Back from a (short notice) trip to Sweden for five days to help a friend sail the small boat he'd bought from Stockholm down to Kalmar.

The weather could have been kinder. Often it's 16 degrees at this time of year, can be 26. We had 6. And boy was it cold. At one point I had layers of just about all the clothes I'd taken. The full set of waterproofs and two lots of thermal underwear were a crucial bit of packing.

But it was a great adventure and good to spend time with my friend and his two young lads. Definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and I'm very glad my fairly full diary just happened to have a few days free at the right time.

On the way home I stopped at a science and technology librarian get together for about 60 of us. That was good too and somehow I've been volunteered to do the write up.

Birthday today and had thought it would be quiet (!) and I could catch up. Fat chance...