Thursday 18 June 2009

Still alive

Helen: HELLO!!! We still exist. Really, we do. We've just been sucked back into the real world of work and mobile phones and now seem to have no time to do anything other than sit in front of a screen. Bugger. BUT, having said that, we are enjoying being back - so much so that we've actually gone and bought a house. Moving date is July 31st so come and help us celebrate on Aug 7th (had to explain 'housewarming' to our Swedish friend Joel - guess it is a weird expression). The house is literally one minute's walk away from our old, fabulous, flat - it has a double garage with a proper workbench, a wood burning stove and a flower bed that's all my own. C is busy brewing a 'Homecoming Stout' for the party...it's bubbling away in a corner in the kitchen (we've regressed about 10 years and are currently staying in one room of a shared house with our friends. Having a designated shelf in the fridge makes us feel like students again...)

Edinburgh is still beautiful, although they have dug up all the streets in aid of the huge waste of time, effort and money that is the Tram project, so the traffic is truly awful and it's not quite so pretty as it was a year and a half ago. Also, annoyingly, they seem to have closed most of the city's cultural landmarks, museums and galleries for refurbishment - probably in time for the Olympics. So, while I've been singing the city's praises all round the world for being an architectural and cultural gem, it seems to have regressed to its student days as well. Oh well, at least the festivals are nearly upon us - I have brochures for all of them (Book, Film, Jazz, Fringe and International) and want to try to go to at least one thing at each, which means a lot of reading bumf. Or not, if you're Charlie and can't be bothered.

Not sure what else to tell - work is hectic - back in at the deep end. C had his first day of work today in 2 years. Was very pleased with himself as his commute was 10 mins each way, he got taken out for lunch and they're giving him a new laptop!

Hxx

PS our friend Harold who we met in HK and Beijing is visiting at the moment - we had a hilarious evening with him and his Chinese friend who doesn't speak a word of English last night - I think the Chinese friend got a bit of a surprise when we told him the pub we were in was full of gay men...