I’ve started to notice a trend with these posts. When I’m having a good time, I don’t stop to update the page. When I’m in a foul mood, I write as a form of therapy.

So yes, I’m pissed off again. Guess what… road works, landlords and Spanish traffic, but I won’t go into that in detail. All I will say is that we were about to sign a contract on a flat yesterday (one we’d been working toward for the last 6 weeks) when we discovered a new construction, building a block of flats, had started up next door. Needless to say we won’t be moving there.

So what about the positive things that have kept me from updating the site for over two weeks?

Well, what can I say. An excellent Christmas!

For the third year running I went to O’Niels in Harrow for xmas eve. Not a great place, but normally a good laugh cos of the people. I always seem to bump into randoms who I’ve not seen in ages (this year it was Simon who I’ve not seen in 7 years… fond memories of raving in Bagleys Film Studios).

Christmas day and Boxing day, as ever, were family days. Great roast dinners with the obligatory Turkey, parsnips, sprouts, roast spuds, stuffing, gravy, white sauce etc (over indulgence at its best!). Great to see everyone again, especially my cousins who are getting bigger (but no less crazy) every year.

The remaining time I had in London I was able to run around and catch up with the likes of Anthony, Nathalie (see look I can spell it), Paul, Marc and the erm Eastcote Massive (gotta love a bit of Eastcote Tandoori), Stan, Darren and Nina. We also had a little Mongol Rally reunion with Jon, Richie and Sam.

Not a bad effort although there were a few people I didn’t get a chance to see properly. Namely Kenny, Nimesh, Ketul, Tina.

So with Christmas over with, it was back to Madrid for New Years Eve and back with the one I love. A special day for that reason alone.

In the evening we headed down to Lutz and Isabel’s flat for a feasting and a party. Philippe had four like minded Belgian friends over which guaranteed for a good night out. A shame that I was so tired after the preceding week. Still after a good feeding, Lutz stepped up to the decks (their flat is a perfect party flat) and proceeded to mix for the next 6 hours. Choon after Choon after Choon (as they say) yet incredibly diverse all the same.

I started to get a bit creative with the camera, as I always do after a few beers, and was commended on how great my camera must be to take such good pictures… hmmm.

 

A cracking night, slightly tarnished with the hassle of getting a taxi home… and the following day? Not a lot, but after being incredibly surprised by my gift from Espe (and the accompanying card), we settled down to watch some of my Christmas DVDs to work off the hangover.

So what does 2006 hold? Hopefully many opportunities and experiences, but before that we have to find a flat (looks like I’ll miss the Madrid skiing season for the second year running) and get away from these damn roadworks!