This time last week I was enjoying yet another cup of coffee with AndyB, JD and Anton. We all met at university, but hadn't seen each other since. I'd kept in touch with Andy, on and off, and he'd been in contact with JD, on and off. When Anton emailed via love-it-or-loathe-it-you-can't-ignore-it FriendReunited, all the bits dropped into place, and Andy (I think) suggested we get together. That was back in August, and last weekend was the first date we could all do.

They all arrived here on Saturday afternoon, and we spent the afternoon and evening talking nonsense, drinking beer, playing pool for old times sake and eating curry. John described it as an evening with familiar strangers, which seemed a very good way of putting it. I enjoyed myself very much, and everyone esle seemed to as well. On Sunday, we all sat around drinking coffee and complaining we just couldn't do it like we used to. Then Nat made us all have showers, because we smelled.

Today, I unblocked the toilet, England have collapsed to humilating defeat in the Ashes test, and we're looking after a friend's dog which has horrendous wind.