Congratulations John

My friend John just announced his engagement through his Facebook status. I thought about commenting...

And I've passed my exams too!

...so that everybody who leaves a comment saying congratulations to him in one way or another is also inadvertently congratulating me. Having not yet got my exam results, I dare not tempt fate in this manner.

EDIT: 22:30, and 27 comments later, I wonder if I made the right choice. Gems of comments like...

Congratulations to you both. Great news. Hope you are very happy.

oh my god never thoght i'd see this day. way too grown up to compute but congratumalations

Wow, guys thats awesome news!! Congratulations to you both

I can only echo the shock and well-wishes above... Congratulations!

...make me wish I had posted the comment. Well done John, and boo to me, DTRMCR, for listening to my conscience at the expense of a gag. So it goes.

Sheffield and Jeff Bernstein

Waking up on Kate's sofa and feeling rough wasn't the best preparation for another visit to the pervy contact lens fitter. I bleared through it in pain, but I knew before I'd left the store that contacts weren't for me. Not now, at least.





A 42 to Stockport, train to Sheffield and 52 bus later, I was back on a stomping ground of old, the ever-fair Crookes. The Mason's Arms, where I'd worked for two good years after my undergraduate degree, had closed down. Ugly metal boards covered over the windows and doors. I felt sad.

Jeff was his normal manic self. When had I last seen him? Two years ago? More maybe. Since I moved to Manchester? Yes, I think so. But I can't recall the particular time. He was amazed that I'd been to the Jewish Museum for my birthday. He was even more amazed when I gave him a driedel as a gift. Amanda was in fine form. She and I realised the driedel was lop-sided, but that this was best for the game as a whole. You can't always have people winning the whole pot, I guess. Is there a lesson there?

NTS Sheffield

“Change at Sheffield, and again at Leicester”

Wrapping took an age. Owen’s gift was easily the largest in my case, which he was very pleased to hear. The girl sat opposite me on the train was wearing all red. Red shoes, red skirt, red blouse, red nail varnish, red handbag. She was sniffling, but when I offered her a tissue, she wouldn’t take it. She was reading about critical theory, or something theoretical. I was intrigued. Well, until I got off at Wellingborough at any rate. Dinner at Caroline’s was lovely. Izzy is getting more and more fun to be around. She smiles, she giggles, she reacts - much more rewarding than my last visit. We watched Gremlins, which Kev had never seen. He and I put away the best part of two bottles of wine. He’s a gent. I’m a big fan.

My friend Ed...

...is in Arena magazine. Take a look. We go way back, to my film making days. I'm glad to see him doing well.

The power of Sheffield

The conference in Sheffield today made me reconsider the grumbles I've felt about my job lately. That place is like the island in Lost. It does special things.

Halloween Photo Essay