‘I’m going to spend some time with Betty’ – a lovely new euphemism uncovered this evening while out at a social event. I don’t yet know what it is a euphemism for but it is too good to pass up and I plan to introduce this one to friends and colleagues.

Another phrase that came up this evening was ‘humping and dumping’, as applied to moving furniture on and off stage as it happens, but it conjured up some interesting new images of backstage activities.

I had a good dancing session yesterday evening. One of our musicians is kind of intimidating – well to me he is because he is just so into the whole Morris thing and I still feel very inadequate in my only-been-dancing-for-five-minutes-ness – and I always try to keep well out of the way at the back, out of sight if possible, so my huge failings might possibly go unnoticed. But last night shook me out of my little bag. I had not only to dance on my own but on my own to only his accompaniment. It was so nerve-racking – especially after a break over the summer without any dancing practice – but hey, it went well and not only that but I managed to earn his praise too (something I never expected I could ever do!) I was so chuffed. I could have died happy at the end of that dance!

But euphoria doesn’t last long does it and it was back to earth today with a bump but at least it was my last day at work for a fortnight so I can leave all those tiresome work thinks (yes I did mean thinks and not things) behind me for a while.

I was pondering on the nature of friendship for a while. I have a ‘friend’- we will call it ‘spaghetti’ - and another ‘friend’ – called ‘ketchup’. Now spaghetti treats me very well, makes me feel good about stuff, cheers me up and does lots of nice little things for me, and only very occasionally grumbles about the ketchup. The ketchup on the other hand has a dry wit and it is an amusing, stimulating and intelligent companion on the rare occasions that we chat but, and this is the rub, ketchup will keep on about spaghetti not being very nice and always doing naughty stuff. Spaghetti is no saint I know but is not in my own experience quite the bad dude it is painted. As a friend I feel I have to accept the fact that spaghetti isn’t always quite what I might like it to be because people, and indeed foodstuffs, are not perfect. I can’t condemn a friend for their behaviours although I suppose I can not condone the behaviours themselves.

The trouble is I really don’t have enough cynicism about people I should be more cynical of because I am so easily flattered! But at the end of the day I have to weigh up the fact that even though the ketchup and spaghetti may have equally as much regard for me (possibly none!) they don’t both offer an equal amount of ‘friendship’ to me.

Do you love someone because they are good or because they are good to you?

Having just read that back I am not sure it makes a great deal of sense but I can’t help it – I am not sensible. No way would I be the Eleanor, I would definitely be more towards the Marianne side of things (Sense and Sensibility).