what’s 9 to 5?

It’s crazy mad busy for those of us on the front line at work, with no sign of letting up. The release schedule is fit to bursting and I have been given lots of new duties, plus my very own project, which is hotting up nicely. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I love it. I love learning new things and I am relishing the role but it is hard work. For the last few weeks I’ve been working late every night, getting home, eating, watching BB7 and sleeping. That’s the lot, so I’ve been determined to leave work at 6pm on Fridays and the weekend has been starting there. If there were bars on buses I would be sinking my first vodka on the bus going home. Although it would appear that summer left us the day after the Shark + TH left these shores, I steadfastly refuse to accept this. The last 2 Fridays I have headed straight to Perry’s where we have been hanging onto summer by bar-b-q ing in his garden come rain, cloud or cold. He’s getting really rather good at it and is solely responsible for my change in opinion. I’ve always called it burnt food in the past but I’m coming round to his tasty grub and the joys of communal cooking. It also fits into my cunning plan of taking it easy at the weekend.

Last Friday I stumbled home in the early hours weaving a path across the pavements and I struggled to get up early on the Saturday to get my haircut. It was long overdue and the Spanish mullet look had to go before the start of the football season. My hair was cut off in a symbolic ritual. HWCBN liked it long and I’ve been slowly chipping away at it and finally gave the go ahead to get it off. Luckily my hairdresser does not talk while cutting my hair as I was in no condition to hold a conversation. Our ruthless come hippy MD at work has told me how to get a new boyfriend. It’s time now, although I haven’t been looking, which, according to him, is the problem. He told me that I have to put signals out into the Universe. If I think that I won’t get a man, then I won’t. If I signal that I want one, then I will get one, so, boys, watch out. I’m coming to get you. I have also placed a light in the South West corner of my bedroom which I must put on as another signal. I’ve also ensured that the mirror does not reflect my bed in it. These are both Feng Shui moves, on the advice of a colleague. The light has been burning now for 5 hours so I mean business.

I had to keep my strength up as the Vixen was coming round for an arts and crafts day. She’s back and we have promised to spend quality time with each other. We spent the day painting with brushes, sponges and potatoes and some of the work is very good. I was absolutely appalled to have to put the central heating on and heavy cloud meant that a trip to the park to watch the meteor shower was out of the question. Boo! It took me 3 hours to clean up on the Sunday but I’m glad I did as the buyer for my flat made an unscheduled visit to measure up for curtains. I had more of the same last night as Perry and I somehow managed to eat at a very late 11pm and played cards until gone 3 in the morning. We’re very competitive and each one of us demanded rematches if the other won. Fate conspired against me again today as I was told to get up for 9am, after 4 hours sleep, as a surveyor was coming round. Naturally he didn’t turn up until 11am, grrrrr. I only started feeling human again around 4pm. Drinking a week’s worth of vodka in one evening does take its toll.

My own flat hunt is going very very slowly as there is nothing suitable for me on the market. I had put an offer in on a property but it was withdrawn from sale only to be put back on 2 weeks later with a new price 9K over my offer, the asking price, and 5K over my planned budget. It was a gorgeous place with big bright rooms, a lovely garden and a cellar!! I have now resigned myself to putting my stuff into storage and staying with my big bro until I find somewhere. Sounds like lots of fun.

Next weekend Perry and I continue our search for the summer with a weekend of camping in Cornwall. There are currently bad weather warnings there, so no one tell him please. We’re off to see Goldfrapp at the Eden project and then we’ll stay for the Bank Holiday weekend along with the WB and his missus. I can see very long evenings with lots of card playing ahead.