Went to spend the weekend in Melbourne. Well, not quite the weekend, although maybe I wish I had?

The point was going to see some friends I have previously only met in electronic form. This was my sort of night; the company, albeit new in that I have never met them in the flesh before (therefore, nominally 'new friends'), was not totally unknown to me ("not-strangers"), and we have a great deal in common, thereby getting over PD's block of "needing a valid excuse to talk to somebody". Especially if they're an attractive female. :-) And the men present were not the sort of men who encompass everything that PD despises in his own gender (even if one of them is rather fond of his beer and sport).

The nature of the group, and the manner in which we all came together, militates against the worst aspects of "Alpha males" and brainless, materialistic pieces of female fluff. I can cope with (read, trust and not fear) the males and am not repelled by superficiality on the part of the females.

Unfortunately because I did not go early on Saturday morning, I missed visiting a nice little military bookshop. I might have to go back for a day soon.

For reasons not connected with this little meeting, PD's lovelife might - just MIGHT - be on the improve. But the less said about that the better - counting hatched chickens and all that.