Listening to Sun Kil Moon on my iPod and pushing work around my desk. Looking forward to going home and enjoying the Grand Prix weekend.

I still get uncommonly excited on a Friday afternoon. Around 3pm, the part of my brain still hard-wired to recognise the end of the school day goes into overdrive. When a student a few years back, 3pm on Friday signalled the start of Happy Hour (which was four hours long) - halcyon days.

But, as for my afternoon. Well, I'm at work, but should be able to leave in less than an hour. It's been a VERY long week, but it seems I've had just the relaxing Friday I needed. Upon leaving, there's time for a quick sherbert with colleagues before hopping onto a train to that there London to meet some of my very favourite people for more drinks.

Can't be bad :)

http://www.wordmagazine.co.uk/content/deaf-con-1

Thought I would take the dogs for a long walk to pick up some post from behind the Reebok Stadium. Turned out to be a 10-mile round trip, bloody post office was shut, I've got a blister on my foot, I'm knackered and will probably end up with sunstroke. Apart from that life is champion. It's beer o'clock.

LIVING THE DREAM!!!

That's a frickin' result, is that. It's sunny, and I'm just about to leave for drinks with some of my very favourite people. And Joe.

I'm doing some research finding cheapo hotels for my imminent trip to Italy. Thankfully I am managing to find some that look like real bargains, so I shall be able (I hope) to stick to my budget.

One more week to go...

...managed about 4 hours sleep this morning before giving it up as a bad job. Just dropped the GLW and her daughter at the hairdresser and am now making sure our ill dog doesn't scratch herself to death whilst waiting to be summoned to pick them up.

Sleep and eating patterns are all to cock; I've just scoffed half a biscuit barrel of rich teas and am now regretting it. Another 3 hours and I'm back at work with 3 nights to go. Hoo-bloody-rah!

2 page to do list x time constraints divided by Friday x sunny weather = Can't be arsed.

Time for pub and rugby

.

...a 2500 word assignment looming, but I decided to put it off for another day, and instead I took my 2 year old daughter to the Trafford Centre to find a birthday present for my dad.

She's a delightful little girl and was full of confidence when she chatted to the shop assistants about her new Minnie Mouse toy that we bought at our first port of call. She loved walking along in the shopping mall, and was astounded by the fountain that shoots water 40 feet into the air. When we got home our fun carried on, and we played some more. I wish I could have more days like this whilst she is so young.

- park, city farm, maybe. Swimming definitely. Might make him a Lord Tumble figure out of air drying clay. Should do some ironing, but can probably put that off til next weekend.

Had a glorious Friday night with some of my very favourite people (and Bob and Joe) and then Mark Ellen presented me with a ukulele.

I'll just repeat myself because I can't quite believe it, MARK ELLEN PRESENTED ME WITH A UKULELE.

Turned out this was a thank you gesture from the lovely people who come to the Massive Mingles. Wow. Got completely overwhelmed with the wonderfulness of it all. I am getting sniffly even thinking about it.

So my weekend was already pretty amazing.

Then had a lovely day on saturday, went out with hubby and the little girls and rode on the London Eye, had noodles for lunch, and then trooped around the London Aquarium. Had a really wonderful time. We got to stroke a starfish (surprisingly soft), and to marvel at the rays and the jellyfish.

Saturday night was devoted to ukulele practise (I can now play "Home on the Range")

This morning I went for a splendid 5 mile yomp through the fields, dotted with friendly, fluffy sheep. A beautiful morning, and a good chance to daydream.

Once home I baked a coffee victoria sponge as we had my school friends coming over for tea. Had a lovely time eating the cake and watching our kids running around dressed as ladybirds and fairies.

And now I'm typing this, I'm about to have a bubbly bath and then bed bed bed.

So it's been a blissful weekend. Oh, did I mention that I got a ukulele?