So today I decided to be pretty productive and for the most part it worked out.

Before work I made my sandwiches etc then went over the road to finally get my prescription and that sorted.

Work was... meh. Got some time off the phones to listen to new to business calls though which is a good sign as it shows they're interested in training me up on it.

My typing today has been out of this world, but then I think that's because I've been doing a lot of complaints so it pretty much just comes out naturally rather than me having to think about what I'm typing to make sure I get all the info in.

During my lunch break I decided to take my car to get washed for the first time in what I can honestly only think of as being a year O_o In my defence it doesn't look dirty unless it's dark or you get really close to it. Decided to take it to a machine one was I felt guilty about putting people through cleaning that amount of mank and the BP garage has it half price during the week.

Everything was fine. Till the fucking thing took my wing mirror off. GRAAAAH. So I had a very shiny car but at a price and I remembered that Richard has gone off to Glasto so there was no one to call upon other than my dad (no thanks).

Tried fixing it on the car park for work and failed, got a random man to try and help me (incase I was being girly and it was something obvious) but he failed. So I felt like crap at work thinking that I'd broken it again.

When I got home I parked and gave it a good go. I now know why it breaks and while I haven't fixed it 100% it's at least back where it was when Richard fixed it. Thinking that I might apply more of Matt's vikinged gaffa tape.

On the way to Tai Chi I picked up the stuff I'd promised for offerings. Matt would feel bad about the mead (as he would see it) going to waste. But I got what I asked for so they get what they ask for. Got a bottle of olive oil as well and qued up for about an hour in bloody Morrisons which made me late for Tai Chi.

That was good... but the room I was doing it in was OMFGSOSTUFFANDHOT.

Which reminds me about the joy of working for Lloyds. Upstairs we are freezing our arses off and wearing our coats (seriously, even today). Downstairs the aircon isn't working and someone passed out because it's too hot. The comparisons between that place and some sort of Victorian workhouse continue O_o.

Can it be Friday plzkthnx?

I had a VERY good day's shopping.

Went into that shop that seems to be the Zaavi clearance. Actually had my mom with me for a change thanks to the kid's holidays. She got one CD. I managed to get AMON AMARTH - VERSUS THE WORLD... FOR £4. What makes that even better? The fact I was debating whether or not to get it with my HMV voucher from work to reduce it to that amount. Ordered the flash copy of Alestorm's new album instead... so WOOT.

Also got Battlelore - Sword Song for £4 and the first series of American Dad for £6.74. The best thing is, the two CD's definitely weren't there last Friday when I went in and American Dad was 9.99.. so they'd reduced that.

All I can think is that they're getting rid of ALL the Zaavi stock from there, given I don't know of another one of these cheap shops replacing it anywhere else. It'd also explain why they told Jason they thought they'd be around until about September /m/.

Went into TK Maxx after that and got this gorrrgeous dress for £15 that's from Criminal Damage... so pretty... I don't know whether to wear it tomorrow or not because I think I'll have to wear it with my massive heels and that'll make it seem dressier than I should be for work and hanging around in Notts... But then it is supposed to be hot tomorrow O_o Hmmm...

Work's been pretty okay for the past couple of days... though I seem to be getting that compensated with having one call that lasts 40mins... ¬_¬

Had a good Tai Chi time yesterday, was focussed more on energy and Craig talking more like he used to at the other Wednesday class I went to. I miss that so much... and the Saturday class... kind of wishing I still had my gym membership for the next free weekends but oh well...

Richard fixed my mirror... or at least got it back on. Used Matt's gaffa tape on it anyway given that the thing seems to be constantly under attack ¬_¬ Just glad it's actually on. HAD to be a bicycle given the massive scuff mark at handlebar height going down the side... Am going to attempt to get the poor thing cleaned over the weekend if I can.

Looking forward to Sadie munchkin's bday on Saturday. MUST NOT FORGET PRESENTS. MUST NOT. Not only have I got my own, I've got Matt's here as well... bad times if I forget. BAD. REMEMBER THEM.

After Sunday I am going to be in extreme moping mode... just warning everyone now...

