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Insane long day, but somehow I got through it without flagging. Once again the new diet proves to be miraculous.
I woke up at 5.15am, which was a bit early, but the cab to the airport was coming at 6.30 so I didn't bother trying to get to sleep. I got breakfast at the airport and there wasn't anything healthy of the menu of the place I stopped at, so I had a bacon roll. After six weeks of avoiding stuff like this I thought I might enjoy the tastebud holiday, but it just made me feel a bit unsettled. I tried to counter with some nuts and seeds, but it didn't make much difference. My body craved an apple, but this was Belfast and there was no fruit in the city.
The flight back was quick and I was home by 10.30 and the whole Northern Ireland trip seemed like a dream.
Phoebe and me had created a picture for Samarivans
https://shop.sarahgraham.info/collections/samarivans (she might have done most of it, but I helped colour in the grass and the road, so I am still taking equal credit. We went into Hitchin today to see if exhibited in an actual art gallery, along with all the other contributors. Phoebe asked if people would ask her for her autograph and I said probably not, but the guy at the gallery asked us both to sign a big board that all the artists were signing. So she got her wish. And I signed it too, even though I did no actual art. Take that art.
She had been regretting not turning the van into the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine, but at least two of the other artists had thought of that. And no one else had the van being driven by a giraffe.
If you have more than £50 you have a chance to own this masterpiece - Phoebe's first exhibited work, which could be worth millions if she is the next Banksy or that bloke who does the umbrella pictures. But look at the colouring on the grass on the left.
Bid here. Great cause.She is as pleased as punch about being in a gallery and even happier that her work is worth so much, but I think she's thinking of the money she could personally make by ebaying her pictures.
We then went to do some shopping and got the kids hair cut by a very nice man in a barbershop that had some kind of lovely herbal diffuser somewhere, judging by the smell in the air (though I couldn't see where the diffuser was). The man worked very slowly for some reason and we were in there for an hour, even though both kids were getting a trim. But that's the kind of dedication you want from a barber. Even though there weren't any other customers he seemed relaxed and happy, so I guess he has that herbal diffuser to make him feel chilled in the face of the economic downturn. There are a lot of hairdressers in Hitchin and they mainly seemed quiet. I guess cutting hair is something people can leave if they have to. I haven't had my hair cut all year.
We went home and got ready for a night out as Catie and me were heading into London for a party. Usually I would not be in the mood after such an early start on a busy day, but somehow I still had energy and after walking the dog and making dinner (I cooked two super healthy meals today, but couldn't claw back enough points to make up for the bacon roll that I hadn't even enjoyed).
The party was (again unusually for me) terrific fun. There were lots of lovely comedians there (there are a few nice ones) and I caught up with some people I haven't seen for a while. Russell Howard was there (for every evil Russell there is a good one and RH is the greatest of men) and he didn't even know that I'd had cancer. Which given how much I've fucking banged on about it is pretty remarkable! I had a couple of non-alcoholic beers to celebrate 1000 days without booze. I gave up drinking 24 days before I went to the GP's with my massive ball, so very soon I will have survived 1000 days after thinking I was about to die of cancer. Giving up booze must have been the cause of all of this - it's the only explanation. But very glad to be here 950+ days on.
We couldn't stay late at the party as there was a babysitter to think of, but made the most of our couple of hours, before I drove us home. I'd been awake for 17+hours and not stopped all day, but I was barely even tired. I am turning into a superhero. Even a bacon roll couldn't destroy me.
