The taunting

This is what I have to put up with working remotely:

In order to celebrate my birthday, my coworkers in the office bought me a large box of jam doughnuts to celebrate. I thought this was a lovely gesture until they informed me that the box of doughnuts, rather than being delivered to me, was in fact located in the office, some 400 or so miles south of my actual location. I spent the rest of the day receiving emails from people firstly wishing me a happy birthday (which it is btw!), and secondly informing me how good the doughnuts were.

I was not amused.

Fortunately, Nicky and Kerry turned out late in the afternoon to whisk me away to mysterious location for birthday celebrations. I was much curious about our final destination and much cheered to discover it was Plasair de Chocolate on the Royal Mile, a small cafe dedicated to all things chocolate. Much (perhaps even too much) chocolate was consumed by all that afternoon. I have to single out their Chocolate Espresso drink as a particularly interesting concoction. Made from 60% cocoa and largely unsweetened it's something of a chocolate revelation. The first sip immediately brings forth that familiar taste of fine chocolate, but there's no sugary follow through. It's quite the fascinating experience and throws all other chocolate concoctions into sharp relief. Certainly worth a visit if you happen to be passing by.

The birthday celebrations continue tomorrow, when I've arranged a familial outing to see Superman Returns. One brother is sadly missing due to work commitments, but I've secured the rest of my family for the trip. 14 of us altogether, including my Mum, the importance of whose presence should not be underestimated, as she rarely ventures to the cinema. The original Superman film was one of the first films I remember watching in an actual cinema, so I'm glad she's coming along. It lends the occasion a symmetry I'm rather fond of.

Fingers crossed that everyone enjoys the film!