Yesterday at work deteriorated after I'd made the blog posting. Unfortunately, our systems were up and running again fairly quickly when I discovered that the area that I look after could miss their year end target and as a result not get their bonuses. The idea of over 3000 people coming after me with big sticks wasn't alluring so I spend most of the day trying to scrape together some more money. It's going to be tight, but they should make it. The irony of all this is, that as I work in Finance my bonus is fairly secure! However, this heroic effort on my part meant that I didn't leave until 5pm, which although generally is early for me meant I was annoyed as everyone else left at about 3.30pm.

To cheer me up when I got home were friends Lolita Slides and Sandy Jets. As I hadn't seen them since my birthday it was fantastic to catch up with them. As ever, my life made them laugh since I am hounded by catastrophe wherever I go and whatever I do (well that's what it feels like anyway)

Plans for tonight have slowly started pulling themselves together. The venue will be my flat, friends Bonnie Sin and Holly Cox will be helping me celebrate the new year and friend Kinky Malibu may well put in an appearance. We have lots of alcohol, takeaway food menus and videos so I'm hoping for a fun night in. Bonnie Sin has been instructed to remove my mobile phone from me before I start drinking so I can't send any drunken text messages or even worse start calling people. I'm publicly apologising in advance as chances of giving up my phone once I've had a few are slim to remote so everyone in my phonebook is at risk from at least a text message if not a phone call tonight.

A very happy new year to everyone! I can't wait - it's a brand new year with no mistakes in it yet!

Christmas was very quiet this year. Both my parents were ill and to be honest after the whole office Christmas party / wedding weekend extravaganza I needed a few days of peace to try and sort my head out. Unfortunately, my head didn't get sorted and by Thursday night I was home alone trying to find the answers to my problems in the bottom of a bottle of Southern Comfort. Needless to say it didn't work, but as a cry for help it was very effective as friend Bonnie Sin came round to counsel me after a pathetic drunken text. I also got a call from friend Hard John Rod who wasn't much help on the counselling side as he was more drunk and pathetic than me, but at least his call made me laugh.

Friday I went shopping, or rather, I went returning unwanted gifts. This year was spectacularly bad as I had 4 presents that I had to return. I now have an awful lot of credit notes as there wasn't anything I wanted to exchange the presents for. I think I'll wait until the sales are over and they put out some half decent clothes in the shops. The post Christmas sales are the biggest con going. They now start before Christmas and most shops idea of a sale price is to reduce an item by £5 if you are lucky.

So Christmas is well and truly over for me as I'm back at work. I have a huge pile of month and year end tasks to complete, but am unable to as our ever helpful IT department have taken all of the figures out of our main reporting system. I shouldn't complain, I guess it gives me a good reason for not doing any work, but as there is hardly anyone in work today I need something to do to pass the time.

Hoorah! It's Christmas Eve. Unfortunately I am totally bored at work and I've been here less than an hour. The good news is that my manager has not done his Christmas shopping so he wants to get out early, so I'm hoping to be on my way home by lunchtime. I have nothing I want to do here today and it isn't worth starting something new. I'm going to go and socialise with my friends who are based on a different floor from me and that should kill the couple of hours before I can leave.

Merry Christmas and I'll be back before the new year!

The festive fun has continued over the last few days. Thursday night was my office Christmas party. For a tent in the middle of a field, it was pretty damn good. My only criticism would be that it was a bit too small. It made for a fantastic atmosphere, but it also meant that you couldn't find anyone. I didn't see half the people I wanted to see and lots of people I only saw once before losing them in the crowds. However, I managed to get a good position to see Liberty X - I had an even better position with colleague Juan Sex, but just as we were expecting Liberty X to appear, out came boy band 3SL whose only claim to fame is that their sister used to be in Steps. When Liberty X finally appeared I disgraced myself by knowing all of the words. It could've been worse - If I'd been 15 years younger I probably would've known the dance routines. I spent most of the night with colleague Chloe Bounce and her husband Slick Bounce mainly because I was reliant on them for getting home! I didn't want to leave, but sometimes it is best to get out while the going is good so you can't ruin it.

Friday I wasn't at work, as I wouldn't have been much use in the office. I also had to drive up north for the much anticipated wedding of friends Pimp Daddy Rothschild and Lydia Hott. I picked up friend Deedee Lustley, who was extremely helpful on the drive up as she spent most of it asleep. We eventually found the hotel (the groom Pimp Daddy Rothschild was conveniently standing outside so we knew we had the right place) Friday night was mainly spent catching up with old friends and acquaintances and making some new ones. Much drinking took place - in fact I seriously doubt whether some people (I can't think why friend Hard John Rod springs to mind at this point) took a sober breath the entire weekend.

Saturday was a long day. We spent the morning relaxing, conserving our energy for later in the day (translation - we couldn't be bothered to get out of bed) Having dragged ourselves out of bed to get the coach to the wedding Pimp Daddy Rothschild appeared with his best man and a gaggle of ushers. Once I'd got of the shock of seeing this bunch of loveable scruffs all dressed up (although to be fair they could have made the same comment about me) we got on the coach and went off to the church. The wedding was lovely, lots of audience participation - although never having had a religious upbringing it was all a bit of a mystery to me. Lydia Hott had a beautiful dress, red and cream which was really appropriate for the time of year.