Friday was pretty good but also pretty weird... it was like an extra day had been added to my week with my being at home for the night rather than being transported to Nottingham. Lol I suppose it was nice for Ben and Jem to get a Fliss free weekend for a change O_o

Woke up like a little bouncy puppy on Saturday morning. Went around Dudley and picked up almost all the GRRM books for Matt bar 3.2 ¬_¬ But even so, getting 3.1 and 4 was pretty awesome as well as the first Night Watch book to book. Unfortunately to check he didn't have the latter I had to ring him while he was asleep but thankfully he was pretty okay about it ^_^

Came home, ate and then took Milo out for a quick walk. He's finally settling in again now after everything which is awesome...

Drove to Brum and had to remind myself not to disappear off the motorway junction for a change lol.

Did SHOPPING OF ULTIMATE BARGAINS! While I was up there they were doing the St George's Day stuff so I got to witness a LOT of morris dancing which was extremely awesome. I love morris dancers, I have the upmost respect and love of them. They had the ones with the sticks and the ones with the massive hankies ^____^

Finally spent my Next vouchers from xmas on a pair of really nice Gladiator sandals that are brown and studded. Genuine leather. From Next. How much did I pay? About £2.40 **JIG**

Went into HMV and couldn't really see anything I wanted to buy with the £20 of vouchers from work without feeling ridiculously ripped off... so I went into Waterstones and after much deliberating I got Sword Song - Bernard Cornwell (can FINALLY read the series now), Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (I saw it and couldn't not get it, it's even illustrated ffs!) and The Last Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko... er really need to read Twilight Watch before I get to that... The main point is I got it in the pretty edition so at least it matches my others **OCD** Also got a David Eddings book for nothing from the WHSmith clearance.

Wandered into Past Times, previously having bemoaned not getting a lovely labradorite ring I'd seen in the window ages and ages ago because it had been about £20+. What was the first thing I saw? The ring, now £10. Bought immediately. I was very pleased because the size I ended up being had the best stone out of the lot ^_^.

Waited about for teh viking and then wandered over the station. It was quite funny really given he only had one comment on his chain mail while we walked all the way back to Birmingham to get to the car. Had promised him Chinese alllll week and then what happened? The bloody place was shut because they were on holiday ¬_¬. Had to go to the chippy but it wasn't all bad, eating chips and watching part troll ^_^ Followed it with Plunkett and Macleane which Matt also really enjoyed. So chuffed at that, it's hard to get him to watch stuff he hasn't seen before as his DVD collection is pretty much mine.

Sunday was also awesome. Spent it watching Rob Roy curled up with Matt with chocolate and mead after a big Sunday roast. Walked Milo together so Matt finally got to see the ruins up close rather than being driven past them.

Bex pretty much scared the crap out of me and enraged my mom by deciding to text me saying the gig had been cancelled ¬_¬ Lol I did as predicted and phoned JB's to check, which caused the JB's woman to panic. Hmmm... The point was it was on and Bex, Pete, Dave and co were all coming along.


Walked through the park with Matt, Mom and Richard dressed like a pirate and with Matt in full viking kit complete with drinking horn. Amusingly enough only one person gave us a slack jawed look. People just aren't easy to amuse/freak out anymore.


The gig was AWESOME. It was one of the best gigs I've been to and what was better? I only paid a tenner for the ticket! Mwahaha! Tyr came on first and were just brilliant, best I've ever seen them. They blew their last performance at JB's out of the water and were just all round brilliant. I'm actually pretty interested in their new album from the sound of it. Just wish they weren't always so bloody expensive!

Alestorm were also really good. They played all their best hits and were just awesome with the audience. I love the fact that Chris actually picked up a beard someone had thrown on stage and then wore it ^_^

"DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE! DRINK AND SAIL!"

Nancy the Tavern wench was just... ugh so good! As was Wenches and Mead ^_^ Both bands were just ridiculously good and what was better was they were co-headlining rather than having some crap support band thrown into the mix /m/. Also got an Alestorm tee AT LAST. It isn't the one I wanted, but it's an Alestorm tee so I'm happy.

