Bored

I am bored out of my mind. I've never had time off work before. I've had time off sick (and quite a lot of it when I worked in the banks, yet none since starting my new job in March) and I've had time off to go to Edinburgh and the odd few days here and there, but this is a whole new league of boredom. I can't even be bothered to go shopping. It's far too busy. I was planning to go to Southampton to see James and Lucy and perhaps up to Nottingham for new year but the weather's a bit too cold and I don't want to drive when it's icy. The good news is that Kerry is on her way back from Bristol as we speak so I am going to go round hers to help her construct furniture and then maybe go and meet Suzanne and Nalini for a quick drink and say hi to everyone. New years eve is still a blank but I know I will be somewhere in London. I'm at my brother's house at the moment loading songs onto Jack and he's now about two thirds full. I've got loads of comedy loaded too which is ace. He's just wandered into the lounge to discover that I am watching Star Wars on TV and he can't believe I didn't tell him it was on. He has the trilogy on VHS and I got him the Gold edition DVD boxset for his birthday and he's seen it a million times so I'm not sure why he's bothered to have missed 30 mins of something he's already seen. So back to my new years eve plans. It's going to be a mixture of Kerry and Suzanne at the moment. It'll be ok whatever I do but if I go to Suz's it'll be mostly couples which won't make for much fun when the clock strikes midnight. I know where I'd like to be and who I'd like to be with but that doesn't seem very realistic at the moment.

I've planned this week quite badly I spose. I really should have planned stuff to do although I spose it's nice to do nothing. I spent the first few days in bed til 1pm so I've forced myself awake at 9am for the past two days. The last thing I want to do is become nocturnal in the space of a few days. It'll be bad enough getting up for work on Tuesday. I need to go and visit Tom's house too and see if he still wants me to move in if I like it. I am really excited about the prospect of living really close to town - and to work. Suzanne has pretty much moved me in already. She and Nalini only live about 5 mins away from where I could potentially be living so she has enlisted me to do some marathon training but I can't quite see that happening. It would be very exciting. Kathryn says that as far as she remembers Tom's house is really nice and she found her way to the tube quickly and easily (she was incredibly hungover). Even if the room is as small as Kez's I don't think I'll really care so long as I can fit a bed and some drawers in. Best not get too excited about it though.

And I wonder when my first trip to Glasgow will be? That's very exciting too. And it's nearly my birthday. I am thinking of dropping the comedy idea and just getting a room in a pub - then I can sit down and make sure I get to talk to everyone. It'll be interesting to see who comes along. I've made sure most of my friends know to keep 21st free. It'll be three weeks on new years eve. God, I'm boring myself now. I'm going to nip into the office on my way to Kerry's so I can get my password for picking up my work emails online. I should have taken it with me but totally forgot. I might be able to do some work over the next few days if I have it. I can certainly email a few people anyway.

Boredy boredy bored. I'm waiting for Kerry to call me so I can jump on a train. I spose I'd better drive home so I can get the train from there...

I'll write about Xmas another time. It was a normal Xmas. Fairly hard work mum-wise and it was over in a flash.

Last night

Ended at 3.30am and I made my way home on the glorious night bus. We went
dancing in a really nice little club which played very cool music indeed...
I was sorely tempted to spend the night in the office but then correctly
decided to go home. I had a really great night which lasted a surprisingly
long time. It went very quickly. And now it is 3.30pm and I have been in
the office for about 20 mins. I was rudely awakened by my brother
constantly ringing me to arrange when to meet and my nan and grand-dad's to
give them their present. My dad even got involved when we'd decided on
12.30pm, prising me out of bed at 12pm so I got there in time. Which I did.
But my bastard of a brother didn't show up til 1pm so I could have had an
extra 30 mins of sleep. Well, of trying to sleep but not being able to. So
my dad called him and gave him a b*llocking!! Ha ha ha.

