It's ok William, I've seen the future and this all works out reasonably well...

1. Firstly, I'm not convinced by this silly numbering system that everyone is adopting (spearheaded by Pissy Hugh). It seems a little too efficient and organised. But then I guess it just says something about the way different people like to comunicate (a need for clarity and structure [tsk]).

2. I watched Spanglish, which qualifies for possibly the worst film title ever, but is actually quite a good film (Sandler rules). The Mexican lead is very beautiful (and a superb actress), and it contains many a good performance. I feel like this is another film (along with In Good Company) which people might think I'm a little deluded for liking, but seriously, it is excellently written and quite moving (could do with about twenty minutes chopped of it, but hey, so do most films). But then maybe I'm just getting more and more sentimental and my taste is going down hill (don't quote me on that).

3. I went for a run yesterday for the first time in years, in an attempt to up my fitness and stamina for football on Saturdays (I was nearly sick last week). It was very enjoyable and reminded me how much I used to love it (despite getting stitch on the final leg). It makes you feel like a better person when you get back, and when you're actually runnning you go completely blank and think about nothing but your next step. It's wonderful. A cleansing experience perhaps (as well as a sweaty one).

4. I really want to be a postman. Well, at least my fantasy of it. I went for a recruitment day on Friday for a job at the Delivery Office off Lydgate Lane. Had some numeracy and sorting tests, then an interview, which went well, but not amazing. There were ten people there for the same job, so I was figuring out which ones would be in the running for it. I reckon I'm in the top three. But anyway, they rang me yesterday to check if my back was still a problem (I had to disclose any medical problems - strained a muscle in my back last month), and I told them it wasn't. I'd start at 7am and finish at 1pm, which would be great; could get some writing done in the afternoon (or sleep). Which reminds me...

5. I'm enjoying my writing at the moment. Have had two good days and seem to be finally shaking off some of my silly pretensions (though I'm sure there's still a few more skins to shed). It's fun, and guilt free, which is a miracle for me; not many things don’t have a healthy dose of morose guilt heaped on top.

6. Despite being unemployed (well, I’m working a few shifts at the Tavern, but really…), I feel very happy. Hang on, did I just say ‘despite’? That doesn’t make any sense. It’s something you’re not really allowed to enjoy, and I am not allowing myself to enjoy it too much, because my wife is working very hard and providing for us both, and this is not something I want to continue for very long (I don’t mean her providing, that’s fine, just the whole me being a sponge thing I don’t think I could cope with for a prolonged period; I think it might do something for my self-esteem and I want things to be fair between us). But despite all the issues and guilt and other shit you have to ignore for a few seconds (not permanently. Hmmm, do I justify myself too much? Surely that’s the point of paretheses), I feel contented for the first time in a long time.

7. I think this is clearly my longest ever post. Well done to anyone who got through it all. You have my eternal respect.