Well, it’s been another age since my last update - wedding planning is in full swing now; have a few things booked already with the dress search well underway Why isn’t normal shopping as much fun as trying on wedding dresses, that’s what I want to know!

Not going quite so well are the driving lessons, as perhaps evidenced by the fact that I’m still having them :/ I keep having what is known in the business as ‘brain farts’ whilst on the road - think it is mostly this affliction that is standing between me and being able to pass my test. I did ask my instructor if I could just book a test and see what happened - I could have a good day! - but oddly he didn’t seem too keen on this plan! Apparently I need to achieve things like confidence and consistency first. So the lessons continue along their merry and expensive path.

My new job is going pretty well - still have periods of wanting to be somewhere else doing something else but that’s working life for you. Have made quite a few friends there and it’s a nice working environment which counts for a lot in my book And using QuarkXpress is fun as job related tasks go And we get breakfast briefings every now and again where we get danish pastries and tea in exchange for listening to talks And we have away day meetings at nice hotels with free lunches sometimes So not a bad place to work when all’s said and done!

Categories: Driving, General, Wedding
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Since my last, rather more exciting than usual post, my free time seems to have jumped ship to join Shrek and Princess Fiona in ‘Far Far Away’ - I can’t think of the last time I had so many things on at once!

Firstly, of course, I’m now in wedding planning mode - still trying to decide on where and when atm but we’re set on a church wedding and I have reception venue brochures to look at and cheer me up whilst engaged in the other things I have on atm including:

- job hunting: in the weeks since finding out my contract isn’t being renewed (did I mention that?) this has become something of a part-time job in itself. Personally, I think being able to organise a job hunt, attend interviews, learn to drive and plan a wedding all at the same time whilst working full time on top means I can do just about anything. Sadly, the employers of Exeter don’t all agree with me so the hunt continues…. Maybe I should actually put that last sentence in my applications…

- driving lessons: whilst these were progressing nicely until before we went to Brussels, they’ve now taken a bit of a U-turn (do you see what I did there?) as my instructor is leaving BSM. I get on really well with her so I’m going to see if she’s going out on her own and will take me on - until my next official lesson with her on Saturday I’m in BSM limbo though :/ On the plus side, I’m now much better at driving my new fiance’s car and I think he’s much happier at the thought of me driving it too!

- Java/JavaScript: these have taken a bit of a backseat lately but I’ve been given an extension for the first assessment which has taken the pressure off a bit and hope to find time at work to catch up on everything when things quieten down a bit there

- losing weight: this has also taken a bit of a backseat since Brussels as I’ve had so much to that has meant leaving work early I haven’t been able to take a lunch hour and spend it at the gym. I don’t seem to be putting any weight on which is good, and I did walk home from work today to get a bit of exercise, which I might start doing on a regular basis if the weather’s good so I’m doing *something* that doesn’t involve sitting at a computer!

- the aforementioned ‘at work’: whilst I appreciate still having employment, and thus an income during my jobhunting, all of the above would be a lot easier to fit in if I didn’t have it on top of everything else!

On the one hand the fact that three of the above must be sorted and past tense by the time we go to Florida in 4 and a half months is comforting; on the other hand the fact that three of the above must be sorted and past tense by the time we go to Florida in 4 and a half months makes me want to curl up into a little ball and wake up in Orlando when it’s all over!

Categories: Diet and fitness, Driving, General, Study, Wedding
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I passed 35/35 for the Theory test and 59/75 for the Hazard Perception - couldn’t have asked for much better than that! Was feeling ok nerves wise until I sat in front of the computer and then my heart started racing and I could see my hand shaking whilst holding the mouse - still, over with now and even I should be able to pass the Practical within two years

Categories: Driving
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Theory and Hazard Perception tests this Saturday…. fingers crossed!

On a side note - how busy can one couple’s calendar get between now and xmas??? We’re packed!

Categories: Driving
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Well, I’ve put in for my theory test - should be in a few weeks time. I had a nice little letter from BSM saying I should probably get on with it so I did, spurred on partly by the fact that I can’t make another driving lesson until November 11th and I wanted to do something constructive to make me look nice and dedicated Going to pick up a cd-rom with test questions and things over the weekend so I can swot up a bit.

The lessons are going really well - I feel I’ve taken a bit of a leap forwards in the last couple of weeks. Been going along the old A30 - using higher gears, tackled my first three-point-turn and roundabout last weekend and whilst the roundabout thing will take some practise (being on the right hand side of the road was most weird - finally understand what people are going on about!), the three point turn went very well! Have enough in my account to pay for another 20 hours almost on top of what I’ve got left to take which should see me through hopefully, then it won’t cost very much to insure me on Kev’s car it seems which is a bonus

As for Torchwood - what can I say? Welsh and actually proud of it for once - not a pot noodle in sight and Cardiff has never looked better Love John Barrowman - he’ll do til Dave Tennant is back on our screens - and Eve Myles is great in her role too. Keep it up BBC - you’ve done well lately! We hardly ever watch TV but for the past few weeks have spent Friday -Sunday evenings being entertained by Maria hopefuls, strictly come dancers, Robin Hood, Not Going Out, Have I Got News For You, QI, Jane Eyre (Mr Rochester - the new Mr Darcy!) - are you spotting the Beeb theme?

Categories: Driving, General
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Have been ill with a filthy bout of Freshers’ Flu this past week - getting better now but it’s still clinging on :/ I foolishly attended the TKD demo last week despite feeling like death warmed up - completely failed my destruction technique which wasn’t that much of a surprise and was very glad to get home and not to leave the house again til the weekend. Would still rather be flopped on the sofa watching daytime tv, but you can’t stay off work forever so back to work this week.

Have also now had 3 driving lessons with my instructor, Amy, who’s lovely It’s going ok I think - need to work on braking more gently, but my steering, gear changing, general observation and, most importantly, my confidence are all coming on in leaps and bounds Have another 16 hours paid for, taking me up to early December, and then we’ll see how it goes - I think I’ll need another 10 at least but am hoping to get it sorted not too far into next year. Hoping to go for the theory test in not very long anyways, once I’m happy with it.

Categories: Diet and fitness, Driving, TKD
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Well, last weekend I had my 2 hour session in the simulator with BSM. There were a few crashes (both me and the software itself - go Windows!), and it got a bit annoying having to listen to the voice reading the words on the screen to catch up with me and move on, but overall I’m glad I had a go. I feel more confident about getting into a real car now that I’ve at least been able to practice what you do with your feet when moving off, changing gear etc. So, with that in mind, I’ve got my first on-road lesson this Saturday - watch this space….

Categories: Driving
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Anyone else been addicted to this recently? I have to say, I can see Connie winning, and while that would be no bad thing by any means, I would really love to see Siobhan get the part as there’s just something about her that I’ve liked since she started singing ‘I could have danced all night’ way back in the beginning. Honestly, how did one person get to be so pretty *and* good at singing, and presumably drawing too?? It’s really not fair :p

In other news, I start driving lessons this weekend (in a simulator to start off with to get some confidence up and protect pedestrians everywhere for a little bit longer) - little bit anxious about how that will go but hoping it’ll be fun It better be - it’s costing enough!

Categories: Driving, General
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