Back at work, and got an email from Jules asking if I really am going to get to Amsterdam, or was just playing with the idea. I guess it's a good enough plan to break up this 'tired behind the eyes' feeling that I live with at the moment. I know I didn't have a proper holiday since last February (that could be something to do with it!), and emotional times make me sleepy [it's an evasion, if you're negative, or nature's own Valium if (like me) you think your bodymind knows what it is doing, and how to do it....] A touch of the hibernations, too.

Shaved my beard off last night - to mark the day. I have often cut my hair or shaved the beard as a 'marker'....of course, some people at work react and others don't. At least somebody came up with 'It makes you look older' today - which I liked, although it thwarts my own (tired old) response to 'looking younger' - 'of course I look younger, I look as though I haven't reached puberty!'

Whether I manage to keep shaving long enough for Julie to enjoy it in March, I have no idea. It grew out in three weeks abroad last year. Mike in the Leisure Dept (long scraggly beard and short hair) says he often gets asked if he is Jewish or a Muslim...and I pontificated about this clean-shaven thing being Christian (dating back to when the Roman soldiers brought it over here) - with pagans and barbarians being hirsute. Just another of the less than sensual aspects of Christianity (although these days people seem more scared of hair than ever before. Guys seem to want woman as smooth and shiny as their car. It figures. Although women seem to be willing co-conspirators in that.

Anyway...Friday coming up, and I have books and videos and DVDs. I have no real reason for feeling lonely...and I used to enjoy being alone...so I guess this is love (Doh!)

It's 2 in the morning. I went to Pete's funeral/wake today. The thunder clapped just before the curtains closed and the country music kicked in....and when we went outside it was snowing for about five minutes.... Nice one Pete.

Then we had a blazing sun in a blue sky to get to The Globe. Once we were safely in the pub (with drinks on Pete) the snow swirled down, and settled, changing everyone's plans a little....

Meanwhile, I hear from Julie in 33ºC out in Thailand.... probably up with the hill tribes now.

A Sad and Lonesome Day.

Yeh, OK I'm playing Bob in the small hours 'Love and Theft' -

and can I just stick in this from the ceremony for Pete, Chris said: (misquoting Mr Dylan with respect):

When I saw Pete say "goodbye" to his friends and smile
I thought that it was well understood
That he'd be comin' back in a little while
I didn't know that he was sayin' "goodbye" for good

Hi everyone (and a big hello to Julia and Eleanor)

I have now heard from Julie, so I know that they arrived safely in Thailand. Only 6 weeks to go (that's just me). We have snow warnings here, and they are in 30 C. Hey ho.

All seasons are available at any time, of course, if you have both time and money available. It's just a matter of taking your bodymind around the spacetime world to experience it. As I get older (and with far less free time - from having a steady job) I reduce my expectations of places I might visit one day. I reduce them every day. They may well remain places of the mind. Thanks to books and TV we all have some idea what these places are like, but still you can never tell what experiences YOU (as an individual) might have if and when you were there in person. That's the adventure.

I never was much of a tourist. I rarely arrived with money to pump into poorer economies. That also means I didn't tempt any rip-offs. I tended to travel to work.

Still, I have a funeral to go to, and may (you never know) meet some old friends in London this week. After that I may try to enjoy my solitude for a while.

PS: I'll find a less silly title when I can...

There has been a bit of a break in transmission, for which I apologise (if anybody reads this regularly). I know family members may log in here, as well as long-lost friends. At the same time, I don't put anything really personal up here, as it is an open door to the world.

In brief, a much beloved dog friend (Finn), belonging to a friend of mine, died a couple of weeks ago. Then a close human friend died two days ago. Right now, my partner Julie is about to set of on a trek around Thailand for six weeks (with her daughter Rhiannon). As you can guess, I am a bit emotional at the moment.

It's great to hear from people who do read this stuff - so please feel free to contact me on bogusmagus23@yahoo.co.uk.

Interaction is still the name of the game. My best wishes go out to all of us - if they are planning to throw another war for oil.

Maybe the Chinese New year on February 1st, can be another turning point and fresh start - The Year of the Goat (Black Sheep?)

Ah well, finally the ftp started working again.

It's getting really cold in the UK at the moment. I think Ali came back from Hawaii the other day, so she must really be feeling it.

The house has gone quiet (carpet went down).

Got an email from Sue Hooven, which reminded me to update my Jabba Links page. Hi Sue!

I still seem to be locked out, and ntl claim their work on the server has been done and any hiccups resolved, but I still can't get in to tinker with the Thought of the Day, or the Lyrics page, or just to change the current (dull) incarnation of the front page.

Ho hum - get a life, I guess...............

Happy new Thing, and a prosperous whatever......

I can't get into my website to change it, so for those of you you may visit - I am a passive reader like you.

Blame the ISP

Cain't do nothing about it...............................