Only just say it

After four hours sleep and enough talking in 48 hours for a year, I could barely get the words out but I just to Marie: "When we first came up with the idea, I didn't think it would be that good."

With The Moptops

I was watching Them Beatles rehearse earlier. They are doing the whole of the With the Beatles on their winter tour and there are four songs they have never played before.

Great excitement in the hotel for their next appearance on stage. With The Moptops.

Plenty of buffet

We had plenty of food to spare last night and it looks as if we will again tonight as we've had a few people pull out today. Thanks for messages which in various forms which I am not replying to individually.

Had a leisurely late lunch with Nick and Paula Percival today and things are so much more relaxed today than for the first night.

I'm worrying in case I have offended anyone we haven't in invited and if anyone else wants to pop along tonight we might be able to squeeze you in. In case you don't know what I am referring to go to www.themparties.com and email party@murrayandmarie.com in the next couple of hours.

200 wonderful friends

Following a fire alarm, just back to our room after a brilliant night.

Them Beatles performance was fantastic, Simon, James, Paul and Dave made the night.

This time last night I was worrying about whether the band had made the ferry. This short night will be relaxing = apart from my throat which feels as if it has been sandpapered.

If tomorrow night is half as good it will be special.

Sound check at Mount Murray

George Harrison has a mohican hairstyle

Just checked into the Mount Murray Hotel for the weekend. Saw George Harrison going into the gym.

Not illegal immigrants

The group above look like refugees to me. The photo was taken nearly 40 years ago (I'm double checking my sums as I type) in Port St Mary on a Geography field trip. The guy on the right went to the Dogs Home after school a few months later, as he often did, to celebrate his 18th birthday, and disgraced himself when he arrived home at 10 pm very sick in a teetotal house. It had happened several times before but had never been seen!

Three years later I went to the Norfolk pub in Chatham Street in Stoke one Friday lunchtime to celebrate my 21st and was ill by 3 pm.

So I've never been very sociable on birthdays. I ignored calls to celebrate my 40th and did my best ever hill training session instead. Deciding that a trip to Amsterdam on my own for 50th birthday might be mis-interpreted, I went to Cardiff on my own instead and ran the Cardiff Marathon the following day in 2.45.01. Still pretty anti social.

Marie and I weren't very sociable either when we were married 29 years ago. 13 guests were enough at our wedding. And we like to keep our family events to ourselves.

But living in what I think is the best place in the world, our lives are enriched by a circle of friends from many walks of life.

Despite our intention to demonstrate some appreciation for those friendships, we know far too many people to include them all. So although you might see some photos over the next few days of people we are entertaining, I am afraid we have a long list of people we had to leave out.

I wouldn't swop it to be a Nowhere Man but I wish I could do every friendship justice.