It is 17:34 as I begin to write this post. This is the first time I have got onto the computer today. I am not sure where to start really, there is so much that needs to be covered and I am off out into Henley for Chris’ birthday later this evening. I will start, somewhere at the beginning. My boss let me go early, everyone in the commercial area of the office was having that “Friday Feeling”. My boss was heading out the door soon after me. However it was wasted really, even though I told everyone I was heading into Leicester Square. I had to head over to London Road (to the west of town) to collect my sister from work. She did not finish until 5.30pm, so I spent the time listening to Jordin Sparks’s album while waiting in the car park. My plan had been also to get home, shower change and head out the door at catch the bus to the station. I could get my Dad to collect me on my return. It did not actually pan out like that at all. My Dad was asleep, I tried to wake him but he told me to take the car, so I did. I though the 100 Park & Ride service finished at 6pm on weekdays but it is actually 7pm and only 6pm on Saturdays. So you can imagine my surprise as I pulled out of my drive onto the main road to see the bright green 100 bus just behind me. Never mind. I find a spot in the Wycombe station car park, next to a red Porsche, paid for a ticket (£2.80 for five hours and twenty minutes!). I rushed to the FastTicket machine, got my return ticket to Marylebone and then consulted the departure boards. As I went through the barrier, there was a big group of commuters heading home after a long week in the workplace. Platform 3 was the next train, so I headed down, to the subway, plugging in my Zen. I was stopped by a security guard that asked if I had just got off the train, I explained I was just heading into London and show him my ticket although he did not want to see it, the verbal confirmation was enough. I checked the electronic departure board and it was a non-stop service to Marylebone. Fantastic. Time of departure was 18:56, it was 18:48 as I sat down on the bench. I skipped through a few tracks. The next song chosen was Beat It and my weekend had only just began. The train was quite busy but I found myself a seat opposite a doctor engrossed in a book. “Trauma Life Support for Doctors” was a big give away. On the table opposite there was a woman busy making notes while reading a book, “Central Asia Republics”. It was slowly turning into a MJ marathon with Billie Jean played on my Zen. I wanted to tap my foot, as I do with most MJ songs but more so with BJ and I accidentally kicked the doctor in the foot. I apologised and she smiled, “It is okay, no problem”. She then went back to her book. I settled in my chair. I was looking forward to the night. It was only now I realised I had left Kish’s birthday card at home. Fantastic! The train pulled into Marylebone on time (as most Chiltern Railways services do) and I rushed onto the Tube. I had two things to do, which I should have done at Marylebone station. Get some cash out and buy some mints. I would regret that decision later. On the tube I got the Bakerloo Line down to Piccadilly Circus and walked towards Leicester Square. As I was opposite TGI Friday’s, my phone buzzed. A text from Kish, they were late due to the trains. I replied that I was already here and all the work Pinky had gone to move the time late to accommodate me had been for nothing. Never mind. I headed into the Tracadero, hunting two things. An ATM and confectionary come newsagent establishment. I found neither and headed down to Leicester Square. I spotted a newsagent store next to a souvenir shop and would return there after my quest to find a cash point. Then I remembered there was a cash point around the corner from the Leicester Square tube station and headed in that direction. It was very busy, with loads of people coming out of the station for their night out. So I opted to dash onto the road and rush past. The queue for the Barclays Cash Point was quite long, heading up towards Chinatown. I waited patiently and got my cash eventually. I think the machine was running low on cash as it took ages to get my money dispensed. I headed back towards Coventry Street and outside the restaurant. I got some Trebor Extra Strong Mints and began the wait. It was exactly 20:00 hours as I took this photo on my N73.

