My horoscope in today's EDP reads:

"People wonder what has got into you, you're much more warm and cuddly than usual. Perhaps it's because you realise just how much your loved ones make your life bearable. You've just come off an intense week at work. Normally, you enjoy the challenge your job affords. At some point though, the strain of work becomes too much to handle. When this happens, head out for a fun evening with friends. They'll put your life back into proper perspective and get you laughing along the way."

Spot on Russell Grant, so that's just what I did as you can see here:

I should have gone to Barcelona today but had a last minute change of plan. Sorry to everyone in Barcelona, I'll see you all very soon. xxx

So my challenge for the weekend is to keep myself busy, so I don't end up sitting at home thinking, "oh if only I'd gone!" Tonight I made a good start, with a gentleman caller.

Of late I've adopted a policy of discretion about these things, because they'll dull to read and can make me look boastful and foolish. But this one was different so indulge me.

I'm sure I'm not the only one who crosses their fingers and hopes that the AA will send me the kind of handsome repair man who will fix the car then throw me on the bonnet and ravish me. But they never do. Well tonight I 'enjoyed' a recovery man, without the need for an annoying car breakdown!

Inevitably he was married and very straight - he turned up in an England football top, and one of his rings says "dad" on it - I nearly laughed! Disappointingly he didn't have "Mum" tattooed on his arm. He was big, butch and hairy and reminded me in an unlikely way of Ross Kemp. Yummy!

He's been married for 23 years and had never given any thought to sex with men, until he was watching some bisexual porn and thought, "ooh, I'd like to try that!" Truly men's minds work in the strangest of ways!

It was interesting talking to him as he really is just finding his feet with this kind of thing and was struggling to find the words for how he feels, and that just added to his charm. I hope he'll come back.

Last night I went out with the 24 year old again. I met him after he'd finished work and we headed to the nearest Weatherspoons for food and drink. He'd wanted to go somewhere cheap to eat, and I'd fancied something English for a change. It had been a miserably wet day so I opted for sausage and mash followed by an absolutely gorgeous crumble.

As we ate we gossiped. The previous evening he'd been to see his boyfriend's ex. They've met a few times before, the boyfriend has been encouraging it as he still sees him - and sleeps with him if the 24 year old's suspicions are correct. The ex made food, they watched some films, got very drunk, and ended up having sex. There really is no end to their madness.

Then we went to the cinema to see Angels & Demons. I'd originally wanted to see the new Terminator film, but the reviews had been dreadful and he'd not seen the previous three so there seemed little point. I didn't really want to see Angels & Demons because I'd not read the book, and because I'd hated the film of The DaVinci Code.

But actually it turned out to be really watchable! It took a bit of getting into because I did that thing I always do: hear Catholics talking about God and immediately get irritated and want to scream. So I had to ignore the more overtly religious bits and just enjoy the ride. It's basically a hunt for four kidnapped Cardinals who will be executed at hourly intervals somewhere in Rome, following clues that are part of the fabric of the buildings themselves. Yes it's a bit ludicrous but fun, and Rome looks stunning! So a surprisingly good night.

A Tracy Emin inspired gift:



Thank you Thom! XX

A couple of weeks ago I was planning to see Doubt, a film about priests and nuns starring Meryl Streep. But it looked a bit glum and I'd had a trying day at work so I opted to come home and watch something less challenging.

I was in the library tonight, vaguely stalking the beardy man who sometimes works there, when I spotted the DVD of it in their racks, and as I had nothing else planned for the evening I borrowed it.

It's about a priest who is suspected of fiddling with a choirboy - so far so predictable! But the nuns have no proof, just their own certainty that he is guilty so it's their word against his. In truth it's a bit dull but the performances in it are magnificence! Philip Seymour Hoffman is predictably good but it's Meryl Streep's film, she's simply stunning! I've always struggled to like her, those accents always put me off, but finally Mamma Mia made me a fan. And in this she's just astonishingly good! Now I think it's time to go back over her previous work and have another look at them.

There's a couple of great bits it in: a metaphor for gossip, in which a woman takes a pillow to the roof of a building, rips it open and watches the feathers fly all over the neighbourhood. And Meryl's character has a lovely scene where she manages to find an alternative, more sinister meaning to Frosty the Snowman.

I think it's time to dig my nun costume out again!

I've never been a fan of Mickey Rourke. I never liked him in the Brat Pack films and I've no interest in him now he's back. His acting is always too macho, in that Marlon Brando way that just doesn't work for me. So how odd that I found myself reading an interview with him in this weekend's Observer Women magazine, and how even odder that I found he had interesting stuff to say:

"I haven't been in a relationship in 14 years. I almost wouldn't know where to begin. I've been out of relationships now as long as I was ever in them. You just wake up one day and you're used to being alone. But I'm OK with that. I have my dogs."

Sounds just like the kind of thing I've said many times. Apart from the dogs bit.

"Monogamy? I can't wait. I don't practise it, because I haven't met the one I'd practise it with, but I believe in it absolutely. I'd join that club in a heartbeat."

Yep, I'd sign up for that too. Godammit, you know something's wrong when your life starts to resemble Mickey Rourke's!

I was in London yesterday, for what may be the last visit until the summer is over - the train was packed, as was London! But all was well and I had a glorious day!

I met Thom at the V & A. We started with coffee, cake and gossip, then wandered round the museum. I've only been a couple of times before as I always used to think it was dull and dusty, but I think I just wasn't old enough to appreciate it. It's really eclectic and interesting so we got to see Adam Ant's Prince Charming costume, lovely silverware, gorgeous wrought iron and more things than I can remember, to be honest!

After that we wandered through Kensington to Picadilly, where we paused for more coffee and gossip before going to see some Art. We went to see Tracy Emin's new exhibition at the White Cube, which only opened last week - how up-to-date are we!

I really like Tracy Emin, I love the way she uses her life as Art, she's astonishingly frank about things and possibly a bit mad. Her Art is really interesting too and I like the fact that she uses lots of different mediums. This exhibition includes notebooks, sewing, animation and neon. All of it is interesting, but it's the neon that really works for me, particularly the one I posted a picture of yesterday. Overall the exhibition just makes me feel sad, but in a really good way.

Then more walking, coffee and shopping. Not me of course, because I don't do that anymore, but Thom had a bit of a cardigan frenzy which was fun. Then it was time for tea - Mexican at the lovely Wahaca, which I've been to a few times before and love. The food is gorgeous, nice and spicy and surprisingly filling - shockingly I couldn't finish mine!

We walked off dinner, in search of coffee, which proved trickier than expected, but we found a Caffe Nero and had one final gossip before we walked to the trains. I love the fact that we walked all day, I only used the Tube once and that was enough. It was great to walk through the parks, and see the gorgeous buildings. I love London!

I was really great to gossip about things and talk about life honestly and openly. There's something about coffee shops that encourages that, and it makes a nice change. Lovely to see you Thom! XXX