2 pints at lunchtime has hit me harder than I thought. Hic.

Off into London again. For a week of annual leave, I've done a lot of miles and a lot of meetings. Definitely just doing shopping after this though. Not even opening Teams. Unless I get bored and lonely in London. Then I might.

So, at the end of the allotted 3 days of work, new boiler is 90% installed and 0% working. At least the kitchen electrics are working again. I am in a hotel in Nottingham with a bag of Maltesers, having had a hot shower, and am feeling the glare from Herself at home even at this range.

Summary of birthday weekend. Lots of lovely wishes from nice folk here. Gifts from both sisters of the "thoughtful assorted small items" variety. Cookery school voucher from work folk. However: Roof leaking. Garden room leaking. Boiler failed. Kitchen electrics failed. Herself in a right strop.

Contemplating my plan for tomorrow. Do I go for early start, early train escape, and home, or lounge until check out time? Today was quite lazy...

So the curry was indeed fabulous, and I am now going to head back to the flat, as I have used up most of my bravery points on two solo meals in public today.

Solo dinner, the hardest bit. Have chosen Thai Square, and just ordered the house special Andaman curry. Stand by for reports. My being alone is being masked by the huge office Christmas party table next to me.

Lazy breakfast near Cannon Street, baked eggs and Stuff. Prices set to let you know how trendy this place is. Surprised they let the likes of me in. I'm fully expecting it to be delicious and therefore worth it.

Right, good morning London. See you're still wet and full of people. I'm in need of plans for the day, starting with breakfast and coffee. Then I reckon finding something to do tops the list. Winter Wonderland? The TfL museum (someone specific may have feedback on that)? Wank in bed all day?

Blown it again, failed to plan anything to do this evening, so ended up doing nothing. So, bedtime already?

Checked into my flat. Actually really nice, right next to Mansion House, and 6 floors up, so quiet ISH. By However there's a full length mirror at the foot of the bed. I can see myself. Not a fan.

Right. Off to London until Friday lunchtime. Managed to pack in one small laptop rucksack plus CPAP machine satchel, so that should help on public transport.

Good morning from an airport hotel. Free breakfast is underway, and it's mostly families and student-age groups. All the tables for 1 or 2 are free... Save for me.

Right, time to get my shit in order for the week. Monday- Gatwick office, then drive to Nottingham, then to Manchester airport, ETA 7pm. Tuesday - all day delivering training, then drive home, ETA 11pm. Wednesday, into London, do corporate event, then check into flat. Thursday - tbc

Thanks to a broken boiler, elderly parent hospital appointment, and work, my big birthday celebration of 50 is going to be me, in a flat I've booked in central London, for 2 nights next week... On my own. Sod it, I'm going anyway. Mostly because it's non refundable.

Installed in Vienna. Most customers have been packed off to bed, and so I've had a few cocktails. Hic.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to Vienna I go. Lots of hosting (drunk) customers which means I have to be reasonably sober. Who wants a toblerone from the airport?

Today's remedial schedule.

Up all night, and not in a fun way. Working with people in China is fun.. being still up when the coffee shop opens, not so much.

50th birthday plans scrapped. I'm working in Manchester that week now, and need to replace the boiler. Best I can do is a night in a hotel in London after work event. Which is only going to happen if work pay, looking at the prices.

Reposting because, well, yes. This is the antidote to complaints about hatfishing.

Ok, Wednesday can bring it on. Down: Boiler leak Herself mardy about Many Things Office day for electrical testing Work asking for 2am cover Up: Plumber coming today Compensation for 3 month broadband outage landed Osteopath yesterday fixed a few things. Result: For no apparent reason, feral.

I don't think I'm likely to die on a hill. It's a better bet that I'll die at the bottom of the hill while whining about not wanting to go up it.

Dragging myself into London again. I've already had a plumber round to unbugger the diverter valve (not a euphemism) and inhaled a coffee and an almond croissant, all on 4 hours sleep, so doing OK.

Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.

Today's objective is to break the downward spiral. Hydrate, healthy lunch, and exercise when I get home. There's only me home this week, so if I don't do this, it's entirely on me.

The universe is being arbitrary and unfair today. Hot water has packed up. I feel really sad, I miss my shoulders, and I'm going to be on my own most of the week thanks to work schedule and Herself dealing with mum stuff, which means me dealing with it when it contains paperwork or computers.

Think I've reached that part of my life where weddings and christenings are replaced by funerals and carers. Currently one terminal cancer and one rapidly advancing dementia in my immediate family, which has nobody under 48 in it.

Nom. Cottage pie.

Random nerd moment. These modules used to be ubiquitous, not seen so much these days. This one has been here a Long Time. They're quite distinctive.

Ok so today has sunshine, favourite coffee shop, chatting to cute barista about her "80s workout" playlist, and trains that are running on time. Good start.

Instant ramen, the official dinner of me being left unsupervised. 🍜

House to myself, and working from home? Sounds like trousers just became optional.

Unexpected day off! Have a hospital appointment at 11, a call this afternoon and NOTHING ELSE TO DO! Anyone allowed out to play, or are you all at work? (Rhetorical question, I know...)

I have been to the comic con. I met work friend and her bf, making a total of 3 of us from the 10 invited. I bought nothing except lunch and water, enjoyed wandering about, and now it's home time.

Dawn from the train station platform.

All day meeting at a customer yesterday, all day review meeting today. No sign of it letting up next week/month. Burnout crash is imminent.

On the train after a 5.30am alarm. Another 20 years of this isn't sustainable.

BBC London is doing a whole show on phone-snatching, and if you watched this you'd think that the Met is wholly and entirely dedicated to catching the little scrotes. The Met press office must be absolutely delighted at the unquestioning coverage this is giving them.

Slight tangent on related topic- using fingerprint unlock on your right hand only makes it very unlikely you'll use that phone whilst driving, and very visible if you do. Good deterrent in its own right, and very useful when anyone accuses you of phone use while driving.

Edible alchemy time. This one won't be ready until tomorrow.

Today's trip to the sea had unexpected wildlife. A sandpiper, first I've seen, and a seal.

Friday turns out to be the day I feel burned out. Pulling something in my back wrangling a server into a cardboard box (on my day off no less) turned out to be what tipped it.

Sometimes, work pulls it out of the hat. Excellent dinner.

Maximum grownup mode!

Upstairs front seat on the bus!

Drunk research into UV-fluorescent tattoos of circuitry. My job's pretty much defined my life, it seems like the thing.

Pub quiz done, with unintended drunkenness. I blame the 2 pint steins. Train home with mild regret.