...And another thing. I completed the sale of my house in Basildon
today. I spent 14 years living in Basildon from the tender age of
eleven. My nuts dropped in Basildon. I bought my first car in
Basildon. Had my first hangover in Basildon. And now none of my
immediate familly live in Essex. The last tie has been severed.
Goodbye Basildon old friend, you're not half as bad as people think.

Courtesy of the Cat Of The Day website. This is a pedigree Sphinx
kitten apparently. Looks like it needs to put some clothes on..

Hooray, it's the weekend. About bloody time too. I have got a bottle
of Bishop's Finger and a good film lined up for the train journey
home. Parkes has cooked a lovely Mousaka and we will eat, drink and
relax. The weather is supposed to be crap this weekend but who cares!
There's no place like home!!

Holy Poobags Batman

I'm not one to spread gossip but did you know that Gordon Ramsay has been putting his porridge spoon in some other ladies' breakfast bowl?! This is a little naughty of Gordon who does tend to advertise himself as a family man in his television shows. If you are as high profile as Gordon is you are taking a great risk by dipping your soldiers in someone else's egg. Firstly, there is a very high bounty for the person that catches you and gets the story - big incentive to dig up filth. Secondly, your career and good name is at stake. Lastly, and most importantly, you stand a chance of losing the dearest thing of all.

I really need a beer. Roll on the weekend.

November

Well, that's November done with. And didn't it go quickly?! As I get older the time seems to pass faster and faster - much like the sands of an hourglass. I really can't wait for Christmas and our New Year hollibobs in Majorca. However, with massive imminent job cuts in my division at RBS, maybe I should relish every working hour in London.

Certain hairs in my eyebrows seem to be getting really out of control. One of them is really thick, like a piece of old rope. Another couple are really long and require regular trimming. Why is my facial hair treating me with contempt? I have moisturised for the last 15 years and this is how is repays me!

Picture taken by Parkes. Beth hasn't been too well recently. She has
been coughing through the night and that contributes to lack of sleep
all round. During the day she seems bright but is clingly and not 100
percent. Sending your child to nursery certainly does build up their
immune system.

I remember when my sister and I were little, Mum used to take us to the supermarket for our weekly shop (Dad being at work). If we behaved ourselves we would be allowed to choose a packet of crisps to take home with us. Two of my particular favourites were Superstars (which came with a picture card of some sporting celebrity) and Monster Munch (beef flavour). I am very glad to see that the original Monster Munch has made a comeback - with original size bag, monster (pink one), and beef-flavoured maize-based snack.

Parkes, Beth and I spent a nice weekend in Brussels. It was great to see Mum, Rosie, Matt and Nat. Beth also managed her first projectile vomit explosion in our hotel room. The carpet didn't smell too good afterwards.

Brussels: Beth and Strings very excited by a little boy weeing. It is
probably the most underwhelming tourist attraction in the universe.

X Factor Update

I didn't manage to see X Factor last Saturday as I was in the pube with Kaiser Keith. The Kaiser had helped me move some bits out of my house in Essex and we were supping after a hard day. However I returned home to discover that Laura had been binned. Let's face it, she's got a great voice but I thought she lacked a bit of panache. However, Ruth, the foxy Spaniard, has a decent voice and lots of X factor and I think she'll go far.

This weekend we are off to Brussels to meet up with my mother and my sister's family. Should be good as we haven't seen them for ages. Pictures will be posted.

Also, starting this Sunday is the new series of I'm A Celebrity. Hey, I know it is trash telly but this one is dynamite and always makes me laugh. Sulu has got to be the favourite to win. It's a jungle Jim, but not as we know it.

John Capa's photograph of the death of a militiaman fighting Franco's rebel troops in 1936 - entitled The Falling Soldier. It is apparently a defining photograph in the history of photojournalism.

There is a little bit of controversy as to whether or not the photo is staged. It looks real(ish) to me. It looks like there is a wound to the head. Also it is a strange pose to be in if you were to stage the picture. I've got to say that the guy probably wasn't best advised regarding his wardrobe - white shirt on a landscape is quite conspicuous. However maybe that highlights that the civil war was indeed fought by ordinary folk.

Exit Russell Brand

What a shame! The Russell Brand radio show has kept me going whilst sitting on dreary train journeys for the past 16 months and now it is all over. Like Angus Deayton, Russ will be back at the Beeb in a year or two - it hardly seems worth him resigning.

For those of you who didn't hear the particular radio show that caused the controversy (and I'm sure a lot of those complaining Daily Mail readers didn't as usual) Russell and Jonathan Ross were out of order. But it was amusing.

Today (in case you hadn't noticed) America goes to the polls to vote for a new president. If we are believe the reports it sounds like a black man may soon become the most powerful person on the planet. This really is special! It will be fascinating to see how America lives under his stewardship. Will the American minorities finally have a true voice?

These are very exciting times but I am mindful that Obama ultimately is a politician and, regardless of the skin colour, will probably behave like one. However, millions of people believe he is the symbol for change and this is his opportunity to take America forward and change the rest of the world's perception of the US. Barack, good luck mate and please don't let us down.

Daddy and daughter out walking in Thanet.

X Factor Update

I cannot believe Austin got the boot on Saturday night. The boy had a golden voice and just needed a few more rounds to win over the fans. He sang the wrong song in his sudden-death head to head with Rachel (who, by the way, looks like she strangles small cats for kicks). So I have got to pick a new favourite - it has to be the Spanish girl Ruth Lorenzo. Guapaaaaaa!!! As for the Essex boy, thanks for the memories.

Afternoon coffee and biscuits in Morelli's.