I bought a new toy the other day:

a truly evil 8" cook's knife to replace the bendy, butter knife-style abominations masquerading as cookware in the new flat. I was a little over-excited with the whole knife buying thing.

"Hello. I'd like to play with some knives, please," I babbled psychotically to the shop assistant, having spent the previous twenty minutes staring at the arsenal of culinary weaponry on show. He unlocked some cabinets and I eagerly picked up a variety of knives and waved them around. I think I blacked out a little with giddy enthusiasm.

"This one! This one!" I cried when I'd found one with the right combination of balance and scariness. "I want this one."

I cooked with psychopathic abandon that night, I can tell you.

Apart from the weaponry, it was a fairly pleasant and unchallenging weekend. Spent a bit of time lounging in Princes Street gardens with a book and the iPod; went for a cycle (hard work after spending two weeks in a car) around Arthur's Seat, and generally enjoyed the sun. I may even have managed to top up my 'tan' from the States. Woo yeah.

Luc and Marie were across from Luxembourg, so I caught up with them and the rest of the Mafia on Friday and Saturday nights and attempted to poach my liver in alcohol.

I'm back.

P.S: Josh has just posted a load of photos from the trip. Dave also has some on his Flickr account and some more on mine, since he ran out of bandwidth on like the third day.