This morning the rain was pouring out of the sky above Edinburgh, which is good in that it helped to wash away all the "Stripey laughs" where people had been "Shouting soup" as they celebrated new year.

The new year street party thing was interesting. As in very crowded, overpirced and rather small drinks and quite a few drunken scots lads in pink cowboy hats attempting to snog the moff. We batted them of with crash barriers in a subtle way, what else are god fathers for.

We also discovered a new rock bar called the Black Rose, which is rather good and on new years eve had quite a few darkhaird/blonde/tattooed/low cut topped lovelies in it, so I nearly pulled a muscle in my neck being "subtle"

We found ourseleves positioned with a perfect veiw of the castle as the clock struck twelve, whereapon said castle appeared to explode into the sky and get bombed back to the stone age by a huge attack of the fireworks!

Then a quick wander back through rather alot of people staggering around like Rhino's that had just been shot with a tranquiliser dart. Oh at one point I remember shouting at a lot of people and making them get in front of us so we could say to them, as they had just said to us "happy new year to the people in the front" Well I did it in a kind and loving way and we all laughed about it. And as I told Mrs F, I was not being naughty, I was "Facilitating"

Anyway we went back to the Auld Hoose pub and got wankered. Then went back to the flat, hit the bubbly and got wankered some more. If such a thing is possible. Did I start this year off with a huge argument like I did the old year? I'm not telling. But I will say there was a lot of hugging going on. I wish mr S would stop all that stuff when he's had a few, the old tart.

Anyway, back to the rain mentioned earlier. Although it is helping flush the huey from the pavements, it is not fun to have to walk a mile through it to get to the ver ver posh witchery restaurant and arrive like drowned rats. But we did arrive like waterlogged rodents and they still let us have a table.

And shock horror! Although it is still truely posh THE OCD WAITERS FROM LAST YEAR HAD GONE! Well they were all americans and they probably were a bit much for most people to take. So instead of constantly having some nutter come up and tidy your napkin every time you put it down, you had a selection of nice aussies or locals tending to your needs. This year you were more likely to hear "Strewth I forgot ya fuckin' soup spoon - the chef will be right snakey!" Than "May I just iron your napkin and move it one millimitre to the right"

Anyway. In other news I is sat in a very very hot Glenhause Cafe, which at least means the house red is at a reasonable temperature. Hmmmm May have to have another.

Love to you all

Gonna let Mrs F have a go now.

No! on the bloody pc you dirty dirty people!