birthday madness

What was going on all those years ago in April? For some reason all our friends and relatives have birthdays in January...

Nik (9th), Cerys (11th), Emma B (13th), Karen (15th), Rick (18th), GiD (24th) and Doug (25th)

Oh, and me. I share a birthday with GiD. There'll be a tremor in the Force that night, I can tell you, as North and South London compete to see who can fall over the most . . .

xmas in the gulf

Just got back from a very nice 10 days in Dubai staying with Solveig's family (yes, the in-laws...) - good old traditional Christmas Day with turkey and all the trimmings and a tree and sherry and xmas pudding - no snow though :)

And Happy New Year - bring on 2005!!

mitchell be alright on the night

[Sorry about that, been reading the Daily Star]

Ben and Caroline got married! Woot! Dulwich College, black tie, all frightfully nice - check it out here...

anarchy in the ukulele

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain on Saturday at the Barbican - versions of popular classics from "Wuthering Heights" to "Hard To Handle" via "Should I Stay Or Should I Go" played by seven (count 'em) ukulele players in evening wear. Barmy, but ace.

another one bites the dust

And so it was that we celebrated His Stag-ness Mr Ben Mitchell last Saturday, with fast cars (13 souped-up go-karts), hot food (1 chilli-spiked onion bhaji) and loose women (no comment).

Brilliant effort, chaps - Noel won the racing, Tandoori King kept us well furnished with Cobra and it all ended at 5am in The Key on the fancy light-up-dancefloor wearing Russian hats (cheers, Will!).

pigeonhold in space

Well done everyone, 4 Jedi, 3 Barbarella, 2 Vader and a Rimmer rubbed shoulders and light sabers with Islington's finest on Saturday night (and Sunday morning) for the seventh anniversary of the monthly-shouty-fally-downy event that is Pigeonhold.

The taxi home was also very entertaining :)

lola's

If you want a treat, go for dinner at Lola's in Islington - Saturday was our second visit and again it was marvellous - spiced parsnip soup, blue cheese & walnut salad, rack of lamb with artichoke and garlic puree, moroccan chicken, honey roast figs......ok, I'll stop now.

49ers

So Arsenal's unbeaten record comes to an end at 49 games.
Well done lads, tremendous achievement, shame it had to be United but it was inevitable really :)

advice for sporting types

Don't try to execute a Cruyff turn without giving the appropriate warning to the associated parts of the body i.e. legs. You could end up with twisted perispinal muscles and have to hobble about like an old man. Like me. Ouch :(

fully committed

More theatre-going, this time to the Menier Chocolate Factory and "Fully Committed", the one-man-show set behind the scenes at one of New York's top restaurants. Brilliant performance from Mark Setlock; if you get the chance to see it, then, er, do :)