黑洞社区

No such luck here in Kensington. 鈥淭hey get three extra days or something over there,鈥� grumbles Alan. 鈥淭hey get even more in Northern Ireland,鈥� adds Richard. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to offend anyone.鈥�

In spite of this gloom, we wander from the office to the nominated pub. Mark takes us on a detour past a classic car showroom. 鈥淟ook at that,鈥� he whispers as we pass an elegant looking Jaguar. 鈥淭here was a sign on it yesterday saying: 鈥淔or sale: 拢600,000鈥�. They鈥檝e taken it off today.鈥� Didn鈥檛 want to put off passing trade, one supposes.

Safely ensconced within the pub, 黑洞社区鈥檚 correspondent humbly admits to spending a recent weekend in Ireland, on a stag night, of all things. Mark becomes misty-eyed. 鈥淚 had my stag night in Dublin. That was a long time ago now, of course 鈥︹��

Robert is not keen on the idea of visiting Vegas. 鈥業鈥檝e never been there on purpose,鈥� he says.

And before they practically banned stag parties in the city centre, presumably.

Alan is off to Las Vegas for a stag night next year. 鈥淭he best man has given us a year to save up,鈥� he says.

鈥淚 have about enough money for the first night, but I reckon I can win enough to keep me going for another few 鈥︹��

People say skydiving is like flying, but it鈥檚 really like nothing else but falling, extremely quickly.

Sheila advises caution. 鈥淵ou might end up getting married yourself,鈥� she warns. Robert is not keen on the idea of visiting Vegas. 鈥淚鈥檝e never been there on purpose,鈥� he says. Alan is shocked. 鈥淲hat, so you鈥檝e been there by accident?鈥� he says. 鈥淲hat kind of a night was that?鈥� Robert explains that he has, purposefully, never been there.

Sukie has also had her fill of travelling. She recently got back from Australia, where she went sky-diving. 鈥淚t was the best thing I鈥檝e ever done,鈥� she beams. 鈥淧eople say it鈥檚 like flying, but it鈥檚 nothing like it. It鈥檚 really like nothing else but falling, extremely quickly.鈥� Funny, that.

The Scott Tallon Walker office is remaining earthbound and London-based for the moment, anyway. Things are a bit odd in Ireland now, what with the new taoiseach just getting into his stride. He may be known as Brian Cowen to us, but over there he鈥檚 referred to as Biffo. Richard explains: 鈥淎ll the papers here said he was 鈥榓ffectionately known as Biffo鈥� but there鈥檚 no affection about it. Biffo stands for Big Ignorant F***er from Offaly.鈥�

Cowen himself would be unlikely to be concerned about such foul language, according to Sheila. 鈥淗e called the opposition f***ers in parliament,鈥� she says, taking a sip of cider. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 see Gordon Brown doing that.鈥� Give him time, Sheila, give him time.