I am feeling decidedly cream crackered today and am drinking peppermint tea
in the hope of cleaning out some of the toxins from my body. I made sure I
ate something small and drank a pint of water before I went to bed which I
think must have helped. I dread to think how I'd feel if I hadn't. I can't
believe it's Christmas tomorrow.. working off Regent St is beginning to make
me feel like Xmas is a permanent season... the lights have been up for
months, it'll be odd when they take them down. The crowds of people in town
today are just awful... thank god I had the sense only to leave my Xmas
shopping to the weekend before. I just got something for Sam which I am
quite pleased with so I think I am more or less done. Hooray.

Looking forward to sleeping and lazing around when I get home.

Christmas Eve Eve

Another hectic day. I am going to come into work tomorrow afternoon I
think. Still so much to do and I'd rather get it out of the way before Xmas
and relax during my week off if its still a week off - I may have to come
in and work on a new thing we've got going on. I also just spoke to little
Dan who is talking about new year's eve and going to a bar near his flat and
then wandering back. I'm not even all that interested in drinking loads,
it'll be nice to see Dan and Shirl, and of course I can go and visit a 5
months pregnant Katie Ketchup. The plans for London are either something
with Kerry which will involve not much booze, something with Poppy, Jason
and Mark which will involve a lot of alcohol and not much sleep - or
something else as yet undetermined. As long as the weather is ok to drive
then Nottingham with little Dan is looking good.

It is so frantic here today and very exciting. I love it here so much, I am
so lucky. But I like to think I deserved a break from banking after nearly
6 years of being unhappy. We are currently drinking wine and eating the
nibbles that we didn't get through at Sal's last night. I am off to meet
someone at 7pm and then another hectic day tomorrow... and I still have to
get a main present for Sam... bloodyhell.

Oh I meant to say, when my mum dropped me into Bromley yesterday morning
when my train was cancelled, we were sitting at traffic lights and something
dropped onto the roof of the car. We both jumped and I said it must be a
branch. Then something else hit and my mum said "fuckinghell" and I
couldn't believe it!! I am going to get a lot of mileage out of that!! She
soon apologised but I was too tired to start taking the piss!!

Today has been such a brilliant day. The best I've had in ages. Loads has
happened work-wise and also non work-wise and then tonight is going to be
great too. I've totally swung the other way and have decided not to go home
and get my car but to get a cab home on expenses so I can get there with
everyone else and have a bit of a drink, but not too much cos I am going out
for more drinks tomorrow night and that's how things get out of control. It
would be silly not to take up the offer of free food, drink and cab! I
texted Julian to wish them luck for the awards tonight, I'll have my fingers
and toes crossed for them - unfortunately I won't be going to this one so
someone else will have to do the honours with the Boosh stickers!

I'm in the mood for dancing...

Went out with uni mates to one of my usual Soho haunts last night. It was
really brilliant seeing everyone again and as a result I have a possible
place to live in North London - just need to go and check out the room. It
sounds quite small but there's a lounge with sofas and a dining room which
will make a nice change cos I spent all my time in my room whenever I'm
home. Since my parents got rid of the sofa and brought in uncomfortable
upholstered chairs there's no point me sitting downstairs, when I can just
lay out on my bed. And it'd be living with my friend and one other guy -
and they have a cleaner (cos they're boys). It's well within my budget and
I wouldn't be constrained to contracts so I really hope the room is nice and
the area too. It's Holloway Road-ish so that's nice and near to the Hen and
Chickens!! Tom said I could check it out for a week - that would be great
in itself. So who knows maybe I might move out some time in January!! And
another one of my friends who has more money even than my brother said he's
been looking for someone to take to Mauritius for new year. He organises
conferences and earns an absolute packet and he's been offered some all
inclusive deal for 10 days for about £650. He really wants to go so much
that he'd pay for someone to go with him. Why didn't he ask me sooner..!?
I doubt it will materialise but its a nice thought, although it's an 8 hour
flight. Nalini's family is from Mauritius and I've always wanted to go so I
might see if he really meant it!! So long as its a twin room..!

