MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR

8.3thirty-three

The mystery has played out successfully!

Rohan is drawing to a natural close for now. South Africa performing well in the Olympics. SJ takes 4 games!! 5-4 at the end of a gruelling session that's left us both invalids.

In other news: Dinner out with Andrea, M and SJ at Jackson + Rye. Gin cocktails and a burger. Mandela started and almost finished in one go.

SHOWTIME!

7.3twenty-eight

Carmen opera at The Blackheath Halls. Mel and Andrea come to watch on the first night, SJ and Su on the second night! Old lady's hip injury at half time... :( Third show percussion swap around with Andrew - swap back at half time after Nick reprimands us. Last performance is perfect.

Making friends in the office, lemon tree in the well! Birthdays!! Birthday breakfast with candles :) Meeting a new recruiter (Gemini), Finn's birthday!

Picnic in the Olympic park with Stacy & Simone, etc. The longest walk to get there! Custard milkshake afterwards in Westfield.

Bought the Leopold Stokowski conducting Bach: The Great Transcriptions with the LSO!

Surrounded by art

6.1twenty-two

Spring bank holiday! Prep for BIRTHDAY BRAAI and house-leaving party. Packing is in full swing. Lucky to have CI work from home.

Making my garden the prettiest it can be for our last party. Clearing out that big garden box - I should have done it years ago! Rediscover the easel I thought I'd lost. Small side-project for Jim's dad's leaving present. Both the Harringtons leaving for Ireland.

Going to see the NXG place again, after paying a holding deposit. Huge about-turn!

Score a great little burgundy top and two boxer shorts from Bjorn Borg sample sale. Mel buys a huge rack of ribs for the braai, and a beautiful box of mini artisan eclairs from Maitre Choux. Finn's Adventurers party invite! Planning out Mel's Mandela painting, and drawing Ams' superhero painting to a close. Rediscover my drawing of my grandfather. So much arting!

Mel's amazing chocolate pear experiment (that will follow us into the new house). Nes is on a house hunt! Finding lots of memories in the packing process.

BIRTHDAY BRAAI IS AWESOME. Playing Sharades, so many friends in and out all day. Great food, great fun. Su chatting to Ben and Cam.

Going to see the new Jungle Book at Canada Water.

EEEEEEAAAAAGLES

5.4twenty

Dad visiting Houtbay. Rzfsh for another day! Blood donation in London Bridge for Eat Play Mind's blood drive. Measuring up Alexandra Drive - getting excited now! Two viewings anyway as M is a little unsettled. Annerley comes close, but I feel it's too little too late (much further away from transport).

Ma birsday! Birthday morning wonderfulness with Esh! Cake and candles and presents! Coffee in bed! Records (Dire Straits, Doors, ABBA, Simon & Garfunkle, QOTSA), comics and a beautiful 3D book. Flowers! Breakfast at Dishoom, with vegan ice-cream afterwards and a bit of a walk through Central. Birthday perfume and a hamper from Nes. Mom and Nes dinner with Dad.

Nes birthday! Gardening :) Barber for a neaten (Chaplins of London, I say old chap). Hawker House Bamboo street feast with M, then off to see The Jungle Book. Starting the big clear-out for the move.

PALAAAAAAAAACE!!! In attendance at the FA Cup final in Wembley, Palace v Man U. Lost 2-1, but what a game! With Dan and fam, after coffee with B. Working together on Munnio.