Stagging it up

Ok, so another busy weekend (is there ever a quiet one?) - but this time I'm very pleased that it was a busy one... A group of 10 of us went up to Cumbria in the Lake District for Alec's stag. So I've known Alec for - wow - a long time. Maybe 11 years. We've been through a lot together - and of course have worked closely on many, many plays over those 11 years. So it's kind of weird to think that in about a week and a half he'll be married... And yet it hasn't really sunk in yet. To me, we're still those young, immature kids back at school. Well - perhaps we haven't grown up much anyway!

It was a great weekend with school friends, Alec's brother and uni mate. We stayed at the home of good family friends of mine (the Holmeses), and on the Sunday we went to Rookin House Activity Centre in Troutbeck, near Penrith, where we demonstrated how fit (or not) we are - tree climbing, zip wire, assault course, rifle shooting, jeep driving (blindfold and in reverse!) and argo cat riding were all part of the fun. (Argo cat? It's a miniature truck with wheels like a tank, capable of doing a 180-degree turn on the spot and going up and down the steepest inclines... very exhilarating!)

Along with Poker, Risk, pub dinner and boozing, it proved to be a very manly weekend... A good laugh with good company. If only we could do it every weekend. And of course we raised a glass to couple of friends - one who sadly can't be with us and another who is about to take a step into the next stage of life. Couldn't be more excited or happier for him and Ruth. And it won't be long before Ads and Beth get married... Perhaps we're growing older, rather than growing up!

Pictures will follow, I promise! I need to edit the ones of me looking scared half-way up a tree... It was very windy!

New Beginnings

Wow - so I was just thinking about blogging, and remembered I set up this one many moons ago... and then promptly forgot about it! Maybe it's time to give it another go, see what happens. I don't think I'm too interested in talking about my life on a day by day basis, necessarily - more just writing about what I see, hear, feel in the world (probably a lot more interesting!)

It's been quite amusing reading my old blogs from over 3 years ago - in some ways I seem to be very different, and in other ways I feel like exactly the same person. A lot's happened in 3+ years. I'm interested to know what others think?

So, Jack in 2010 is in a new city with a (semi-new) life - London to be precise, living in South Clapham and enjoying life as a civil servant at DFID (no, not a Welsh village - the Department for International Development). I've made some great new friends, and - more importantly - have stayed close to old ones.

I've been on some great holidays....

I've been partying the summer away (yes, I still enjoy a beer or two...)

It feels like a very long time since these days...

I've got plenty to write and catch-up on, but for now, I'll leave you with this thought: The Addams Family meet Hercule Poirot... What do you get?!

J x