I, unusually, have a couple of days off before the New Year - could this be the recession?

Once again, many thanks to the Staff at the Leicester Marriott for their kindness and hospitality.

Just got back from Midnight Mass. It was packed!

Thanks to all at Sharpes for their generosity and for Andy's "It's up your sleeve!" running gag.

Close-up magic today so took the MG soft-top to work; what a mistake - did it pour! Wore my daft'at!

I find the new routines I've been working on compliment my style and generate spirited reactions.

It's the last day of the schools' PantoMagic tomorrow, then close-up table magic to the 28th.

An altogether beautiful day today - crisp and bright but a hoar frost in Breedon.

A sincere thank you to all the Staff at BC for making me feel welcome - a heart warming experience.

Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant. Stevenson R L

Barley Court tomorrow - looking forward to seeing familiar faces again. Will pull out all the stops!

Just got in from a Masonic Dinner. Leicester Schools this morning - very long day. But good fun!

Nimium ne crede colori. Medicus curat, nutura sanat.

What a wild one today. Thank you everyone for being so considerate with the parking and hair drying!

The unexpected compliment is such an inspiration and brightens up your day!

Wooly hat day today! Nippy get-ins; in more ways than one.

Loughborough today for a golf club dinner - Ashby this evening for a black tie supper.

Getting into the Christmas programme now and my act is pure pantomime - I whistle while I work!

Spent today recovering after having major implant surgery but looking forward to the final results.

Managed to relax for half an hour in the sauna this evening after working all day.

An unexpected missive from C & R today - it's lovely to hear from people you haven't seen for ages.

It's the first session of my implant surgery today. I should sparkle in all my future photo shots.

Wonderful time t'up North. Bye 'eck twer reet champion tha knows.

This is my second day up here in the evocative North East - thank you J and H for the hospitality.

A productive day with Caroline; though quite why she should be making purses from sows' ears ......

Back in harness and working hard creatively to pull everything together for the big one on Thursday!

Saw Tintin in 3D whilst I was away for a couple of days but - Oh dear!!! A very good film - spoilt !

Taking a well deserved break after last week - it was great fun though! Went to the gym today!!!

Enjoyed the weekend very much; sorry I've not been able to commit to all the requests - name change?

Enjoyed tea and scones this afternoon at Rothley. The weather has been quite idyllic .

Delightful Hallowe'en though it may have proven too scary for some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanking everyone for making me feel welcome this weekend at the RH Event in Leeds, especially Sam.

Been away for a couple of days R&R but Leeds this weekend! Home of Alan Bennett and Florrie Baldwin.

You don't have to shout to be heard!
Meredith Brooks

Lazy Sunday afternoon - got no mind to worry. 'Cept it's Friday. Credits to Steve Marriott

Ahh!"It seemed like a good idea at the time!" It's not an aphorism but a paradox. Haec fabula docet!

I gaze now on Hesperus - who will awake Aurora and leave the Heavens last. Cicero

A lively performance of Ray Cooney's "Out of Order" and a truly superb dinner at the Printhouse.

Driving back from Ashby to a phenomenal full moon. Just had to stop and stare! And howl - a little!

Amazing how browsing round a local leather shop can spark a fascinating new close-up routine!

Mum had a nasty fall and I had to call the doctor out - apparently her blood sugar was low .

A very relaxing yet productive long weekend. Bought Lee Evans' new autobiography.

Bought buttons for the two new suits. Chesterfield tomorrow for a few days - staying with J and H.

Washing and ironing after the weekend. Dentist confirmed the date to have my bridge "done".

A very enjoyable weekend in Sheffield/Derby and I'm now famished - but first - a nice cup of tea!

It was just draining in the heat today. Picked up material for my new suits. Meeting Neil Tuesday.

Spoke to Neil in London about making the new suits for Christmas. Arranged to meet up on Tuesday.

Packing for KH on Thursday and Sheffield on Saturday and Sunday. New routines are bedding in nicely.

Received a lovely letter from Alison and Mark regarding my contribution to their wedding last.

I've just had my eyes opened recently so I understand why Martin Luther King is quoted as saying -

Nothing in the World is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.

Just got in from a lovely thirtieth Birthday Dinner Party at Narborough. Not too late - cup of tea?