Kish was on his way but would be delayed, by about twenty minutes according to his text. I called him a few times and he would call me back and explain he was on the train. I decided to kill some time by calling Dave. He had called me at home on Tuesday night but I had forgotten to call him back straight away. Then on Wednesday night I was out and it slipped my mind on Thursday evening. It was good to catch up and we chatted for a good thirty minutes or so. The bouncers were giving an hour wait for a table to other people as they arrived. It would be around 9pm when Kish and company got here. I headed towards Leicester Square, past the Odeon only to walk past them (somehow) and have to call back and head back on myself to McDonalds. They were waiting outside. I finally met after over two years, Kish and Pinky. Plus Pinky’s friend, Jane. We headed over to the restaurant with Kish calling the rest of the guests. We could only book a table once all our party arrived so we went to bar and I got the first round in. It was very busy, so it took a while to get served. We took some bar stools that were free and it was very busy (both the bar and restaurant area). A drunken woman arrived, in her mid to late thirties. She was so wasted she grabbed the straws from the holder at the side of the bar and threw them on the floor, in the direction of Jane and Pinky. She was truly wasted and a few minutes later after getting another drink, she was dancing at the side of the bar. Her boyfriend / husband looked quite embarrassed and was trying to take control but failing. We were all quite hungry at this stage. I made the executive decision to book our table (even though not everyone had arrived yet). I did not have to give my name. I was handed a plastic device which was the size of a coaster. I was informed it would vibrate and flash when our table was ready. Interesting, but fantastic system. No need to call out our party name and number over the PA system. I handed the electronic coaster to Pinky to look after. We ordered some bar snacks to bide us over until we were seated. There was an hour to hour and fifteen minute wait for a table and I had booked the table around 9.40pm. We got called much later, must have been at least twenty minutes past eleven. Obi was starving and complaining that he never eats his late. I explained that I never do either, and had been waiting outside since 8pm, over three hours later we were finally ordering our food. We had birthday voucher which entitled everyone to a free cocktail with their mail meal. Not bad really, all things considered. (This is not exactly the cheapest eating establishment on the planet!) The food did arrival, eventually and we all tucked in. I had spoken to our waitress, given our special personalised birthday cake. While we were eating, different members of waiting staff came over and tied Kish’s wrists to balloons. (They never did this in Wycombe for my 18th, way back in November 1999). I lost count, must have been four or five but there was more humiliation to come. A balloon hat! (Photos to come shortly, I only had my N73 but Pinky and Jane had cameras plus Kish had video camera. Well actually DVD-R camera!) I was clock watching now, it was coming up to midnight and I would have to dash to make my last train home (0:15). I had already asked our waitress to get the cake but I had run out of time. Kish was disappointed. So was I, I wanted to be there to sing happy birthday and have a bit of the cake. I suppose the photos will have to make up for it. I tried to leave at midnight but by the time I said good bye to everyone and gave them a hug I had killed valuable minutes. They were heading out clubbing, to Sound after the meal. I rushed out into the night and headed to Piccadilly Circus station. The next part of my weekend adventure was going to begin!) As I stood on the platform waiting for the train, I knew the signs were not good. I plugged in my Zen and checked the time, it was already eight minutes past the witching hour. It would a mission to get to Marylebone on time but I was hoping by some miracle that my train would be delayed or a later train would be running as it was the weekend. I got off the train at Marylebone and ran up the stairs as fast I could and rushed up the escalator. I looked at the departure boards, it was not good. Trains for tomorrow morning at 5am. The time was 0:22. I was stranded. As I tried walked outside and looked at the empty taxi rank, I got a text. It was from Pav. His show had finished (DJ Yoda down at the Southbank) and they were now in Wagawama having food. It was a long shot but I thought I would give him a call. He was still in London (wooo hoo!). They were over in Chiswick and asked if I could get down to them and they could pick me up and give me a ride home. I rushed over to a tube map. I could rush down to Baker Street and take the Hammersmith & City Line to Hammersmith. Fantastic. I rushed down the road to the station, hoping the last tube train had not gone yet. Just before I got to the barrier I asked some London Underground staff what time the last train to Hammersmith was. Midnight forty five I was informed! Such a relief when they said, “You’ve got plenty of time!”. I got the first train and text Pav to firstly thank him and explain I was about four stops away. He was waiting outside the tube station, “No probs mate all in aid of the FNTP!” (FNTP stands for?) Have you forgotten already? Perhaps an image here will remind you.

