Why is it relevant that Paula Radcliffe is now a mother?

The BBC headline read: "Paula Radcliffe is defeated in the Great North Run in her first race as a mother".

The linking page only says:

In the elite women's race, American Kara Goucher triumphed over second placed Paula Radcliffe, who was returning to competition for the first time in 21 months.

Now, I may be being picky but really - surely the significance is that she has been out for 21 months. And I'm not saying that pregnancy and motherhood do not take specific tolls on a person's body, but did the headline really have to imply "She's a mother! She's now rubbish!".

She came second. That's no mean feat. Why can't we just be chuffed at her coming back and being up to such a good standard in her first competitive race in 21 months?

New music acquisitions

So, what have recently entered the Rullsenberg and Cloud household?

This listing dates from mid-August and the Summer Sundae weekender 2007 to the end of September 2007.

The Summer Sundae Showdown

• Tom Russell: Song of the West - The Cowboy Collection


• Tom Russell: Love and Fear


• Various Artists: Wounded Heart of America (Tom Russell Songs)

We had a fabulous time in the company of Tom Russell at Summer Sundae and ran off to withdraw money especially to purchase some of his works. He certainly warrants all the plaudits he has garnered over the years.

The LA Pick-up

• Steve Reich: Phases

A box set of 5 CDs providing a Nonesuch retrospective of Reich's work, this was irresistable (not least for the weakened US dollar). Beautiful sounds.

The Slow Boat Splurge

• La Gloria: Jeramiad

Soundscapes made with such items as Roto mikes, Shimshaw, and Pickup Transducers... Sounds up our street and it is sure is!


• Alastair Galbraith / Matt de Gennaro: From the Dark (South Island) - Long Wires in Dark Museums Vol.2

Reading the description of this from the (actually rather substantial "New Zealand - Experimental" section in Slow Boat, we had to pick this up. Cue an at-the-counter additional run through as to what the work involved. This gives a nice understanding:

Alastair Galbraith is the glue that binds the New Zealand underground. His work ranges from achingly lyrical violin for artists as disparate as Peter Jefferies and the Bats, to the feedback squall she conjures as a member of A Handful of Dust, to the other worldly minatures he crafts for his own solo albums. However, in recent years, Galbraith, along with American Matt de Gennaro, has developed another remarkable performance idiom, one that is positioned closer to the sounding sculptures of Harry Bertoia. In From the Dark (South Island), architectural idiosyncrasies are transformed into nuanced and hypnotic audio. Wires - some as long as 100 feet - are affixed throughout a building. When the wires are taut and stroked with roisined hands or a piece of leather, longitudinal vibrations are sent to the points of attachment, creating a natural resonator. It is not the wires that make the sound, but the wall, railing or window frames at their end: wire length and room acoustics determine the pitch. THe result, achieved in a veil of total darkness, is a beautiful and eeries confluence of chance and accident, architecture and improvisation. As Galbraith puts it, "There is some quite magical feeling of communion turning the lights off and making the building sing."



• Rosy Tin Tea Caddy - Blind Leading the Blind

Cloud picked this up after seeing it at the counter in Slow Boat and reading the following remarks from its inside sleeve:


Billy Earl and Betty Grey met as youngsters. Since then they have surrounded kitchen tables with cheap wine, old laughter, fresh pasta, dirty children, guitars, a computer and endless cups of tea.

Now who could resist THAT!?


• Magnolia Electric Co.: Fading Trails

We heard some very nice music whilst I was buying a beautifully tailored suit from Ziggurat and promptly queried who it was by. Finding it to be Jason Molina's Magnolia Electric Co., we promptly picked up something of theirs from Slow Boat just up the road.


• Tape Man Goes To Outer Space!

What can I say? We like the quirky and will take a gamble on all manner of stuff...!


• Lambchop: Tools in the Dryer


• Lambchop: The Decline of Country and Western Civilisation Part II: The Woodwind Years (Australia/NZ Edition includes bonus disc - The 'CoLab' EP)

One can never have too much of the 'Chop. The dulcit tones of Kurt Wagner on these respective compilations of A-sides, B-sides, live tracks and remixes, and also of A-sides, B-sides, compilation tracks and unreleased songs are particular joys.


• Two t-shirts, including one advertising Slow Boat Records especially for wearing when visiting Selectadisc.

The Swordfish Snaffle

• Alastair Galbraith: Talisman

Captivated by the acquisition of From the Dark, I thought I would indulge in more from this NZ artiste.


