It's been a very busy but boring week, so there hasn't been much point in posting anything. The highlight of my day for the last week has been watching Elizabeth on the History Channel! Everything is quiet on the home front. My Mum has turned into something of a text demon over the last few days. This is the woman who didn't have a clue how to even read a text message a week ago let alone send one. It seems that she and my Grandad are having a good holiday at least. I haven't heard from my Dad. I think this is a good thing - it either means he's found someone else to tell all of his troubles to in my Mum's absence or he's happy and things are going well for him in South Africa. Contrary to my expectations, I didn't see my sister last night as one of her friends went to cheer her up after her boyfriend left on his travels. However, she is very upset about it all so I think there will be more to come.

I have no plans for the weekend, but I think lots of study will be in order as next week is going to be even busier at work. Especially as there are only 9 days before I go on study leave!

I was too tired yesterday to post anything. I was up at the crack of dawn to take my Mum and Grandad to the airport as they were going on holiday. They were being annoyingly happy for 5am in the morning. In the end I had to tell them to shut up otherwise they'd be walking!

The weekend was good. Friday night I was at home to see my sister's boyfriend before he sets off travelling for a year. The good news is that he doesn't go until Thursday. the bad news is that my sister has already called me to find out what I am doing on Thursday night. Looks like I am going to have to sit and be nice to her, which will be something of an effort.

Saturday I was at college (only 2 more weeks to go!) and Saturday night I went out to dinner with friends Bonnie Sin, Kinky Malibu and Mary Ellen Thong. I hadn't seen them for ages so it was good to catch up. I've let my social life slide recently - I do want to see my friends more, but the my free time is so limited at the moment whenever I do have some time to socialise I just want to catch up on my sleep! I spent most of Sunday sitting around in the sun. I'm sure there were more constructive uses of my time but few of them would have been as enjoyable.

Yesterday after the early start I dragged myself into work confident in the fact I would be able to leave early as I had meetings in Boringwood which finished at 4pm. Even allowing time for overrun I thought I could still be home by 5pm. Unfortunately, my last meeting overran by an hour so I didn't get home until much later than expected because I was stuck in traffic. The day hadn't been an overwhelming success so as soon as I got in I crawled into bed deciding to write the day off as soon as possible. Today is much better and I've even met my new car! Colleague Shannon Steel is currently driving a brand new BMW 3 series cabriolet. I totally want one - I know it makes me shallow, but I don't care. The sun was out so we had the roof down and cruised the streets of Hatfield (it would've been better in a slightly more exotic location but you take what you can get) I am completely managerless this afternoon so I can do what I like. I think an early finish is in order....

I was sorry to hear this morning that the war on Iraq has finally started. It seems pointless and futile and only innocent people are going to get hurt. If they were really concerned about what Mr Hussein would do then they'd finished the job off properly 12 years ago. This just seems to be a displacement activity because America (and obviously by America I mean Mr Bush) has to be seen to be doing something to avenge the September 11th 2001 attacks. If the US want to go to war, then let them but why do we have to get involved? Contrary to what Mr Blair seems to think, I don't think it makes us look good and can you really see the US backing us up if the situations were reversed. I am not sure about my facts here as I was only 5 years old at the time, but I don't ever recall hearing that US forces were helping us during the Falklands war (if I am wrong here, then someone please tell me as I'd be interested to know) I am also glad that there are some people who are willing to make a stand when they believe something is wrong. I am referring to Robin Cook here and not Claire Short who turned out to be all mouth and no trousers. Mr Blair should try and get Mr Cook back into the Government. Given his own lack of integrity, he needs Mr Cook's very badly.

For anyone who has sent me these questions before and even care what the answers are....

