Needing to work off the excessive eating from the previous night’s dinner party, I clocked up a 6 mile run along Brighton foreshore including the famous Brighton Pier. Before heading back to London and work the following morning, I joined Colin at The Exchange to watch the Liverpool vs Arsenal game. Sitting in the pub, Colin’s local, Colin commented, ‘With a pool table, good Thai menu, big screen TV, local ales and a good atmosphere, what more could you want in a local?’ Maybe I could say the Surf Club is the local back home but it’s not the same. English pubs are something special with their welcoming atmosphere. They are a second home to many, including me for my short stay here.

On the train back to London which due to engineering works went via Littlehampton, I didn’t sit comfortably. Despite having made it to Hove in one hit on the way down, I just don’t trust myself on that train anymore. The thought ‘Oh no, here we go again’ went through my mind when pulled out of a station the way we came in. Something had been mentioned over the PA but I was catching up on some shut eye at the time. I just prayed ‘Please I need to get sleep before work tomorrow’ before checking with my fellow passengers. Thankfully it was all to schedule and I arrived safely and on time back in Kentish Town.

Back at work, it was fun rubbing it into the boys about the double win in the rugby. I tried not to gloat too much but I am the only Australian at work so someone has to. They would be merciless if it’d been the result had been reversed. The boys tried to focus on the weekend football (soccer) results pretending the rugby didn’t matter but they didn’t succeed. Their standard response was ‘Who has the World Cup?’ which was met with ‘You’re only as good as your last game’ and in England’s case it’s been a year of losses since that World Cup win. (Sorry the game against Canada does not count.)

Having trouble mustering the energy to do any exercise after work due to the early fall of darkness, I have taken to walking to work. With my iPod blaring in my ears, I have an enjoyable 45 minute walk to work singing and grooving (well if that’s what you can call my ‘moves’). With all the traffic noise, no one can hear me and if they do, they’ll probably rightly think I’m some nutter and ignore me. Fabulous.

During the week, the washer died on Matt’s great waterfall shower so it has been baths before work. And what a better way to start the day than with a steaming hot bath and Matt’s bath is fabulous. It’s long enough for me to be able to stretch my legs out completely. I want one of them in my place back home. Starting the day all toasty takes the edge of the cool air during my walk to work. Not that London is particularly cold. So far it has been very mild and quite agreeable – not my ideal but for winter in London I’m not complaining one bit.

It was a fairly quiet week with work Monday to Friday. One evening I watched the Carling Cup Arsenal vs Manchester United game where Manchester United scored the quickest goal I’ve seen. It was all of 18.6 seconds to be exact. And that was the game. Manchester United won 1-0. Sometimes football is an anti-climax. I also finished a really interesting read of ‘Notes from a Big Country’ by Bill Byron. Matt virtually has his own private library and I could stay for a year and still wouldn’t get through his collection of great reads including a travel guide section. The week was caped off with after work drinks with the guys from work.

Saturday I tubed down to Covent Garden to meet up with Chris from my China trip for good ‘ld fish and chips at the White Lion. Covent Garden was just heaving with people shopping, eating, drinking, and watching the numerous street performers of all variety. The Christmas tree was up and mullied wine was flowing. A very colourful and lively place. Mud from the same trip arrived later to join us for drinks at Punch & Judy. Opting for a relaxed night, Mud and I went to the cinemas to see ‘The Incredibles’. It was the good laugh which we needed and I highly recommend the movie for all.

If you can dream it, you can do it – Walt Disney

P.S. A number of you have asked about Grandad. Nov 17 he flew home from Manchester and made it back to Australia safe and sound. From reports, he is doing well and is apparently driving better than before. The man never ceases to amaze.