so the mad dash world that i am living in has not slowed down. the workshops in aberdeen were very good as was the one on thursday. the management awayday also went well and despite my concerns about having to each my lunch on my own they all seemed to still to be talking to me by the end of the day. amazing considering i was talking about restructuring.

this weekend i am working again - its the only way i can keep up and i am really annoyed because i overslept and missed the fitness swim session. the try dive is booked and i am really looking forward to it.

we get our payrise at the end of fed and i have to say mine appears to be too good to be true, but i need it so that i can the place fit for selling and then move - best news is i have found a 3 bed end of terrace to move to - its rented but that suits at the moment. it is a huge house and it will be nice to have a fire station just down the road lol.

next week is busy again although not quite so bad as this. parents evening on tuesday (really not looking forward to that) and then off to cardiff on thursday afternoon. i am out drinking on tuesday and off to york for the day on wednesday. that is not a good combination methinks. i have a friend who is determined to set me up with someone - so she has invited a mate of hers along tuesday.

its the boys birthday tomorrow - he has personalised trainers a ralph lauren hoody and another superdry jacket. but lucky him he is playing rugby tomorrow against basildon - it is the quarterfinal of the essex cup - so i hope they win although the last time the two teams played there was an altercation. hey ho lets hope they win.

the weekend was fantastic and just what i needed. we had a great time taking his daughter swimming - the first time for her - and then there was sitting in and eating pizza, drinking lager and watching ironman. sunday found us walkng the dog - with me being pushed around on ice and falling off a rope swing. again the laughter did not stop and i had a great time.

work is so busy i feel that i am not achieving anything and next week i am off to aberdeen monday. back tuesday, off to taplow wednesday, workshops to run thursday and thank god working at home on friday.

Well a fantastic holiday. Despite assurances that friend in Dubai wouldn't be in touch I received a call on Christmas Day and then texts every day thereafter. Not sure where that friendship is going although that is not uncommon for me. As proved by the new friend I met for the first time on Boxing Day. A work colleague is a mutual friend and advised me that he had a free place for Egypt. I did not, in the end go, although had I realised I could have done my PADI while out there it might have been a different story. While he has been away we have emailed, txted and spoken every day - so where is this friendship going - see i have no idea with relationships.

Anyway I spent Christmas and New Year charging round from one social event to another, no time to think at all. And I have agreed to join a diving club with my brother, take my PADI or BASC and then go to Turkey diving in the summer - Egypt man wants to come as well. Haha.

So other than that my MSc has been put on hold till September (not enough applicants) cant say I am sorry gives me a bit of time to sort other things out - like moving. Apparently the ex is happy about selling up - so that is good news. I have worked out it will cost between 1500 and 2000 to do all the work./

New Years eve I managed to lose the front door key so New Years Day found me changing locks - which I say I managed very well. A new kitchen and bathroom should be a doddle.

I have started the New Year having given up smoking, lost more weight, swimming twice a week and using the resident rowing machine every day. The boy has also agreed to help me with his GCSE PE toning course he has developed. I am feeling quite thin at the moment and even managed to get into a size 10 t-shirt (although as CG pointed it out - it is quite stretchy). Carry on like this and by the time I go to Turkey I should be looking good.

This weekend I have a trip to visit a friend which should be great fun - the last time we met up there was laughter all day - so I am looking forward to it.