I'm glad I'm not the only thing that's late

A sunny weekend! Joy! And a hearty "pah" to all those whinging about it being too hot.

All day Friday, I slaved over a hot PC. Literally. 'Til a late beer with drpete. Still, it's another magazine to add to my portfolio.

So Saturday, I said to myself, I shall Go Out and enjoy the weather, if it's good. When I awoke, to crepuscular gloom at noon, I opened my curtains to SUN. So I thought to myself, "time for a run - it's been more than a week". And I emerged from my room to meet sinnymaker, who to my utter astonishment invited me to come jogging.

And we did. To and all around Figge's Marsh. She did really well -- well over a mile. We walked into Mitcham, where after 6mth she had still never been, then home via the Hoo Hing oriental cash&carry. When she was safely ensconsed in the shower, her Swedish mate Chris and I went for another couple of laps of the local park to wear ourselves out.

After this, being all hot and sweaty, I thought I'd take myself off to the Tooting Bec Lido, my local pool -- and Europe's largest outdoor pool, as I understand it. Unheated, mind, so nippy. To my further amazement, Colleen & Chris decided to come too, so off we trooped. I swam 'til I got cramp, sat in the sun to warm up -- and repeat until they threw us all out at 5 or so. Extremely pleasant and involved no books and no computers. Bona!

Then it was up to town for mr_prickle's farewell dinner. I had said to Pete that I'd go, but that's before I learnt that kjersti would be there. Seeing her is still guaranteed to plunge me into gloom for a week or two. But I went anyway. I forebore from speaking to her -- what is there to say? [EDIT: crap deleted] Nothing constructive. [Sigh]

All LJers, I think. Actually got to identify who moral_vacuum is, despite earlier LJ-contextless meeting; brief talks with tamaranth, incy, nisaba, mmcpoland and others.

Anyway, Daryl & I went off to Decadence afterwards, meeting ladycat and Ian and later d_floorlandmine - and childeric's mate Alexandra and Julie -- and jolly good it was. Suddenly, at 2am or so, I found I was quite drunk. We abandoned plans for the Slimelight and I nightbussed it home.

So today I was less ebullient, but I've been all practical instead. I've reassembled some of Kirsty's old Ikea Sten shelving in the garage and shelved loads of rubbish - and thrown out a bit, too. I've reached my weekly target of a full wheelybin of needless crap. I'm trying to do this every week. I have too much clutter. As Thoreau said, "Simplify, simplify". I've also found a spare innertube and fixed the recumbent, realigned the back wheel on the Birdy and re-tensioned the chain on the H100SII again, as per hazeii's advice, so now it's ridable again.

To reward myself, I headed off down to Croydon to a new pub: the Beer Circus in South Croydon, along with reverendjim & ajshepherd and others. Some regulars, such as nolley & both fishlifters, are in Boston for the Worldcon, of course. B*st*rds. Great place, though: something like 400 bottled beers. Horribly expensive -- £3.40 for the cheapest pint, I think -- but a wonderful place. I think I've now decided on my birthday celebrations: come to the Beer Circus. Don't buy cards or presents, just come to this fine little pub and buy me a beer. Two if you're feeling exceptionally generous. That will do very nicely. Shame it's still months away. But hey, at least I was once again the only one there still in their 30s. [G]