Then to top it the lead singer from Tyr came on with Alestorm and sang wolves of the sea with them. It was just brilliant ^_^

We hung around after the gig finished because they were playing Korpiklaani and other such good music. Suddenly we spotted the lead singer of Tyr so we mobbbed him and got a picture. Then who was suddenly there but the lead singer of Alestorm! So we got a picture. Then I clocked the hot dark haired guitarist from Tyr... Bex and I mobbed him and got a picture in which I'm looking very bloody smug.

Walked back home with Matt as mom and Richard had gone home ahead of us. He decided to go through the park at night and... well it was pretty magical tbh. There was just no one around and it was better lit than I thought it'd be...

Waking up to him this morning was all too good... but I hadn't been able to sleep for fear of missing the alarm and what time it was etc... Had to get ready for work and then leave him at the bus stop. Spent all day being mopey. Got another gold QA which is pretty awesome but it's a double edged sword as I got a file note from it for not reading all the scripting out... which is bollocks because no one wants to register a stupid number so you're trying to do it as fast as possible to stop them from putting the phone down. Ah well.

Roll on Friday plzkthnks.

Mixed day... but then this week has been DRAGGINGOMFGSOMUCH

Stafford went "I can't believe it's Thursday aleady!" to which I gave him the world's most shocked look. It feels like I've gone through about FIFTY Thursday's since last Thursday. I cannot believe Hay was only last week... it feels like a month.

I sometimes wonder if time rearranges itself while we're not looking. How else is it possible that on two pretty damn similar days, one can go insanely fast while the other is feeling like about ten days.

Speaking of Stafford, he was seriously kissing my arse in my 1-1 session today. Unsurprising given during the last one I was crying hysterically because of him being such a twat.

Got another gold call today... praying it stays gold. Looking forward to my bonus in my next pay packet and I'm hoping it comes along next quarter as well.

But yeah while he was busy praising me to the high heavens and talking about what a good advisor I am an email came through talking about how I was being considered for STARS (they're big on acronyms at Lloyds)... some praise thing that they hold a big do for if you get more than just a nomination. With the "banks are evil, don't celebrate" thing this year they didn't hold a big do but gave out a shitload of vouchers instead. IMO I'd prefer the vouchers but there you go.

So yeah, I'm the golden child. I said it's fine praising me but I'm more bothered about the fact I've got to maintain this and with the security numbers it's a PAIN IN THE ARSE.

I can hear snores already... yes, this job gets the glazed eyes expression. Accountants I feel your pain...

One good thing that came out of today was the awesomeness of getting an OH SO PRETTY hardback nice edition of The Hobbit from the book people at work for £5. Mom is very green with jealousy over it ^_^. It's so weird because I was only listening to the radio adaptation thing the other day on CD.

Faaaaar over the misty mountains cold...

^_^

IT NEEDS TO BE FRIDAY NIGHT OR SATURDAY MORNING.

I guess the major announcement is that Wishbone had to be put down on Saturday... For anyone that doesn't know, he was my elderly little boo dog... We found him as a stray walking about in the street and took him in and have had him ever since. That was when I was in primary school...

Mom phoned me on Saturday to say she'd had to take him to the vets because he'd gone downhill... then phoned me on the night while I was round at Jem's to tell me they were going to have to put him to sleep because his kidneys and liver were failing... He was so weak he couldn't even stand anymore. So I agreed... and my dog was put down.

I miss him so much, I have no closure from this all, by the time I got home they'd obviously buried him, his basket was gone and now all I have left of him is his collar... Milo looked so depressed as well...

The weekend itself was weird.. Matt was working through all of it because of it being his birthday the weekend before and then of course this fucked me up throughout pretty much all of it so I wasn't the happiest person to have around. I bit his head off on Saturday after mom rang me and I was failing spectacularly at the new Prince of Persia. Btw, for anyone who loved/played the old games... this will be a shock. You don't rewind time anymore and you apparently were never a prince. Farah is the name of your donkey. I'm praying he's been hit on the head by a shitload of bricks.

I got a payrise, it was announced on Tuesday. The way it's worked is weird though because of the time my training finishes I don't get my core advisor salary till May... so this month I've gone up along with the basic salary increase to £14kish. Next month not only am I on £15500ish I get my QA bonus of supreme eternal glory...