Drank a lot of Cobra and Tiger beer last night - those massive bottles and I
felt completely exhausted on the train on the way home. It was double
freezing as I walked home from the station - so much so that today I have my
hat and I intend to wear that and my parka on the way home tonight. Going
round to Sal's to watch The Last Chancers - can't wait!! And the British
Comedy Awards are on tonight too so fingers crossed for the Boosh. I'm not
hungover today which is great, I'm just knackered but that's mainly due to
Connex South East. I was going to have an extra 40 mins in bed and just be
10 mins late but I decided to be good and get in early to sort stuff out.
But when I got to the station my train was cancelled and the next one wasn't
for 40 mins. Jumped in the car with my mum cos she was heading to Bromley
and after getting stuck in heavy traffic I managed to get to Bromley South
and got on a fast train to Victoria and then jumped on a bus. I hate the
tube, buses are much comfier and you can see where you're going. I was
about 10 mins late in the end so I should have just got up late. I might
just get the later tomorrow. Will save me buggering around if the train is
cancelled again. Last day at work tomorrow - hooray!! Although there is a
chance we'll have to come in to work on something that we're 50% sure is
going to happen... that is if I'm not in Mauritius of course!! Ha ha.

Xmas Cheer

Our Xmas drinks last night were brilliant! It was really nice the five of us just sitting round on the sofas eating nibbles and drinking wine. I had a glass of champagne and a vodka and coke and then didn't fancy drinking any more. We also found out that we are all getting a crimble bonus which I cannot believe!! It's not a huge amount of money but I wasn't expecting it at all and I think I'm going to put it to one side and either go on a weekend break (if I can find someone who fancies it) or put it towards a new computer. I've never had a Xmas bonus in my life...

I am really tired today. Yet again I didn't drag my arse out of bed until 8.40am which is one of the best things about my job and starting work at 10am. I have to brave the post office in a while... have a package to send to my uncle and my new aunt full of birthday treats. I bought him the flying book that I got cos he is scared of it, not that he has tried it but I think he thinks he has claustrophobia too cos he doesn't like trains either according to my dad. Someone bought him a return ticket to New Zealand as a wedding gift so he's going to have to get on a plane at some point. I am really looking forward to seeing him lots next year when I go up and down to Glasgow.

Change of plan...

Apparently we're having Xmas drinks in the office tonight so shopping is going to have to be postponed. I can see it being postponed until Xmas eve now... And then on Wednesday we are all going round Sal's to watch the show going out live on telly to have more drinks so that's three work Xmas dos. Nice. And that's not counting our work outing to Jeremy Lion's Xmas show.

I just spoke to the guy I have a crush on, on the phone. He is way out of my league but I can dream. He is far too good looking for me for a start, not that I am putting myself down but he really is gorgeous, he has eyes you can get lost in and from what I saw, he has a very nice body too. And relax. He is very intelligent, creative and a few years younger than me too. You didn't need to know all that but its nice for me if I come to read back over this. I haven't fancied anyone nice for ages.

Anyways... heard from my mum and she is ok, she said she's in a lot of pain which isn't good, obviously, but she should be ok in a few days. She's planning on dragging me round the shops on Xmas eve so she obviously anticipates a speedy recovery. Me, Rob and Sam are going round my Nan and Grand-dad's on Xmas eve too, to deliver their Xmas present which is the same as we got them last year. A home made hamper made up of their favourite things, which is quite a mish mash given they have very odd taste. We'll probably take them out for lunch too.

I am a bit bored this afternoon. Its really freezing in London - there was ground frost when I left the house today and even with a parka, gloves and scarf I was still very cold. And even when I popped out at lunch it was still freezing. I reckon we're going to have a white christmas in London this year. That'd be ace except I am hoping to drive round to see David and his friends on Xmas day. I'll see how many Xmas lunches I can have - like the episode of Vicar Of Dibley that I saw last night.

