G'day?

Guess where I am? I am in Starbucks but not my usual haunt, I'm in the Arndale after having been to the Oz Expo. Not wanting to break with tradition, I started out by getting totally lost, entirely my own fault as I totally miss-read those "you are here" maps...several of them. I ended up at the artists entrance of the MEN Arena, (this is not where I wanted to be.) So, I did what any normal person would do and shouted "excuse me" to a roadie man while I teetered on the invisible, "do not cross" line.

The gate was wide open but I've spent many a time peering out from the windows above that gate waiting and watching for a glimpse of an artist arriving but mostly just witnessing desperate and or crazed fans trying to sweet talk / bribe the nice security man on the gate, so I am too familiar with the invisible...do not cross line.

So there I am, shouting over to roadie man and good enough, he comes over to help, (I must not have looked crazed,) sadly, he was Glaswegian and wasn't exactly sure how to direct me but he invited me in to speak to "Bill" who would definitely know... yes, he invited me over the invisible line.

With trepidation, I step over the invisible line into this magical, access denied to mere mortals, concreted area, have you any idea how many times Mark from Westlife has walked on that same concrete? Anyway, I was met with half a dozen bored looking roadies but Bill was most helpful; "turn left out of the gate and keep walking until you see a really big building (turned out to be the Hilton,) then it's on your left, you can't miss it." Saying those immortal words to me; "you can't miss it," is usually a sure sign that I will definitely miss it, but no, Bill was right and I eventually found my way.

I think the organisers should have used a larger area, it was all very cramped and there were so many people packed in. I overheard one person being told; "we can interview you this afternoon or you can come back tomorrow!" How scary! I felt totally overwhelmed, I only wanted visa information but it was the one stand I couldn't find, I can always google. There were families, couples and blokes on their own all milling around but everyone seemed to know who they wanted to speak to and where they should go, I couldn't help but look around and wonder who would actually make the move.

My boss phoned me yesterday with some information that she didn't want me to hear second hand, I've been on temporary promotion for around 18 months but as part of the cutbacks, all the temporary promotions are being curtailed in two weeks time. More notice would have been good but at least I still have a job. Not looking good though.

Check out LH when you get the chance, new pics are up and they look good even if I do say so myself.

It's a beautiful day here, or at least it was until a minute ago when the sun was overcome by cloud.  Still a bit of a chill in the air and I only have a gillet on today instead of a jacket but if you briskly walk for eight miles, you don't feel the chill...trust me.

I'm now having another filter coffee as I kill some time and as I look out of the window to my right onto the square which houses the town hall, I see an old fashioned London Transport, red double decker bus decorated with white bridal ribbon, how lovely. I hope the sun reappears for them.

Speaking of weddings, I walked past a Revolution Bar on my morning hike and it brought back memories of your hen night, although you probably won't remember ;)

I'm off now to inspect the bus more closely as I make my way back to the car then sexy Sean the sat nav man will attempt to direct me to L&F for the remainder of the day. Good luck Sean x