I think that Timon had been a bit surprised by our proximity to Sherwood Forest when he first arrived in England.  Actually - I suspect he might have been a bit surprised that Sherwood Forest is a really truly place.  He saw the signs as we were coming up the M1 last weekend and got quite excited by them.  So we all arranged to go for a visit tomorrow.

But then Julia and Timon decided that, exciting though a visit to Sherwood Forest might be, a visit to London to do the sights might be even more exciting.  In this I tend to agree.  There won't be a lot to see in the forest in the depths of winter.  The Major Oak will be bare and forlorn.  Even the visitor centre and shop will be shut.  So they've booked themselves a coach down to London tomorrow and I met them and Freyja for lunch today, in the Millennium cafe across from SHU.

When I got to work this morning it was chilly and a bit damp, but quite a nice morning.  By the time Jared came in half an hour or so later it had started to snow.  By mid-morning it was properly snowing.  By the time I went to meet Freyja, Timon and Julia there were several centimetres lying and there was light snow swirling around in the air.  A fitting farewell to them!!!  (J and T - not Freyja who, as far as I am aware, has no immediate plans to go anywhere).

It was good to see Julia again.  Haven't really seen her for ages.  Even when we were in Melbourne last April we only saw her very briefly when we dropped some stuff off in her flat.  And we hadn't met Timon before. Always a pleasure to meet new friends.

Speaking of Melbourne - I have booked another trip for mid-February, a mere 5 or 6 weeks away.  It's Tony's 80th birthday on the 26th and there's a party on the 27th.  You have to go to an 80th birthday party.  Even if it is only ten months since you were last in Melbourne.  It's the law!!!!!  I've also booked train tickets and hotel rooms in London on the way there and on the way back.  Just as well I went in and seduced the bank manager just before Christmas!!!!!

(Actually, I did it online - but the effect was the same :-)  )