Tsk Tsk Tsk

Well, loyal readers, there's simply no excuse for this sort of tardiness, is there?

What have I been up to? It's hard to say - I think I've got into that stretch of routine where the days seem to blend together and not many differ from those that come before or after them.

It's been a busy last few weeks for Dubai visitors, as the Peters, Natalie and Adi all made an appearance on these sunny shores. There's something so heartwarming about being able to catch up with people you haven't seen or spoken to in ages but can just instinctively connect with every time you see them. Lucky Lakshmi to have friends like these.

The big house move has happened and I have spent the last 10 days in the new homestead - mostly cleaning and rearranging but it does feel like home already, which is surely the point. Nick and Monckton don't appear ready to boot me out for being a bossy broad just yet but one cannot help but think that it's only a matter of time...

The various forms of transatlantic travel I had planned all seem to have ground to a halt once I had to consider the logistics and relative value of schlepping between three cities in 6 days. Still, have booked tickets back to Dubai for the Yuletide season so all is not lost. A couple of Cardiff journeys coming up soon too, once for Jamila's birthday and another to watch Bill Bailey live, as well as a potential visit to an English country house next weekend, so lots of other things to be getting on with in the immediate future.

Have managed to slice my finger open and bleed profusely into several bandages over the last couple of days but it was all in aid of slicing a genuine New York bagel - a loftier goal than which surely nobody can identify?

And what's an update from England good for without a mention of the weather. It's cold, wet and miserable. For a change.

Have been far too sociable for the last week, so off home to watch Heroes and slip between the sheets at a reasonable hour tonight.