Observant readers may have noticed that I'm not in Amsterdam. The day I was due to travel there, it was snowing in Amsterdam, and since my main purpose for going there was to explore the streets, there seemed little point in going. Besides, to be honest I was tired out. I've scarcely stopped moving since June and I just needed a few days rest. So I'm holed up in my brother's apartment, enjoying some peace and quiet.

Mind, it rained all day today. When I left the flat in the morning, it was wet and cold. I was feeling perhaps a little bit lonely, and that combined with the weather were prime conditions for entering a funk. However, funk averted just by getting out there and doing stuff I enjoy. I had a very long workout at the YMCA gym just off Tottenham Court Road, and followed that up with a sunbed session, and an excellent hair cut from a queeny Italian guy on Old Compton Street. Feeling refreshed and clean, I had a good lunch at Balans Cafe, where all the waiters are cute and skinny, and wear impossibly tight, t-shirts that don't exactly meet their pants at the midriff.

After that my choices were the Tate Britain (the original Tate now devoted to British art through the centuries), shopping on Oxford Street, or going to see The Return of the King (helplessly drawn to it am I - can't get the language out of me head, can I). It was actually a bit late to go to the museum, and I thought I could go see the movie tonight if I was so moved, so off I went shopping.

I almost packed in the idea when I reached Oxford Circus by tube. The crowds were so thick it reminded me of that original Star Trek episode where a planet was so crowded the people were pressed close to one another and there was absolutely no privacy. I decided to go through the back streets to my particular destination, Selfridges, one of the best department stores in the world. Normally, clothes shopping is a complete nightmare for me. Nothing fits. And I mean absolutely nothing. This time, however, I lucked out and bought three items, all on sale: a pair of camouflage-print corduroy cargo pants (how's that for combining three genres of pant in one item); a slinky black long-sleeved shirt by Miu Miu, and a sexy, tight t-shirt by Gstar.

Mission accomplished, I returned to Neil's flat, and rested up for the rest of the evening. I feel a cold coming on, unfortunately. I hope I'm wrong. I have a busy day lined up for tomorrow (so much for rest) - going to be photographed by a professional photographer in the morning, get a massage in the afternoon, and go to a dance performance ("Play Without Words") in the evening. And, of course, it's New Year's Eve in two days - want to be healthy for that party night (I'll be back in San Francisco by early evening NYE). I doubt I'll write again before the New Year, so I bid all readers a happy and healthy 2004.