Morrissey

Wow - what an amazing weekend. Let me start with the best bit of the weekend which was seeing Morrissey at Earls Court. It took a while for the arena to fill up and then the lights went out and there was a real buzz of excitement. The back drop came down to reveal big letters spelling the great man's name which then lit up. The music started, the band came on with Mozza, took a bow and then ran to their corners of the stage and started to play How Soon Is Now? I nearly fell over, I never thought I'd ever hear that song live and it was just incredible. Morrissey's voice is amazing - H was looking at the big screens to make sure he wasn't miming. He came out dressed all in black but for a dog collar and throughout the evening changed his shirt about three times. At one point he took his shirt off in full view of our beady eyes and threw it into the crowd. His between song banter was really funny and he'd give clues as to what the next song would be. He asked if we had all done our Xmas shoplifting yet and I thought he couldn't possibly be about to play Shoplifters Of The World but he did!! Every time he started to play an old Smiths or Morrissey song I jumped up and down with excitement. And when he came on to do an encore and started to play Last Night I Dreamt, I couldn't believe it. That is the song whose lyrics I posted up on here a month or so ago, but he played it without the 1m 56 build up. It was quite a quick gig - about an hour and 15 mins but I don't think it would have been long enough even if he'd played til midnight. I was hoping for Hairdresser On Fire or Sister I'm A Poet but maybe next time... he did say there are goodbyes and there are farewells... and I'm saying farewell.... MORRISSEY ROCKS!!

Here's the setlist.

How Soon Is Now
First of the Gang to Die
November Spawned a Monster
Daddy's Voice
I Like You
Redondo Beach
Let Me Kiss You
Munich Air Disaster
Bigmouth
Friday Mourning
The More You Ignore Me
I Have Forgiven Jesus
Irish Blood, English Heart
Shoplifters
Crashing Bores
There Is A Light
You Know I Couldn't Last
Encore: Last Night I Dreamt

Aqualung was a far more civilised affair, sitting down in the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. We caught the end of the first band on who were quite a mellow bunch and by complete coincidence were playing a Smiths song... can't remember which one but it will come back to me. Then Matt Hales came on to introduce the next person which happened to be his little brother, the gorgeous Ben Hales. He has released an album (which I have and is brilliant) and introduce Duke Special (the "special" N. Irish singer who supported the last tour and was fairly boring) to sing the song. He has got a lovely voice and Ben's song sounded lovely. Then Matt came back and said he was contacted by a singer to write some songs... he introduced Melanie Blatt who was ok - obviously the songs were good cos Matt helped write them... then Duke Special came and entertained us with his own songs, ably assisted by Ben Hales. It was a bit of a Hales love-in. Then came the mighty aqualung who played the two B-sides I was hoping for, and Tongue-Tied but not Extraordinary Thing which H was hoping for. Another gig that should have gone on and on and on and on. It was a lovely cultural evening.

On Sunday I got up at about 11.30am and caught the bus into Bromley to do a bit of Xmas shopping. On Saturday I nipped into W. Wickham but there wasn't really anything that would have done for Xmas presents. Still, its good to support local businesses if you can. Managed to get a fair bit in Brommers but still have lots to do. I have to stop myself from spending too much money on people. I love buying presents but I really can't afford it... I got Kerry what I was trying to get from John Lewis but from somewhere else and I got a few things for most people. I always feel I've let myself down if I don't get nice presents but that's just stupid. Thinking of braving Oxford St after work tonight but I value my life too much so I might give it a miss. Ended up staying in last night rather than seeing some comedy that I really wanted to see, but as a result I feel fairly refreshed today.

My road at home isn't very Xmassy at all. Not that I can complain cos its not like we have any decorations up. We have the Xmas tree and that's about it. Mum won't let us have lights because obviously they will catch alight and burn the house down. The WW high street lights are by no means a threat to Regent St either... in fact walking home from the station to my house isn't Xmassy at all. We put fairly lights and rope lights up around the office on Friday and we have two silver Xmas trees too - I also have fake snow resting on my monitor - so there is a Xmas vibe going on here but it's still not sunk in that the big day is on saturday. We're going round to Sam's mum and dad so we are guaranteed loads of nice food.

