: 09 February 2003 :

I can't believe it's been 67 days since I updated. That Jelly Roll Morton quote makes it look like I may have died suddenly, though if that's the case it's a bit galling to note the absence of concerned guestbook entries. You heartless swines.

67 days. Time really flies when you have a busy, fulfilling job - or so I've heard, anyway. Still, the coffee trade is keeping me in hard cash and as many lattes as I can drink, so it could be worse. And in an uncharacteristic fit of Rocky-style underdog bravado, I have entered the UK heat of the World Barista Championships. Given the contest's initials, I find myself wondering whether the top prize looks something like this:



The competition involves making 12 drinks in 15 minutes while entertaining the judges with witty repartee, or something. If you win the UK heats you get 2 plane tickets to Boston, Massachusetts, so in the unlikely event of a victory I'll get to see my friend Emily again, which'd be good. There are two other California Coffee employees entering, so there's a bit of friendly banter going on at work. The website's pretty funny, too - last year's World Champion was a Danish bloke called Fritz Storm. I can't compete with someone as flashly-monikered, really. I'll have to come up with a battle name. Suggestions on a postcard.

In other news, a student came to the kiosk yesterday asking if she could record a short interview and some coffee sound effects for a radio documentary she's making, which was an entertaining diversion. She said she'd let me hear it when it's been edited, so for the first time in quite a few years I'll be reminded how little I like the sound of my own voice.

Oh, and Sunderland are doomed.