TWTWTW

Being the sort of pasty-faced pessimist I am, I find it quite uncomfortable to cope with good news. And would you believe it, this week has been jam packed with amazing, uplifting, life-affirming bouts of great news and good fortune. It's starting to freak me out.

Sunday started, innocently enough, with a lovely stroll around Hamstead Heath:

... we remembered a flask of tea ...

... and stood on Parliament Hill for the first time...

... the view is breathtaking, and the contrast between the wild parkland and the city could hardly be more marked. We're so lucky to only be a couple of streets away from this.

So, nice views aside, I was starting to get a bit unnerved by the sudden upturn in Tottenham's fortunes. Although I'm a Forest fan, due to my brother being a vehement Spurs man (and me living in North London) I'm starting to feel more and more like an honorary Lily White. The great Arsenal clash was followed by a win against the previously unbeaten Liverpool. What was going on? Forest got a well-earned point away at rivals derby too. But I digress...

We returned from the Heath in time to watch the final Grand Prix of the season, and (as you probably know) Lewis Hamilton won the championship on the final turn of the track. I was on my knees, screaming at the screen - what a moment!

This was followed, of course, a couple of days later with the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful US election: restoring our faith in democracy, America, humanity, beauty, taste, intelligence (is that enough?) sorry I get carried away, but it really did feel like the beginning if the twenty-first century.

Simon came down to London to visit (upon his arrival, he said 'the chips are down for McCain') and we were lucky enough to see some of the coverage at a bar in Shoreditch that hosted a party for American ex-pats. The atmosphere was great. It was even better the next morning when I got to work (as a college lecturer) and it was the only subject on each of the students lips.

Somehow, i don't think a Cameron/Brown battle royale will have the same effect.

The week progressed and we were still on cloud nine when Char had to face the Ofsted inspectors. She was singled-out for a special interview and, would you believe it, her school's Ofsted rating went from 'good' to 'outstanding'. Wonderful!

Wonderful, but for the fact that I was too nervous to properly enjoy her news as I was preparing for my PhD viva. Having stayed over in Harborough on Thursday, I journeyed to Loughborough on Friday and survived the two-hour viva grilling, it was very difficult and at one point I was certain I hadn't passed. I was asked to leave while the panel ruminated, and 20 minutes felt like an eternity (I don't care about the tired cliches, ok, it's been a good week) - I was called back in and told I had passed. I now have a PhD. I'm a doctor. Nice.

Mum and Dad bought me champagne and a new TV to celebrate- fantastic!

So, time to celebrate. It's not often you get to reflect on good news, and if you're like me and you believe that all life really just ends with becoming worm-food, it's worth enjoying this sort of thing while you can. Char and I have let off some fireworks in the garden and are now drinking cherry wine. Wild, I know. But we're happy, it's been a great week.

Still not sure I can cope with it though.

Gareth