21 May

Well, I can't say it's been the best week of my life but it's certainly been eventful. Out of the blue, one of the best, nicest people in my team resigned. She has been offered a sexier, better paid job in Cambridge, working for a design agency. Only been with us for two months. A devastating blow. She was so very good. So I had to scramble around, trying to decide what we are going to do to replace her. What makes things worse is that the last 4 people hired into her position had also left very early (before my time!) so it's like the role is cursed. Don't know why because I think it's actually not a bad role at all. Looks like we'll hire a consultant to replace her for the next 4 months, then assess things again later.

Also, it's budget time and they are like vultures looking for money to cut becasue we are not making the profits we are supposed to as a business. So I have been frantically defending my poor budget - exhausting work with our CFO being the hawk he is. Oh, well, I suppose it's all good experience.

At least i have managed to do some fun stuff too. I got out my usual quota of movies so saw Mash (a great movie that inspired the TV series, Ben Hur (great chariot race!), Spellbound and Notorious (both Hitchcock classics with Ingrid Bergman who I am now totally in love with) Check her out at here and you'll see why! I have become a big Hitchcock fan too - what a master of suspense he is...

I also joined some work mates last night for an exciting game of basketball. A total novice I am but I really got into it. Exhausting and quite violent with some overzealous defenders, but lots and lots of fin - and great exercise too. Then off to the pub for a drink.

Ally came up to London last night and worked from home today which she loved. She is looking much more relaxed. It is such a fantastic flat to work from with gorgeous, green vieews from the patio. She is in top form tonight, all cheerful and happy. Hoefully she'll be assertive to work two days a week at home from now.

Next week, I am off to Sweden for a conference for two days. It's on the coast so hopefully the weather will be nice. Then off to Prague we go. We struggled to find a place to stay (it's busy season) but finally found quite a cheap spot in central town. Not a fancy place but a roof - and we'll be off exploring most of the time. Click here to view the hotel

This weekend we will taqke it easy. We may go off to see the new movie: Troy which is getting good reviews and has lots of eye candy for Ally. Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom etc. etc. The weather is gorgeous here now so we will probably do lots of walks too.

I'll take some photos and post them up later this weekend.

Cheerio for now / G