The Great British Birdwatch

I just fancied a bit of peace and quiet this afternoon. Enforced rest and relaxation. So I decided to take part in the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.

It wasn't the greatest success though. When I came to read the advice, I'd already enjoyed a long lie-in and so I'd blown my chances of seeing high numbers of birds. It was freezing cold (literally) and all the birds were ready to roost. Even the seed and fresh water that I put out didn't tempt them into the garden.

My scores were miserable even though I cheated:

• 1 woodpigeon (in next door's eucalyptus)
• 3 seagulls (overhead)
• 10 starlings (flocking together in the distance)
• 1 blackbird (actually in the garden, moments before I gave up)

I was comforted, however, upon seeing that the coots are re-building their nest on the Albion Channel. All is not lost!

Parties are the new Pubs

It's not often that I could be described as a social butterfly but in recent weeks the number of party invitations that I have received has increased dramatically.

Johnson's Christmas Party and the House of Henry New Year's Eve celebrations could be identified as a seasonal development. But since then, I've been a guest at three unrelated house parties:

1. Joel's birthday at their flat in Highgate with a wonderful buffet, courtesy of Ivanna.

2. Chie's house-warming in Seven Sisters - more excellent food, this time from Chan.

3. Andy's birthday party in Streatham - mmm! chocolate cake!

Is this a trend that is set to continue throughout 2006? Once Thursday was the new Friday, then staying in was the new going out. Are parties the new pubs?

Is this a response to wintry weather, where people decide they want to stay close to the fire and so invite people round to join them? Or is it the case that people are boycotting the pubs which have failed to bring us longer drinking hours despite the licensing reforms?

Whatever it is, it's a welcome change for me. I've always liked seeing new bits of London and checking out people's book shelves and interior design is great fun. As long as no-one expects us to follow suit...

Party Politics

I had grown fond of the Lib Dems. They seemed to rise above the unacceptable tittle-tattle and back-biting that characterised the two main parties and the sniping that had dominated Prime Minister's Questions under the rule of Tony and his long list of opponents.

But now it seems that their recent success has led them to believe that they no longer have to behave themselves. Or maybe it's just that the press now think that they're fair game. Either way, the string of recent scandals has successfully detracted from the real issue in the forthcoming leadership election - the principles and policies of each candidate.

The Clintonesque quasi-confessions don't help much either. It seems that Charles Kennedy isn't an alcoholic - he just has a drink problem - and as such has pretty much failed at the first step. And Simon Hughes isn't gay - or bisexual - he just had a gay relationship with a man. It all seems too little too late.

I'm not in favour of full and frank disclosure upon being nominated. But until the press can be reigned in, it seems that dignified silence is the only way forward. If they didn't lie in the first place, then they wouldn't have to squirm later.

Lunch in West Africa

I managed to forget my keys today and had to hot-foot it up to Euston to collect the spare set from Skene which he had in his pocket after forgetting his keys last Friday.

The upside was that Skene took me out for lunch on Drummond Street, given that I'd forgotten my wallet too. Preferring to save curry for tomorrow night, we selected the rather out-of-place African Kitchen Gallery, which is sandwiched between an Indian sweet shop and a curry house.

Skene opted for his new-found favourite dish - goat curry - whilst I plumped for "lake fish baked with sauteed ground pimentoes and balsamic vinegar". Both were accompanied by rice and beans with big bits of cinnamon bark. All absolutely delicious and rivalled only by my fresh mango juice - full of bits!

You Are Very Special

January 24th is officially the worst day of the year.

To give yourself a boost at this miserable point in the calendar, why not sign up to youareveryspecial.com - a new service generously provided by James Skene to make everyone feel wanted on a daily basis.

Click here for more information and to get the reassurance that you deserve.

Reveille

I'm off to Rugby today. Thankfully, my case isn't listed until 2pm so there's no need for a 5am start. So I was alarmed - and bemused - to hear Fritz Spiegel's medley (which usually precedes Farming Today) on my radio during my shower.

This is a theme tune which makes me groan inwardly in recognition of yet another early morning. Rule Britannia, Scotland the Brave and Greensleeves are far too much at that hour. Too chirpy, too robust and too plain loud. Sailing By, before the midnight shipping forecast, is just right for settling down for the evening. And I don't even mind the National Anthem too much. But the UK Theme is just dreadful.

So I was thrilled to hear that the Commissioner, in his wisdom, intends to remove it from the airwaves all together and replace it with a nice, calming news review instead. Good news on the Today Programme at last!

Up the Creek

After the whale's sad demise, we needed some cheering up. So we spent the evening at Up the Creek - a venue once owned by comedy legend, Malcolm Hardee, who also came to a sorry end in the murky waters of the Thames.

The last time that I went to a comedy club, a Welsh Jew was one of the most-loved features of the evening. He played on his supposed ethnic origins to uproarious laughter. So I was not surprised to find a compere with a singsong voice opening tonight's bill. Brendon loved his accent but I had my suspicions which have since been confirmed - he's a West Country boy!

Three acts with socialist leanings followed - a man who seemed to think that he was Billy Bragg, a man-hating Irish woman and another man who stole his witty observations from the Guardian Guide.

A complete contrast with the final act - Will Smith, known as a "gentleman comedian". I wondered if he might be a scouser who'd survived one of the roughest comprehensive schools in the country. But it seems that he is the genuine article - born and bred in Jersey where poshness reigns supreme.

