I tok a picture of what my car looked like last night, when i get through the film, i will hopefully get it scanned in. I was so glad of my grandma-knitted scarf.

I sent of tma02 for at272. i found it very boring, and i'm glad it's gone! I may not even count this towards my degree...

Tonight is Jyoti's leaving do. We are going to Ask in Warwick. I will be said to see her go, although she is going onto better things in Leeds. I have started updating my CV. I'm doing it bit by bit so i don't get too bored. I did a lot of the formatting today, which is the annoying fiddly bit!

I did kick-box aerobics last night, which was a big disappointment. The music was too loud and the instructor had no mic, so i couldn't hear a lot of what she was saying. There appeared to be little structure, and the cool down and stretching was not good enough.

I have been spoilt doing Body Combat, which is very structured and has decent warm up and cool down tracks (very important after a high impact class). Pity really.

I've been looking at the civil service website, and having a long think. I need something with more challenge, and less emphasis on money-making. But the selection process is very tough. Also, i cannot apply until late this year. My first degree is high enough, and i would assume that my OU work, would make me look willing to learn new skills...but i don't do well in tests, and i don't like interviews. My first step, though, is to update my cv. I need to do it for work, so i can get our HR person to review it. I would also wonder how my previous mental health problems would look.

I am so much better now, that it is untrue. I've finally discovered me and what i like (QVC!), and enjoy things so much better. Of course, being alone with no single friends is a pain, but at least i'm doing something about that.

I guess the only answer is to try. I have a lot to offer.

The new series of CSI is on tonight! woohooo! wish it was miami though and proper CSI was on Saturday nights, but there you go. I might also try and watch the new L&O spin-off. I should also try and learn 3rd noun form.

Not a good weekend. Some guy from a different branch ruined my buzz. I was trying to be helpful, by being straight and telling the truth that OUSA central needs to have certain forms of paperwork before a branch is considered open. He didn't like this, and i was accused of being negative. Pity i was right really.

As having a positive outlook is very important to my mental health, well this just set me back.

I didn't go to weight watchers, and my car was in partically all day being serviced (250 quid). And even today, i can feel myself slipping.

I did, however, have a really lovely roast dinner at the weatherspoons in Sutton. beef, roasties, two yorkshires and lovely veg and a drink for under a fiver. Sadly some of the veg was peas, which i don't eat, but next time i might try and get them to swop the peas for carrots.

I'm thinking about joining Weight Watchers.

Oh speedating. Well, there were more men this time and the dates really were three short minutes. A few blokes i liked, sadly the one i really did didn't tick me, but there you go. I stayed for an extra hour and half. I got to know these chinese/welsh sisters who were very funny and we chatted with this bloke that i described on my scorecard as "mad". Not BF potential, if you were thinking that.

I'm meeting up with a sutton ousa member next saturday. She's really nice, and i hope that she'll become a good friend.

I've given up on tma02 - i'm going to get the info for citiations done and print out. I'll give Latin a go tonight. I might also pop around to Lindsays and see how she's doing.

My spots still haven't gone. They are quite painful. I hope this isn't a repeat of the weird infection i had on my legs. I think i must just be very germy.

The expensive moisturiser is doing ok. It will last a long time, so was worth the money. I like the Liz Earle cleanse and polish too, although i think that when this spot/infection clears up i will be able to better tell.

I should really send the brochure to my sister. She has easily irritated skin, and this is a lovely natural range.

Friday night i wasn't very well, and was up several times in the night with tummy ache. I was tired for most of Saturday which was a shame because i had OUSA WM RF in the afternoon and accidentally jumped a red light (which is causing me to lose sleep, over what might happen) as well as Sutton branch meeting in the evening. The branch meeting went very well, about 25 people turned up. Some are interested in standing for officers, and many are interested in social activities. From there, hopefully we can get things going.

Sunday i had a flat tire, but managed to get it changed before going to Leicester to visit my grandparents.

Yet again i did no work on TMA02. It's just rather dull.

I finally got round to doing the washing up. I hate doing it on a week night becayse it's generally very cold in the kitchen. I'm going to ring up to get my heating serviced and find out if it's possible to have a timer put on it. It woudl be lovely to have it going for an hour before i got home.

I have a Sutton Coldfield OUSA branch meeting tomorrow, to try and get things running again. I'm a bit nervous about going to a pub on my own, even though i know some people will be turning up (evenif only to get A103 videos off me!). I may need a lie-in on Sunday to manage.

Or not ring up. I tried the number i had, but sadly the Thompson directory is wrong! I now have the correct number, but the company is a fair few miles away. I will look again tonight.

I am so tired i think the best thing for me would be an early night.

I've looked at the episode guide for "without a trace" and it turns out that the first episode C4 showed was episode 2. This would explain why i didn't understand some of the references to showing one of the characters up...Also turns out that this weeks episode will be episode 5!

I didn't have time to do my washing last night, so i shall probably have to go to the gym tomorrow. Oh well.

I bought myself a face pack and a new on the spot type cream. My face is a lot less sore, which is good.

It was snowing at lunchtime! It's stopped now, but it brought back memories of my holiday last year. It's stopped now. The only thing, ok one of them, that i didn't enjoy was that after an hour of ski school, i simply HAD to go to the toilet. I just couldn't wait until lunch.

We've had another person leave, this time to go to work on a project in Leeds. It will be ideal for her. Me, well maybe i'll think a bit more seriously about it. I don't want to move away from the Midlands though.

