Heading South

Monday morning sees a customary weigh-in at Ambrosian Towers, for my spreadsheet. My weight has been slowly shifting this year, thanks to the increased cycling I suspect. This week marked a milestone; I dropped below 14 stones (196 pounds) for the first time since January 2004. I’ve shed 15 pounds this year, without really trying. Yay. Strange to think that as recently as summer last year, I was hulking around 15 and a half stones (about 216 – 218 pounds) for a month or so before things started to move in the right direction. That’s around 20+ pounds heavier than I am now – and that’s a lot of sugar.

I was back in Germany the week before last. I went there for a week with GB Troy, coinciding with the Wedding Present being in the country. We had a fab week. We started in Berlin on the Monday (bloody freezing) and then travelled to Cologne by train on Thursday (after a scare over the 48 hour train strike that started at 2 o’clock on Thursday morning) before flying back on Sunday. As well as two Wedding Present gigs, we also saw the fabulous Asobi Seksu in Cologne. Recommended, if you like shoegazing type stuff with a cute Japanese girl on vocals. Cologne was excellent. I’d been there before, for a brief visit, back in 2003. This time we got a map and had more time to explore, especially the lively student area where there’s lots of bars and restaurants. Ironically, the hotel where I stayed back in 2003 was just around the corner from here, but we didn’t realise it at the time. Dur. The shops were ace as well. And it has a TV tower! I’d definitely go back.

This weekend I’m going to Riga. I get around. I’ve also got a cold to take with me. Arsecakes and grr.