1. LIVING ARRANGEMENT: By myself in a flat which I half own and hopefully by the summer I will fully own (apart from the monstrous mortgage)
2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW: About a Boy by Nick Hornby
3. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I'm sorry to say it's a corporate mousemat so it shows some bloke jumping up in the snow and it tells me to get more success. Obviously that's my focus everyday when am at work...
4. WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Taboo, Articulate, any of the 'talking' games
5. YOUR FAVOURITE MAGAZINE? Heat
6. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Chocolate, fresh bread, Obsession perfume
6a. LEAST FAVOURITE SMELLS? Cooking fish
7. FAVOURITE SOUND? The first few seconds of whatever my favourite song is that day
8. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? disappointment in any form
9. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE UP IN THE
MORNING? Have I got to go to work today and I can I get away with phoning in sick? Needless to say my conscience gets the best of me virtually every weekday and I go to work!
10. FAVOURITE COLOURS? yellow
11. HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? not many, I do tend to jump on the phone whenever it rings - even at work
12. NAME OF FUTURE CHILDREN? I need to meet a man I would contemplate having children with first and then I'll think of some names
13. MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE? being happy with yourself and satisfied with your life
14. FAVOURITE FOODS? Ice cream, chocolate and cheese (although not eaten necessarily in that order)
15. CHOCOLATE OR VANILLA ICE CREAM? Chocolate rocks!
16. DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Erm for the benefit of my policeperson friend I drive safely and within specified limits. For the benefit of everyone else I drive like the proverbial bat out of hell
17. DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Not any more. My panda has been relegated to the spare room!
18. IS THE GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? AS a naturally positive person the glass is always half full
19. WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Volkswagen Polo which the more observant amongst you will have noticed I still have.
20. IF YOU COULD MEET ONE PERSON DEAD OR ALIVE WHO WOULD IT BE? It's too hard to narrow it down to one person
21. FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? Southern Comfort and lemonade
22. WHAT IS YOUR ZODIAC SIGN? Libra
23. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? Nope
24. IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED WHAT WOULD IT BE? Rock star
25. EVER BEEN IN LOVE? only unrequited love which I don't think counts
26. EVER BEEN IN LOVE WITH FRIEND AND NEVER SAID ANYTHING? Oh God, more times than I care to remember
27. FAVOURITE BOOK? Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
28. FAVOURITE ANIMAL? cows because they are damn tasty
29. FAVOURITE SPORT? The one where you roll cheese down a hill
30. LEAST FAVOURITE SPORT TO WATCH? I've never been able to get into cricket
31. SAY ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? I've had this so long that I've forgotten who sent it to me originally!
32. NAME A PERSON WHO YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO
RESPOND? I think most people I know have completed this already
32a. NAME A PERSON YOU SENT THIS TO WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? see answer to q32
33. SEXIEST OR FAVOURITE MAN AND WOMAN? Why does everything have to be narrowed down to one person? I have lists that change on a daily basis. At the minute it is Nick Knowles after I saw him on Comic Relief and Brad Pitt and George Clooney because I watched Ocean's Eleven last night
34. FAVOURITE CARTOON CHARACTER? The Pink Panther
35. WHO DO PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE LIKE? I hate to think
36. ONE WORD A FRIEND HAS USED TO DESCRIBE YOU? Talkative
37. FAVOURITE TV SHOW? Friends as those who have seen my video collection will testify
38. LAST CD YOU BOUGHT? I brought several singles a few weeks ago including Electric Six and Appleton. The last albums I brought were the new Craig David and the Chicago soundtrack
38a. FIRST RECORD YOU BOUGHT? Do they know it's Christmas II which was a present for a friend.
39. LAST PERSON YOU SPOKE TO ON PHONE?. Colleague Jamal Jupiter which covers off both work and socially
40. FAVOURITE PLACE? Has to be Las Vegas

Unusually for me this is a Sunday posting. I am testing that the internet works from home so I am not isolated from my friends when I go on study leave. Looks like the test has been a success! Not much has happened since Thursday. I found out what my payrise was as a result of the November exams. Found out being the operative word as I looked it up in my personal details on our employee self service system at work. Well if I wait for my mangers to tell me I'll be waiting a long time. They've known what they were going to give me since early February as I got invited to the meeting by mistake (needless to say I wasn't allowed to attend) Anyway, I got 12% which wasn't bad going. It was what I was expecting - I'd have liked more but doesn't everyone?

Friday night I went to see my Mum as she was home alone as both my Dad and sister were away. Compulsory viewing on Friday night if you were at home was obviously Comic Relief. However, something has changed since when I watched it as a kid. I used to be totally unmoved by the stories about how the money was needed in Africa and here at home. However, either I'm more susceptible to these things now I'm older or they are really going for the hard sell now. I had to sit on my hands all night to stop myself calling in to pledge my entire savings. I had already given money during the day at work and I've got the nose to add to my collection. Oxfam, the NSPCC and Cancer Research already get money from me on a monthly basis so I think it's far to say that I do my bit. Friend Kinky Malibu had a theory which I think hit the nail on the head. When I was younger I didn't really have any money to give, but now I am older and I work it is far easier for me to donate reasonable amounts of money without it impacting my life too much.

Saturday I was at college - it wasn't too bad considering. I have got to go to college next Wednesday and Thursday nights in Milton Keynes to make up for the day I am missing when I go to friend Stephanie Sparks wedding next month. This means I have to get the homework from Saturday done before then which is something of a pain. I might even have to break my 'no study on a Sunday' rule! However, that is unlikely - I have to tidy up as my Mum is coming round for dinner later. When she comes round I do like to pretend I make an effort to keep the house tidy.

Somehow it's got to be Thursday already without me noticing much. I have been far too busy for my liking and we've just found out that we will be doing another forecast. Much to my disgust this has to be submitted on 10th April which is my last day in the office before I go on study leave. I was hoping to a) miss the whole exercise completely and b) take a couple of extra days at the start of my study leave to do some work before the revision courses begin. Looks like that won't be happening. However, forecasts give me lots of opportunities to flirt with colleague Hard Bends which is never a bad thing! We had a lovely long random e mail conversation yesterday which made the day go much faster than usual. I'm really happy today as I've finally managed to clear an item that's been on my to do list since last October and become a millstone round my neck. A huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders and I feel much better about my work now because of it.

