Hiya (as they say in Wales)

You may already have read the stuff below in the comments section of my previous post. This was due to a hideous publishing disaster beyond my control. I do apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Time will indeed tell young Figster although quite what it will tell remains to be seen. DD still away. She should have arrived in St Petersburg by now (Aeroflot willing) although I have yet to receive a text confirming this. Its been good for her to be away actually as I imagine I would have been pretty impossible to live with this week as have spent all week (yes, all week dear readers) filling in a job application. HMRC doesn't do things by halves and if you want a new job there are hoops to jump through for days. It doesn't help of course that once you've filled the damn thing in so that you believe that God himself (alright, or herself) would give you a job, along comes a certain Scottish lady (and I use that word under advisement) who says that your application is absolute pants and you have to start again. Having said that, once I'd taken on board all her ideas as well as those of another trained sifter and someone who has actually done the job, it was in fact 200% better. They're sifting in week commencing 02/06 and interviews are in week commencing 09/06 if needed. So keep your fingers crossed everyone.

News elsewhere? Flat still not ready. Anyone surprised? No, I didn't think so but I have assurances that I will have at least one functioning bathroom by the time young Figster arrives and we can just work the rest out as we go along. I've started bulk buying vodka already (canny investors out there might want to consider investing in Absolut and Grey Goose shares now). A full programme of theatre visits has been laid on for said birthday from the amateur production of Scarlet Pimpernel. The Musical! (who knew?) to our Brenda in that Tennessee Williams thing and our Bette in that Rock Hudson thing. Sunday night will be our night to howl...

John and Conor arrive on Tuesday and plans are afoot for things to do from that plasticised corpses thing to a day trip to Blackpool (can't wait) to a trip round some football ground. Actually I'm hoping the PS3 will be up and running by then and we can just leave Conor playing that and John and I can go out and get drunk! More vodka, I know. My liver is a pretty resilient organ though.

No other news for now. Book Group on Monday - Angela Carter's Wise Children which I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm now reading the new Philip Pullman (having read The Book Thief in between - fantastic) but not got into it yet.

Tuesday of course sees the return of DD with, no doubt, tales of holiday romances and a million photographs. Looking forward to seeing her again since its been lonely in her flat without her.

Christies on Thursday (hello lovely lovely Debbie) - she always reads the blog before I turn up so that she can shout at me about sunbathing - before picking Fig up from the airport in the afternoon.

That's all. J x