in britannia

Today is Good Friday. And, risking being glib and superficial, it was a very good Friday. Yes, it's a day for contemplation and quiet meditation. It's also a day when I got to go punting down the Cherwell River.

For those who haven't punted, it's difficult to explain, except to say that it involves propelling a very tippy flat-bottomed boat down a shallow river by way of a pole. Not, y'know, an oar, which I'm used to, but a long aluminum pole. Simon, Basak, Dan, Jess, and Jess's cousin from the US all went punting with me. Highlights included Dan getting the punt caught in a downed tree, Simon hitting the bank and getting soaked, Jess not being able to steer and trying to kill all of us, and me, getting caught in a very low-hanging tree and not taking no for an answer.

I just stood there, very stoic and still, while the branches broke off around me and landed at my feet in the punt

Seriously, whoever invented punting needs professional help.

Cooked for the first time in months last night down at Jess's place. We're over at Simon's now having a nice meal. Simon's cooking - he's not half bad for a Scouser.

God bless.