Laura on Snowdon

Christmas Drinks with St John's

“Did you know that this is the first time that we’ve been out as a house since you moved in?” Rachel was right to bring it up. Late September, October, November and most of December had passed before this moment had come along. Emily, Paul and I had been out for one when I’d first moved in – with Paulos, in fact - but that was it. We had a vigorous debate about public transport and bus ticket prices.

Warn cider!

More of this for the new year, I think!

I am Iron Man!

Actually, I am Owen's Christmas present.

It's not a gym Clare.

Why are you doing press-ups here in the German Markets? You should take it easy on the training you know. Relax a little.

Vega, BHMC, Arcade Fire

What a scrum! The Mountain Equipment sample sale in Hyde was far busier this weekend, with people walking around carrying armfuls of down and hard-shell jackets so as to stop anybody else picking them up. Somehow from within the melee, Laura managed to find a couple of anoraks for her cousin and his son, and to find me a Vega jacket, in Facebook blue. The only imperfection was that the zip was stuck; easy to repair, surely. At only sixty pounds, it was around a quarter of its retail price. Ker-ching!

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

I was really happy with the training session I’d organised, despite the usual grumblers. The exercises and activities that I’d devised got everyone involved, and I listened in on some productive discussions within the groups. My boss was there for the start of it, and I hope she was impressed by what she saw.

After work, Laura revealed her big surprise for me: tickets to “A Christmas Carol” at the Lowry! What a brilliant surprise!

Belle and Sebastian

They've got it!

Yahoo!

Message from Dan

“Greetings from snowy Glasgow. I’ve got two tickets for Belle and Sebastian at the Apollo on Tuesday if you’d like them?”

Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes please!