My mum went into hospital this morning. She should be ok - if there was even a chance of her not being then she'd have gone on and on about it by this stage. She didn't even make me give her a kiss before I went to work this morning so I am taking that as a good sign. I hate hospitals, they make me feel ill. Visiting my grand-dad last year was a first for me and didn't do much to change my mind. When I went a month or so ago it was ok but I was an out-patient and it was a newly built hospital which was actually very nice indeed. She should be calling me early afternoon to tell me what's going on so fingers crossed.

Very busy at work still, really looking forward to having so much time off - all of those lie-ins, brilliant!! I won't know what to do with myself - want to pop up to Nottingham for some sales shopping and to see Kate before she drops, and also down to Southampton to see James and Lucy so hopefully I can do all that in a week and a bit. Have to pop round to Suzanne and Nalini's at some point too to check out their new gaff and help with painting and have a cup of tea.

Last week I saw someone who I used to really fancy and up until that point still did a little bit (despite being ruthlessly dumped). Now I am very pleased to say that I have no idea what I saw in him in the first place. Well I do, but it all seems to be an act which he can switch on and off whenever a suitable female comes along... he seems to be working his way through most of the girls I know so I am very glad to be well out of it. I'd still like to be friends and I'm sure we will be but at least that's another valuable lesson learnt. Men aren't to be trusted and in contrast to the Aqualung lyrics... it is indeed safer never to love than to risk your heart. Also another Aqualung lyric made me smile the other evening was from Tongue Tied... "lying beside you, longing to touch you," which is how I felt one night last week when I had to share my bed with someone who I always thought was really nice and very good looking but since that night have quite a large crush on. Nothing will come of it but it's nice to have someone to make your heart flutter.

Still here...

Jeez, I'm not going to have time to do anything when I get home.. I was
hoping for a relaxing night of preparation. Just as well I kind of half
packed last night. Have had to miss seeing H too which I am upset about but
then I'll see her Friday and Saturday for the two best gigs ever.

Just received a text from someone who I thought was ignoring me and didn't
want to be my friend anymore and it made me smile and lifted a weight off
me. Someone mentioned something about me on someone else's blog which
wasn't very nice so presumed that was it but perhaps there were cross wires
and propaganda. That's why my November resolution was to call people when
they text rather than texting back - if I can. I will text back on this
occasion though seeings I am too rushed to have a protracted conversation...

I am sure I'm going to forget to take something tomorrow. I have my flight
reference and passport in my bag - I have petty cash and train times to get
to stansted. I have clothes for the party and also the night after... I
think I have my hotel room to myself tomorrow night which would be good.
It'd be nice to share with Sal but if I am drunk it'll be nice not to have
to suffer in front of someone. I have my sunglasses packed too for the next
morning...and my enjoy flying book. It's going to be great - now I know how
planes work.. it's just the accelerating that makes me go a bit silly... as
far as I remember. It's been 7 years since my last flight.

I wanna go home.. its just gone 8pm. I am going to be too tired to party.
No, actually I won't. I'm never too tired to party. At this rate I'm going
to miss the bloody Last Chancers going out on E4 tonight. Typical.