• The Elysian Quartet: Gabriel Prokofiev String Quartet No.1 with remixes by Edwin Lalio, Boxsaga, David Schweitzer and Max de Wardener

At time of typing I still haven't had chance to play this but it just sounded so intriguing!


• Tunng: Good Arrows

This was playing in the store and their unique style was instantly recognisable. Yep: we'll have some more of that!


• Thelonius Monk Quartet with John Coltrane: At Carnegie Hall

Cloud felt almost ill at realising he had NO Monk in his collection. We rectified that with this double-whammy gem featuring Coltrane as well...

The Selectadisc Raid

• Various Artists: The End of the Fear of God

69 artistes. A totally mad and typical CD inset commentary from the shop (why don't they let you keep a note of those?!). Had to be done.


• David Grubbs and Susan Howe: Souls of the Labardie Tract

I'll be honest here, I basically picked this up (a) because I knew David Grubbs from a FatCat compilation of super-duper stuff and (b) because a friend did her PhD on the poetry of Susan Howe. It's actually rather beautiful, especially with the weird noises and interludes of Grubbs sounds...


• Mira Calix: Eyes Set Against the Sun

Nope, no idea what to expect but selected from the soothing gems of the Post-Rock section I'm sure it can't be all bad...


• Colleen: Les Ondres Silencieuses

Yet more totally bought on a whim material. I want to be surprised! Quiet or loud, I like to take an occasional gamble.


• Monopolka: Noise Wendy

How can one resist a CD whose packaging is hand-made for each one and features cut-up pieces of cassette tape?!

[There was an additional item which I don't want to mention here because it may become a birthay present for a friend! But its a music DVD I also quite fancy having... decisions, decisions!]


Neil's selection

• Scritti Politti: Early

Neil's historic love for Green Gartside could not resist picking this up.


• Patti Smith: Land (1975-2002)

Yes, we should buy Smith's ouevre, but for the moment this sampler gives us a top up on our current CD owned material by her (vinyl, yep: CD, we hadn't ... apart from a key George selected gem!)


• Arise Rootsman: Jamaican Roots 1965-1983

Cannot resist getting some Trojan dub classics.


• Final Fantasy: He Poos Clouds

It's an Arcade Fire offspring record. That surely explains the purchase? That and the quirky name that amused Cloud...

George and Sonia's selections

• One From the Heart [Soundtrack album]

A classic bit of Waits and Gayle. Sonia needed to replace her worn/lost tape. Bargain.


• Rough Guide to the Music of Iran

Stretching out beyond western music - even if our selections push the barriers of 'music' fullstop! - this is a fine selection of tracks that shames me into realising how we need to keep expanding our musical horizons.


• Ethiopiques - the Very Best of Ethiopiques: Hypnotic Grooves from the Legendary Series

Like the fabulous Getatchew Mekurya bringing Eithiopian sax to the fore, this collection promised a full range of gems!


• Various Artists: Warrior Dubz

Magnificent collection of weird and wonderful works in a dub-hip-hop-rap-stylee.


• John Wiese: Black Magic Pond

Simply so grating that its hypnotically compelling and beautiful. A real find!


• Evan Parker: Time Lapse

Jazz man. It's jazz.


• Ooioo: Ooeyioo - eyioo remix [EP]

Hard to type but suitably on the scale of quirky electronic.


• Free sampler with Plan B magazine

Is that it? I think it may be. I'll try and get links on as many as possible but stay with me folks; this catch up is taking me some time!

The very VERY VERY belated Holiday post: part four - New Zealand (Wellington and back)

Of course, as enjoyable as spending over five hours on a train with beautiful views is, we were on the Tranzcoastal for a purpose: to get the Interislander ferry through the Malborough Sounds, across the sea and over from South Island to North Island - specifically, Wellington.

What really amused us when we landed at Wellington, was that we found the Kaitaki ferry had a big painted over set of letters on its side announcing it had once been 'Pride of Cherbourg': that's a long journey!

Wellington was fabulous, despite a rather overcast start to our main day there: this was mostly because of the Cuba Street zone, the kind of area that makes you want to pack up streets-worth of venues in your TARDIS-sized suitcase and take them home with you. Second hand bookshops! Anarchist bookshop/internet cafes (no Microsoft products in sight)! Vintage clothes stores (Ziggurat - I love you!) Excellent independent restaurants! Slow Boat Records!!! (This last one cued a SPLURGE of purchases that had the stoe owners grinning from ear to ear - but which with the exchange rate was an exceptionally reasonable act).