Oh and what's even better? I AM NOW NO LONGER A SLAVE TO THE STUDENT LOANS COMPANY! I HAVE PAID IT OFF!. WIN. This means I can actually start saving and I can chooooose how much I want to save. The only problem is finding a thing with an actual decent interest rate O____O.

On Wednesday I blasted the house, as in did a full on hardcore cleansing. Worked my way round the whole house and then finished off in what used to be dad's room. Hard work... Had a bath and then when mom came back I had another look, it was so weird. The only way I can describe it is like a perfectly still pool of water as opposed to a stagnant one that had hidden currents... Yes, I am insane. I've accepted this.

Went to Hay on Wye on Friday. Was a bit pissed off at Bookends for having gone shite. Did get some decent books from there though so I can't complain but it wasn't up to its usual standard. Did the usual thing of rebuying a book that I already owned but I had it hardback and the other two in paperback so it's an improvement really. FINALLY got a cheap copy of Lirael after ages of having Sabriel and not seeing anything else. I've read the series already, but I want my own copies because I'm weird.

Saved some books from the book graveyard, they were only just starting to get damp. So I'm pleased I managed that.

Finished Herodotus - Histories and I think it's pretty damn awesome that some of my fav bits from 300 happened in some shape or form. Or at least according to him. Booting the heralds down the well to find their own earth and water, fighting in the shade... EEE ^_^

Can it be Friday night now please? So I can know that Saturday is tomorrow.

Music is affecting me so much atm it's untrue.

Does anyone know where I can get that gorgeous bit of piano music from the Devil's Whore?

Work was just... /bleh/.

Had a whole day of people moaning at me about me daring to have to do security with them or for things that weren't my fault but other people had cocked up. Fun ¬_¬

There were some really nice people, like this other member of staff working for international (usually not the most helpful of people) who said he was going to pass on how helpful I'd been to Stafford ^_^.

The day seemed to last FOREVER. It was like I was in purgatory for some horrible crime. I know time works weirdly so I'm assuming everyone else had a shit long day as well? Was so so so so glad to get out into the air again.

What I thought was going to be a quick trip round Merry Hill... wasn't. Tried looking for something to spend my vouchers on in Waterstones and HMV and only saw this really flash collection of HP Lovecraft which would match my Conan one. Only problem is that I got that copy of Conan for a ridiculous price from the WH Smith clearance bit... so paying £3.50 for one and £19 for the other makes me feel ill.

Wandered around HMV and was similarly underwhelmed. I need to go into Birmingham with the vouchers tbh.

Got distracted by TK Maxx and ended up buying this really cute ninja tee ^_^

Then I got distracted by some shop that's opened up where Zaavi used to be and is basically selling ex Zaavi stock with 25%-50% discount. The only problem is it's now like the TK Maxx of CDs and DVDs etc. Spent gods know how long rooting through boxes and boxes BUT I found Fate of the Norns - Amon Amarth, Lost Boys OST, Queens of the Stone Age - Lullabies etc and Visions of Atlantis - Cast Away.

Want to know the max I paid for one of these CDs? £3.75. For Queens of the Stone Age. That's right, I paid £3 for the others! THREE POUNDS. And how much is Fate of the Norns selling for...? About £12? MWHAHAHAAHAH Visions of Atlantis are very pricey as well, I only got their CD because they were supposed to be supporting Kamelot the first time I saw them until pretty much everyone left the band O_o... They're not too bad, she reminds me of Tarja but not as majestic. For £3 I'm not complaining.

FATE OF THE NORNS FOR £3! LMAO

Matt was not happy ^_^

So yeah, if you used to have a Zaavi near you I'd go and see if the same has happened, it's well worth it!

Went food shopping with about an hour to go before the place shut. Shopping on my own was weird and I had to use an oversized trolley because all the small ones had vanished ¬_¬ Got a small oven pizza because I was starving, didn't touch the sides but no doubt I'll be kicking myself tomorrow.

ONE DAY OF WORK AND THEN HOLIDAY! BRING IT!

Woke up all bleh.

Read more of Stonehenge which I'm enjoying. It's not Bernard Cornwell's best book ever but it's pretty decent even if it does remind me a lot of the Arthur series.

