From the Ark

Oh the weather! If Australia could have an hour of what we've had in the last week or so, they'd be sated. It is unbelievably wet, which is no doubt (a) bad for campers, (b) good for hoteliers, (c) bad for domestic harmony, (d) good for retailers, (e) bad for camels, (f) good for fish, (g) bad for outdoor origami classes, (h) good for frogs, (i) bad for dry t-shirt competitions and (j) good for the global umbrella industry. Here in sodden (ing) St Albans, we're resorting to comfort eating (roast chicken), log fires, catching up on mountains of admin, sctraching our heads for strategies to ease 12yo boredom and dreaming of comfortable sofa, sherry in hand, in front of the tele. The garden is plush, the branches buckling, the cat like a flannel (I've said that before) and global HQ dark and a bit chilly. I'll know to light the stove tomorrow - it's a bit late now. I turn 44 tomorrow (yikes) - nothing much planned - it's too wet and anyway, what's in a number? Making good headway with the website, which should be up and running by the end of the week. Almost into the last month before launch. Blimey.

Time enough

Too long since I popped a few words down. It has been a rather pleasant week, really, though I find myself betwixt and between with this whole business of going it alone weighing rather heavily. It has been a bit odd resigning but feeling that I can't really wind down because on June 30th I leave and on July 1st I become a consultant, which means best behaviour rules.

I've been burning the midnight oil getting the website done, and it still isn't there, but on the way. To my amusement, my small enterprise made the business pages of the Star, no less. I didn't know that the star do business pages, but they patently do, and I'll weave that in to the self-deprecating sales pitch.

Have greatly enjoyed some twittering with RCJ, TopDoc and Clackster this week. Those unfamilar with Twittering will find it at www.twitter.com and will find RCJ's account of it at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6690569.stm.

Weekend ahead is rather job laden. I turn 44 on Tuesday. Between then, I have to fulfil my promise to see Spiderman 3 with J (no chore), mow the lawn (again), set up the gargantuan printer in global HQ, write up my very interesting survey of retail analysts, hang out a bit with my lovely 14yo daughter I (who, incidentally this week became taller than P).

Have vowed to read a little more this weekend - get back into the Lay of the Land by my hero R Ford; and to do a few more miles (avoiding town on a busy Saturday). Will try again a bit harder over the weekend to add a bit more with a bit more colour.