Ah, erm, ahem, err, oops! Sorry. It's been a while since the last one again, hasn't it!

Well, seeing as I'm off work sick with a hideous 'flu (I managed to get almost all the way through winter without getting ill, though, which is good I suppose), I've got a little time to update my e-diary...

But I'll keep it snappy, don't worry!

So, where did I leave you? Ah yes, with the delights of Jerez de la Frontera's Christmas parade. What a spectacle!

So anyway, we got back to Germany and that very evening I was transported to France - but only by the tastebuds (and the ears) - by virtue of a Galette des Rois dinner party at Bénédicte's place with Marie-Laure, Corinne and Eric. Much alcohol was consumed (quelle surprise, I hear you squeak) and then, after a round of steaks and potatoes dauphinoise, we hit the galette: France's answer to Xmas cake, a solid almondy buttery monster - with a little token baked into it. Whoever gets the slice with the token is king (or queen) for the evening. Well done Corinne!

Did I mention that my luggage DIDN'T MAKE IT BACK from Spain? Actually, it was a total disaster area at the airport. There were bags lying EVERYWHERE! The poor woman behind the baggage tracing counter was telling us that all the hideous weather over the Xmas period meant that thousands of items of luggage had either got stuck or not been connected with their owners - who, themselves, had either missed connections or simply given up. But they were operating a policy of last out, first in, so our bags should come quickly... Actually, they did come relatively quickly - in fact the next afternoon. Better than other recent luggage experiences I've had!

I spent the weekend with Michaela, sorting through stuff at hers. But I got away on the Saturday night for dinner at Marie-Laure's place - where (can you guess?) much, MUCH alchohol was consumed!

On the Monday I had my second trip to the dentist in as many months. That damn tuna sandwich in Granada that had totalled one of my fillings! I mean, a tuna sandwich? How lame! Friday was dinner at Bezi & Moustapha's with Bénédicte. It was the first time I'd seen them since they'd moved back from Zurich. Right back into their old flat again, too, in that lovely old feels-condemned-in-fact-can't-believe-they-haven't-knocked-it-down-yet-but-thank-goodness-they-haven't-because-it's-delightful-and-classy-in-a-faded-glory-kind-of-way building in Schwabing.

On Saturday morning Michaela, the boys & I drove down to Austria for Martha & Poidl's golden wedding anniversary. The weather on the Saturday was cool but clear, and we once again had magnificent views of the mountains. We went for a walk above Neustadtl with Martha & Hans to the Schützenhütte, where we had a view of Grein partially flooded by the Danube. Then, on the Sunday, we drove across to Nöchling (the floodwaters had subsided by then so we could get through Grein) for a delicious meal in a Gasthaus followed by Kaffee u. Kuchen at Dreimühlen. It was lovely to see Onkel Fredi again for the first time in what feels like twenty years. Well, actually, thinking about it, it WAS twenty years!!

Back in Munich, I dropped in very late on Ivana's birthday drinks at KraftAkt (it was past midnight!) and then went home, tired but happy after a lovely weekend back in the Old Country.

The following day Dirk (who I met years ago in New Zealand) and his French friend Thierry came to my place to stay the night. They were flying to Namibia the next day to spend a month motorcycling across Africa to Kenya - the way you do - and so we managed to catch up again for the first time since we met back in '04. It was great! We headed to the Nockherberg with Bénédicte for dinner, then back to mine for a few drinks.

The following day was Ivana's official birthday party at her place in Neuperlach. Bernhard & I went over and promptly doubled the number of German-speakers in the room. All of Ivana's other friends appeared to be Brazilians! Later in the week I caught up with Felix for a bite to eat. At the weekend Michaela & Lisa came to mine for cheese soup, I went to Bénédicte's for sushi, I went to Michaela's for food, and Bénédicte came to mine for soup. A bit crazy.

The next week Bernhard & I used our birthday vouchers for an evening of relaxation at the Mathilden Hammam, just behind Sendlinger Tor. I have to admit, it was a little less spectacular than I had hoped, given the price of a ticket. But it was relaxing nonetheless. We went for a quick beer at the Glockenbach afterwards and then parted company.

At the weekend I went skiing with Michaela on the EPO bus to Zell am Ziller. What a riot! The weather was splendid, the snow just right, the crowds nonexistent, the Germknödel a dream. I needed a big old sauna by the time I got back home though! My aching thighs! And on the Sunday, Michaela, Lisa & I had a big jazz brunch at The Big Easy. Delightful!

Right, that's January 2011 covered. That'll do for now, methinks. Toodlepip!