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[wonderlanded]

Oh, I am rubbish at updating, n'est-ce pas? Anyway, here are some numbers for your edification.

1. As lsugaralmond has pointed out, our nerdy commitment to pub quiz totally paid off last night when we were presented with a case of Taittinger champagne for winning the quiz league. This has essentially offset our quiz entry costs, so hurrah! We are ace and we

Comments

[cangetmad]

Hello you! Your life is excitinger than mine.

[wonderlanded]

Well, you know, free champagne and quiz. Can you come to our brainy person party?

Hello back!

[cangetmad]

Would love to, if possible! I'm more "formerly brainy" than brainy, though.

[wonderlanded]

Doubt that very much! You could come and inspect all the boxes in our flat and everything...

[wonderlanded]

Yeah, I welled up at the trailer, too! It was magical and marvellous and you will adore it.

[alltheleaves]

I can see what you mean about Barcelona completely, because if you're there as a tourist, it's impossible to find the non-tourist bits. I think I was really lucky that when I went to Barcelona I used to stay in my cousin's flat and we didn't have to adhere to eating out in expensive restaurants. Instead I had the experience of shopping in the markets and cooking enormous meals in her home with her flatmates. Having huge Jewish meals with 4 different languages being yelled around with the wine flowing for hours. But this could be an experience that comes from anywhere. It just so happens that mine came whilst in Barca and made it such a perfect time for me. It also meant that when I first arrived, shattered from work, I could chill for a couple of days, lying on her sofa doing nothing (or watching The Simpsons in Spanish) and not feeling like I should be Out and Exploring or I Will Miss Out. Instead I'd be there for a couple of weeks and know that if I didn't get round to seeing it this time, I'd do it on the next occasion and

[alltheleaves]

No grammar is there that comment in. I give up. I try to write coherently but I have no brane.

[wonderlanded]

I was also still a bit ill which probably didn't help. Luckily we were staying in a thoroughly non-touristy area, but even so the entire place was a bit of a theme park compared to places that have really grabbed me and that I loved. I suspect if I'd gone there years ago I might have enjoyed it more but it just left me a bit cold.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed myself and there were some lovely places and we had a great time. Good place for a city break Sagrada Familia was brilliant, Park Güell was lovely, the beach was great but crowded -- but I'm from Australia, you know? It's hard to impress me with a beach because it's a rare beach that compares favourably to Queensland's best. But overall I just didn't get all the hype and that so many people think it's the Best Place Ever.

I was discussing with Lizzie last night and comparing it to Venice -- which is another city completely oriented towards tourists but somehow managed to retain its soul and discrete identity in a way that I just didn't feel that Barcelona quite managed.

[wonderlanded]

I wish you could be there too!

And yes, you're right, all those things are great.

[glitterboy1]

Congratulations! Winning the league is pretty impressive going, and clearly a sign of all-round excellence. And what a brilliant prize! I don't think I've ever heard of one that good!

I remember in one house, I gave up with the boxes, draped some nice fabric over them, and pretended they were tables. I hope you can be rid of them (or at least, of the sight of them!) soon.

Boo to your job! Can you find any more exciting secondments?

[wonderlanded]

I think I may well have reached the secondment ceiling. I'm doing lots of development malarkey for my team which basically ties me to the office, boo.

I am thanking the fates for the spare tablecloths and cushion covers we have hiding the boxes, beause without them I think I would go thoroughly spare...