Day 344. My favourite app.

As the end of the year is now fast approaching I'm beginning to reflect and the Hailo app is most definitely one of my 2013 digital highlights. It's transformed my London travel and I totally love it. I suspect I wouldn't feel quite the same if I reflected on how much more I've spent on cabs as a result but it's my luxury item. Not on desert island discs obviously. The hailo app clearly would serve little purpose if I was stranded on a small land mass in the middle of the ocean. More useful might be a dune buggy. Or a glamping tent. A black cab? Not so much. Where would I fill up with petrol for a start?

Sorry, where was I? In a cab, with my app. No cash required.

Day 239. The train for Kings Cross is...

... not stopping here today.

First day back at work after 10 days off and my plans were thwarted - what a great word, thwarted, thwarted - sorry, my plans were thwarted by this ^. All trains to London cancelled. For the whole day. I briefly considered driving but then factored in the psychotic mood I'd be in by the time I arrived and decided it was better to work from home.

For those of you who still think working at home means sitting around in your pjs, watching Jeremy Kyle pause melodramatically before revealing yet another paternity test result, eating chocolate HobNobs and waiting until the last minute to make it look like you've had a really busy day, well yep that just about captures it. After all, the alternative of me sat at my desk for 9 hours pausing only to eat a low calorie lunch is far less interesting.

Tomorrow normal service should be resumed which is no use to me. I'm working at home.

I wonder if we have any HobNobs in?

Day 228. Not everyone is an equalist.

The term equalist is significant in my circle of friends. It was used to justify a nonsensical argument in a way that only fools seem able to do. From that day on we've loved the phrase.

Tonight a bunch of us met up in London for a surprise dinner in celebration of a friend's 40th birthday. Seven adults and five children travelled from Kent, Norfolk and Newcastle to reminisce, catch up and share another landmark in our 22 year friendship.

Dessert wine was ordered. The glass on the left is the measure my husband poured for me, on the right, the measure he poured for himself. Clearly we do not conform to the idea of equalists when wine is in the equation. Next time we'll apply the pour or choose rule and equality may once again be a cornerstone in our group. For alcohol at least.

Day 225. Churchill's War Rooms and an interactive date board.

On a recce for a client Winter party today I visited the Churchill War Rooms. Located beneath The Treasury, I managed to squeeze in a quick tour while I was there and was completely captivated by the Churchill Lifeline Table featuring events that took place between Churchill's birth and death. Click on 6th June 1944 and the 50 foot long table fills with poppies or the 14th April 1912 sees the board flooded with water.

It's a splendid digital addition that sits neatly alongside the original rooms used by Churchill and his cabinet. If you haven't been, take a trip there, you won't be disappointed.

Day 197. Dean Street Townhouse.

A cheeky couple of days in London to celebrate Will's birthday. I know! Taking Bea out of school. How shocking.

What the hell. We checked into The Nadler (gorgeous), headed out to dinner at Dean St. Townhouse (delicious) and strolled through Soho back to our hotel (eye opening).

I drank fizz from old school champagne glasses, ate a sensationally cooked steak and generally enjoyed spending an evening with my family.

Day 171. Workshops and birthdays.

After a late night I had to be up and at 'em today, in the office by 8am, organising a workshop for 50 people. Most of the attendees didn't know each other so we started with a 'make your own name badge' ice breaker. As it's my birthday today I was of course Head Girl.

I had hoped to leave early which didn't happen but I did manage to leave London before all the trains were cancelled - as Bea was patiently waiting at home with balloons decorating the trees on the drive, banners adorning the door and fireplace and flowers, fizz and stacks of gifts, I think she would have been even more disappointed than me if I'd had to stay away again.

Thanks for all the cards and good wishes.

Day 145. We are aMused.

Today the sun shone down and we headed off to London to see Muse at the Emirates. When I say we, I mean all of us, Bea too. After our trip to the Paralympic closing ceremony we were better prepared this time with spare jumpers, coats and hats in case it got cold. It didn't. We took ear defenders for Bea in case it was too loud. It wasn't. And we were prepared to leave early so that we wouldn't have to wait too long for a train. We didn't. In fact we stayed until the boys left the stage and someone turned the lights on and coughed signalling the show was over folks, time to go home.

It was a spectacular night kicking off at 6pm with Bastille. We then had a face grimacing forty-five minutes listening to Dizee Rascal swearing his way through his set; when you have an 8 year old in tow every 'f*ck' seems to be amplified and the giant speaker in front of our seats didn't help. 'Just ignore it,' I told Bea. 'How can I when it's so loud!' she correctly replied.

Finally at 8.20pm, ten minutes ahead of schedule, it was time for the main event: three boys from Devon, a stage resembling a space station on acid and 60,000 of their closest friends.

Favourite moments for me were CGI versions of Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Francoise Hollande doing the running man dance to Panic Station, everyone on their feet singing along to Knights of Cydonia - in the first hour of the 2 hour set - and Matt Bellamy acknowledging the moshers as they created a human whirlpool with "It's like f*ckin' Fight Club down there!'.

But the highlight was during the finale. On my feet, with my girl, jumping up and down, joy on our faces as we sang along to Uprising and Starlight, the latter being one of the first songs that brought sheer delight to Bea's face as a toddler. There couldn't have been a better way to end the show; from our car in 2005 to the Emirates in 2013, 'Hold you in my arms, I just wanted to hold you in my arms, I just wanted to hold.' Hold her I did. Oh what a night.

Last year I saw Bruce Springsteen, one of my all time music heroes. It was a gig I didn't think any band or artist could top but tonight I saw Muse and they kicked it out of the park. Out. Of. The. Park.

Day 142. Contrast of cultures.

So lucky to be hosting a client event in this spectacular building: the RSA in London. The mural on the walls, portraying progress and evolution the perfect contrast to the high tech lighting and AV kit.

The video on the screen is the result of my filming excursion to Cambridge with Spotreels; it's hard to believe the day we've been working towards for 9 months is finally here.

All those sleepless nights, long days and stretching deadlines seem worth it today. A proud moment.

Day 134. Boris.

One lonely Boris bike on Euston Road. I was lazy and jumped in a cab. Well it's raining. I finished work late. I've got a long journey. I'm running out of excuses.

Boris.

Day 113. Stuck indoors.

A spectacular blue sky is clearly visible above the building opposite the office.

Perhaps it's warm outside.

I wouldn't know.

I'm stuck indoors.

Which is typical.

Day 71. Last minute photo.

Cat and nose stand off. I got back late from London. Had a Vic and Bob day with no time to venture out and take a photo in one of the most vibrant cities in the world so I resorted to this. Pet exploitation.

£20 now donated to Comic Relief: http://my.rednoseday.com/sponsor/emmahoneybone

Day 59. Ageing with dignity.

Some of the adverts on the digital billboards in Kings Cross fail to grab my attention; not this one. Here's a man who's aged gracefully. No signature cigar but after a long day this raised a smile.