[This post is a work in progress which thanks to my computer and Blogger conspiring I cannot save as draft]

The very VERY VERY belated Holiday post: part four - New Zealand

We landed in rain. Torrential rain. Coo-er it was like being in the UK all over again. We saw out the window at Auckland airport that our baggage was getting VERY wet being loaded up onto the Christchurch plane. [By the time we had it and got to Neil's family, I realised one of my pieces - a suitcase - was actually wet on the inside! Good job I am the paranoid sort who packs stuff INSIDE carrierbags even inside suitcases...]

We may have took off in rain, but within minutes we were over clouds and glaciers and the mountains of NZ in clear air. Beautiful. We landed in Christchurch and the sun was up and lovely. Mid-Feb equivalent my ass; good job we know that its on the equivalent latitude to Portugal (makes more sense than comparing it to the UK). We headed straight to Neil's parents and looked out on more perfect sunshine and views of clouds. A lovely walk around Oxford and a gradual come-down from all the flying (including Neil recuperating from ear-popping by getting hiccups: hard to know what was worse!)

Having paddled at Santa Monica just before taking off for NZ, it was compulsory I thought to paddle in the sea at the OTHER side of the Pacific. So it was off to Woodend and a beautiful afternoon there with both of us paddling and Neil's parens beachcombing.

Over the course of the next two weeks, we saw and did so much - in addition to the fabulous time we had in the company of Neil's family (especially niece and nephew).

We enjoyed the architectural and sculptural delights of Christchurch, both temporary and more permanant.

We travelled to Hamner Springs (though we ducked out of the thermal pools), taking more pleasure in fabulous views to bungie jump bridges [sorry, I didn't!], water and forest views, walks, and the fun and games of mini-golf... It was warm enough to be just in t-shirts. This was the most extended experience of summer we had had since April in the UK!!

After all that exercise and hilarity we had one of our first superb meals of the visit: this time at Peppers in Hamner. Wonderful! Just the puddings alone were worth the visit but we also had fabulous mains too. Awakening from Cheltenham House, we headed back to Oxford past views that would not look out of place in LA/Santa Monica...

Of course, over the holiday in NZ we had lots of fun with duelling cameras (take five paces, turn and SHOOT!) But with so much beauty in the landscape, it was hard to not just end up shooting the mountains and land around us, especially when we headed on the TranzCoastal train to Picton. What views! Taking in wine country views and regularly running alongside the coastal road, it was a visually stunning journey - with yet MORE gorgeous weather.

The very VERY VERY belated Holiday post: part three - LA

Waking to sultry LA was quite a stunner, and though it took us about an hour to suss the buses to get to Aviation metro station and the sun was already piping hot, it was a blast of a day. We took the Metro up to Hollywood (cheap and easy) and walked out onto Hollywood Boulevard at Hollywood and Vine, the start of the Stars Walk of Fame.

And there was Pantages. Famous anyway but man you should have seen me shriek when on our return we watched LA Confidential (it's next to the Frolics Bar which is where Jack goes when he should be waiting til he snaps the DA with hapless Matt Reynolds).

We had a great lunch at Lucky Devils (serves real ale - and Cloud assures me very good ale too!) and by now frying in the sun I purchase a snazzy and cool split sleeve cotton shirt to cool my arms. Nice.

We go find City Hall for Lisette (again, its an LAC thing) and then walked past the rather stunning Walt Disney Hall. We walked past many magnificent buildings and then headed to Hollywood again to eat at Musso and Franks Grill. Not the best meal ever (the menu hasn't changed since 1919) but an experience nonetheless in a well-known Hollywood haunt.

Of course the next day we had to be off to NZ on an evening flight, so we decided to get the bus over to Santa Monica on the recommendation of the George. It was a scorching day (why is the Muscle Beach equipment made of steel? it was roasting to touch let alone use!) so I needed a new hat. Whilst walking the beach and generally enjoying the sand, sea and surf views of the pier and funfair, we also ran into - almost literally - the most terrifyingly huge bosums on a girl of my height and build (funnily, I think they were fake). To cite a line, "Holy Boob Job Batman". Still, as distracting as that was, Neil still came up with a grand idea for entrepreneurial adventure:

The English Seaside Emporium on Santa Monica Pier - selling rock, kiss-me-quick hats and Donald McGill postcards

It would work, wouldn't it?

