Had lots of fun at the Derren Brown show on Saturday night -- he's a really good performer, much more personable in the flesh than on TV, and some of his tricks are jaw-droppingly amazing! Then went to footie on Sunday -- it was the last game of the season, and Spurs were playing Liverpool. Normally that would be a big match, but the result didn't really mean much to either team, so the atmosphere was much more muted than I expected. We lost 2-0, but nobody was really that bothered, and almost everyone stayed to cheer the team as they did a lap of honour after the game. Later, back in the pub, I had an interesting debate with a couple of my friends. They contended that we had enjoyed a "great" season, while I was far less happy with it. Their argument rested on the fact that we'd had a few incredible results -- we drew a match 4-4 with Aston Villa after being 4-1 down; beat our time-honoured enemies Arsenal 5-1 in a cup semi-final; then beat one of our other big foes, Chelsea, 2-1 in the final; had a good UEFA Cup run; and drew 4-4 with Chelsea in the league, in one of the most exciting games of the entire season. I couldn't argue that they weren't great moments, some of the best I've ever experienced at the club -- but I did argue that moments of greatness didn't make it a "great" season. I wanted consistency, a high finish in the league, evidence that we have what it takes to challenge for honours again next year. As far as they were concerned, none of that mattered -- the glorious moments are what we remember in life, and therefore all that count at the end of the day.

It was an interesting argument, and one I'm still thinking about. I certainly see their point, and in some ways I agree with it, but on the other hand ... well, which would you rather? A novelist who writes one great book, and then a load of very average, forgettable books? Or one who maybe never hits the very top, but who always puts out a book that you can enjoy? A few days of amazing captivity in that author's world -- or year of milder enjoyment? Of course, ideally we all want both, and in certain areas we get what we want (Manchester United fans have had both over the last 15 or 16 years; Stephen King fans have had both over the last 30-plus years; Martin Scorses fans have had both; U2 fans have had both). But if you HAD to choose, which does it for you? What is YOUR definition of "greatness"???

Drank a bit more than I should have after the match, so I was fairly subdued for much of Monday!! Finally recovered in the afternoon, and Bas and I went for a lovely walk in St James' Park, where we also had dinner at the Inn The Park restaurant. After that we went to see Never So Good at the National Theatre, a play about an old UK Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. The cast was strong (Jeremy Irons was the lead, and he was excellent), and it was an ineresting look at how Britain changed over the course of the 20th century, but it wasn't a spectacular play in any aspect. A good night at the theatre, but not a memorable one. Now we're off to visit Bas's aunt, a Carmelite nun, for a couple of peaceful days. I'll check back with you all a bit later in the week.