Work was pretty alright, calls were pretty easy for a change even if it did get kind of busy and we actually got an hour off the phones for a brief which was awwwwwwesome after having our brief removed (lol) last week. Also ended up getting my first QA for the quarter come through... 100% gold **Jigs**. So I'm very pleased.

Payrise shit is still going on which is pissing me off. I think we're all pretty much getting the basic one... but ugh... I just want to know if I should get happy and celebrate or not?

Dogs have been playing up today, I know it's because I'm sat up here a lot atm but I'm trying my best.

Going to the gym for a shower was okay... but I hate showers. You can't relax. I can't ever get the temperature right, everything gets in my eyes and it's a bastard to shave anything. Afterwards is fine when I'm dry and stuff, that's nice... but I hate being /in/ the thing.

Dad came to pick the fish up today and nearly gave me a heart attack because I didn't know he was there until he walked past the kitchen window O_o. Now all that's left here is the MG.

Going food shopping on my own tomorrow and hopefully going to be spending my HMV/waterstones vouchers.

Am not very happy with mother dearest.

She kept me up for an hour last night because the boiler had broken.

Then this morning I was informed that I was going to be without hot water for a week because the boiler's knackered and while Richard proclaimed it's a death hazard he's done fuck all about fixing it. So I was tired, I'd just gotten up and got told "oh it's fine, you can have my gym pass".

Yay.

So now I'm missing Tai Chi so I can have a fucking shower ¬_¬.

The locks got changed this morning but for some reason you can use one key on both O_o

Work was lame.

Came home and found my dvds had come! My uber bargains. Lost Boys 2 disc for... 2.99! And Natural Born Killers for 1.99! Was very very chuffed ^_^ Forgotten how good the last one is. Not that the lost boys isn't continually brillant.

So fucking tired... It needs to be Thursday.

Last night was awesome, went out with the lovely ladies and ended up mixing vodka and whisky which is never a good thing but ended up with me getting oh so slightly drunk.

Came home and woke up an hour later in a cold bath. Had to dry my hair and everything and then try and get to sleep O_o.

My body seems to have begun to accept the fact that I have a double bed now as I ended up on the side nearest the window today rather than sticking to one side.

This morning was painful. I wasn't hungover I was just /tired/ and bleh and the customers were annoying me which wasn't their fault because they were pretty well behaved today.

Found out I'm going to pass my IPOS which is awesome. People are bitching about the fact that they don't know what payrise they're going to get for the next year. If I get one I'll be happy, if I get the one you get for being a fully fledged advisor (which is a week or so) then it'll certainly motivate me a hell of a lot more... If nothing else my QA bonus will make the next payslip be awesome.

Coming home was... weird. It feels like a million years since I last spent a weekend here and knowing that it's Friday night just feels wrong. Even Milo gave me a look when I came back that resembled "WTF? Why are you here?". Got mopey at work when I realised I had almost another week or so to go...

Got a very busy day tomorrow. Got things to get for the viking's bday and getting my hair done etc and then there's Tai Chi ftw.

Work went pretty quickly, somehow kicked security number ass again with 7, should have been 8 but the system stole one.

I'm going with Gemma's theory which follows that because it's the year end for most people we're getting all the people that don't phone up for a year and either a) don't have a SN or b) can't remember what it was.

Been feeling really shitty about passing IPOS and everything and then because Staff's going to be off for the next two weeks me, Amy and Hannah pressured him into telling us whether or not we'll have passed.

Que me literally nearly dropping to the floor with shock when I was told, as long as yesterdays went through, I have 102% or 100.2% (can't remember) of my target. Which shocks me. In a very good way. Hopefully one way or another it's going to mean I'm at the very least partially met. I was going to be so over the moon at just being partially met and to find that out... it's like a massive weight was taken off my shoulders.

Speaking of which, I'm getting pissed off with my weight. I'm about 4/5 pounds over what I should be and I hate it. I just can't see to drop the bastard stuff. Going to do my best over the remains of this week and then next before Matt's b'day when I'm going to be stuffing myself with chocolate of course.

Want it to be Saturday now please so I can start ticking things off my things to do list.

Going out to JB's tomorrow O_O Lol came out of the blue but maybe I'll dance some weight off (LMFAO yeah right)