It was very cold in the church so once the wedding was over, some of us headed down to the pub for a quick drink before moving on to the reception. The reception appeared to be enjoyed by all and especially by me... The entertainment for the evening was country dancing (something I'd not seen at a party since Hard John Rod's 21st birthday). I wasn't up for country dancing as I didn't want to wreck the evening my hurting my ankle again so there wasn't much for me to do except drink and talk to people and then drink some more. To say I was very, very drunk would be something of an understatement. I was so drunk that I can't remember much about the end of the reception. I do remember trying to catch the bride's bouquet, actually having it in my hand, but then losing it to the taller Hard John Rod who was catching it on behalf of Pimp Daddy Rothschild's little sister. It was not one of my finer moments - let's just say I was not gracious in defeat. My actual words were 'She is only 9 years old. I am 26, I need to get married' The moral to that story is not to invite single women to weddings and let them drink as much as I did on Saturday.

Having made it back to the coach, when I got back to the hotel I then spent the next hour or so sitting on the bathroom floor trying not be sick and texting nearly everyone in my phone book. I still haven't apologised to everyone yet for bombarding them with random messages. On the plus side, I wasn't sick and I ended up in my own bed alone that night.

Sunday was a complete write off due to lack of sleep and the closest I've ever come to a hangover in my life. I managed to get my sorry arse back to Stevenage without incident, although I'm sure if I'd been stopped I'd have been over the limit.

I managed to make it into work on time today, which I think was impressive after a night spent stressing about what exactly I'd done during the parts of Saturday night I couldn't remember. It's really quiet and I have hardly done any work, unless holding post mortems about the Christmas party is work. One of the secretaries has just come down with a Christmas present for me from one of my directors. The good news is that this has never happened before, so I feel like what I do is appreciated. The bad news is that the present is wine bottle shaped. I guess that 'I'm never drinking again' statement I made yesterday morning will be forgotten fairly quickly!

Another long update I'm afraid. I've been so occupied by the festive season that writing about it has had a very low priority.

Last Saturday night saw me at friend Bonnie Sin's birthday / Christmas party. Had a fantastic time especially as I got to see friends Donna Cummings, Jacqui Buttocks and Debbie Dicks for the first time in ages as well as usual suspects Kinky Malibu and Hottie Hunter. Our adopted elder brother, Cockney Diggler also turned up with his fiancée. I can't remember the last time I saw him so it was lovely to catch up. Having mixed my drinks horribly (advocar, vodka and red wine - drunk in that order) I consider myself very lucky I wasn't sick, but it kept me going till 3am, when I fell out of the taxi and tried to get into my flat (or Fort Knox as it seemed like at the time) The others weren't so lucky as their hangovers lasted until Monday, but Donna Cummings deserved everything she got for drinking pints of snowball (advocar and lemonade)

I had my third visit to Lars the Swedish dentist yesterday. The visit did not start well as I managed to get the time wrong and be 10 minutes late. However, this time he managed not to find any further work to be done, and he even managed to give me my fillings without causing me any pain. The pain came later as I had chronic toothache all day. This was made worse by the team Christmas lunch at Signor Baffi's in Boringwood. If anyone happens to be in the south Hertfordshire region and is looking for a nice place to eat, I'd recommend Signor Baffi's only if you have a week going spare as the service was incredibly slow.

I have been shopping nearly every day for the last week, but last night I finally finished. I even have a wedding present for Pimp Daddy Rothschild and Lydia Hott (who will become Lydia Hott Rothschild as of about 4.30pm on Saturday!) Life is looking up - I've managed to get my horrible dentist visits over and done with, my physio says my ankle is much better and I have my company Christmas party tomorrow night, followed by the wedding. By the time I get back from up north it'll practically be Christmas! It's all just too exciting - I'm going to have to go and lie down....

I am bored and stuck at work - a lethal combination. The two people who sit next to me are off today so I am on my own. Today I have done some work, I've flirted with colleague Hard Bends (futile since I know he has a girlfriend but it cheered me up), phoned friend Kinky Malibu, caught up on all the gossip on the internet - I even heard a tremendous piece of gossip myself which I am gagging to share, but really shouldn't as it concerns people I work with. Now I just want to go home.

I've also just realised it's Friday the 13th. I'm having my hair cut later - I hope this doesn't mean I end up bald!

Another Thursday evening, another late night Christmas shopping. I was really hoping to have everything I needed so I wouldn't have to face the masses this weekend, but it looks like I will have to go to town for the last few remaining presents either tomorrow or Sunday. However, the good news is that I will now be suitably attired at the wedding of friends Pimp Daddy Rothschild and Lydia Hott which is something of a relief. I also have a nice new sparkly outfit for my office Christmas party, although given that it being held in a marquee in the middle of a very large field, wellingtons and a barbour jacket may be more appropriate.

