not quite but almost

from 9:30am yesterday until 9:30pm today

It is with heavy eyes that I read the words I write here today. Curiously, I have no idea from where the energy to keep them open is coming. All I know is that the last time I woke up, it was Sunday. It's now Monday night, and I'm still awake. I went through a very bad period at around 10am this morning, and nearly fell asleep into a mug of hot coffee during a meeting. I didn't fall asleep - but I may have drooled slightly onto the notes that I was taking at the time. Curiously, I seemed to pick up after that - and everything took on a slightly hazy fazed tint.

It wasn't until much later in the afternoon that the Courgettes started singing to me: softly at first, but cajoling me into a sleep state. I resisted.

It is a curious thing, talking to someone for 7 hours on MSN. Utterly repeatable, I have to say - in terms of experience, if not literally subject matter. Oh, that must remain a mystery. What incredible things could two people in South England possibly be talking about for 7 hours, I hear you say. What stamina! What sheer will of conversation! What mastery of the coffee machine they must have both had! Well I almost made it to bed - and she assured me that she wouldn't keep me for long. It was about 6 hours after that when I decided to get dressed again and leave for work.

After work - I popped into the Steiner Theatre, to see my friends rehearsing for Don't Dress For Dinner. You of course won't know about this yet, because my path inverse through time has stalled somewhat, but given the circumstances I can be forgiven for being forgiven. I deposited a pair of pyjamas, a regular prop with my theatre company, and felt rather empowered. It was a little like being drunk, but knowing that you were actually in control of your body, if not your mind. I felt confident, funny and clever. My actual behaviour almost definitely never resembled any of those things for the duration of the stay, but sometimes you have to go with how you feel at the time.

On the way back, I was listening to the 20:20 match between England and Australia. England had set a target of 179, and Australia were 23 for 0. Then they were 31 for 7. Enter Lee and Gillespie. Then they were 67 for 8, and finally 79 all out, and England had won, by no insignificant margin. Pietersen played a storming game, scoring 34 of just 18 deliveries. Gough showed that he was as sprightly as he had ever been, and Jon Lewis opened his England account to very great effect. Austrailia simply didn't play well. It's going to be a very good summer - because Australia's dip won't last long - and England will have to pull out the stops. Today however, they played stonkingly good cricket.

Looks like Tea is pipping Coffee at the moment - how is your beverage fairing? Do you take tea or coffee in a specific way? How long have you been awake for, as a longest stretch? I've done over 48 hours once, but I was very worse for wear. This 36 hour stretch has been... an eye opener. If you have any other stories of being awake for long periods, do share!! Let's get some chatter going! I'm over-excited from exhaustion!!

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