ST rang to book some work again for his school at Christmas. Looking forward to it very much.

Read until five am to finish Alan Bennett's "A life like other people's" - profoundly esoteric!

Appointment at the dentist to replace a filling. Shades of "Ghost Town"!

Revisiting "Owen Glendower" by John Cowper Powys. Got it second hand - 1941 edition.

Chrissy rang with flight times for October. Lunch at the Cherry Tree and afternoon down at the boat.

IS rang this morning to ask if I could confirm all the dates for Christmas . Diem praeclarum!

Posted the commission I completed yesterday.The difficulty is to acknowledge just when to stop.

Diem praeclarum! Latine dictum sit altum videtur.

Confirmation from B and Co for the new product launch in London at the end of October. New routine?

At Hathern today - all very good! An autumnal evening; the precursor of a majestic sunset.

Coffee with J this morning; good to catch up. Bumped into L after lunch who's going to Liverpool.

Just packed the flea circus for G & J's "do" in Derby tonight. Close up table magic on Sunday.

Just picked up one of four books I ordered from Gail only yesterday - now that's service for you!

Met C at "The Party in the Park" to arrange a future collaboration. E rang to confirm October dates.

I'll just bite my lip - HARD!

Don't follow the path that leads you; go where there is no path - but leave a trail.

Lunch at the Old Tithe Barn, Market Bosworth which I highly recommend. Met RP to discuss November.

Mixed weather prompted plan B - glad to be working indoors today. Didn't deter the clients though.

Capricious weather all day - thankful not to be working out of doors. Charnwood Wood Fair Monday.

It was the paper!!!! Never thought it would have had such a detrimental effect on the routine.

Spent the day trying to find out just why one of the new effects failed so miserably on the night.

Lunch and an afternoon snooze in the South Devon sun. Beautiful day! Back on at seven this evening.

Fun night last night. Got in at a quarter to five this morning. The latest effect needs tweaking..

Worked out in the gym and swam thirty lengths before breakfast. Commission painting until dusk.

30th Birthday Party this weekend in Darmouth. The theme is "Cowboys" - !!! O di immortalis!

This is just for my sister - quidquid latine dictum sit, altum videtur!

Thanks to Richard, Walt and Dominic for your advice on card technique. I will practise - honest!

Got back early hours from the Wedding at Cave Castle. Thanks to Debbie (DM) for looking after me..

Working on fine tuning an improvement for new routine for H&P's Wedding at Cave Castle on Saturday.

Lost seven pounds with food poisoning thanks to the Maharaja Restaurant on Holderness Road!

York in the afternoon followed by food poisoning Friday night and all day Saturday.

Beverley today - quite lovely. York tomorrow. Really looking forward to working there.

denuone latine loquebar? interdum modo elabiture!

Client meetings all day today. Evening swim and sauna at Burleigh Springs.

Caught up on personal correspondence this morning and paid in cheques from the weekend.

Clouds come into my life - not to bring rain or usher a storm - but to bring colour to my sunset.

Packing for Wakefield, Hedon and then Kingston upon Hull. Looking forward to going - should be fun!

Took E to the Airport this afternoon and bumped into Big Dave who now works for EM Security.

Afternoon at The Old Bull's Head with E - light bites and a natter. She flies back to Geneva Friday.

Champagne reception for a book launch. Quite a pleasant affair, however, nullum gratuitum prandium!

Got a long swim in and a much needed sauna.Two of my doves went awol - but "walked" back for tea!

Gardening leave - literally!

A punishing two weeks; now satisfyingly winding down. Chocolate Alchemy for an evening of "comedy".

I passionately defend the right to be clearly abstruse.

Toasting marshmallows at midnight by a huge log fire in the middle of Charnwood forest - bliss!

Magic with Barley Croft in Bradgate Forest until midnight last night. Great fun.

Still jet lagged from this weekend; recced the venue for this weeks work. Need some sleeeeeep!

Successful and rewarding day at Ferrybridge today with the added bonus of some beautiful weather.

Fabulous days work; exhausted now! Delighted to contribute to Malcolm and Jane's special day.

Working away this weekend so dashing around today buying stock for the "Hogwarts" Event next week.

A most bizarre evening at the Theatre! The show; Acorn Antiques; was very, very funny though.

Confirmed the three day "Hogwarts" event at Bradgate Park next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday evening.

