I’m not sure what the answer to this problem is. Perhaps, on seeing someone leaving without the paper they brought onto the train, everyone else in the carriage should refuse to let them out until they return to their seat and get it. Perhaps someone should roll said paper up and give the miscreant a good whack over the head with it first. However it’s done, we need to put pressure on these anti-social gits to take their litter with them and put it in the bin. Preferably the recycling one.

All suggestions gratefully received.

Anyway, the point of this ramble is that despite my loathing of the national sport and the consequent dreading of the World Cup that was my initial reaction, a thought has occurred to me. While the England matches are on, especially if the team make it through to the later stages of the competition, the streets will be blessedly, delightfully empty. I shall be able to amble around London without having to keep stopping or changing direction suddenly. I shall be able to get a seat on the Tube. As long as I’m safely off the streets by chucking out time I’ll be able to pretend that some sort of ghastly, Survivors-like plague has struck and I’m one of the lucky few who’s still around.

So, unlike my behaviour in previous years, I shall be cheering the home side on (mentally, at least) with as much gusto as the most excitable enthusiast can manage. And if they make the final I shall be utterly delighted.

I was made redundant recently. The good news is that it only took me a couple of weeks to find a new job, and also that the job I found is particularly great, working for an online music  and DJ equipment distributor in Camden. The bad news is that being out of work for a bit has left my funds rather depleted (oh, OK, nonexistent). It’s going to take me a little while to get back on my financial feet.

I’ve been feeling a whole lot happier in myself in the last couple of months or so, too. I find that I really enjoy just pottering around my flat on my own, content with my own company. Which is not to say that I don’t appreciate being with my friends – I do. I count myself very fortunate to be surrounded by really good people. However, I’m aware that I’ve been a bit of a hermit recently and am determined to take steps to get out and about a bit more.

Health-wise, I’m in great shape. I’ve put on a couple of stone and I’m eating and drinking better. I’m also getting plenty of exercise in the form of riding my bicycle and taking nice long walks. The additional weight means that I need to invest in some new clothes, trousers in particular, but I figure that’s a small price to pay for feeling as good as I do. I still find myself getting quite tired, although less so now than a few months ago.

All in all then, things are on the up. I promise to try and post here more regularly, too.

Update: I have now found a job, which I start on Monday 18th January. I’m very glad to have found something so quickly and I’m looking forward to getting my teeth into it.

Today I may be having a wander around the shops before indulging in more nice food and drink. It’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.

Last Friday Vally and I met up after work and went to the Natural History Museum for a mooch around and a glass of wine, after which we found a restaurant and had a bite to eat.

On Saturday I bought a webcam (well, it was about time, really), did a bit of shopping and spent some time at Vally’s house. The evening was spent relaxing and being generally lazy.

On Sunday my old friend Ellison, who I hadn’t seen for seven or eight years, came down with her partner Patrick, who I liked very much, and we went out for a meal. We had intended to go to the Turkish restaurant on the High Street but it turned out, much to my embarrassment, to be closed. Fortunately Vally knew a good South Indian restaurant so we went there instead. As it turned out, it was more than good; the food really was superb. It takes a lot for me to have a starter, main course and dessert, but I just couldn’t resist. Especially since they had pistachio kulfi, one of my all-time favourites. And as for the pancakes we had to start, all I can say is, “wow!”

I know that many people love these things. They lovingly tend their Sim, farm, city, amusement park or whatever and seem to derive real pleasure from them. That’s great and I wouldn’t for one moment wish to deny them that. But for me there’s no enjoyment whatsoever in slaving away at an essentially meaningless  and never-ending task. So I’ll stick to blowing stuff up and being beaten at word games. Now if someone could combine Unreal Tournament with Scrabble…

The next stage is to learn to drive when I can afford to and, perhaps, obtain a cheap car.