I finally have time to write!

So, everyone is out of the office. It's the New Car Honours and save for a few dedicated designers, sub editors and freelancers, the office is very quiet. Ok, not quiet, as George has Spotify on, but still.

I am surrounded by products - 3 sat navs, car care products, bluetooth headsets, picnic backpacks (don't ask) and mobile phone holders. I have a to-do list in front of me, with at least twelve bullet points. Only one is ticked off. I also have a filofax. If you were wondering where all this came from, I suppose I should fill you in from my last post.

I spent my last two weeks in Bournemouth dossing, doing the student thing, getting all sentimental with friends and places, and now I live back home with my Dad, Step-mum, half-brother and half-sister (who I refer to as brother and sister - for ease). Adelaide has also moved back in with me, taken a massive pay cut working at a job she hates, and now gets me up at 6AM so I can leave for work at 7am and get in after 8. I love my job, but I love my girlfriend more, as she has sacrificed a lot to allow me to take it. How many partners would do a job they dislike for worse money while they put up with living one partitioned wall away from your dad and step mum?

I've had to scale back my trip to Australia, cut it back to 6 weeks so I can start work in January. That's a lot of time off and I'm really thankful to HR for letting me taking it, but I will miss Ads while she is still out there, and i'll probably start looking for somewhere for us to live and i'm looking for us to move in as soon as she's back from Oz.

In other sad news, the family dog Harry had to be put to sleep after 13 years of happiness. He had a good innings and a remarkable sense of timing, choosing to go before everyone went off to Spain, but it is still weird to go into the house and not hear him. It has made me want a puppy of my own, but for now Drexy is keeping us company as we couldn't do it to my dad or sister.

As for my old student life - I haven't graduated yet (Roll on November) but know that I was awarded a 2:2 for my degree. I'm pretty happy with that, my dissertation pulled it up a lot and I got 59.25 for all of my units, so technically I wasn't even 1% off a 2:1. That's spilt milk though...

Work is awesome, and I've already been go-karting as part of a networking afternoon, as well as getting in remote control cars, stereos and a slot car racing set. On sunday we washed all the cars on the driveway in the name of testing, using a wide range of products, and I've got more opportunities to travel both within the UK and overseas coming up. I've also thought of so many ideas for the website, and how to improve the online presence of products, but that can wait until I have fully settled in. I don't even know if I get to keep the job yet - my three month review doesn't come up until September!

All in all i'm happy, while it isn't easy doing 14-hour days and living with your parents, I'm close to the people I want to be, get to see the Bournemouth lot soon-ish, and I'm doing a job I love. While I don't love everything (see stupid pic above) what more could I ask for?