I guess I should do a catch up on the weekend. As ever, I was at college on Saturday which was so much fun for me. Really, there's nothing I would rather be doing on a Saturday than learning about how to be a stockbroker. Saturday night was a quiet one, friend Kinky Malibu popped round for a while to plan Sunday's shopping expedition to Milton Keynes. After she left I started reading my book, which I was about half way through. Unfortunately, it got scary and I couldn't go to sleep until I'd found out who'd been murdered and then who it was that murdered them. It took me until 2am to finish it but it was worthwhile as I was no longer scared. For anyone who is interested the book was Dead Famous by Ben Elton - I do recommend it as long as you don't read it late at night (maybe I'm just of a paranoid disposition)

Sunday I picked up Kinky Malibu bright and early and we went to our natural habitat - the shops. I spent lots of money and got my mum her birthday present as well as a dress for me to wear to friend Stephanie Sparks wedding next month. When we got back I then cooked one of my traditional Sunday dinners (snags and mash) for myself and my Grandad before collapsing quietly for the evening in front of the telly. Monday it was my Mum's birthday so we went out for a meal in the evening and I got to see my Dad before he jetted off to South Africa on Tuesday (I'm supposed to be the young executive jetsetter of the family, but no one appears to have told my Dad's company that yet) Tuesday night I was looking forward to a well earned rest when friend Boopsie Venus called. The girl is a nutter so I always love talking to her but our phone calls never finish early so that was another late night. Yesterday at work I was like one of those cartoon characters who when they are tired prop their eyelids open with matchsticks. Thanksfully I've since got some sleep and now look a little more human and a little less zombie, but another late night could push me back over the edge! I saw the Michael Jackson Thriller video last night and it matched my self image exactly, except they were better looking.

Just posted my last entry and looked at the date. It's my cousin's birthday and I've not sent him a card, so I now have a dilemma. Do I ignore his birthday completely or draw attention to the fact that I totally forgot, by sending a card which is going to get there late. Answers on a postcard to the usual address, however if you've advocating sending a late card then you'd better have some good ideas on what kind of card to get a 15 year old boy. I have a feeling the type of birthday cards I usually send would be appreciated by my cousin, but deemed totally unsuitable by my Aunt!

It's things like this that make me miss living at home with my Mum and her comprehensive birthday calendar.

Ah the end of another week - they seem to fly past at the minute. It's only 11 weeks till the exams and I want to slow time down a bit so I can scramble enough information into my head so I pass. However, I have been good and am sticking to studying every morning for an hour before I start work.

Work has been very busy this week with month end, but I have been super efficient and got everything finished a whole week before my final deadline. Unfortunately, this means I am missing another deadline for something else but that is not entirely my fault anyway!

This morning I have just signed up for Celebdaq which I've been meaning to do for ages. For those of you not in the know, it's a website where you trade shares in celebrities. The share values are based on column inches (centimetres if you want to be metric) each celeb generates each day. It's about time I put my comprehensive knowledge of celebrity gossip to good use. However, I've been trading for less than 2 hours and I've already made a loss. Nicole Kidman is letting me down and underperforming. I don't think I'll try a career in stockbroking, although I always thought I'd be good at the shouting and weird hand waving bits!

It was a good weekend. Friday night my parents came round to visit and I acted like the grown up daughter I am by making them dinner (in a calling the chinese takeaway fashion) They managed to polish of a bottle of my finest red wine and stayed so late that I had to get up early on Saturday in order to get everything ready for college and my weekend away.

The less said about college the better. I shall say, however, that I didn't have a clue about what I was supposed to be doing which does not bode well for May. College finished early (which is always a good thing) and I was able to escape down to Sussex to be at friends Pimp Daddy Rothschild and Lydia Hott's dinner party. My Herculean effort to be there and be awake was rewarded as I had a really good time. Lovely people, lovely food and lovely place. I had been reading the good dinner party etiquette guide in preparation and turned up with the requisite flowers, chocolate and wine. It's a shame that not all invitees were there as one of our usual suspects, friend Hard John Rod couldn't make it. His excuse that he was jet lagged didn't get much sympathy, especially since he texted to say he wasn't coming. That definitely is not in the good dinner party etiquette guide! Since we were missing our usual target for abuse we started on friend Deedee Lustley and her penchant for computer geeks who graduated from Birmingham in 1998. The excuse last time was that she thought he was gay and when she realised that he wasn't it seemed rude to back out of the deal!

Sunday was a quiet day, we spent much of the day chatting before I realised it was time to take myself home before I fell asleep. When I got home I spent what was left of the day vegging out in front of the TV. Monday came round again far too quickly and I am in the midst of another fun filled monthend. If the end of the world ever comes, Finance will be spared for a week because we'll have to world end it!