Ran through the new routines for Malcolm and Jane's Wedding. Need to order some more flash wool.

Confirmation for Ferrybridge next Sunday.Mark was very funny on Penn and Teller last night.

An early start at Ashby today for F. Very well attended.

Bigamy is having one wife too many. Monogamy is the same. Oscar Wilde

Primed and coated the new goose necks. Read Tressell this evening with a large Pimm's.

Financially productive day. Found a goose-neck for the jet sets that I've been trying to source.

Ordered a new Ben Kennedy Latin primer from Gail this afternoon. Sona si latine loqueris!

Looking forward to working with the LG team in July again for two weeks. The programme looks great.

Mum took just twenty five minutes to have her second cataract operation. Fabulous service, the NHS.

Bumped into A today outside Specsavers. Shared a coffee and talked about her exciting new project.

Took delivery of seven new jet-sets today for the new Autumn shows. They look terrific!

Finance day. Filing receipts and balanced accounts. Lloyds bank this afternoon to pay in cheques.

Picked up some bug. Shivers, chills and a thick head. Ok ,before you say it, I know what I just did!

Sawed and burnt crate I did the underwater escape in for Lloyds Bank live on BBC. Sine labore nihil!

A hairy landing - but a successful weekend's work. Favourable compliments from all the staff at IBG.

Half an hour late leaving Devon. Easy run up to Manchester. Having a coffee now before my flight.

Dartmouth today. Portsmouth tomorrow, and then dashing to Manchester for my flight early Thursday.

The Osbourne in Torquay followed by an evening meal at The Glasshouse in Plymouth. Recommened.

M5 gridlocked from Birmingham to Bristol! Luckily I was Southbound. Steady journey down here.

Collected brochures for next week - in Dartmouth until Wednesday and then fly out early Thursday.

Worked hard all day and saw some real progress by this evening. Must try and get some me time soon.

Isn't it lovely when things all come together.

The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It is never of any use to oneself.

Finished one commission but haven't broken the back of the others yet. Going well though.

Heavily involved in three commissions which shouldn't see me surface for some considerable time.

Just got in from a fabulously productive weekend in Sheffield. Lovely meeting up with old friends.

Packing and getting ready for a long weekend in Sheffield. E-mail to Gill for her Murder Mystery.

Many thanks for the cards and texts for the baby orangutang singing me "Happy Birthday" at seven am!

Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about .

Friday the thirteenth has always been my "Lucky" day; and triply so of late!

Lost many contact numbers when I "washed" my phone. Thanks to Mina at Vodaphone for sorting me out.

Eight hours solid this weekend. Shattered!Managed to put my phone in the washing machine at four am.

Illusion is the first of all pleasures.
Oscar Wilde

Topped up this year's ISA and collected a book and a CD that I'd ordered for the Lion King Show.

Collating which props and effects I need to take for VJ's special event on Saturday at the Ramada.

I took the road less travelled by. And that made all the difference. Robert Frost

What a privilege it is to travel to exotic locations and meet interesting people. And get paid!

Delightful lunch at Howe and Charnwood. Last minute packing and pressing before Wednesday's flight.

Looking forward to performing the two new effects at the Ladies' Masonic Luncheon tomorrow.

Close-up in Oadby this morning. Packing flightcase with props for Wednesday's flight to Dubai.

Mother is 85 today! She was deservedly spoilt. Superb champagne dinner at the Old Bull's Head.

My car is back! - one day early! Many thanks to VJ and the team at BMW for their efficiency.

Took mother for lunch at the Old Bull's Head. The duck was delicious! Called at G's for wine later.

Lovely Wedding yesterday - new effects were well received. I still need to tweek the reset.

Ouch!! A new Turbo for the BMW will cost me one thousand five hundred pounds.
Stercus accidit!!

The two new "effects" will be ready to trial at the Wedding on Friday. I'm looking forward to it!

Finance meeting today with my Bank Manager John Crowley. Discussed best ISA deals.

The printer did a sensational job on the artwork for a new routine. My Thurston book arrived today!

Found a printer to supply letters for one of the new ESP routines. Field mushroom soup for tomorrow!

Sat outside in the sunshine for two hours and read my Alan Bennett - deliciously mischievous humour!

