Performance art

Looking forward to the fireworks party tonight. It's the best work party of the year and it's a crispy sunny day today so it should be cold and clear this evening. Perfect conditions for a spectacular display, some warming soup and a pig in a bap or two. And this year I've got G to hold on to if the big bangs make me jump. Lovely :-)

Hope he enjoys it too. It means a lot to me that he's here to share it. He's a bit stressed about his house and is being plagued by utilities and banking admin errors at the moment. All a bit much. He needs some extra looking-after this weekend.

Have been feeling a bit out of sorts myself last couple of days. Had a tiring day yesterday attending a work conference in Birmingham. These things are always pretty draining and yesterday was no exception.

I spent a while daydreaming about plans, but no real progress. I'm worried I may have misrepresented Lara a bit in my last entry. She has offered heaps of practical, realistic advice about the unglamorous side of travelling and is doing her best to make me think things through before making any rash decisions. Might go to the Country Living Christmas Fair with her next week, but am really not sure it's worth facing the mad scrum. Would rather have a quiet coffee and a chat and a mooch around town. I don't really qualify as a fully paid-up Rayburn-babe either really.

Speaking of which, G's mum and dad are coming for Sunday lunch so am looking for alternatives to a big roast dinner, given the state of my puny oven. Feel a bit nervous as it's their first visit. I might have to resort to bangers and mash. Will see what G says. It might be safer still to take them down the pub.

Lots of housework tomorrow too. At least I haven't got to tackle the kind of deep cleansing Tabi had to deal with this week. Martha, the beloved kitten, must have eaten a long length or ribbon at some point a few days ago and woke Tabi and Sam up on Wednesday morning as it started to, erm, exit her system. Severely traumatised by the sensation, and with the thing half in and half out, Martha scooted about 'string painting' the entire house. Tabi was laughing by the time she phoned me, but only after she'd spent a good three hours scrubbing the decks.