Colleague Chloe Bounce and I phoned around for taxi quotes to take us to the Christmas party as we both live in Stevenage. The quotes we got back proved to me that I am totally in the wrong business. I'm going to be a taxi driver - flexible hours, no exams to take and probably as much money as I'm making now. It was going to cost us in excess of £100 to get us to the Christmas party and home again. Luckily through a friend of a friend we found a taxi driver who offered to take us and pick us up for only £60 which between four of us (Chloe Bounce is taking her husband and I am taking friend Bonnie Sin) is much more affordable. I still have half a mind to try and claim the costs back through expenses, if the company held the party somewhere slightly more accessible then it wouldn't cost me the metaphorical arm and a leg to attend.

I HATE dentists! I went back to see Lars today to have my three fillings. Only it wasn't three it was four AND I have to go for another three next week. I spend about 5 minutes a day cleaning my teeth, but evidently I may as well not bother. I know sometimes I don't always clean my teeth at night (usually it's nights where I don't so much fall asleep as pass out) but how can that make any difference?

I am still numb up to the eyeballs, but am finally starting to gradually defrost a bit. Unfortunately I was not anaesthetised enough in the first place and had to have extra injections. Lars kindly informed me before he began that if I felt any pain I should raise my hand and he would stop. Whenever he hit a nerve raising my hand was the last thing on my mind - I was trying to get out the chair and run away!

All of this just reaffirms my belief that you should only go to the dentist when your teeth hurt!

This is probably going to be a long entry as I didn't get time to update this last week. Don't say you weren't warned.

Going right back to the middle of last week I took a second attempt at Christmas shopping with much more satisfactory results. I've finally realised where I have been going wrong all these years. I tend to make a special trip somewhere other than Stevenage to shop and I never come back with what I went out for (if I come back with anything at all) As a true Stevenage girl through and through I only ever have successful shopping trips when I shop in Stevenage. The choice of shops is limited and you are constantly surrounded by teenage mothers and their devil offspring, but it seems to work for me. Actually, I think it's more a desire to get everything over and done with as quickly as possible so I can get the hell out of there. It focuses the mind.

Friday night was a celebration as my sister has finally got a job as trainee solicitor. I am really happy for her as she has spent the last 4 years studying law (for which the textbooks rival accountancy as a cure for insomnia) and she was becoming increasingly frustrated by not having a job. The bad news is that she will be working for a firm that does not do conveyancing, so I won't be able to save money on solicitors fees on any future house purchases. However, if I should ever need a divorce, to sue anyone as a result of a personal injury or to sue my employers she will be able to help!

Saturday saw me heading down to London for friend Lydia Hott's hen night. I met up with my partner in crime for the evening, Deedee Lustley, for a couple of pre hen night drinks at Victoria, before we went on to meet the hen and her other friends in Clapham. I think it's safe to say, that a good time was being had by all up to the point I left (obviously, I can't speak for afterwards)

I had to leave prematurely as I had plans to meet up with friends Bonnie Sin, Kinky Malibu and Mary Ellen Thong for lunch on Sunday to celebrate a birthday, a new job and a new college course respectively, as well as the end of my exams. After a traditional Sunday lunch of steak and chips (well it's nearly roast beef and roast potatoes) we went to the cinema to see the new James Bond film Die Another Day. Having heard mixed reviews we weren't sure what to expect. It was OK, but I still prefer Goldeneye out of the recent Bond films. Die Another Day didn't really have a big memorable scene for me. I don't know if that was because there were so many big action scenes, but none of them had the thrill and the clout of tank chase in Goldeneye, or even the boat chase in Tomorrow Never Dies. Also I must say that Pierce Brosnan is also looking a bit worn round the edges now. In my opinion, he's still the most attractive Bond there has been, but he's past his prime. I mean really, would it have been so hard to get rid of the grey hair? It doesn't make him look distinguished (James Bond is distinguished anyway through mannerisms) it just makes him look old.

So to summarise, an excellent weekend which has kicked off the festive season nicely.

I was very brave last night and went late night Christmas shopping. An hour and a half later and I left with nothing. I found loads of great presents, but unless I get a large pay rise very soon, none of my friends and family will be getting the prefect presents I found for them last night.

Even worse I still can't find anything to wear to friends Pimp Daddy Rothschild and Lydia Hott wedding in a couple of weeks. It may be a winter wedding, but somehow I don't think jeans and a sweatshirt is appropriate.

I would've written something here yesterday, but I was caught up in the wonders of a Finance month end. Also my weekend was that spectacularly dull that writing about it could wait a day. The high point was the trip to the town museum (I told you it was dull) with friend Bonnie Sin. My friends sound like they belong in the cast of a porn film, but that's probably because I changed their names using the Porn Star name generator . I had to do this in order to protect the guilty.

Moving swiftly on, Bonnie Sin and I ended up at the museum as it was close to my house and free admission. We truly feel now that we have discovered our new town heritage. I even managed to buy my first Christmas present of the year there which was something of a bonus.

As for the rest of the Christmas shopping, if my ankle doesn't get a bit stronger soon to allow me to go then it could just be a £5 note in a card and I'll tell everyone I was burgled on Christmas eve.