Well, my luck seems to be changing. I’m not sure whether I can say that I’m blessed with good luck, but at least I no longer appear to be cursed with bad luck.

Four new tyres arrived this morning. I figured I’d have to buy them sooner or later; the flat tyre last week just forced the issue. They’re on the car and seem to be fine, so that’s one worry off my mind.

I had ChipsAway come to give me an estimate on the car. They’ve got a pretty unique service — they come to you, do all the repair-work on site, and finish within a day. They’ve told me that the damage (no pun intended) would come in at around £140. Or about $200 in “real” money, for those Americans following along… They’re coming back tomorrow to do the work, so by tomorrow evening my car should be back in fighting form.

Most importantly, I’ve finally managed to get my vacation booked. We’re off to Thailand for just over two weeks at the beginning of April.

(Note to criminals reading blog: I’ve left my two attack-cats on watch in my absence. Note to American criminals: Canterbury is a long way from you.)

Yes, we’re off to Bangkok for 4 days, then to Phuket for another 10 days. We’ll arrive in Phuket just in time for the annual Water Festival, which celebrates the Thai New Year. In addition to a number of ceremonial rituals, the celebrations also include three days of drenching anyone who passes with a water pistol, bucket, hose, or whatever else you have to hand. See, my website is both entertaining and educational!

That’s it for now. No real plans for the weekend aside from having the car fixed, but I’m sure that will change as the weekend goes on.

It’s barely 30 minutes since I made the last entry in the blog, and I’ve only managed to break the bloody shower. I think I’m cursed — everything I touch this week seems to turn to merde.

There must be something in the air, but this definitely hasn’t been my week. The world is conspiring against me. Headaches at work, nothing seems to go right. On Thursday, I managed to catch the side of the car as I was parking in the multi-storey car park at the office:

The man from the body shop is coming out tomorrow to give me an estimate, confirming whether the damage is as expensive as it looks. Secretly, I hope he’ll tell me that it’s just superficial and that it will buff right out. But that isn’t the sort of week I’m having. It’s more of a “Oh, it looks like you managed to bend the frame. I’ve never seen that happen before at 5mph. I’m afraid we’re going to have to total your car” kind of week…

Just when I’d resigned myself to spending a lot of money on a new paintjob, I walked out this morning to discover that…

…my tyre was flat. Some days it’s just not worth getting out of bed.

Had a great dinner with Joanne and my parents at an Italian restaurant in Bethesda, MD. The highlight of the evening, though, was when my father pulled an article, clipped from the conservative Washington Times, out of his pocket and handed it to Joanne. More astonishing was the fact that she agreed with it. (Edited to note that I was mistaken. Under no circumstances did Joanne ever agree with the content of the birdcage lining Washington Times)

She was halfway through reading when she noticed that the clipping came from The Times. Then all the colour drained from her face in horror at the realisation! It’s moments like these that I’m glad I always carry a camera! I suspect that this isn’t a moment that will repeat itself soon!

This picture is just to make Maria Grazia drool.

Tiffany, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Bulgari all in one photograph? It’s almost too much to take!

Spent today in Old Town Alexandria, hoping to find a little present to bring back to Aude. I thought I’d try my luck at the Torpedo Factory.

While I didn’t find anything for her, I did find a picture painted by one of the studio artists that I really fell in love with and am considering purchasing:

Watching Him, by Matthew Johnston