I must admit that I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the good game of rugby. I am of Welsh birth, so should love it, but on the other hand it was almost an enforced religion when I was growing up so sometimes can resent it.

If you didn't like it where I grew up, people thought you were weird, or foreign, or both If you didn't worship the local rugby playing boys, you were a lesbian or a geek.

I was actually a bi-sexual geek so as you can guess never really hit it off with some of the more extreme local hardmen, musclebound, beer swilling gentlemen who played for local teams. I have sisters who were both rugby groupies (still are really).

They went out with a succession of men who were more about drinking and playing with their mates than having a decent relationship. They ended up marrying them but divorcing them in the end.

So here I am today, half of me avoiding watching the game against Australia because of a childhood dislike of a cultural thing I experienced growing up and half of me cheering cos my country just achieved something really cool by winning a game against one of the best teams in the world.

Lol what a crazy mixed up kid eh!? I needs to get me some perspective! (or perhaps a beer to celebrate!) x

To all my American friends (and my American other half).

Hope you have a great day. Being hugely disorganised this week, we've not got anything vaguely Thanksgiving-like in the fridge! We are thinking of having a nice turkey dinner on the weekend though as a late celebration for Mr McB.

I need a dessert though worthy of Thanksgiving. Any ideas or recipes more than welcome

Ahhh it's good to be back. Actually had a good time and this visit to London was good. I even found everywhere I had to go! Stayed in the Euston area, which I've never done before, and found some excellent public houses and lovely places to go. Had a really late night and little sleep so am knackered.

I have eaten, drunk and walked a lot. I think I now have lard in my veins, not blood. So much food! So much wine!

Am off now to have a big sleep!

I am off to the big smoke of London for a couple of days with work.... I could tell you why but I'd have to kill you!

I am never sure if I like London or not (no offence to those who live there who are very sociable and nice in general as far as my experience goes). It's clever and fun but it's soooo big and I can never find anywhere I am looking for.

Anyway am sure I will have a good time

Shit I've only had a couple of drinks and feel squiffy already. Is this a sign of advancing age!?

*goes back to "company" feeling slightly wobbly and in need of a coffee*

Oooh it's a bit chilly today. No snow, just damp greyness. I don't usually feel change of temp that much. However, I went sales shopping yesterday evening and I think going from the hot shops to cold outdoors may have sparked a wee chill!

Was amazing to see, in the current economic climate, just how many people were out there buying! I think, like me, they were probably getting Christmas pressies whilst they are on offer.

A day to wrap up warm, drink hot coffee and snuggle!

I played Sims2 for a few hours this morning - where does the time go?! It felt as if I was on there for about 10 mins lol. Saddo!

I always know when I've played too much though. I start to think of my needs and the needs of Mr McB in terms of the Sims2 screen and those bars showing hygiene, comfort, hunger, social etc.

I could see Mr McB's social bar dropping to dangerous levels so thought I'd better stop before the big social bunny appeared and poked us!

Ahhhhh... weekend at last!!!!

Wine, wine and more wine
Perhaps even more wine
That about does me

Happy weekends all and good luck to all you people doing mad yet worthwhile things to raise money for Children in Need tonight. x

perhaps I am just a bit too laid back.

This all comes from a poll done in the UK on the monarchy. Apparently only 57% of people said that they still wanted a monarchy (or something like that). I never really trust poll results but to be honest I can see why. I don't know anyone who would "doff their cap" to a toff any more lol.

I've never pretended to be a fan of the monarchy - just completely against what I believe I guess, though accept that a couple of them are probably fairly decent people who do good work.

Anyway the obsession thing was the TV article about this and commentary from this nice lady who was interviewed in her home, SURROUNDED by pictures of Diana Spencer. WTF!? Now that is obsession and I don't understand it. They were absolutely everywhere. One or two, well ok, I wasn't a fan but if you are that's fine, but 500 pics of her in similar poses....hmmmm. She did seem a nice lady though ... but that is obsessive!

To all the lovely people who wished me well with my stand today.

It went really well and I am very glad I did it. For the first time ever I had a chat with my most senior boss about the situation I've had with a senior colleague who just won't accept me undertaking my role (which involves me asking her to do particular things...). I am more "junior" so she simply won't take any challenge or questioning from me. I used to work for her and I think she just can't get past that relationship. She is incredibly rude about it sometimes "I am accountable to no-one!" etc. Other times she can be quite sweet. I just don't get her.

Apparently though this is not just about me and there are more issues afoot than just my experience. He will now keep an eye on the situation and has also given me full authority to say no or a polite version of "piss off" to this person if she is getting to me or refusing to do her job/help me do mine.

I feel relieved to have done this today and laid the problem bare in front of him. I really wasn't sure how he would take it. A problem shared etc.! I know I have a lot more "stands" to take with her but at least I know I have his backing now.