Anyway, taking full advantage of a rather weakened dollar, we ate at The Lobster in the company of a mixture of fake bodies, and Hispanic waiters/out-of-work, 6 foot+ perfectly chiselled jaw waiters! Then a bus back to LA and on to the airport for our flight... where I wrote this (forgetting to say that the only 'celebrity' we saw in LA was Jim Broadbent on his way out to the Heathrow flight at LAX: and that was the only celeb seen all vacation...)

The very VERY VERY belated Holiday post: part two - London to LA

Now those of you who know how traumatic the last flight was for me when we flew from NZ back to the UK will understand the nerves with which I approached the flight to LA. If I add in that I was also not feeling too well, then this combined with Heathrow's security procedures...let's just say I was tense.

Cue near hysteria as I get in a state approaching the first round of security desks. By the time I got through to the queue for passports etc I was beginning to lose any sense of perspective.

Then, probably the best thing that could have happened, happened.

I met someone who needed support more than me.

Now this may seem a strange impetus for changing my behaviour, but as soon as I saw someone else in near-tears, expressing anxiety, I was immediately able to switch gears. Hey, there's a reason I do the job I do: it's because I do it anyway, instinctively.

Within seconds, my focus - indeed our focus - was totally on her and offering her the hankies, hugs and reassurance needed to make the journey. To Emma from Heathrow, you have no idea how much in some ways your difficulties helped save me. Once there was someone else to concentrate my energies on, I was fine. We kept an eye on her throughout the journey - she was on our flight too - and sent her off to her hotel at LAX. I hope she had a thoroughly wonderful holiday because she deserved it comeplete.

Anyway, once through security and the pointless parade of spending that is duty-free, we headed for food. Yes folks, I was hungry. I don't think THAT had helped minimise crankiness. Whilst eating, Neil noticed a young boy - almost small enough to fit into the large hand-luggage bag he had with him - in the company of an older male.

Neil promptly chuckled and muttered to me "that's Brian and Rauri". Archers fans will understand our muffled giggles here.

From there, things got better: I was fed and watered and on the plane. We didn't have the veggie option (NZ Air, I doubt they're worse than any othger airplane food provider, but man I could not face more insipid versions of tofu being served!) so the food was decent if unspectacular (hey, it IS airplane food!). But the views?!

WOW. We flew over Greenland and the ice-flows were grand (you can see pics here). We also snuck in a viewing of Fight Club (always good for plane journies!) And then we had the most smooth landing imaginable down to LAX. Good job, since we then had to spend around 2 hours getting through customs thanks to a short delay, a long run in to the gate and another flight arriving. Grr. Still, at least the drugs spaniel had a treat when he found some sarnies in a bag!

From there it was off for a hotel bus in the sultry night of LA off to Marriott hotel. We ordered room service as it was already 9.30ish and we tried to get some sleep.

Remember though... we've been pretty awake since 6-7am ish in London. It's now 11pm in LA.... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz versus body-clock...

Things are this bad

I've just been and bought myself a Doctor Who poster. Yes, the week has been like that. I needed it. I deserved it. And the week sure as hell ain't finished yet so I'm gonna deserve it even more by the end of tomorrow.

Though where the hell it can go is another matter. My office wall space is full unless I remove a set of shelves and whilst I think the Buffy poster has been part of my identity since getting my own office space here, I suspect that a full blown "my gawd, he's hot" poster of Tennant and his TARDIS may just prove too much sheer self-indulgence in sci-fi geekery to be tolerated in my working environment. Especially given the work I do.

Pah.

Back when I was young (read: single) I could post posters onto the ceiling above my bed and have the fun of them falling onto me in the middle of the night and scaring the bejeesus out of me (whilst also getting a frisson of thrill).

Now I have a nice warm Cloud - which is much better than any poster could ever be - but man, I wish I had more wall space!!

The very VERY VERY belated Holiday post: part one - London

Sorry for the delay and I hope you can marry it up with any appropriate pictures from the vacation!

We had a very pleasant evening in London the day before flying out to LA/NZ: Neil had reported back from his trip when he (nearly) disrupted the filming of Cornershop at the NFT/Southbank Centre whatsit place that there was a very fabby CD and DVD store. Well, he wasn't kidding. Of course, you don't REALLY want to get the consumerist munchies for such items on the way OUT of London on holiday where you have to carry them all holiday with you. So we restricted ourselves to buying "The City of Lost Children" which I have long wanted on DVD.

