Big day on the Finchley Road

It's my third interview today for a company I really, really want to work for. I'm nervous because I'm so close to getting the job and it seems like such a nice firm and an interesting position.

I've always been a bit of a fan of Jewish numerology and as today is the 17th (an eight) this defines the day as fateful, even though my number is three (I was born on the 12th). To confuse my religions further, my fingers are crossed!

Lauren Kennedy upstaged by the Brits

Went to see Lauren Kennedy at the Menier Chocolate Factory. God, what a disappointment.

I was expecting a cabaret performance of Broadway songs, and after the wonderful time I ever had at the chocolate factory just two weeks earlier with 'La Cage Aux Folles' I thought that this would be of an equivalent standard.

Instead, we got some really dreary middle of the road numbers, several of which were completely unsuited to Lauren's clear but not powerful voice; the encore number was particularly bad as it was a power ballad and at loud volume her voice simply went flat. The one bright spot in the evening was Laura Pulver who came on and completely upstaged Ms Kennedy. My enjoyment was further diminished by the shiny eyed enthusiasm of the audience who cackled at Laura's every utterance. Ugh.

At least the pre-theatre meal in the chocolate factory was good.

don't touch the radio either

I was out the front of the house this morning when I heard a car alarm go off. It was an old Toyota Corolla, and surprisingly, there was a woman in full chador sitting in the passenger front seat. Evidently, the car's owner had locked the car with his wife inside! Talk about treating women as property.

At least she was sitting in the front seat, rather than in the back (or even the boot).