Finished work and now I have an hour to wait in Nottingham train station as my ticket is valid on one train only. People watching it is.

Settled into my hotel room in Nottingham. Exactly the same room as my last visit. It's not bad, although I'm nearly bored enough to prep for meetings later this week.

Upstairs driving seat again! Third day running.

My destination today.

Calling all fellow childless cat people. I am doing an event on 7 July for death prep when you're ageing without children. It's free. Register here www.tickettailor.com/events/agein...

For reasons too stupid to articulate here, I'm off into London. Air conditioning on the train is fully functioning, and I have a table seat, water, SPF50... and coffee. Best I can do.

Herself has declared Operation There's No Booze Left, and is ferreting through the cupboard for what we do have. I foresee regrets. I tasted this, and it's... Weird.

New shirt. Turns out there is such a thing as "too big," resulting in the hairy parts being more exposed than normal. Yes I spilled lunch on it already.

Brunch venue - Lincoln Corn Exchange.

Off into London again, for client meeting with non-optional beer afterwards. Of course I can't actually have beer, because gout risk, so I'll probably have a diet coke then make my excuses and leave my colleague to drunken mayhem.

I have actually booked annual leave with the intent of a holiday week. Mid September because work and people-with-kids and pricing. Now to figure out if I will actually go anywhere.

Got very sad, and cleaned out 99% of the NSFW content on my PC to see if I felt better. Nope, but if I die tomorrow, nobody has to clear my browser history.

This time last year I realised I was DEFINITELY capable of behaving better. #Dating

Cloudy over there, sunny over here. Watching the kite surfers.

Finally on my way back home, ETA 00.40. I am shattered and frustrated with trains, but accept this is the price of living by the seaside.

Today has been massively improved by the addition of a trip on the river bus.

Today's London is soggy and orrible. I'll be spending it in a trade association event, which may be lovely or may make me miss the rain.

Whilst that sounds fun, I love grocery shopping. I get to buy what I want, I can buy things I'd like to cook, healthy things. She doesn't like shopping, so BF point for this chore. I also get BF points for buying her favourite things and the compulsory Little Treat for her.

Upstairs front seat!

Checking in on the folk in Mastodon land, and still nobody's found and followed me. If ever there was a chance for me to have an anonymous cool alter ego, this would be it.

Prepped and underway to London. Shout out to the lovely barista who liked my hat.

Off to the nerd expo in London today. This time I'm going with a couple of work friends so I don't feel so creepy.

Right, stabilised a bit, so can post more. It looks like I get to go to Berlin this October for work. Will be keeping an eye out for @obviouswallflower.bsky.social while there, of course.

Emergency home made pizza

Another stupidly early start. Off to the channel islands today.

London today. I'm in a somewhat precarious state, so arrived an hour early and am parked with coffee. Have seen a nice whippet in here though.

So, my first ever comedy show was tonight, and it was this. I am the token straight.

Going into London today. I'm off to see a stand up comic (first time ever) with a friend (not seen in person for a year or so) and going to a part of London I've never visited. This should be fun.

I also have a new reform councillor. I am inspired, and have a new hobby. As we're a coastal ward, I could start with complaining about him not doing ANYTHING about the small boats that might start landing here. I mean providing blankets and assistance. I know what he thinks I mean.

Sunshine, long weekend, and.. a fox in the garden?

I appreciate English wasn't the sign writer's first language, but still mysterious and faintly unsettling.

Hi ho, hi ho, into That London I go Neither rain nor smog nor tube strikes shall stop me attending whatever pointless meeting I'm scheduled for.

"I would love to find someone who doesn’t think that ‘a lot’ is ‘too much’ – who loves how *much* I am, and sees that as incredible value for money." NEW blog post: I want to be loved. www.girlonthenet.com/blog/i-want-... Gorgeous art by @stuartcb.bsky.social

Back in Nottingham for the night, one night on a retail park does limit the amount of trouble I can cause, so I'm probably quite safe.

So, Nottingham then. Landed, and turns out my pub is right next door to the rock music pub from my last visit here. This is good news.

Home for the night, before going to Nottingham for a couple of nights. Therefore, dinner is pizza.

Checked in to my hotel room. Single bed, a good 5 minute hike from reception. Sunday night, nothing open walkable from here, so I got myself a pre pack sandwich and (reduced to clear) caramel creme egg while filling up the car. Next thing to do is at 9am tomorrow.

Trying to get this app or discord on my tablet as I'm going to be away from home from Sunday night possibly until a week Tuesday night, and that many nights in a hotel room alone will give me cabin fever.

Holy crap. 4am alarm tomorrow, and 5am alarms next Monday through Wednesday. I am not impressed.

WFH in the sunshine, not bad at all. WFH and a walk to the coffee shop, even better.

Good morning youse lot. I am already a hundred miles from home, thanks to a 5am alarm. There will be 4 more 5am alarms, and about 1500 miles in the next two weeks. At least it's sunny and I got to drive through the dawn.

Sunshine! Again! That's two days in a row! Might go outside after all.

Speaking engagement today. Second ever. First one scared me rather badly, and so this one has had me freaked out for two days and not sleeping well. Have reserved time in my calendar for "post event nervous breakdown" and yes that is what I titled it. Gout means no beer afterwards either.

Right, knocking down issues one at a time. New car, done. Stupid early start at the office (arrival 6.40am after an hour's drive), done. Now to spend until 9am updating my registration on every parking app and the dart charge site.

Rest of week off was predictably eaten up with Stuff. Trip to Cheshire and Liverpool to visit her college friend who is having a bit of A Time Of It, and to help empty her stepmother's flat now the lady herself is in a home for dementia care. Come back, 3 month old boiler is not working. Joy!

I've booked a week off to get over some shit, and like the idiot I am, have booked half term. However, I'm still going to London tomorrow.

Five jobs I've had: 1) Concrete batcher 2) Theatre technician 3) Mainframe operator 4) Counter-fraud investigator 5) Broadcast IT bodger

Port now, fizz later.

Christmas task completed.

Working today (supposed to be on annual leave, but too much to do.) However I do have the office to myself. Peaceful, but I do have to make all my own coffee today.