黑洞社区

鈥淒id you not see it?鈥� Una asks Darren, incredulously. 鈥淚t was right by that chair!鈥� She lifts her coat and bag off the floor, out of the way of the unwelcome rodent. I shuffle to the edge of my seat, ready to make a dash for the door. Beside me, Katie makes similar movements.

While the girls keep one eye on the mouse鈥檚 last known whereabouts, the boys debate the art of capturing one.

Jason has heard that mice have a penchant for chocolate, and once successfully lured one into a trap using a Malteser. Darren, on the other hand, lives in Sevenoaks and says the rodent population there has more unusual tastes. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e eaten their way through bags of Imperial Leather soap at our place,鈥� he says

Despite the fact I鈥檝e not yet had to contend with any vermin in my own flat, I鈥檓 reassured that I now have two methods of dealing with them should the occasion arise.

I make a mental note of the tips and add them to the other handy hints that have been proffered during the course of the evening 鈥� specifically sporting ones.

It seems these architects are constantly in training for one event or another: Una has run 5k around Battersea Park, Katie is signed up for a 54-mile London to Brighton bike ride, Jason is training for a 26-mile Walk the Wight event and Darren鈥檚 planning to walk the length of Hadrian鈥檚 Wall, which involves 14-mile treks for six days. Its exhausting even thinking about it.

I mention that I time my gym sessions with Neighbours so I spend half an hour on the cross trainer 鈥� then regret this admission of my amateurism.

鈥淵ou need to start with 10-minute runs and add on a bit more time with each one,鈥� suggests Jason, kindly.

鈥淵es. I did that, too,鈥� says Katie.

鈥淎nd it helps to run with a friend,鈥� adds Jason. 鈥淭he iPod has killed the social aspect of running.鈥�

Una suggest yoga may be more my speed. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great for the core stomach muscles,鈥� she says.

鈥淵ou should try it,鈥� she tells Darren. 鈥淚t would really help your golf.鈥�

He looks unconvinced. 鈥淭he mats put me off,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey look like bath mats!鈥�

Turning to me, he adds: 鈥淭hey come into the boardroom with them.鈥� I鈥檓 sure he鈥檚 joking but the image of the big cheeses at Scott Brownrigg lining up their yoga mats for a session of Ashtanga tickles me. And once a certain level of serenity has been achieved, perhaps we鈥檒l be sharing the peanuts with our furry friend down there 鈥