I'm feeling delicate this morning, following a spectacular birthday party last night for my friend Niko's birthday. It was a masked ball - you weren't allowed in without a mask and everyone kept them on for the first couple of hours. The effort that everyone made with their costumes was one of the things that made it an amazing party. There was an impressive array of Viennese (or should that be Venetian) masks, cowboys, bank robbers and at least a dozen eighteenth century dandies, complete with powdered wigs and knicker bockers. Conversely, there was a couple wearing Jedward masks - clearly there's no escaping those two at the moment.

I was wearing eye make up and an OTT feathery Phantom mask. Imagine my surprise when I was approached about some life coaching. Although I often get new clients in social situations, it didn't occur to be that I'd be having an in depth conversation about NLP from behind a mask. Something must have been shining through - we start working together on Tuesday - not a mask in sight!