The trouble with having lots to see and do is that it leaves precious little time to write about it all. I wouldn't have it any other way though!

On my return from a superheated Pamplona to a pretty bloody warm (in the 30s) London, I went to Chris & Kate's and had a lovely afternoon in the garden with Kate and the girls and some friends. I really love the rocket-on-a-hose doobrie they have. It's just a nozzle on the end of the hosepipe that, as if by magic, lifts a hollow plastic rocket into the sky and keeps it there, but it is mesmerising all the same. We dined al fresco that evening, which was a treat.

Packing and unpacking and repacking preceded a visit to Steve's in Primrose Hill. I went with Steve to a few pubs in the area and followed this with a fab curry at Papadam in Belsize Village. It really is one of the best Indian restaurants I have ever been to.

- Oops! I've got to catch a train. I will continue this at a later stage.

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Hm, it's a few days later now, and I'm sat in Lisa's lovely apartment in Dublin. The tidemark of my blood alcohol is back up where it hasn't been since the liver-shaking Madrid Monopoly pub crawl, thanks to the black velvet that is Guinness and a fair few shorts consumed over the last three nights. Weddings are fun, aren't they! But I'm running away with the story. Now, where were we?

I left Steve's flat in London on Friday morning, bound for Leamington Spa. I was meeting with Ruth to drop my suit off at hers (I wouldn't be needing it for a while) and then staying at Simon's.

- Back later y'all!

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Okay, I am now very behind.

Simon's stag do in Glasgow was excellent. Got drunk, lost sunglasses, shot a golf ball 250 yards at a driving range the next day, enjoyed Louise's fry-ups very very much.

Munich for a few days. BA lost my luggage, I got very hot.

Rome for a long weekend. Met up with Dan, as well as Justin & Sam. Saw some amazing sights. Ancient Rome is an enchanted valley hidden in the depths of the urban jungle. I was taken aback by the exquisite lifelike beauty of the antique statuary that can be seen in the many museums.

Back to Munich, then back to Leam (I even got to meet up for some badminton with my old pals at the Avon Badminton Club!), then on to Dublin for two Irish weddings and some sightseeing with Lisa.

The first wedding (Catholic, in the Republic) was a very boozy affair with lots of dancing all night and people singing well into the wee hours in the hotel bar. I didn't know too many people, but had a great laugh with friends of Lisa & Clare.

The second wedding (Protestant, in the North) was not quite so boozy but had its own attractions, among them my being one of only three guests who stayed up long enough to see the newlyweds off on their way to the airport at 6.30 the next morning!

The intervening week was spent touring the west of Ireland. It has been many years since I was so taken with a countryside. The west coast of Ireland is magnificent. It has everything (including, especially for me I am sure, baking hot sunny weather) from looming mountains to barren wastelands to fertile farmland to soaring cliffs to sandy shores. I hope my many photos do it justice.

A few more days of sightseeing after my return from Ulster saw Lisa bringing me to Kilkenny, Cashel and Clonmacnois, as well as spending evenings round the barbecue with Una & Nick (plus their DVD player) and Margit & Denis (plus their delightful kids David & Philip).

There. I'm all up to date again. Hurrah.