it is a lovely sunny day in london today, but i feel compelled to sit inside and do some study. yesterday was all quite fun, went out of the door at 10 am to get birthday card and returned at 3:30 without a stamp. i had a dream of a turquoise hoody and went to a fun party in mile end. but mostly, i felt a bit ill and looked upon the choppy waters which lay ahead. fun indeed. i have a heart thats made of metal but i need one made of wood.

goodness me, i am tired. for those of you who weren't there, this incarnation of the welsh adventure was thoroughly adequate in every regard. since then i have been working hard, sleeping little and thinking less. i will tell you something more interesting when it come along. i have an enourmous backlog of movies to watch before they leave the cinemas and i think i am sure to fail. that is all.

grace and wifi have delivered me to mine own bed, reading political blogs and listening to my best late christmas present yet. at this juncture, if my friend the gozza were here (and i will thank you not to get any ideas a la morcombe and wise) he would no doubt call it evidence for "intelligent" design. there is no neutral ground on that one. the only intelligent design is being catalogued slowly, but methodically, by mr brule.

lately i have been thinking of how i must grow get into drinkning the wimes of macon from very heavy bottles. i dont really know why, but it has been much on my mind. nice to see oxford, my jolly old family and may on sunday, and nice too to listen to 1xtra on the way home. looking forward to walez. that is all.

news from the frontline - my house is now back to it's full complement of inhabitents, tighter than ever. i find that i am ever more distracted but i hope that my new regieme of early mornings will do me good. less sleep may bring more rest. i am still very behind on trips to the movies and chapters of notes, but i am trying. for those of you who frequent such places, it looks like i will be in oxford this sunday so maybe you will see me. and finally, a labrador puppy sneezed today just as he was being examined by prospective owner jake, 7, of chesterton. he is now called mr sniffles and jake loves him very much.

as if simply to allow those of us interested in markets case studies outside of the realm of finance or economics, charles kennedy has resigned. everyone of my persuasion will be looking at my favoured websites all too often, as has been the case since january or feburary last year. will my local mp suceed? i have no idea, but as of now you can get 6.2/6.4-1 at betfair.

ahh, it is what the french would call "the weekend", thank goodness. i think i might just stay in bed as much as i possibly dare this weekend, emerging only to try and finish my book. i ought to do a little, gentle study. and yet, my dear brothers, and yet. maddness is slated. there is to be a "how to spend it". i should like to go to the pictures. i should like to go out for dinner. i should like, dear reader, to find some peace of mind. by the way, i can't quite believe that james nesbitt is in match point. i hope he doesn't spoil it.

today, some restaurant news. new years day was one of the best and brightest: DAB in the morning, a walk around the west end in the afternoon (culminating in a new tie) and then to whitechapel for the finest curry i can remember eating at tayyabs. i sincerely hope i shall be going again soon. this evening i was reading the ed's michelin guide on the sofa and i have ste myself a numerological goal for the year to come.

well id buy you some broken twine, honey for you to climb. well ill do anything in this god almighty world if you'd just once drive me out of my mind. happy new year.