Well as much as I would love to say that I’m running off into the sunset with a full womb and man at my side - I doubt anyone would believe me. The current “R” word is causing me to move abroad as consultancy jobs are now harder to find than a decent single man over 30 in Dublin.

The good news is that I am going somewhere warm and tax free. I’ve no idea if or when I’ll be posting again, so best of luck to all the bloggers and readers and thanks for a great couple of years online! I’ve had some amazing experiences on the back of this blog and hopefully it may still make it to TV.

In the meantime have a super Christmas and happy 2009. Hopefully when things calm down I’ll come back to Ireland and blogging.

Last night I had a few quick beverages with the ladies – we were a sorry state. Lady Em was suffering from a recent alcohol related incident, resulting in a fractured wrist. It is not the first such injury. She appears to have the bone density of ripe cottage cheese.

Ms Rugger-Hugger’s love of rich food, drink and men means that her cholesterol is now higher than interest rates – perhaps the two are connected? Luckily her problem can be solved with a pill - Lipitor. I am suffering from a succession of stomach issues which make it increasing difficult to drink wine and particularly champagne. ( I know your hearts bleed for me )

Consequently I am alternating between Sauvignon and Rennie - not a combination Tom Doorley is ever likely to recommend. I remember the good old days when the only vaguely medicinal accoutrements I carried were wrapped in foil and came from the Students Union. Now my bag over flows with Gaviston, Rennie and Solpadeine. Large segments of conversation now revolve around health and ailments. In an attempt to focus talk on more important issues I interjected:

“At least we can still admire the eye candy” – me

“Bugger that – what about some bloody Hard Candy” - Ms Rugger Hugger

I’m sure she was just thinking of her heart.

Thank God the rugby season has kicked off again. Saturday was a particularly good match between Wasps and Leinster. I was out with Ms Rugger Hugger, chasing the tightly packed supporters in various D4 bars. Despite our best efforts to avoid the older married fans we were like Mecca with breasts for most of them. Luckily I got a text to get my ass over to McSorleys as the team were in residence.

I was a little surprised as my memories of McSorleys were of a nice local for ‘one’ during the week. It was always a stop-off and not a destination pub. Well things have changed. The pub was heaving with people and the music was cracking - a mixture of classic school disco songs and current hits. Chair dancing heaven!

The best way to describe the new incarnation of the bar is ‘Copper Face Jacks’ for South-Siders. At least two thirds of the crowd were Rock boys or Anville girls. Some of the guys looked very puzzled when they heard my “strange” accent and immediately opened a ‘Beyond the Pale’ phrase book and ‘storted’ giving me directions to Harcourt St.

The motto for the night by all present was:

It’s a Session - Not a Recession!

Although the Prozac fuelled bar staff did their best to dispel this myth with incredibly slow service and constant glass shortages. It was worse than the 80’s – at least then you could speed things up by serving your own mixer from a giant bottle of TK.

I did meet one nice, although a little drunk, boy who had the classic opening line of:

“Are you trying to chat me up – I can never tell”, before I had even said a word to him.

Less than 5 minutes later he was trying to convert with a particularly clumsy gob lob. I immediately pulled back and declared.

“It’s far too early”

“What do you mean it’s 2.40am – the night is getting on and so should we”

Ross O’Carroll-Kelly has a lot to answer for……..

If only Lenihan created a single female payment in the Irish budget – I mean most kids and old people have someone to look after them and they get money – what about me? A monthly “Mantenance Allowance” should be given for socialising, going Dutch, internet dating and other key find-a-man costs e.g. push up bras.

Without this “Mantenance Allowance” I could be facing a dramatic dating downturn. Bad news as this will increase my costs (heating, meals, drink) and reduce my spending on important items (clothes, hair, make-up) therefore adding to the financial woes of the country. The secret is to spend your way out of the downturn - remembers recessions don’t go with Prada handbags!

Is it any wonder we are in the current financial state with such short term thinking by Government!