On Monday we had a champagne reception at the Centre and the usually tranquil space was transformed into a vibrant hub as guests squeezed in and quaffed on the fizzy stuff. Our guest of honour was Stephen Alambritis, the leader of Merton Council and former FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) spokesperson. Local press joined us too and took photographs of the upbeat event.

Having relocated from Nuffield Health two months ago, this was the first opportunity I'd found to officially 'open' the new practice. Previously called Fix Your Fears I'd re-named my business The Hypnotherapy & Natural Health Centre on moving to Durnsford Road, and as a result I've had loads of enquiries from people wanting to find out how they can change their life with hypnotherapy. As the New Year is likely to be busy with 'Resolutioners' I thought we'd better get on and celebrate before 2010 slipped away.

Stephen Alambritis was good company and chatted easily to all the guests. Seeming in no great hurry to rush off, he showed interest in the experiences of local business owners and even mentioned the controversial Vodafone phone mast which appeared without warning on the corner of Revelstoke Road and Durnsford a few weeks back. As welcome, and as obvious, as Japanese Knotweed in a rose garden, this monstrosity continues to exercise the residents and local working folk.

After a short speech, a group photo-call and a shot outside the Centre for the local press, the Leader went on his way. Having waved him off I returned to my mince pie and fizz, and found that the conversation had turned to more important matters....his shoes! Everyone it seems, bar James MacKenzie, who must have had his mind on higher things, had noticed the leaders fancy footwear....Good on you, I say. As one who has been compared to Imelda Marcos in the footwear stakes, I see a passion for shoes as a positive thing!

Well it's been a few days now since the APHP (Association for Professional Hypnosis & Psychotherapy) annual conference and as I was busy at my therapy centre, I skipped the educational stuff and just attended the evening 'do'. The conference is always held on the last weekend in October, coinciding with the celebration of Halloween, which I'm told is by chance.There were, as you might expect, a number of black and sparkly outfits on show, but the wearers seemed mostly of this world - for the early part of the evening at least!
Once again Terence (Watts - chair of the APHP) arranged a good spread and after dinner entertainment, which was, unlike in some previous years, very funny and original - Good on you Julie (Watts) for finding such a good comedian!
Absent this year were many of my Central England (College) chums who normally gather together to 'catch up' and let their hair down - you were missed guys...
New faces though, soon became like old friends, as hours were lost in a time distortion not dissimilar to that experienced in trance, and despite the music being somewhat 'wedding reception', the dance floor began to fill as the glasses and bottles emptied.
Engaged in deep conversation with the delightful Steve Johnson (from Oxygen insurance) - a great dance floor companion and Nick Hall and Dr Paul Ogilvie, fellow ex-students of Central England, I nearly missed my tube home!
Arriving on the platform after the 'Witching Hour' on Saturday 30th October, I was lucky to find a seat on a tube packed with revellers. Across the way were two women both bleeding from wounds to the neck, with not a bandage in sight. Deep in conversation, the pair seemed oblivious to their predicament, whilst a short distance off a couple of ghoulish individuals of indeterminate gender, fortified themselves on Red Bull and kebabs.
It was a good journey home though with an unusually convivial atmosphere on the underground, and after a few hours of sleep I enjoyed a bracing walk with my dog - slightly sore of head but nothing that a paracetamol and a cappucino couldn't remedy. Looking forward to next year...