I had been rescued and I was so grateful. It was a case of timing. Within a few minutes, Pav would have been on the M4 heading to Reading and I would have had no option but a £60 taxi ride back to Wycombe train station to collect my car. Funnily enough timing would become an integral part of the weekend. More on that later. Back to my drive (in the Rover of Dreams Mark II) from Central London via the M4, M25 and M40 all the way to the station. I really appreciated the lift from Pav, thanked him and headed to my car. Inadvertently I left my mobile and Zen on the back seat but never mind. When I got home around 2am, I was shattered but instead of going to sleep I went online via the laptop. Guess who popped up a few minutes later. Yes, for sure, Pav! Once again, I thanked him for rescuing me! Then explained I would pop over tomorrow to collect my bits and also drop off his detail kit and give him half the Last Touch Detail solution we had gone halves on. I arranged to pop over at 11am, as I had some jobs to do in the morning and then had the lunchtime kick off to look forward to. The afternoon plan was to wash the car and it even took precedents over my haircut (which will have to done in the week sometime!). My Mum woke me up around 6:30am, I had had less than four hours sleep but had to do my taxi duty. I then checked the tyre pressures on the A3 and came back home. A shower and change and I headed out the door over to Amersham. For some strange reason I was under the impression that their service department opened at 8am, when it was in fact 8.30am. No problem, I would listen to my music and wait. The time was 7:48am, not too long to wait. I had an urge to listen to Irreplaceable by Beyoncé Knowles. Why I cannot tell you, I just did. After I listened to that CD for a while, I switched over to the radio. Radio 1. Nihal was presenting and said that Mark Lawrenson would be on shortly, so I hoped to hear his views. (He had predicted a Birmingham victory over on his weekly predictions page). When he did not appear after a few songs I switched back to my CDs but after a while switched back to the radio. It was getting up to 8.30am, and some of the staff had arrived and were opening up. Nihal had a caller on the air, they had to select a song (from three) which most reflected their mood this Saturday morning. The first option was some heavy hardcore dance track, the second choice was a classic. Thriller by Michael Jackson. Can you guess what the caller chose? Yes, she chose MJ! So I put the volume up and listened to the song but could not listened to it in full as I really needed the guys to look at my car and did not want to kill my schedule for the rest of the day. While waiting in the showroom, they were had Heart FM and they played Don’t Stop Until You Get Enough. It truly was turning into an MJ weekend. We will pass over the football and leave that to the Arsenal blogs and other respected media outlets. Instead I will skip over that point (as if I had a DeLorean) and take you to 15:30 this afternoon. I got out there and started to wash my car. This time armed with the right tools. My Dad was saying I should just get other people to wash it and save myself the hassle expensive and loss of my time. I beg to disagree. It is satisfying to complete the job yourself. I gave the car a quick vacuum and then got the Karacher out and my gear. It was rinsed down, then snow foamed to pure white. Then time for some twin bucket technique action. Yes, using a one bucket and sponge is just criminal. I remember the days myself of cleaning my Mini and throwing the last drops of dirty water over the car! Stupid! I must say using a mitt instead of a sponge makes all the difference, it just feels better. After washing down, each panel in turn, it was time to give the car a rinse, dry and then use the Last Touch Detail spray. The car looks good, by no means perfect but a great improvement on my previous attempts. I think in time, I will just get better at it and if I clean the car next Saturday (which I intend to do before the Audi Meet over at Gaydon.) I text Pav to let him know I had spent a good few hours cleaning in the car. He was impressed but would cast a full inspection at my detail booked for the end of next month. Tomorrow will be catch up Sunday. I have to watch Friday’s edition of Eastenders, Sarah Connor Chronicles, KnightRider (TV Movie Pilot) and then I can get down to doing some eBay selling! Who said Sunday was the day of rest?