Countries I've visited

There's still a lot more world to go:

Actually, make that Western European countries:

You can create your own visited countries map (or just look at the hilarious comments on that page).

Update: I've included a close-up of Europe thanks to World66.

Consolation prizes

I didn't make it to Poland, but I did get a dashing hat.

I also had one of the most interesting nights I've ever had in Golders Green; I especially liked the crazy punk smashing rubbish bins and kicking doors. The all-honking, all-flashing train station alerts were entertaining, too.

200th post!

To celebrate my bicenteniall entry, I'm flying to Poland.

See you Monday!

Update: I missed the flight. I'll still try to get somewhere this weekend.

As a side effect, the sharks got smarter

Many of you are familiar with my, er, talent for transport and punctuality. This evening I was particularly on-form: it took me six hours to arrive, and I somehow managed to switch transports no less than five times (as well as ending up on the other side of the river).

I didn't mind missing the entire rugby game (France vs the All Blacks), but I wasn't so pleased to find that I had missed pub licensing hours. Yes, by the time I arrived I wasn't allowed inside. Cozzie laughed as I stood at the door, making sad faces.

Ally Mead is in London for the week, and she was looking forward to catching up with another — only I honestly couldn't remember meeting her before. I felt awful for entirely forgetting a person, and I'm sure she wasn't exactly thrilled at being forgotten.

It reminds me of one year in high school, where I shared the exact same timetable with a particular girl. That is, every time I went to class, she was there too. Every period of every day for the whole school year. It took me until September to realise this fact.

School would have started in February or March, so that's around seven months.

Teamwork begins with shooting people

Hello everybody!

I always feel weird posting after a big gap. It seems like I should backfill in the gaps before spouting new gibberish. There's certainly been plenty to talk about — men in chicken suits in Prague, incriminating photographs from Bob's leaving 'do and his subsequent departure. Not to mention all the news from work.

Nevertheless, if I don't post soon then I never will, so here's to breaking the seal. If my good man Skarnz can do it then so can I.

Also: This weekend is 401st anniversary of Guy Fawkes' botched attempt to blow up Parliament. England calls it bonfire night and has remarkably few restrictions on fireworks. Alexandra Palace is on a hill and has a great view of the burning city.