Stand up cabaret at Nottingham today. Performed my Reservoir Dogs routine to a student audience.

Totally exhausting yet gratifying day! Ignis aurum probat - miseria fortes viros.

My mum had her cataract operation this morning. Full marks to the NHS for a successful outcome.

"We make our own history."
                                           Eleanor Roosevelt

Worked the Flea Circus this weekend with great success. The more I work it - the more I love it!

Waterstones rang. My Alan Bennett book "Telling Tales" is in. Far superior service to W H Smiths.

Warwick this evening for a medieval banquet. Close-up magic in costume! Should be fun!

Drove over to Derby in the roadster this morning with the top down. Lunch with GW to discuss May.

Delightful evening with E at BRB's La Fille Malle Gardee followed by dinner. E's surprise treat.

Bought a pair of much needed James Taylor brogues today.Sunset, and swans on the Trent this evening.

I try and be pragmatic when greeted by phatic utterance but reply with perverse semantic variance.

Can't wait to read Jim Steinmeyer's new book, The last greatest magician in the world; it's out now.

Bought two rather fine leather bags today to complement my Gladstone. Checked passport and visas.

Going to Dubai in two weeks. Fronting a Sports Sales Delegation - magic to run with. Should be fun!

Long chat with Sue today; she's going to New Zealand for two months - lucky thing!

Managed to make it to the gym today; my debilitating condition was the cause of obdurate badinage.

What a fabulous, fabulous evening last. credos nos in fluctu eodem esse.

Rehearsing for tomorrow's Black Tie Dinner. Very much looking forward to seeing everyone again.

Hors de combat the last two days. Read my Tressell whilst enjoying the new Grimethorpe Classical CD.

Two new contracts for residencies for 2011 despite the recession. Local too! Nice to be appreciated.

Delightful evening at Sutton Park last night. I was reminded that Marriage is like a game of cards.

First you're happy with two hearts and a diamond, finally you're desperate for a club and a spade!

Lunch at the Cherry Tree. Met with the engineer at the boat to go over some technical aspects.

sed quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Leicester all day today; beautiful weather wise. Clients were great. Settling down to read now.

Drove over to Birmingham to discuss the arrangements for Monday evening's Valentine Dinner.

At Loughborough Hospital all day with mother as she's to have cataract surgery. Very impressed!

The pessimist may be proved right in the end; but the optimist enjoys a better journey.
Daniel Reardon

Loin of venison with red wine and black pepper sauce complemented by a fine Corvina spoilt by Icarus!

Hamlet by Icarus Theatre Co. are truly abysmal! Lewendel can't direct traffic in a one way street!

fama volat! gaudeamus igitur iuvenes dum sumus!

Fabulous evening at Narborough for Carolyn and Jerry, Alex and Christian. Great fun.

Does down-dating reflect a lack of self respect. I'm trying to digest todays Lembit Opik effect!

Working on two new ideas for Close-up routines. The challenge is in not accepting compromise!

Met E this evening at Donnington for a meal and a drink before she flys back to Paris tonight.

Meetings with J and H&R to finalise the 2011 programme.

Much needed haircut today. Thanks for finding my school cap Shirley! Full Gym session pm.

Back after a fabulous four days. Plenty of good food and wine with people I haven't seen for ages.

Magic Circle supper on Friday. Looking forward to three days of self indulgence.

Performed the Flea Circus at Giselles using the new Hoop for Mario to fly through. Success!!

Finished Mario's Star Target. He'll, hopefully, be fired through it when he's fired from the cannon!

What a waste of a day! Note to self - never, never ever order another book from WH Smiths!!!!

Back in the Gym after a month's absence. I'm sure to feel it on Thursday! sine labore nihil!

Enjoying my first day "off". Costume laundering and prop refurbishment.Rang E for the latest gossip.

I badly need some RnR.
vix audeo sperare!
- but first - a cup of tea!

What a fabulous way to end the Christmas programme.Thanks to Anne and Big Dave for all your support.

Birstall this evening with the Flea Circus.Many, many thanks to the Printers for sorting my posters.

a.m. the printers.Early evening drinks with G,J & S. One hour close up at Kegworth for the H D Soc.

Just got back from London (GH). Listening to Delibes' Lakme whilst picking up mail. Four days to go!

Happy New Year.
alea iacta est.