In which Diet Coke disappoints

I'm in one of the houses at the top of the hill as part of my Sunday House Duty Extravaganza, and there's a cupboard full of leftover soda cans, so I'm drinking a Diet Coke. It's not at all a pleasant experience, possibly because its expiry date is coming up, and I should stop.

Yesterday, on the other hand, was surprisingly fun. I spent the interval of gymnastics/dance/synchronised swimming show opening and pouring about fifteen bottles of wine in quick succession, which is fun if only because it makes the people getting the wine so happy, then changed and went to what turned out to be a bright-pink Valentine-themed social. (My accidental concession to the theme was a belt with heart-shaped studs.) We were supposed to be an unobtrusive staff presence, which proved tricky because the staff table was on the stage and spotlit. Finally we just got them to turn off all the stage lights and sat eating coffee mints and drinking wine in the semi-gloom. Most of us also heroically refrained from dancing, which is good because I really don't think the kids like it. The boys generally get very overwrought and ask every female member of staff to dance (we firmly shake our heads), but even so there's always a sense that universes are colliding.

And today is the most springlike day so far this year; the air actually smells of flowers. Sadly, I'm spending most of it inside on House Duty Extravaganza. I can't wait until summer, when house duty will mean lying on the lawn and occasional frisbee-throwing.