h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Not a title guaranteed to make people want to read the journal entry I know - but at least it's honest!

After a week dominated by computer problems at work, I was glad to leave the office on Friday. My friend E phoned to say that another mutual friend was staying with her for a few days and suggesting that we went out on Saturday. Arranged to meet at the Arts Picturehouse at 5.30, to see Brokeback Mountain at 6, then go on to eat.

I arrived at the cinema just after 5.20 to find both screenings of the film were sold out - we hadn't thought we'd need to book in advance, given that the film has been on for a week already, but we'd neglected the fact that many of the students are back in town this weekend ... Anyway, we had a drink in the bar and chatted, then went off to our favourite Chinese noodle restaurant. We go there so often that the owner treats us like old friends (hugs and kisses when we arrive!). Delicious food as usual - we treated ourselves to starters, which we don't usually bother with: sesame prawn toasts, tempura prawns, Thai chicken - yum!

After eating, the plan was to go back to E's house for more wine, and/or tea. On the way, we called in at Mr Stacey's Video Emporium (that's really what it's called !) to find that they were serving over the counter! When we asked what the occasion was, they said "Oh we always do this on Saturday nights" ! Picked out The Ice Storm (since we had missed out on the new Ang Lee, decided to go for an earlier one) and went back to E's. Needless to say we then started drinking and chatting in her kitchen, and didn't get round to watching the film.

Today E and I have been out for a pub lunch - going back to one of our older haunts, where we haven't been since last summer. We'd heard that the standard of the food had gone down, but didn't really notice any problems; the whole place is a bit grubby-looking, but that's not new.

E went straight home to get on with some work, and I parked my bike on the edge of Midsummer Common and went for a walk along the towpath, looking at the narrowboats. Came home via the Grafton Centre, where I had a quick look at the leftover sales stock in a few of the shops, but didn't find anything I wanted to buy.

So that's it - weekend over, and I don't feel as if I've achieved much. Oh well: maybe I'll cross a few more things off my list during the week.

that was a really lovely slice of life, annie, which I enjoyed very much.

I like your video shop! When I went to try to join my local one they were just rude.