I have thrown things away!

I now have a floor in the office that I can actually see (and walk in and everything!) and more importantly, it should now not be called an office as I have gotten rid of the desktop computer, monitor, desk, pedestal and computer chair (and 6 full garbage bags to boot).

next stage of the plan is to sort out all the clothes, bags and shoes in there and put some of it into storage. Then I'll be able to put the bookshelf from the spare room in there, along with my pilates mat and exercise bike - lovely!

after that, I'm gonna need to buy some new bookshelves and then it will all be done!

In other news, the next few weeks are going to be lovely, but crazy busy. Next weekend I'm going up to Liverpool to see Jules, then Swiral comes to stay the following weekend. The one after that is September 13th/14th and I'm hosting a cleaning part to get the flat immaculate. I'm then dog-sitting in Brum and then go away the week after.

I'm going to try and fit in as much pilates, swimming and training as possible before I go away and also see everyone as well (if anyone wants to join the cleaning party - let me know!).

all in all - a busy 5 weeks!

lots happening...

well, not right now as I'm sat on sofa and Aish and I have been drinking Kahlua and Rice Milk all eve, watching vampire films and trying on clothes!

had a lovely couple of weekends, first staying with Jules and playing with my nephews, and then dog-sitting for Sian and Matt (well, Ulrich really, as Sian and Matt are not actually canine!).

went on holiday which was fab - lay on a rock in the sun and did nothing for a week - I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone, and particularly the Corinthia Palace Hotel in Malta - lovely, and it has a spa!

whilst I was there, Obama officially got the nomination, so work on that has started which is fab - I've found a great London campaigning group and everyone is welcome - the big work at the moment is registering voters, so if anyone knows of any American's who live abroad and aren't registered, let me know and I can give them all the right forms and stuff.

I've also now booked by flights to go to the States to work on the campaign - I'll be in Chicago for the whole time, working with Ops and I'm going to be there from September 27th through to November 8th - this does mean that my 30th celebrations are being moved back, so November 22nd is now the date for my party - all welcome!

work is going on a pace - last project is kind of wrapped up now, apart from some Consultation but that should be done and dusted in the next couple of weeks. The main new project is a biggie though - need to recruit 477 people to start in post this year (yeah - I know what you're thinking, but it should be almost possible - particularly now that I've got a PM working for me who starts on Tuesday - yay!). The other projects are much smaller, but I think they're going to keep me busy through to about March next year!

also now trying to think about holiday (I know I've only just got back, but with the trip to the States, I won't have any other time to actually chill out). This one for the first two weeks of August. At the moment, I'm thinking about Cuba, but since the last time I had a 2 week holiday (that didn't involve seeing some relatives) was before I did my GCSEs, I really have no idea where to go and what to do - again, and suggestions would be lovely!

and in other news, I had a measuring session with my personal trainer this morning, and since I started, about a month ago, I've lost 4cm off my waist and 2cm from my thighs - yay!

tomorrow (or today, just after sleep) am going to the Taste festival in the afternoon and then seeing Frankie Boyle in the eve. I think it will then be some beers, back to the boy's and a chill out. Sunday will be spent watching some of the GP, going to see my Grandma in the residential home she's staying in whilst my folks are away, and then relaxing - before it all goes crazy again on Monday with work!

all in all, am having a fab time at the mo and life is good!

my god - it looks like the plan came together!

managed to have a lovely evening on Friday (albeit slightly more subdued than I would have liked), met up with cousins from the US for coffee yesterday, am in work at the moment which is going well, am feeling much better, am going home soon to pack and then to meet up with Charlie and Paul for a non-alcoholic drinklet before going home for an early night, ready to get up tomorrow at 6.15 to fly to Chicago!

(well ok - it's not like I had a plan, but if I had, it would have all come together...)

plus, amazing serendipitous moment - I've been trying to find out where Robert Levin is performing as I'd dearly love to see him. I hadn't had any luck and then thought "I wonder what the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are up to whilst I'm there?" and 'lo an behold, Robert Levin is performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.4! With tickets at $35, I'm going to Thursday - yay!

btw - I am aware that I'm not completely well yet, so there is a chance that the grammar in this entry has gone a little skew-iff!

also - I'm going to try and find an internet cafe so that I can blog updates of the whole Obama experience!

ok - so no blog posts in over a month is bad

but having been doing lots of cool things with lots of cool people, and quite a bit of work.

one thing I have being working lots with GoogleDocs. I'd highly recommend for anyone needing to work from different machines, although it is obvious that it's still in beta. The word documents are great but the spreadsheet is not a replacement for Excel - it really is just a spreadsheet and not the flat db that Excel can be. Also - the presentations are rubbish, but I'm looking forward to what it will be when it's finished.

I also can't believe that it's fewer than 4 weeks to Christmas - I'm sure last time I looked it was August... Next few weeks will be great, albeit very hectic. Work, comedy gigs, Christmas parties, indie gigs, trip to Sheffield, trip to Brum seminars, classical concerts (not necessarily in that order) and then back to Stortford for actual Christmas before Charlie's NYE party. Then it's January and time to start it all over again!

gonna have capacity for a new client in Jan, so if anyone knows of anyone - let me know.