Party prep

Luckily I'm not going to get home from work until quite late tonight -
therefore I'll have no time at all to think about the flight. I am more
excited than anything at the moment. I've not had a moment to think about
anything for about a month so it's crept up very quickly. I've spent today
making badges, writing Xmas cards, doing press stuff and going to the bank
and post office in preparation for tomorrow's big Xmas party. Should be
great fun, I'm really looking forward to it. We're all meeting at 10.30am
at Stansted Airport by the check in desk. I am going to make sure I'm there
by 10am. Ooh, I feel like I'm going on an adventure. I'm about half way
through my enjoy flying book so I'll finish that on the way home tonight and
on the way to the airport tomorrow. I didn't want to tell my mum I was
going until I landed but she scuppered my plans. I told her which company
we're flying with and she looked at me slightly worried which does my
f*cking head in. She's like a vortex sucking out my enthusiasm and
optimism. I can't stand people who moan and fret all the time and sadly my
mum is like that a lot of the time. I am scared of flying but I'm doing
something to get round it - I don't want to spend my entire life getting
trains everywhere.

Anyway... its 6pm now and we have so much left still to do. We've 200 Xmas
cards to send out by the end of the day.

And relax...

I think I'm going to fall asleep in a minute. That was great. Its a
strange sensation feeling a muscle going back into place.. but also
satisfying. Not seeing Lynds tonight now, might see Kez or might just go
home and lay down - even though that's how I came to be in my stiff-neck
predicament to start with!

I have forgiven jesus

Well, we went to the Frank Skinner show last night and what a surprise -
Morrissey was on. Who knew?! What a coincidence!? I jest of course. I
knew all along. I was in the same room as Morrissey and he sang his new
single twice and even smiled. He is a truly gorgeous man. It was very
exciting and I had a grin plastered across my face the whole way through. I
am honoured to have been so close to the great man and now cannot wait til
next Saturday when we see him at Earls Court. There should be quite a large
group of us heading down... H, Sophie, Neil and some others I cannot mention
for birthday surprise reasons. Sadly Morrissey didn't come into the green
room after the show - he is far too important for that. Davina McCall and
Lee Francis were there. Davina came over to us to ask if she could steal
the plate of crudites cos she was hungry and Lee Francis (Avid Merrion) was
talking in his native accent which was hilarious. Sounds like a cross
between Derby and Yorkshire which is possibly the least attractive accent in
the country. Pops and I found it v funny.

Saw JFD briefly but he had to zoom off to edit the show for tonight. He
looked fantastic and was commanding everyone's attention - it was so nice to
see him and he was on peak form. He asked me how I was, and I knew exactly
what he meant, which was sweet cos we only spoke to him for a minute before
he had to dash off. Me and Pops stayed for ages chatting, eating all the
nibbles and drinking all the wine and I ended up getting the last train home
from Waterloo. On my way to the station I picked up a message from Mark F
so gave him a call back. Despite it being nearly midnight I knew he'd be
awake or on his way home from a gig so I gave him a call and spoke to him
from the moment I got onto the train until the moment I got to the traffic
lights in West Wickham. I haven' spoken to him properly for ages and
haven't seen him for even longer. Things are going really well for him at
the moment which I am very pleased about. He's going to hang by the office
one day soon for lunch.

Joy of joys!! I just went out to get lunch and on the way down the stairs I
dropped my keys between the lining of my coat and my pocket. When I delved
down to retrieve them I found something I thought I'd lost.... my glove!!!
Hooray!! And I made an appointment at 4.30pm to go and have a 10 minute
massage. I cannot wait, it's going to be the highlight of my day. I hope
it works. It's only a tenner so I might do it regularly if they're good,
my shoulders tend to get quite knotted. It might have something to do with
my chair being a bit low down for my desk. Then again it might not. We are
doing secret santa at work so I think I'm going to buy a £10 Relax voucher
for my person. I'd love it if someone got me one of those.

Today is a good day. Its the first day in a while I've been early to work.
Since Edinburgh I've been the first one in almost every day, 20 mins early
but over the past week and a half it's all gone wrong. Can't physically
drag myself out of bed before 8.30am. It's just lucky I start work at 10am
and don't have to work in a stupid bank anymore. All in all, this year has
been one of the best ever I think. I've met so many brilliant people who
have enhanced the fun quotient of my life and have finally got a job I love
(most of the time!) Despite having a lack of cash, quality of life far
outweighs that.

