This morning I awoke to the sounds of the postman banging on my door. I mumbled to and rolled over. Then I thought “my clubs!” and ran down stairs. I signed the bit of paper that the postman handed me and took my new toys into the garden to play with them a bit. I opened the packaging and looked at the new clubs.

To my dismay one of them was missing a handle. I checked to make sure it hadn’t fallen off in the post and was at the bottom of the box. It wasn’t. I couldn’t believe it.

I called www.jugglingstore.com and asked them what they were playing at. They told me they had sent me that on purpose. Apparently for every twelve clubs you buy you get one free and because I’d bought six they had sent me a half club free. I checked and found I’d actually got six and a half clubs so I just bowed to their higher wisdom.

Ah well.

While I was practicing five clubs a bird flew into my juggling pattern and brained itself on one of the clubs. I picked up the bird and carried it into the kitchen. I hoped it wasn’t dead and fortunately it came around although it was a bit groggy. I’ve decided I will keep it and feed it until it is well enough to release back into the wild. Poor bird.

I replaced the blood-splattered body of the renegade with the spare that came free and I’ve named the bird Rennie, after the club that hit it.

My cousin came round again and asked if I would show him how to “Do Six” and if I’d also explain what “Them Numbers” are. I gave him a print out of an explanation I’d got off the JIS about siteswap and gave him a few examples he might try. I told him I would teach him six another day.

I’m a bit put out by his very fast progress at juggling. I’m also beginning to think I might not be as good a teacher as I thought. I hope his skill with girls isn’t as good as his skill with juggling. I don’t want him to surpass me in every respect. He probably will though.

Ah well.

I arrived at work and was given a list of what goes into what cocktails to memorise. The manager then introduced me to the other bar staff. A nice bunch of people, none of them jugglers. Apparently, I’d been hired to sort of raise the profile of the bar. I hoped I wouldn’t let them down or make myself look a fool in front of everyone. Especially Carol.

Carol is one of the bar staff. I think she likes me.

The customers started arriving and everyone looked to me to entertain them. I did my best but failed with the old “catching the bottle on the forehead with the contents being held in purely by the rim of the open top pressing down under it’s own weight” trick. I think it would have gone really well if I didn’t spot my cousin walking into the bar with an ex girlfriend of mine on his arm. No, really. Carol handed me a towel to wipe my face with at the time I didn‘t notice her extra concern for my well being.

There was my cousin with my ex. I couldn’t believe it. I watched them walk up to the bar; him juggling two coins by flicking each in turn with one hand, her laughing at his antics. Both totally ignorant of me watching them. I still couldn’t believe it. She always complained at me juggling and I think that was why she left me. And now here she is, with someone she met while he was juggling.

I left and let Carol serve them but noticed my cousin take his drink, make a show of “accidentally” dropping it and catching it on his foot. I hid round the corner of the bar until I saw them leave. I didn’t bother to tell anyone he was under age at fifteen.

Ah well.

Over all I think everyone was impressed by my juggling. The manager says I have to come back on Saturday, as that is the busiest night. I asked Carol if she was working that night and she smiled and said she was. I think she likes me. I’m not sure if it’s got to do with the fact that I can juggle but I think it helps. I must remember to mention to her that I do have a life. Apart from juggling that is.

The thing is I’m not entirely sure that that is the truth.

Ah well.

I got home from work and fed Rennie some cat food I’d bought earlier. I think he likes me as well. Maybe I’m just a bird magnet.

I checked my email and rec.juggling and stuff on the net and decided to tell everyone that my cousin had broken the 8 club juggling barrier. I’m not bitter. I also sent my cousin a warning email about my ex. I told him not to get too heavy on the juggling for fear of loosing her. Of course this was another ploy to get him to give up. I’m not sure if it’s going to work though.

Ah well.

I didn’t think of juggling action figures today. I’ll have to sleep on it again.