This morning I cleared a lot of the rubbish that has accumulated on my desk. There was the usual pile of bank statements that I never file, but endlessly push from one of the desk to the other, also bits and pieces of work and several hundred assorted port-it notes that have lost their tack and adhered to piles of paper and/or grime under everything else. At least now I can see what I'm meant to be working on.

I spoke to Dan today - he called before lunch just for a general chat and some business speak. I've been following my own agenda again today, and spent some time trying to locate a suitable Out of Africa themed costume for Saturday. I eventually found a safari suit, nice and conveniently located in Cotteridge which is a forty minute drive away. At least I got some practise in, but it took a good couple of hours out of the day.

One observation I did make was that the shop, Pinnochio's, is run by two strange ageing ladies. Not that this is any great thing on it's own, but is it a coincidence that the one in Lufbra is run by almost identical people? Is it a legal requirement? Do you have to have two slightly strange women in order to make sure business remains constant? Is it a proven formula for success in the 'suggestively titled props and costumes, but not using the trademarked names in order to avoid a lawsuit' market?

I find this practise quite amusing. Instead of buying an Austin Powers set of wonky teeth, you buy a 'Groovy Sixties Goofy Teeth' pack. Instead of a Pat Sharpe wig, you buy a '80's Style Pat Wig'. There are many other gaudily packaged plastic trash items. all make on a pittance but sold at extortionate prices. Anyone who has ever been to a fancy dress shop will be familiar with this pink and blue labelling, each adorned with a photo of a rather sad looking model (no doubt realising this point marks the end of their credible career) dressed in a rather unconvincing outfit; not doubt very similar to what I shall look like when I turn up to Jon's party in my safari suit. Photo will be supplied.

After arriving back in Stourbridge, The Mother and I went for food at the newly refurbished 'The Old Wagon & Horses' out towards Kidderminster. It's the first time we've been in years, and definitely the first time since they gutted and revamped the place. I remember summer nights there a few years back when we would go, enjoy moderately priced food and lap up the atmosphere of a summer afternoon or evening. Now the menu is a little more pricey, but the food did match the cost and I was impressed. The only thing I can't stop thinking is that who eats at these places now? Less than a mile down the road The Crown at Iverley is very much the same. Looks like all our friendly country pubs are being turned into Trendy New Wine Bars. While there we bumped into the sister of an ex-primary school mate of mine (Amy) serving at the bar, and looking pretty hot. It's strange that she is the only one we run into as I can't ever recall seeing Cathy, or in fact most of my class from St Joseph's, since I left way back in 1996.

After food I drove into Oldswinford to meet up for a drink with Tom Roberts. I had no idea who else was going to show, but Liam, John and Tom's mate Andy made an appearance. We talked our usual talk over the first drink, before deciding that due to the fact the only drink on was Foster's, that we would head down to The Crispin to finish the evening.

It's not the first time I've been back in since we nearly got banned at Christmas, but it was the first time I had to re-encounter the bar maid who so nearly dealt out the deed. The place has changed, and we sat in a corner I've never sat in before. Exactly not like old times.

I was really disturbed to hear one of my favourite teachers from school has been taken ill and shockingly lost most of his speech. This former English teacher of mine was definitely one of the most eloquently spoken men I know, and his quick wit and amusing (put-on) fantastical self-appreciation is second to none amongst the staff.

Forgive the nostalgia, but some of the funniest class moments occurred under the direction of Johnny Blaze (as he is nicknamed by us). I will not forget how he told James he was not permitted to leave the class to pick up his homework that he had forgotten, and so would be punished instead. He then allowed Chris to go to the toilet who two minutes later was walking past the outside window, clearly going back to pick up his forgotten work. James protested that Chris was going back to pick up the work, Johnny declared it 'Initative'.

His claims to fame include that he has worked in Whitehall before becoming a teacher, scanning foreign newspapers for clues towards communist activities. This led to a false identity being created for him, and that he was in fact, a spy. He played up to this role and when quizzed claimed he was part of MI7, an organisation so secret that MI5 and MI6 didn't even know about it. When asked why he told anyone and surely this would give the game away, he simply would reply, "It doesn't matter that I tell you because you don't believe me; it's the best cover I have".

His watch was also meant to be fitted with an array of gadgets (which unfortunately we never witnessed) and anyone who doubted his wisdom was labelled a 'fool'. He is meant to have created a word that now is in the dictionary, and even if this isn't true, the use of phrases such as "Illegal peregrination" to describe walking around during prep, or "Illegal intra-window communication" referring to conversations going on between boys in different rooms through windows during prep, have never been bettered by any.

The most enduring memory though is that this is the man who MC'd my interviews at the pre-OSH stage of my school life, then over the three years that he taught me how to write properly (even if I'm a little patchy now) and which gave me a fantastic interest in the English language. This is despite when he allotted roles for class-readouts for Shakespeare he would always claim Brutus and/or Caesar and/or Marc Anthony for himself, while everyone else became first guard, second guard or Portia, the wife (all the crap roles, as he felt no one of us would be able to do them justice).

I really hope it is no where near as bad as it sounds and hope he makes a good recovery. Just one of the teachers from there for whom I have real admiration for.