Shrove Tuesday. I'm not going to give anything up for Lent. Instead i'm going to do something with a more positive spin. I'm going to do 10 mins of exercise each day. It doesn't sound much, but when you are as overweight as i am, 10 mins is better than the nothing i am currently doing. I'm basically aiming to have done a little over an hour each week. I know it's under the recommended amount, but i'm going to start small and work upwards.

I've decided to do tha half day beadlooming course in nottingham. I think it would be a nice way to spend a Saturday. I wonder if there is anything else in Nottingham that i could see in the afternoon?

i've been working my way through block one, and started on block two of my new course. I do need to start my TMA, but i feel so daunted by it. The first tutorial is really very close to the hand in time for the TMA, but i am somewhat loathe to start it until I've had guidance. It is "only" 800 words, and even at my usual rate of 100 words a night, it is still weeks worth.

I shan't be doing any studying tonight as we have a charity event at work, and i'm taking part. However, i am pleased that I am keeping a good deal ahead, as i am sure that when i eventually start my new role i shall be quite tired from all of the new learning!

I've got Thursday booked off, and i was going to do a Tiara course, but now i've decided not i'm not sure what to do. I should probably be really good and spend the day studing hard going through more of block two, but i would also really like to go to the British Museum and sketch roman jewellery, and go through more of the ancient rome collection...

I've also been looking at prices of some activities, so that i don't have the excuse of not doing something because it's raining. Walking is free, but as i mentioned before i don't really want to do it locally, and i'm not really keen on walking in the rain.

I like Ceroc, but it's now 7 quid. I could go swimming on a tuesday or wednesday at the pool on the vale for 2.60, i don't know what the pool is like, but as they are adult only sessions, it could be really empty which would be good.

Combat classes are 3.60 at Wyndley which isn't bad.

Maybe i should have a short skate on Thursday? It wouldn't be dreadful good value for money, as i can only last a short time on the ice

I had a lovely birthday dinner at the creperie, so nice to meet up with people and chat about stuff.

I want to do more exercise, but i am essentially quite lazy. Ceroc would be good, as i don't need to go each week, so when i am better (my cold is not completely gone, and i am still wheezing and coughing and blowing my nose), i'm going to look into going again.

Watching dancing on ice has got me enthused about skating again, but i remember the pain after only 10 mins that i would get in my feet. I think i need to lose a lot of weight, so i haven't got some much pressure on my feet. Walking is very good and free, but i am not over keen on walking around my neighbourhood in the evenings. I did start working on weekends, and i'd like to pick that up again. Exercise classes of some form would be good, somethign like body combat again. It's just that i have to travel to the centre of sutton to do it, and i have been trying to cut down on petrol. The sports centre on the vale doesn't seem to do much of an evening. The classes i want to do such as combat are really too early for me on a weekday, but there are a couple of balance classes that i could make. Not really fat burning, in fact not fat burning at all, but at least i would be doing something...

Happy Birthday to me! Thank you Richard for his comment!

Also Happy Wedding day to Nerina, and good luck with the BRITS tonight!

I have pizza, and a bottle of Jacobs Creek sparkling Rose to celebrate your win (i may be disappointed, but i have faith!)

I've been full of cold lately. Birthday tomorrow. Mum is getting me pliers, which i am looking forward to! She bought me a small set, which i didn't ask for and boy are they small! Still, she has very kindly bought me cutters too, which i didn't ask for but did want. So i am set to make more jewellery now.

My glasses from Asda look nice, but the fit is very poor, and i'm not convinced that my right lens is right. They are ok for close work, and for large images, but sitting on my sofa i can't read the small writing on my PVR...oh well i have to decide if it's just the fit that means that the lens is in the wrong place, or the whole lens is wrong. Next time i'll go back to the opticians. More expensive, but i haven't had poor fit yet. I still have a little money squirreled away from the sum i took out to remortgage, so i will have a think.

For my birthday night i think i'm going to buy a pizza, some fizzy wine and dips and watch Nerina win the BRITS. She'd better win...

I'm going to be taking on a new role at work, i eventually went for the non-grade promotion, as there seems more opportunities there. I could be wrong, but it does seem the right time to move on.

I had an interview for another role on Friday. It went well. Trouble is that it is for the same grade, and again with no sign of promotion. I have applied for yet another role too, this time with a grade promotion, but haven't heard a peep about that one yet.

The non-grade promotion role sounds ok, it's more admin than anything else, but the fact that there is no promotion is depressing me. And i really do mean that.

I keep praying to God for guidance, but i don't seem to get an answer.

Just as a wrote that, i got an email from the team lead for the non-grade role. Maybe that's a sign. It will be very weird have someone so much younger than myself as a boss. I feel as if i must be very stupid to not be able to advance at all.

I'm not feeling too hot at the moment. Generally tired and achy, but no sniffles or coughs or anything. All i really want to do i lie down and sleep...

My mortgage details from Nationwide finally came through! I have to pay about 160 pounds extra in February, which definately leaves me with enough money left over to buy some new glasses. I can imagine that the bill for those is going to be around 300 pounds, because i do need the ultra-thin, super-light lenses. My frame will probably only be around the 70 pound mark! Still, i should get about 150 quid from BHSF, so it will be worth it.

I had a wonderful time seeing Nerina at the Warwick arts centre. She played and sang beautifully. I met up with Paul, and made a new friend, Leanne. I even saw the guy who took the picture of Nerina and I back in May, and he has promised that he will post it to me. I hope he does. Nerina did a signing session after the gig, which was nice. I got "all good people" signed, and i let her do glasses and a moustached on the picture of her face! I don't think she does it so much now that she is getting more well known! She's getting married on my birthday...well ok it's Valentines day! Her fiancee was there last night too, helping out on the merch stand, so with that, her little sister being head merch and her mum and dad in the audience it was a family affair!

I feel a bit down today. I think it's because last night was so good, and i had a great time meeting fab people that going back into work is a depressing let down. I have a work thing on Friday which i know don't want to do. Although i'm sure a good nights sleep tonight will help. Trouble is i have a wedding do on Saturday night, so i am going to be exhausted on Sunday.