The morning after (or at least early afternoon after)...

Today is a day of recovery, though it's not as badly needed as I feared it might. I managed to put back a few drinks last night without going wild and consequently awoke with the mildest of dehydration headaches, which was soon sorted and soothed by the application of coffee and a bacon muffin or two.

I hope everyone who came had as good a time as I did; it was really cool seeing everybody - some of whom I haven't seen for far too long. Kudos too, to the long-distance attendees. I have yet to work out whether Derby is further away than Ipswich, but after teasing us playfully, the Karma Pixies relented and the weather held, making travel no more annoying than it usually is. The next tier in, brought friends from Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire and Hampshire. Berkshire was well-represented, too. I have a feeling that I have forgotten other distance travellers, but rest assured that as my memory sparks back into life, I shall think fondly upon it all.

I regret that I didn't manage to talk to everyone in more depth. I tried to get around and speak, but at one point it took me over twenty minutes to get from one end of the room to the other when I was supposed to be moving with purpose.

Thank you all for the cards and prezzies, which I shall not list here as I suspect that referring to it all as swag, is probably an exercise in poor etiquette. Suffice it to say, it was a fine haul; the best for many years. I must have a fiftieth birthday again soon, while I am still young enough to enjoy it! You must excuse me now, though. I have to wander off and contemplate how best to enjoy a spider with a thirty-five centimetre leg diameter...

The morning after (or at least early afternoon after)...

Today is a day of recovery, though it's not as badly needed as I feared it might. I managed to put back a few drinks last night without going wild and consequently awoke with the mildest of dehydration headaches, which was soon sorted and soothed by the application of coffee and a bacon muffin or two.

I hope everyone who came had as good a time as I did; it was really cool seeing everybody - some of whom I haven't seen for far too long. Kudos too, to the long-distance attendees. I have yet to work out whether Derby is further away than Ipswich, but after teasing us playfully, the Karma Pixies relented and the weather held, making travel no more annoying than it usually is. The next tier in, brought friends from Birmingham, Coventry, Warwickshire and Hampshire. Berkshire was well-represented, too. I have a feeling that I have forgotten other distance travellers, but rest assured that as my memory sparks back into life, I shall think fondly upon it all.

I regret that I didn't manage to talk to everyone in more depth. I tried to get around and speak, but at one point it took me over twenty minutes to get from one end of the room to the other when I was supposed to be moving with purpose.

Thank you all for the cards and prezzies, which I shall not list here as I suspect that referring to it all as swag, is probably an exercise in poor etiquette. Suffice it to say, it was a fine haul; the best for many years. I must have a fiftieth birthday again soon, while I am still young enough to enjoy it! You must excuse me now, though. I have to wander off and contemplate how best to enjoy a spider with a thirty-five centimetre leg diameter...

Lost and found

I forgot to mention - we found, after the party, a yellow carrier bag containing an expensive-looking Vodafone mobile, which is password protected, so we can't get in to see any of the stored numbers or otherwise identify the owner. There is also a Nokia charger, which doesn't seem to belong to the phone, of if it does, we cannot work out how to use it...

The phone is still turned on, so if it's yours, please call it so we know who and where to return it to. Failing that, drop me a line in the comments or by email.

Lost and found

I forgot to mention - we found, after the party, a yellow carrier bag containing an expensive-looking Vodafone mobile, which is password protected, so we can't get in to see any of the stored numbers or otherwise identify the owner. There is also a Nokia charger, which doesn't seem to belong to the phone, of if it does, we cannot work out how to use it...

The phone is still turned on, so if it's yours, please call it so we know who and where to return it to. Failing that, drop me a line in the comments or by email.