After such a late night it was no surprise to first become aware of anything at eleven. I flopped around for a bit until I could be motivated to get out the Hands On proofs and read them under the duvet with a cup of tea. By the time I’d got to the half way mark the tea was drunk and I dragged myself out of bed, feeling very decadent.

By the time I’d showered it was lunchtime, so I ate, did the washing up and a bit of tidying before going back to the pcwexpert I’d been reading yesterday. Much of it was quite baffling until I’d read it through twice, but I came out of it at the other end feeling like I’d learnt a lot. I’ll probably learn just as much again when it comes back as a proof. Mailed the edited copy into the office, sending it to production rather than my own account, which is currently out of action.

I uninstalled my virus software on Friday because it was fighting with Lotus Notes. It had the last laugh, though, as it took all of the Notes configuration files with it and Notes couldn’t find the server any more. I got the systems people down to sort it out, but they just uninstalled Notes altogether and then went away. Result: I have no email. Perhaps just as well as there is no virus software to scan the incoming emails.

I only just got done with the editing when mum, Andrew and Paul arrived with The World is Not Enough, recorded off ITV on Wednesday. It’s years since I’d seen it. I foolishly turned down a ticket for the premier in favour of seeing it with the rest of the magazine. I’m sure it was the morally correct thing to do, and at least I didn’t have to hire a tux.

Mum brought her sewing box and I took down my curtains so she could shorten them while we gorged ourself on iced buns and macaroons. By the time the Istanbul had been saved from nuclear meltdown, I was feeling fat and sleepy, so I saw them off, quickly admired my unfamiliar shorter curtains (they look like hotpants for windows now) and drove to the gym. I ran uphill for 29 minutes and felt righteous again, but put it all straight on again with a cheese sandwich, a trip to the pub and the remains of yesterday’s cheesecake when I got home.

There were a lot of familiar faces at the pub, which was surprising considering how long it is since I was last there. Thinking about it, I reckon this was only my third or fourth trip this year. I’ve not missed it, and it’s not changed. It still has the DJ who you can’t understand when he speaks on the mic, the slow slow slooooooow service at the bar and the smoke that gets blown in your eyes by the ceiling fans.

It was nice to catch up with some old friends, though, including Anthony, who I’ve not seen since we bumped into each other at a Steps concert a year ago last summer.

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