Ug. Have post-lunch slump. Am drinking second coffee of the year, but am not feeling caffeinated yet. Happy Birthday to Claire who is Fascinating. I missed her celebrations on Saturday night due to drinking punch and dancing around a Brunswick lounge-room to the Buena Vista Social Club. Was sad because Claire and Co. were playing pool at the Marquis of Lorne - the pub I rode past every day when I was house sitting and thought it looked way cool (of course I was too much of a scaredy loser to go in by myself and have a beer, which is why I’m whinging now). Missed the last train and had to catch a taxi to the city where M’s friend from his current café of choice was spinning some vinyl. It was kind of fun – the girl who works in the café is about 23 and very pretty and thinks M is the biz – so I just smiled nicely, felt smug and drank several large gin and tonics (bought for me by M whose largesse towards me increased immeasurably when he saw that I wasn’t going to stage a catfight on his behalf). Got a lift home, thankfully. Had such a fun night…so fun that I was surprised by it! Had my first taste of Bombay Sapphire gin and now, of course, can never go back…I will forever regard Gordons, Vickers, Gilbeys, Beefeaters etc. with disdain (though this is probably not strictly true as I doubt I can afford a bottle of the best).

I feel like outside forces are devouring chunks of my life bite by bite. Still haven’t bought wedding present for the gothy wedding that has taken over the world – which is next Saturday. Had much better writers group meeting on Saturday afternoon – lots of feedback and constructive criticism – felt less like the mauling I got last Wednesday and more like an encouraging massage. Feeling much better about my 20000 words, but really need time and space to get proper work done on them.

This week is a write off (no pun intended) with visit to Canberra for three days, return on Thursday night for wedding rehearsal (how does one rehearse too many champagnes? I may just lie on the lawn), Friday is work and I get to see my questions on probability foisted on to an unsuspecting public (though this, for some reason, will take until after 6pm) and at 8am on Saturday myself and the other four bridesmaids have to troop off to begin industrial strength sessions of hair and makeup. Yeah. Like I said, my novel’s really coming along…