just charming. And following a random number of vodka martinis we're on the train on the way home. Also have to mention lunch - at Arbutus in Soho. Fabulous restaurant with fabulous food and fabulous (if skinny) staff. Also went and saw the ship in a bottle on the 4th plinth which is a lot of fun. Finally to the Hilton on Trafalgar Square to mix with fabulously stylish people and down a final martini before a mad dash for Euston. Suspect there may be one more drink when we arrive in Manchester... That's all. J x

Shandy Booze

Has anyone seen my wagon? I'm sure I left it around here somewhere... Back on the booze and hungover today. Hey ho, my life is back! That's all. J x

Twitter

So that's what all the fuss is about. Have just signed up and am addicted already. Not that I feel the need to Tweet myself (got the lingo already you see) but it's fascinating just exploring all the people on there - famous, infamous and none of the above. One thing leads to another and you end up spending hours on there with sore thumbs. It's worse than porn! Anyway, won't be tweeting much myself as I have all of you on here to communicate with but it is fun. Leave your twitter stories in comments for us all to share. That's all. J x