I haven't bought a single Xmas present yet. I don't even know what to get
people. I am getting my hair cut on saturday (including the introduction of
a fringe - which will annoy me after about 3 minutes) at about 11am so I
think I'd better have a mosey on round the shops then. I'm not spending a
quarter as much as I usually do. I'm not getting presents for many of my
friends apart from the odd few that I see all the time or would like to see
all the time. I would list them here but a few of them read this so I don't
want to give the game away. I must remember to tell my parents not to buy
me the 2005 AA UK Road map for Xmas this year. I get one every year but the
country doesn't really change a huge amount in 365 days.

Panic on the streets of London.

Good god, do I need a massage!? My neck is absolutely killing me. I think
I stayed in bed for too long on Sunday cos I couldn't lift my head off the
pillow. I do know someone who is very good at massages but sadly I don't
have them to hand anymore. I might pop into the drop in place in Soho for a
10 minute massage later. I definitely need to do something about it.
Probably lying in bed until 8.30am every day isn't the answer. Any offers?

The Xfm gig on sunday was fantastic and I now must but the Kasabian album as
a matter of urgency. Wasn't impressed by Razorlight at all. I don't think
I've ever seen anyone quite so arrogant and full of it as Johnny Borrell.
He doesn't really have the songs to back it up either. They have a few good
songs but me and Suzanne were pretty bored through most of their set.
Embrace were good. The lead singer actually can sing despite all the
rumours that he can't. He seemed to have a point to prove too and kept
doing loads of warbling. It started at 5.30pm and we left at 11pm unable to
last any longer. I have never stood up for so long in my life. Went back
to my car and spent about 30 seconds genuinely believing that my car had
been stolen. I come to expect it every time I leave my car in London. But
then I wandered up the road a bit and found Tony. Phew.

I ended up not going out with uni mates on Saturday night. We were all a
bit lacklustre and skint so called it off. We are so rubbish. I was just
so pleased to get home and I can't begin to tell you all how ecstatic I am
that TABBY IS OUT OF THE X FACTOR - hooray!!! As Joe Cornish sarcastically
said on Sunday before introducing The Zutons, "he really does epitomise what
it means to be a rock star doesn't he?" to which 5,000 people all screamed
with venom "NO!!" So that's another weekend wasted sending texts for Steve,
G4, Paul Burrell and Joe Pasquale. I need to hide my phone from myself on
the weekend. Oh and there was the record of the year too. I voted for
Maroon 5 and Natasha Bedingfield. I'm not ashamed to admit that.

Managed not to go out on Monday night which was nice too - went home to try
and un-stiffen my neck but it's clearly not worked. Last night we went to
the monthly quiz at the Phoenix which was really funny. There was a picture
round, and audio/music round and then "general" knowledge. We did well on
the first two rounds but fell down on trivia. I stunned the team with my
knowledge of the periodic table and music sleeve designs and we managed 8th
place but we were only 7 points short of winning and 5 points short of 3rd
place. There was a small set-to when we clashed about the date of the start
of the first Gulf war. It was a really funny night, we did ok for our first
time and intend to take the prize money home next month. We were called,
quite unoriginally, "Santa's Little Helpers." Which, believe it or not, was
the best of a bad list of names we came up with.

My Morrissey tickets have come through the post for the Earls court gig
which is desperately exciting. The pair I am keeping are bulk standard
boring run of the mill tickets and the standing ones Ive sold on ebay are
beautiful. I am going to scan them and show you all how lovely they are.
In fact, I wonder who the special guests are...might have to do some
research, surely its bound to be someone brilliant! And the night before I
am seeing the delectable Aqualung which is very exciting too. Another sit
down gig which is frankly a relief after the endurance test that was the Xfm
winter wonderland.