Of course, it was pee-ing down with rain that evening and we did get caught a bit. Made looking at the Klaus Weber water-flowing sculptures on the Southbank even odder!

We also wandered into the NFT (aka BFI Southbank) where Neil led me through the corridors of 'not-there-yet' to the actual ticket desk. Man I would have long given up if I was coming here for the first time! We nosied in the bookshop (very nice indeed - resist, resist!) and had a look at an exhibition - "Fabric Cut and Design" of drawings for costumes (and indeed some of the actual costumes) made by Ken Russell's wife, Shirley Russell. A very fascinating show (closed at start of September 2007).

Though my usual intimidated self, Neil eventually persuaded me to go into the rear bar of the NFT (SORRY: BFI Southbank) where they have very plush sofas and cushions for loungeing. Yummy! had a swift drink before braving the rain and heading for food at Pizza Paradiso in Store Street.

And so endeth part one.

What I owe you in terms of posts

Posts that I owe you:

• Holiday post: yes, yes, I know. I gave you a very brief overview. I gave you pictures. Do you still care what we did on our holiday in LA and NZ?
  
  
• As a subset we can also offer posts on the wonderful range of books purchased in NZ and the new music we dug up. Although I have to say that books we bought back that were wrapped in paper bags by bookstores (Unity Books, Scorpio Books) are remaining in bags to be surprise presents to ourselves for forthcoming birthdays or even Xmas.... not least because we're out of proper storage space!


• The 'National Trust - Hardwick Hall - Willesley Wood' post: we joined the National Trust as a consequence of going to visit Hardwick Hall last weekend. We then went on to Willesley Wood to see the trees planted there (some of which were funded in our names for 16 September last year). It was all very lovely. We took some very nice pictures too.


• The '3:10 to Yuma' review post: cracking film. Very entertaining. Didn't care at all that it was a remake. Did care that the film rattled along nicely, homaged Sergio Leone/Ennio Morricone at regular turns, and that the lead actors (Crowe and Bale) were just A1. Plus, you know, Lisette next to me thoroughly enjoyed seeing it again...


• The 'Builders may actually come and do something in our house soon' post: yes, we have had plans from an architectural design firm. Yes, a plumber is coming next week to look over our piping system and check we can just get the water tanks moved to the loft as originally hoped/planned by previous disappeared plumber. Yes, it is vaguely possible that before the next century arrives we will have a new kitchen/diner, a refurbished loft and proper storage for all the books. Further details and photographs as things progress anyone?


• The 'Raw Shark Texts' book review post: awesome and thoroughly insane for most of the way and ultimately rather touching. Anyone else read it or want a review?

Right, that's what strikes me as waiting in the queue...

Shuggy's reasonable rant

Is it possible to have a 'reasonable rant'? Is that an oxymoron? But how else do you describe a post like this when it may be ranty but you totally agree?!

Anna links to a really cool thing

Dylan rocks.

The joys of English

Thanks be to CloudyNeil for passing this circulating gem on English pronunciation to me, and to Susan Stepney at whose wonderful webpages it was originally collated.

Fictional Journalists

Whilst agreeing whole-heartedly with Medium Rob's selection of fictional journalists, I'd also offer the following:

Nick Mullen (Gabriel Byrne) - Defence of the Realm: righteously pissed off.

(and honourable mention for wondeful Denholm Elliot as Vernon Bayliss in the same film)

Amy Archer (Jennier Jason Leigh) - Hudsucker Proxy: "I'll stake my Pulitzer Prize on it!!"

And whilst obviously the model for wicked journalists goes back to Ace in the Hole, Danny DeVito (Sid Hutchings) in LA Confidential certainly deservces acknowledgement for being such a recklessly enjoyable character!

UPDATED: well, at least I got Rob's link in the post now!

How long since the last book meme?

Since EineKleineRob asked so nicely, I thought I should try...

Total number of books owned

Am frightened on counting, especially after how many we lugged home on the plane. About 3,500?

Last book bought

Lots! Art Deco: Los Angeles, Getty Center Photography Collection Handbook, The Puttermesser Papers: A Novel by Cynthia Ozick....

Last book read

Last one completed: Possibly an Artemis Fowle book before I passed them on to neice and nephew!

