You are right, Mr Grew. I am used this climate now and it does worry me that the Golfstream can change its mind.
There is nothing to be done, but to wait and see.

Of course, there is always the remote possibility that the Earth might be the victim of a cataclysmic cosmic event; small wandering planetoid narrowly misses the moon disturbing its orbit, causing significant tidal changes. Earth begins to experience major climatic upheaval &c.

Then again, Father Christmas could go on strike.

A belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY, hh!

I don't much like birthdays - I always worry about not getting many cards and presents. Plus, I've hardly ever had anyone special to wish me happy birthday since I seem to have a funny habit of breaking up with people before it gets to my birthday. But I've never had a Facebook greeting on my birthday. In fact, I've never had a Facebook greeting full-stop. In actual fact, I don't know what a Facebook greeting is. So maybe I have had one without knowing it!

Happy birthday again, anyway

If it's any consolation, here's how my birthday weekend went. (To understand the story, you probably need to know that my mother, my elder sister, and I all share the same birthday, and my elder sister currently lives near Paris, where she teaches small children.)

Friday: flew from Newcastle to Paris. Was supposed to wait for mother and younger sister's flight to arrive from England before travelling on to elder sister's house on the other side of Paris. Arrived just before the biggest thunderstorm I've ever seen. Charles de Gaulle shut down due to the storm. Mother and sister stranded for three hours in East Midlands airport. Me stranded at CDG waiting for them, completely out of contact with everybody (and unable to speak French). Mother and sister arrive and we finally reach elder sister's house at five past midnight. I have been travelling for 14 hours.

Saturday: woken at 6am by Small Nephew. Spent day entertaining a gaggle of nieces and nephews while brother-in-law arranges sister's surprise party. (I hate children.) Only bright spot: finding an outdoor music festival in the local park. Managed to hear three songs before being dragged away to play football. Mmmm, French singing . Rained for most of the day.

Sunday: woken at 6am by Small Niece. Spent morning entertaining mother and sister while brother-in-law arranges surprise party. Spent afternoon putting up four marquees in the garden. Rained non-stop. Party in the evening: 98 guests, half of them small children from my sister's school. (I hate children.) Only bright spot: discussing politics with a Frenchman! Went to bed at 2am.

Monday: woken at 6am by small something of indeterminate nature. Spent day entertaining gaggle of nieces and nephews as I'm the only member of the family without a hangover (I don't drink). Rained all day.

Tuesday (my birthday!!!): woken at 5am by alarm clock to catch flight back to England. Rain has stopped, weather is beautiful in Paris. Arrived at Newcastle in pouring rain. Spending the rest of my birthday alone with supply of French chocolate.


Happy birthday, HH. Let's swap celebrations next year

Grrrrrrrrr! Have just spent an hour and a half doing battle with Covent Garden's online ticketing system! After eventually getting logged on - they're operating a new system today - and reserving a ticket for L'Elisir d'amore, I repeatedly had my credit card turned down, which is ridiculous. I kept trying to ring the Box Office, only to get a message telling me to use ringback, which I did, only to be told that the system doesn't accept ringback. Eventually, I got into a queue and waited some 20+ minutes to get through to a human being, who told me that some credit cards were being refused. Thankfully, she put through my details at her end and they worked. Don't think I'll try getting Iphigene en Tauride ticket now - I can't face it!

My Grumps aren`t really fit for public broadcast, so I`ll just say I`m
 G
   R
     U
       M
         P
          Y ..................

Euranto, maybe I should try a slice of pigface? Eh?
 

Cher S`wave, I`m in control really. Not honestly, I AM. Give it up any time I want. I AM COMPLETELY,  ABSOLUTELY AND UTTERLY IN CONTROL!!

Thank you. As you were ....