Less than a week to go til the Xmas party too. I am thinking about the
flight now but only cos I have started reading my enjoy flying book again.
I am sure I'll be anxious and nervous but hopefully I'll avoid the panic
attack. It'll be so nice to be in Glasgow after an hour rather than six on
the train... bit of a pain to get to Stanstead but who cares. It's a new
adventure. Which I shall be repeating numerous times next year.

There also seems to be more and more things I want to go to happening on Wed
15 December. I have a plan of action and intend to fit 3 into one night...
Alternative Alternative Walk, Noel at UCL and IAFS Xmas bash. It'll take
some logistical planning but I reckon it can be done. Busy busy busy.

Working Weekend

Stayed at Kerry's last night after Spank! (You Love It!) and jumped on a bus into town with the Howard clan. I said I'd pick up a bag from Mulberrys for my brother, which is on New Bond St, so I thought I'd come into work for a bit while I'm about and have so much to do. That was at 12pm and now its nearly 4pm. Meeting uni mates in town so it seemed pointless going home. We're going out round Soho so I'll just stay here til 6.30pm and go and meet them then pop back here to pick up my stuff before going home tonight. Really looking forward to seeing everyone but also looking forward to my bed and not having to get out of it until about 2pm tomorrow. The Xfm gig starts at 5.30pm so at least I get the day to myself. I am definitely going home tonight!!

I've got loads done - tidied up the office and my desk to start with... I think that's why I feel so swamped, cos my work area is a bit of a state. When it's in order I find it easier to concentrate on other things. I think my bedroom is tidy at the moment too - not that I've spent a huge amount of time there recently. Need to work out when to move out, as I keep saying, its a reminder for me more than anything else.

On Wednesday I am going to the Frank Skinner Show recording cos a certain Manc crooner is going to be on and a certain lovely director has invited me and Pops along. If you take a look to the right and look at the countdowns you might be able to work out who it is... I will say this though... Aqualung are from down south.

I'm going to finish doing what I am doing and then head out onto Regent Street to look round a few shops before getting some food and coming back to the office to get ready to go out. I pretty much live in this place recently! I'm not going onto Oxford Street cos it looks like a complete nightmare. Its bad enough during the week, never mind at the weekend. I am very pleased with myself for coming into work today. I think it had to be done. I can get so much more done when I'm the only one in the office.

So I shall stop this and get on.

10 Print "Look Around You" 20 Goto10

I have got the Look Around You theme tune going round in my head.

Another busy day. The weeks are speeding by really quickly now. Xmas party
is drawing ever nearer but thankfully I've not had time to think about the
flight. I just need to dig out my book and I should be fine. There should
be at least 6 of us on the plane journey too so it might even be fun!!
That's in... however many days it says down the side there.

Went on the second alternative alternative walk last night and then onto
Cheese & Crackers. I'm not sure where I'm getting my energy from at the
moment. Stocks are depleting though.

YOU LOVE IT!!!

Rock On

Xmas holidays were decided today and I get Xmas eve and then the whole of the week after Xmas off work - that's the most ever!! How cool. I can do stuff and do last minute Xmas shopping instead of working in a bank like what I am used to. This is the best news ever! So my last day at work is 23rd December and I start up again on 4th Jan. Yippeeee!!

I've had a good day today. Been to visit Noel and Julian, which is becoming a frequent and welcome event, done loads of work and am generally in a good mood despite massive hang over from the LAFTAS last night. I spent ages talking to Trevor and Simon so now I can die happy. They are the nicest people in the whole wide world. Also managed not to slap Victor from BB5 round the face - that took great restraint. The cheeky girls were there and one of them was dancing with this guy who flung her around. She seemed to be enjoying it until he swept her down and banged her head on the floor. Initially I was worried for her safety but when she looked fine I began to find it as funny as everyone else. They really are very lean indeed. There isn't an inch of fat on them. And rather than looking anorexic they look quite good. I tried not to stand too near to them.

Noel and Julian were there of course and I, I mean, someone was going round putting Boosh stickers up on the loaded posters - right on the ladies rude bits. Julian seemed very impressed with my covert operations.