2005 - Castle of Tranquility - Sonja & Z

September...Z's been working her but off to save up for the return to Oz.

2005 - Castle of Tranquility - Sonja & Z, x, Djr

September: Can't remember what we'd been eating but somebody pointed out we all had black tongues.

2005 - Bath - Vega$

September: Matthias does his best to scare the children. Another catch-up between long months of silence between us. Always good though.

2005 -Wild African Dogs

In the UK! It was a corporate benefit day for Jo and her company, so we took part in vast BBQ then took a drive around a safari park.

2005 -London-Z's 21st Bday- Gurps & His Missus

Z turns 21. There's a huge gathering in London - which Jo and I nearly miss because she left her car lights on during the day - which means the locking system goes on the blink and we can't get the fuel tank cover open (because she's also not filled the tank and is driving on fumes as usual).

But we get there. Lovely food. Lovely people. Great celebration for Z.

Gurps turned up. Not seen him for ages. Really nice guy, and his missus too.

2005 -London-Z's 21st Bday- S(k)y and Sonja

2005 -London-Z's 21st Bday- Z

Z gets a collection of rude things from Gurps, part of her "survival pack" for Oz.

2005 -London-Z's 21st Bday- x, David & Nick

What was really great for Z was the presence of her father, who also brought together a load of musicians and entertained the crowd. Nick also got to take part with his bongo. Fab.

2005 - Westonburt - Djr

October... The summer was rapidly fading into Autumn and the weather was becoming dank. Jo and I spent a day with the trees. I was still working on Edge and Yellow Dawn.

2005 - fuertaventura

October... Jo and I jetted off for a last grab of sunshine. It was perfect. All I wanted was a swimming pool, sunlounger and a book. A whole week of it, with regular breaks in the shade (me drinking coffee in our apartment whilst feeding the TV euros to watch MTV videos).

2005 - fuertaventura

October... during the week of total chill out I was able to re-focus some life objectives and question my current direction. Why was I spending this valuable free time writing a new novel when I'd not yet sold my previous novels? I neeeded to broaden my options. So... I made the decision to go self-employed as a photographer, and invest more time into sending off proposals to agents and publishers.

2005 - fuertaventura - Djr, Oj

October

2005 - Bristol - x, Zed

October: had a fun night out with Zed.

2005 - Bristol - Nicky

November: ironically, just as my life in the Happy Flat is drawing to an end, a totally cool cafe opens up just down the road. Typical bloody timing.

I'm in there one night and see a familiar face. It's Nicky, she's still with the same bloke she met not long after meeting me, and her house continues to transform through a massive programme of DIY projects... not quite finished yet though. I smile.

2005 - Newcastle

Mike does his De Nero in Taxi Driver routine. On a more serious note, since the big upheavals of my life began (Oct 2004) my visits to Newcastle have centered around the wonderful place that is Kitschen Cafe. Mike and StJohn - couple of characters, have always provided a welcome haven. And the coffee is goooooood.

2005 - Happy Flat - Djr

December. I'd been living off my savings since July, deep in a delicious bubble of creativity, but aware that come the new year I'd need to start looking for a job. Serendipity sweeps down and kisses me on the lips with a phone call out of the blue.

Ben F, from a big telecommunications corporation. He'd seen my CV floating around, wanted to know if I'd like to work for him on a short contract (until March/April 06). It was perfect.

Doing something very similar to my old role in the Agency. And it was the desired shift from Government to Private sector. So I went to London for the interview and walked away with a job. Laptop, mobile phone and broadband, working from home with all expenses paid.

2005 - Jesmond - Christmas - Squirt

As is tradition, we all take turns wearing the santa hat and fetching presents from beneath the tree.

2005 - Jesus Mound - Oj & Djr

2005 - Jesus Mound - Kelvin Sharky

It was a special Christmas - the first time Kelvin had been up to Newcastle since he emigrated to Spain. It was also his first view of the house since all the building has been done.

Check out the sexy underwear.

Check out the hand reaching out to touch the jewels.

Who?

My mum, that's who.

Rumours from Kelvin's last tongue touching visit have resurfaced.

2005 - Jesus Mound - Oj

Christmas

2005 - Jesus Mound- Ciaran o'C

Christmas. As per tradition, Ciaran swung by around midnight to catch the tail end of our Norweigan Christmas Eve traditions.

2005 - Jesus Mound- Kelvin Sharky

Christmas.

2005 - Jesus Mound- Dad

Christmas. It was Dad's first proper Christmas since the house had been completed. He'd been living back home since March.

2005 - Jesus Mound- Mum, Djr, Dad, Akr

Christmas. This was the first time since 1996, that I'd been back home for Christmas and not been part of the Agency.

2005 - Jesmond Dene - Christmas

The Old Mill

2005 - Castle of tranquility - Sonja

December. I head back to Bristol before New Year's Eve. Zed has gone but Jo and I make regular visits to see Sonja.. usually a Sunday night fix, and certainly every Wednesday night, for 9pm Channel 4... LOST, first series.

We all became hooked on this damned programme.

I have to work between Christmas and New Year, but I'm able to spend much of it in the Happy Flat. Bizarrely, it is this period of time that see's me experience my first blast of "cabin fever" within the Happy Flat.