by a knife-wielding lunatic wearing a hockey mask.

But if anything bad does happen, I'm sure it will be precisely because of the random combination of names and numbers that our prevailing cultural norms have ascribed to this particular 24 hour period, rather than for any other reason.

And anyway, it's Mrs U's birthday today, so it's been a blast so far. :)

EDIT: And now BT have been in touch to say that our phone line, which has been down since New Year's Day, has finally been reconnected. Huzzah!

# It's a fine day / People open windows / They leave their houses / Just for a short walk #

by a falling Mayan.

Daughter just gone into labour.

Shaping up to be one of the best days of my life!

Booked plumber and he hasn't arrived yet. Does that count?

I'm told its good though.

on Friday 13th. The only appointment at the registry office all day, for some reason. That was 15 years ago, so I guess the curse is on a slow burning fuse.

We celebrate all Friday the 13th's instead of anniversaries, which means we get more of them. And reminds me I need to buy a card on the way home.

Given that the past 2 days have been spent between the bed and the bog.

I've managed a poached egg on toast this afternoon and a short walk in the sun.

On Fri 13th.

Working at home.

Ran the wife to/from a hospital appointment this morning without incident.

Now sat watching darkness settle over the Black Country out of my study window, although the pall of smoke I can see on the horizon suggests that Walsall may be burning down.

One exciting discovery today - my cat likes twiglets....

yesterday. All the traffic stopped - except for matey-boy behind me. I was rear-ended pretty hard and shunted into the van in front. No one was hurt but my 2 year old car is borderline write-off.

Today, I was side-swiped in the courtesy car by a taxi driver whose excuse was, "I was talking to my passenger and he said I need to be in the inside lane." Problem is, I was already there!

Never mind Friday the 13th. I'm getting a bit wazzed off with 2012 in general.

of my wife's grandfather. The last (?) Friday 13th (last May) her mother (his daughter) died in an accident. We're not superstitious and know this is mere coincidence.

both young and attractive give me a beautiful smile today. Had to check my appearance in the mirror just in case when I got home. Having said that my wife will probably beat me round the head as she watches me type this.

I clipped a bit of ice with the inside edge of my left ski and went over. The binding on my right ski didn't release because I was travelling slowly and I managed to batter my shin on my boot.

I numbed the discomfort with a bottle of Vacqueyras at lunchtime. Sitting in the sun, looking at the stunning scenery.

Do I get any sympathy?

My daughter Emma went into labour on Friday 13th, & just after 0700 saturday morning, gave birth to my grandson James.

It really is one of the high points of my life, I am so proud & happy.

Mum & baby both happy & well, Grandad nursing a serious hangover!

Being a grandad is wonderful, it really doesnt get any better.

...that we need to hear some Atomic Rooster: specifically, their lumpen classic 'Friday The 13th', recorded for the first LP then rerecorded as a single a couple of years later as 'Save Me' with Chris Farlowe on vocals. This is an in-between version with John Du Cann singing but the name-change already in place.

Either way, it's hardly the best number but still, how many 'Friday 13th' songs are there out there. It might be pertinent to mention that two of these three people took their own lives and the other one died recently, somewhat prematurely.

I went to work had a reasonable day and went home.

Saturday 14th I decided to treat myself to a Cambridge Audio DACMagic, necessitating a drive to the Milton Keynes branch of Richer Sounds.
My car hadn't been started since the previous Sunday and would not co-operate until I'd cleaned the rotor arm & distributor cap and reseated all the HT leads.
On the way I discovered the radio wasn't working, then noticed the indicators had stopped working too. When I parked up in MK I discovered the central locking and alarm were dead also.

After leaving Richer Sounds I couldn't get the car to start. An AA mechanic said he reckoned the immobiliser was stuck on. I had to be relayed home, by which time Saturday afternoon was gone and my planned haircut and visit to the optician had to be postponed.
Out of milk and bread too and it was getting too cold to go to the supermarket by bus (with all the hanging around at bus stops that would entail) so I made do with black coffee and consoled myself by cracking open a bottle of wine and getting mildly pissed while listening to my vastly improved sounds from the laptop and CD deck.

but the other people in the chain insisted we change the date because it was "unlucky". Ridiculous.

So, we moved last Monday instead. The builders flooded my house the very next day. Huzzah.