*yawns extravagantly*

Bloody staff conference - it's as boring as hell! Spent the entire morning in seminars being told that I should communicate better with institutions. I spend about a third of my work hours on the phone or email, directly talking to people on the frontline about their work problems, how I can improve things for them and so on. And without wanting to sound boastful, I'm bloody good at it! In short,, as a humble data analyst I probably have more contact with institutions than a policy officer or educational adviser.

Anyway, on the non-ranting side, at least it's over and I got to go home early. Plans for the weekend include catching up on my OU work (as usual) and tidying up the garden so I can invite some friends over for a BBQ. Must schedule something fun too. Scheduled fun :P

One bonus thing that I got out of the conference was discovering more layers to one of my colleagues. She gets stressed! I always thought she was uptight, but in a cold and controlling way. As it is, she confessed to sometimes getting so wound up that she has to go and cry in the toilets :( Doesn't make me happy, obviously, but it does give her more of a human touch...

the tender hearted gardener...

... moves stray snails to a cool, dark safety zone :) I know that probably makes me a crap gardener, but I don't want their tiny squiggly snail souls on my conscience.

Staked up my tomato plants a bit more firmly and discovered that I was now the proud mother of several babies on the tomatoes and strawberries. Re-potted the basil plant from the kitchen and trimmed back a few of the crazier stalks in the front garden. Caught Mr Stonecladding watching me and gave him a pointedly over-cheery evil look :P He'll probably come and tell me I did it all wrong tomorrow - he did that with the front door, and I was like, "why didn't you tell me?". Apparently he didn't like to interfere - LOL!! :D

OK - with a bit of luck, I can plough on with my OU work and get a good grip on things again.