kissing elephants

We only part so we meet again

Leaving on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be back again, la la la. Thanks to everyone for your lovely well-wishes. I've been very touched - I should go away more often. Exhausted by all these goodbyes, I'm now looking forward to a sleep on a cramped seat with a headrest at the wrong level, next to someone who takes up one and a half seats and snores.

Will be seeing you all soon - in cyberspace if not the flesh.

Mx

My crazy niece

Emma Louise in her new Kurt Cobain phase.

London times

Late bars, Tate Modern, Hyde Park, Selfridges, Lambeth Country Fair - all the important parts of the capital have been reviewed in my last weekend in a calm sunny London, less influenced by recent events than you'd think. And got to spend time with important people and ride on the back of my favourite scooter. Oh, and watch men in combat gear attack each other to the tune of Rocky....video footage to follow.

The adventure starts here

So long Sheffield - will miss you.

Unemployed

Just starting my last morning of employment. Feels very strange to think I won't be working for months. In this culture, work is such a large part of what defines you so when you don't, you need to seek out new definitions. Emma always found not working one of the hardest parts of being ill - said that she felt she lacked purpose....but I have a purpose - to enjoy myself.

I've worked since I was thirteen bar a few weeks after graduating. My first job was for the Rothley grocer which mainly involved taking the out of date stock off the shelves only to find the owner had put it back again to try and sell it. Since then, its been bars, cafes, exhibitions, cinemas.....

I'm really looking forward to the first person asking me what I do - loafer or lady of leisure?

Cards

This is the leaving card made by my lovely team at Tribal. For non-marketing types, its in the Tribal house-stylee. Very funny.

Download meroe_card.pdf

The meaning of life by Ricky Gervais

'....I would never say: "What is the point of life?" I know there is no point to life. The point to life is having a laugh, getting on with everyone. Full stop.'

Discuss....

Read interview

Derwent

No sunsets last night but the Peaks did put on a good light show for me. Went to Derwent Water, one of my favourite places ever and had a very British evening. A picnic by the lake stopped short by a swarm of midges eating us alive, a fast retreat to the car followed by munching food behind steamed up windows. I also learnt about doggers thanks to AC - I have obviously lead a sheltered life - am I the only person who hasn't heard of them? There seemed to be a few about last night.

The girl in the window

I was strangely mesmerised by the image of this girl on Saturday night. She looked like she should be in a Fellini movie - the opening sequence of a story of dark places, distant people and sinister happenings. Instead she was taking money in a Sheffield bar from a long list of people trying too hard - and us, of course.

Thank you to my pals who came to see me off at the weekend. I had good fun, chatting, eating, and dancing to my favourite records. I can't dance to Walk this Way and Groove is in the Heart too many times. And Jocelyn Brown, Somebody Else's Guy with Massive Attack Unfinished Sympathy - heaven.

Thank you LT for rescuing me from the dancing dwarf. And thanks too to BA for a fab dinner on Friday - you spoil me.

Without wishing to gush - oh go on then - you are some of the best people I know and I will miss you too much.

Look at Saturday's photos

Gala queen

  This is a special post for the parents. As you can see it was all go in your lovely Hathersage this weekend. Themed floats, brass bands, women and men in posh frocks - who needs Sydney Mardi Gras. And I thought this year's Queen looked strangely familiar - aren't teenagers looking old these days?

It all brings back memories of being ten at the Rothley disco and being subjected to the humiliation of tramping round in a circle in my best ra-ra skirt with all the other girls in the village, while some old biddy chooses who's the prettiest and all the boys sit round the edge and snigger into their bottles of coke.