Yes, an earlier ‘late night rambling’ than usual, but if I get this down, I may sleep better tonight (in an ideal world). Listening to John Mayer and chillin’ out with a small pack of Snack-a-Jacks toffee popcorn (yum!) and red wine. Mmm.. it’s amazing how some albums can make you feel better – not that I’m feeling bad, at all – quite the contrary, in fact – but there’s just something about a good song with intelligent lyrics and a good hook that lightens your spirits and makes you feel good. It can lift your heart and make you smile 🙂

Anyway, been taking it easy this week after recovering from my last assignment…well, almost – unless you count the 2 days I was working in Plymouth. I haven’t been there since I was 9 years old; my uncle used to own a newsagents there, so all I can remember about Plymouth was filling my face with sweets! It’s a shame I couldn’t have stayed longer – had a fabulous view from the Holiday Inn’s penthouse restaurant as I ate breakfast – absolutely beautiful.

One of the things I like about traveling in this job is the people you meet on planes, trains and buses… when my train to London, last week, was delayed at York (due to a fatality on the line!) a very interesting American sat next to me. He worked for the Justice Department in Washington D.C and was in York as the guest speaker at a huge international conference they were having. It’s amazing how much information a stranger will give you about themselves… maybe it’s because they know you’ll never see them again? Even on my trip to Plymouth this week, the amount of people I met in the airport both at Newcastle and in Bristol (still can’t get over the fact they’re checking your shoes now – James Bond’s been hiding things in his shoes for years – how come the airports are just checking now?) who happily chat away to you is phenomenal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s nice, friendly, courteous, polite etc. but it’s nice in a strange kind of way – however, it does make your trip shorter – especially as my flight was delayed on the way back. Grrr!

I went to a bank reunion last night. One of the girls left the bank 2 weeks ago (after 20 years) to go into academia and she’s already in culture shock! 😉 It was a good night; drinks in The Blue Lounge which I’ve never been in before (unless it counts that I went in when the premises used to be ‘Booze Busters’?) and then on to the Gate of India, there was about 15 of us so it was fun but it was a bit weird at the same time. I spent a lot of time (11 years) working with these people, some I haven’t seen in the 8 years since I left… and they seem exactly the same… which is good.. it’s just that… I’m not the same… so I was expecting to find more changes… but there wasn’t any… which was unexpected.

—
Ooo… ’83 – John Mayer’ – great song :
Well these days
I wish I was 6 again
Oh make me a red cape
I wanna be Superman

Oh if only my life was more like 1983
All these things would be
more like they were at the start of me

If my life was more like 1983
I’d plot a course to the source of the
purest little part of me…
—

Aye, those were the days – although I confess I went more for the Wonder Woman/ Supergirl look, myself 😉

Right, time to shut up and go and watch TV. Nothing on (IMHO) so think I’ll watch the wonderful Hunting Venus.

Goodnight all!