Whale-Watching

Having kept an eye on the rescue operation via the BBC24 live feed, we headed down to the end of Greenland Dock to see the whale go past and wish him well.

With the help of binoculars, we could see the divers hosing him down. He was much paler than I imagined it would be - more dolphin-coloured than anything else. He looked small and vulnerable on his inflatable bed but it was a much more cheering sight than the last time a whale visited, courtesy of the whaling fleets. But very sad compared with my first sighting of a whale - a huge beast off Great Barrier Island.

I don't think, though, that this rates as our most unusual Thames sighting. That must go to Concorde on a barge in Isleworth, during our second leg of the Capital Ring.

On the way home, we gave the Moby Dick a wide berth but popped into the Wibbly Wobbly instead.

An Itinerant Lifestyle

I might not have been quite as mobile as Ian has been recently but I did manage to notch up five counties on my work-related travels this week:

1. Hampshire - Aldershot.
   
2. Avon - Bristol.
   
3. Surrey - Croydon.
   
4. Norfolk - Norwich.
5. Greater London - Wood Green.

In doing so, I covered two of the six circuits: the Western and my own, the South-Eastern. Next week I will be adding the Midland Circuit to the list. I wonder what the record is for visiting all six?

Bridging the Gap

The Thames Gateway Bridge was exciting enough when it was announced but now there's a new proposal which is much less controversial and of much more interest to me!

The suggested link will stretch from Rotherhithe to Canary Wharf and will consist of a lift- or swing-bridge to carry cyclists and walkers back and forth across the Thames.

We'll be able to stroll across the ecological park, along Greenland Dock and over the bridge to shop, drink, eat or watch a film on the Isle of Dogs. Thousands of commuters will be able to walk to work and the whole area will be opened up. The river is one of the area's greatest assets but it does have a tendency to inhibit both visitors and residents. This is the perfect solution.

And best of all, there's a suggestion that, assuming the plans are agreed, it will be up and open by the end of 2007! Although the new developments around Canada Water are scheduled to start this summer, there's little prospect of us benefiting from the new library, waterside high street and so on. The bridge, on the other hand, could bring great changes.

High Jinks

I thought students were too busy these days with protests against fees and part-time work. These two stories suggest otherwise:

• What can't you send through the post?

• 'Gay' police horse case dropped

And now students should be warned that even traditional tricks such as shaving the eyebrows off a drunken fresher might land them in hot water. Yesterday, the Divisional Court, in the shape of the aptly named Sir Igor Judge, ruled that the cutting of hair without an individual's consent constitutes assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Those unsure about the status of more extreme forms of involuntary physical decoration should check out the Journal of Environmental Health's "hierarchial view of body art based on the level of injury".

Surfing the Canals

It'll be a long time before we have broadband on the boat but the Nantwich and Border Counties Yacht Club has taken its maiden voyage into the new millennium by launching its own website.

If you have any suggestions for content, please contact us via suggestions@nbcyc.org.

Gold Stars for the Silver Screen

After a rather slow period at the end of last year, the cinema listings are improving as the Oscars draw near.

We started the year as we mean to go on with a New Year's Day showing of March of the Penguins at the swanky new Picturehouse in Greenwich (the armrests didn't lift up but the seats did lean back!). The cinematography was superb with amazing landscapes depicted and Morgan Freeman was a suitably bleak choice for the narration.

Next up was Brokeback Mountain. Again, I could have watched the film for the views alone but I was relieved to find that Ang Lee had been very loyal to the original book.

Another Jake Gyllenhaal film beckoned last night. Jarhead looks set to join Full Metal Jacket and Apocalypse Now in the list of great modern war films. It is witty, sharply observant and moving by turns. It is artistic without being pretentious and manages to keep the viewer involved even though little happens.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be looking forward to Memoirs of a Geisha, Walk the Line and Syriana.

The Rite of Spring

Catkins have appeared in the hedgerow adjoining Canada Water - the first sign of life amongst the bare branches.

A Little Sunshine

No wonder I've been finding it difficult to get up in the mornings: it's been one of the gloomiest starts to the year in a decade.

My answer to lack of sunlight (when there's no snow on offer) is to consume as much tropical fruit as I can lay my hands on.

Fortunately I have finally found a source of dried papaya so that I can bring a little bit of South Pacific sunshine into my life. And it's much cheaper than my dried mango addiction which must be keeping Cranberry open at London Bridge.

Thankfully juice bars seem to be springing up here and there as well. I first fell in love with a berry crush at the Boost Juice Bar in Auckland. Ever since my return, I have been hunting high and low for a suitable substitute. Crussh in Canary Wharf is a good option but otherwise it seems that the provinces have the best claim on this emerging market. Woking, Reading and Southampton have served my need for Vitamin C best so far. With a bit of luck, they'll be overtaking coffee shops before we know it.

Planning Ahead

Tesco was stocking mince pies in September - not much good when there were pre-Xmas use-by dates. And now Sainsburys have hot cross buns next to the half-price Christmas puddings.

Paperchase is displaying Valentine's Day cards already - so I have six whole weeks to choose the perfect example.

But Primark beats them all hands down with a full range of beachwear. But then what else can they do when they had their New Year sale during Advent?

A New Look for the New Year

At long last, I have "mastered" css - with a little help from my friends - and tales of jo has a new and more refined look.

Check it out here.