Well, i have 100 words to right on my TMA. This includes the conclusion, and maybe a little refining of some sections. This will be done well before it's due, and i'm glad. I'll work a little more on the conclusion tonight.

I have ordered a try me pack from liz earle. I need to get intoa good routine, and all natural ingredients sounds good to me!

Tonight i should go to the gym. I have my kit in the car, but i'm very tired. I hope i'm not coming down with something as Saturday i will be busy most of the do with OUSA stuff, and Sunday i'm going to Leicester.

Speaking of the gym. After spending time in the steam room both Saturday and sunday i now have loads of spots. grrrrreat. They look horrid, and are also rather painful.

I need to get my arse in gear.

I did no work on my TMA over the weekend. In fact, on Sunday night, when i was back at mum's, i thought i might do some but it turned out that i had left my notes at my house. I have something like 200 words left and that includes my conclusion. Hopefully i may be able to finish this tonight.

This then leaves plenty of time to ensure that my citations are correct and that the whole thing makes sense. There are a couple of bits which i don't think i've really explained fully. Overall, i believe that this will mean i have passed the course.

I went to the gym twice this weekend, and am taking part in this months challenge. Whomever loses the most body fat (percentage) wins a heart rate monitor.

Unfortunately i made cheese straws this weekend, so that probably counteracts it. At least it gets me going to the gym though. I'm planning on going tomorrow and Thursday, which gives me a little time to rest between sessions.

I finished TombRaider: AOD, and didn't do any wallpaper stripping.

A product weekend!

Tonight, I'm going to get some make done at the Estee Lauder counter at Boots at the Fort. I don't know whether i will buy anything. I saw Liz Earle products on QVC which seem ideal for me. Plus Liz Earles skin looks wonderful. I'm going to keep the EL moisturiser and not buy anything new as it does seem to suit my skin. I'm thinking about buying her mini essentials kit, which is 15 pounds. I can try them out, and i do get a mini moisturiser with it. I'll think on it, and see what happens tonight.

I phone my grandparents today. My Grandma is not well. She hasn't been the same since the burglary. I will go and see them on Sunday.

I know that eventually they will die, but it's different with them. My other set of Grandparents preferred my mum's brother and his family. Despite the fact that it was my family who looked after them...well it didn't seem to matter to them. I don't miss them at all, and in fact didn't attend my maternal grandmothers funeral. Sounds heartless I know, but there you have it. But my paternal Grandparents are different, and with them all links to my Father's side of the family will be gone. I envy those people who have large families.

I've decided that i need to get back in touch with my faith again, but I don't want to go somewhere were being single marks me out. There is a church called Riverside that seems quite youthful.

Booked my second speed dating event, so I am doing ok on my resolutions. I will be going to the gym tomorrow and sunday too.

I did another hundred words last night, and maybe i can get a few more. This is just rather boring now.

Oh well, as the song says...soon be over.

Tonight is TH2. Again, it wasn't organised properly and now i have to head to the south side of birmingham. No time to go home. I'm getting a bit fed up of it really.

I had the day off yesterday, as i had a "partner" day which was supposed to be taken off as part of the Christmas holiday.

I spent 30 quid on a moisturiser...hmmm a lot of money, but sometimes a girl likes to feel pampered. I also sat in a Streetka. Nice....

The electric cinema closed down. so sad, as i enjoyed watching a film with a slice of cake.

So how am i doing with my resolutions?

Well, i went to Spice hits town on Saturday. I danced for an hour, until my feet got
sore! I said hallo to many different people and Gary said that seeing me was the highlight
of his evening! I also met someone who was on the Saalbach trip, but whose name i cannot
remember. He inspired me to go back to the gym.

Which leads me into the next resolution. I went to the gym yesterday (and i hurt
today!) and have asked for one of the PTs to contact me about having some RBT sessions. I
need a kick start.

I've also arranged to see the optician with a view to getting contact lenses. I don't know whether softer ones are possible, but if anyone knows it will be my optician. They are a small, independant, family-run business. I've been going there for something like twenty-years, and as a small child i had to have eye tests every six months so i got to know the optician and the receptionist very well. They often send away to Europe to get the lenses for my glasses. More expensive, but so much lighter than NHS lenses, believe me! So if anyone knows about somewhere i can get good contacts, it will be them.

I have nearly 700 more words to write for my tma. About a weeks worth of work, which is fine. But i think i can only manage about 250. Still, i do still have a lot of time, and will keep to my 100 words a day, which means that if i do a little more over the weekend, i cold be finished by next Monday. Maybe. Or take a few breaks to allow for more ideas ro develop.

This part of the course, well the medieaval part hasn't interested me quite so much and i find it a chore even to type it up!

Happy New Year!

I had a quiet New Year at a Spicers house. It was just the sort of evening i needed.

I finished "TimeLine" - apparently the film is totally different, so i won't bother. My favourite Crichton adaptation is "The andromeda strain", but even that has some differences.

I still have a long way to go on my tma, but i've broken through the 500 word mark now. I hope to finish off Italy tonight (maybe, will depend on how tired i feel!) and make a start on Islamic cities over the weekend.

So, Resolutions. Well, one is to go speed-dating every other month.

I have also decided that i need to get my social life back on track, so in the other month i will go and do somethng with SPICE.

I also need to go back to the gym.