Birthday drinks: Sunday 20th February, 4pm, at the Porterhouse, WC2E 7NA

Having not learnt my lesson from last year (when we showed up as they were showing a rugby international), I am hereby scheduling Birthday Drinks for a celebration of ME for Sunday 20th February, 4pm, at the Porterhouse, 21-22 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden WC2E 7NA. Nearest tube stations Covent Garden, Leicester Square, Charing Cross.

I called about the prospect of sport on Sunday. Whoever answered seemed resolutely uninterested in actually answering "yes" or "no", but said that if there was an international sports event (rugby, football, F1, tiddlywinks) on telly on Sunday afternoon, they'd be showing it. I couldn't find anything looking through the utterly torturous web-based Sky programme guide, so fingers crossed.

The Porterhouse is middling for food, but brilliant for beer — in that the point of the place is to sell hundreds of different beers. It's somewhere you can get Cooper's in London.

I am still a po' person, so I'll claim any pints sent my way!

And by the way, what are your phone numbers?

[Poll #439886]

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RIP Squeeek!, 9 January 2003-18 February 2005.

Squeeek has been a very old and ill rat for a while now. For the last few weeks, he's basically spent all his time in his igloo. Last night arkady took both rats out to cuddle them and noticed a large horrible abscess that was bleeding and smelling awful. So I took him to the vet today, who confirmed that there was a huge tumour under it. Squeeek has been very unwell, so I called redcountess and we agreed it was time for him to go. I brought him home, put him in the cage for Spike to sniff and we'll bury him tomorrow afternoon.

So I'd like you all to raise a finger with a drop of beer on it for Squeeek.

Spike is fine. Clearly an old man — a bit shaky on your shoulder, back legs don't work too well — but very perky. Liz is currently cuddling him. I suspect he'll be spending his last months being utterly spoilt.

( Squeeek! pics )