Currently reading: The Raw Shark Texts by Stephen Hall. I started it last night and am already about 1/3 through it. Completely insane but very vivid and compelling and with a central idea of a conceptual shark, a Ludovician shark, that eats memories: Audrey Niffenegger liked it a lot.

Five books that mean a lot to you

Hmm. Not really had time to rethink this so temporarily will refer you to this.

Next tagees: bah, humbug. I'll try and think of someone who would do this, but in the meantime, meme yourself senseless...

Socks

Readers: we knew this.

Semi-German

Is this resolved?

It appears so: thanks to Richard commenting on Hermes blog, it appears the way to 'correct' the semi-German post-blogpost screen is to select 'English-English' rather than English-UK on the dashboard settings.

Yes, it would have been nice if Blogger had corrected this themselves but since it was just annoying the heck out of me I've done the deed myself...

Anyone else know why blogger is in German at the mo?

Just wondered...

Temporarily in lieu of a holiday review - our pictures

Hope you like lots and LOTS of pictures...

Interested in Swiss Toni's Shuffleathon 2007?

I will be contributing. Those who have been inflicted with my compilations may wish to warn those who may be in receipt of one of my constructions....

Notes on how the Shuffleathon runs - essentially put care and attention into your compilation; put equal care and attention into your review of the compilation you receive - can be found here.

I'm already looking forward to it.

Amusement

Will Howells brings some fun to the current/new S&S campaign for Labour with those that didn't make it for the LDs and Cons.

"SHE WAS FREQUENTLY SEEN WRITING HER DIARY IN PRIVATE MOMENTS." - JJ speaks

Mrs McCann was frequently seen writing her diary in private moments after Madeleine went missing from the family's holiday apartment more than four months ago.



SHE WAS FREQUENTLY SEEN WRITING HER DIARY IN PRIVATE MOMENTS.



But no one noticed a thing when she popped out to move her daughter's body?



Oh come on!!!!

JJ speaks on the McCann case. She pretty says what I think so you may as well benefit from her thoughts.

Marie and Martin Amis

I know she's feeling a bit post-book blues at the mo, but rifling the backlog of unread Marie posts from her blog I did chuckle at this gem:

I have never read anything by Martin Amis. As longer-term readers of the blog know, I wouldn't be able to pick him out of a police line-up if the other participants were Jordan, Kermit the Frog, and a mule. Anyway I was in the mood for something London-y having read two African books recently, and I thought it was about time I found out whether I am an Amis-lover or an Amis-hater (I don't believe that it is possible to be Amis-indifferent.) Sadly, I have checked inside and outside covers but there is no photo of Martin Amis.

Hee.

As you know, Marie is a restricted access blog now but this was too priceless a remark. Bless her. Now, if you haven't already, go and read "Gods Behaving Badly".

Somebody cares that I was on holiday...

... the Beeb are scheduling a Heroes catch-up just for me.

Bless 'em.

Viva la Sonia

Did I say?

Holiday 2007

Train from Nottingham to London: stay 1 night; London by tube to London Heathrow: catch a plane; fly to Los Angeles: stay 2 nights; fly to New Zealand (losing a day in the process): stay 15 nights; fly back to Los Angeles (arriving 'before' we left New Zealand): stay 2 nights; fly to London Heathrow: tube to London and then train back to Nottingham.




What?

You wanted detail?

Well that's gonna take longer...

;)

How many 'zzzzzzz' in I'm really tired?

Back.

Home in my own house. Flew back over east edge of LV (hi Joe! [left side of plane got best views]). Have now been effectively awake for about 30+ hours, so rather feeling the strain.

I may not be at my best over the next couple of days (and it's back to work Monday: lovely!)

Hopefully some postcards made their way back to the UK - if you didn't /haven't gotten one (and I have your home address) assumme it's in transit somewhere... Arrival may be another matter.

Have unloaded luggage; now need to eat....

Toot toot peeps.

Howdy folks

We're in Christchurch at the mo and on Tuesday fly back to LA and then home on Friday. Boo hoo.

We've had a great time and fab weather. To all who have got their GCSE and A level results Emma and Rosby that means you!) well done. To all who have been missing the Rullsenberg blogs, get a life! (But I'll be back soon!) To those who don't care, what are you doing here?!

See ya'll soon.

And yes, I DO know about DT and Hamlet/Love's Labours Lost!