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It's 'cardie' weather. I'd like to link the word 'cardie' for you so you could go straight to the Glossary but it seems I have forgotten this great kiwi word. Shame on me. 'Cardie' is short for cardigan. A knitted or crocheted long sleeved garment that buttons down the front. (an example). So yes, it's cardie weather. Time for another layer. Mostly it's inside that's a bit chilly - air conditioning that a few weeks ago was a nice relief from the muggy heat outside, now prickles the skin and makes you rub your hands together. It seems, one by one, we're off to buy 'office cardies' to ward off the goosebumps. Yesterday, it was my birthday. Amy came into town and took me out to lunch. We went to a buffet Chinese foody place that wasn't very good, and I didn't eat much though she seemed happy enough. There was a man there, and he looked so familiar to me. I kept looking at him imagining he was then imagining he couldn't possible be the man I thought he was. I was transported all the way back to the early 80s and lots of slivers of memories and one in particular - of an office christmas party and a secret santa gift. Sara was my friend. Tall, busty, blonde and sweet, all the guys loved Sara. When she pulled Paul's name out of the hat, she became his Secret Santa. She couldn't think of anything to buy for him and asked me for my help. I suggested the only thing he really would want was her (not literally, cos he was and still is a very happily married man) and that she should box herself up and give herself as his present. She thought this was a good idea, but couldn't do it on her own. So I became the organiser and this is what we did: The day happened to be a 'Fancy Dress' day too, and Sara and I were dressed in the 30s style. We had seen Paul (he was and still is very good looking) earlier and had been a little disappointed in his business suit as his fancy dress. Sara and I climbed into a crate (large crate seeing as she was so leggy and all) and had the storeman deliver said crate to Paul in the canteen when it was his turn to get up and recieve his Secret Santa gift. --------

ADF says to Salmon on Toast: My mate from work has a buddy who owns a few really posh trendy restaurants in Oxford - my mate and I can't really afford to go to them, but his mate sorts us out and gets us good tables and so on, so the odd time we go for brunch or cocktails or whatever. So one Saturday, a while back - maybe a month ago, we were in this place called the Duke of Cambridge having a smattering of brunch wot wot. We had a kind of booth thing, but it was just the two of us, so when this guy came over as said "The place is packed, do you mind if we sit here with you?" We naturally just said for him to go right ahead. Now - the night before, I had been watching So Graham Norton, a chatshow on Channel 4, and who was on it, but Orlando Bloom. I laughed as I thought to myself, 'Good God, I'd never have recognised him as the guy from LOTR without his long blonde hair.' Finally twig on that it's him and say "Excuse me, were you on Graham Norton last night?"........."I was." he says and I grin at my stunning memory. "I really loved you in Moonlighting." I say, making a JJ joke about the fact that one of the other guests was Cybil Shepherd.......... blank expression from Orlando. Nothing more was said throughout the meal until we got up to leave and I offered "You weren't bad in Lord of the Rings either."............."Thanks very much." he said through a mouthful of Ceasar salad. "Sure thing," I said "I loved that big ginger beard they gave you too, I'd hardly have recognised you." blank expression from Orlando He was so dense I swear the light in the place was bending round him --------