Just got back from a short stay in Birmingham for the NICE Conference. They gave me a free bag which I was very pleased with seeing as I'd left mine in the cloakroom and had nowhere to put all my freebies! Alex has branded it 'brutto' so I shall make sure to use it as much as possible.

Best freebie of the conference: a squishy stress-relieving-style caplet courtesy of the MHRA. Thanks guys!

Anyway, the last (and only other) time I was in Birmingham was in February for the tour and I wasn't too enamoured with the place then. This time though I liked it better, there was a German Christmas market going on near the conference selling all sorts of christmassy things and food. They had a make-shift pub set up selling draught beer and mulled wine, so I had a hog roast and beer for lunch standing in the cold square with all the lights. Very Christmassy!

So that was the best thing that happened to me this week.

Tomorrow I'm off to Naples for a bit, will remember to come back for the gig on Thursday though! I've got my work Xmas lunch before so I might be a bit merry by the time we take the stage. It's going to be a good gig, I can feel it..!

Anyway, a bit of a story-telling blog today. And why not? Need to pop into town now to get some euros and get Alex's shoes re-heeled. We've got a wedding to go to apparently...

Hmmm...