Just a quickie to update things.

Drive from Berlin to Munich was arduous and almost fatal (I've never been in a sudden ice thunder storm with hail where the temperature drops 10 degrees in the time it takes to round a hill).

Met up with lots of people in Munich - the old E.ON work crowd in the office and then a fabulous Mexican meal followed by lots and lots of delicious Augustiner beer (how I've missed that!) on Friday; a lovely afternoon with Michaela, the boys and Jan & Manja & Talea followed by drinks with Maggi & Jens on Saturday. The sensible thing to do would have been to go to bed and get some sleep ahead of the long drive on Sunday. But oh no, Micki & I ended up watching some really cheesy 60s soft porn film on Channel 5 (I mean, I ask you: there weren't even any nipples! The storyline was so bad it was mesmerising!)

Drove to France to visit Isa & Andy & Bump (who will likely be known as Nicolas). It was a pity I was there such a short time. But I managed to squeeze in some fab conversation, wine and food into my visit!

For my birthday I drove to Guildford (phew! a little bit tiring), left my car at Chris & Kate's, got the train into London, and met up with Justin, Sam, Rupert, Jezza, Steve, Hugh & Nick for Turkish food and belly dancing at Efes 2. The Lovely Nina (I think that was her name) even got me up on the dance floor to strut my stuff. Well, I couldn't resist. And I had flashbacks to that night in the Chilean restaurant in Santiago back in '96, where I was dancing to the amusement of all and to the accompaniment of women wearing only grass skirts and strategically placed coconut shells. Those were the days!

Off to Madrid tomorrow. I think I'm going to have a nice time. And hey, it'll be the longest I've spent in one place since Canada!