New year nearly old...

Finally, some time to sit and just let you know where I am, what I am doing and how this year is going to be the best ever. As usual, you will see that I have added two songs for you. The first is for the 70's disco lovers and the second is the same song but for the jazz lovers out there. The sentiment is the same and at least you will know that I think about you all.

Watson has grown to full size and has settled himself down and that is more likely as a result of him claiming his kingdom and realising that he can manipulate me to doing nearly anything he want me to.

January started with a bang. By the end of this month, I must have completed all my staff's appraisals and have to set the sales team their sales targets which look, at this point, like a 20% increase from 2008. My renewals staff have got a similar target but there are a lot of anomilies with how Finance have worked out their corporate plan, so we are in deliberations at this point. I have had a trip down to Manchester to visit with one of our insurers who are trying to rebuild, what has been a tenuous relationship. I have also attended the launch of another insurers product which is always interesting. Between this, I have to manage my own clients and ensure that I am bringing home the bacon and dealing with the day-to-day matters which always go hand in hand with managing staff. I do love it and although I was asked to apply for a Corporate Manager position, I turned it down as I don't feel that I have done all I set out to do with the team I have.

I returned to gym in the last week after a long absence. I also joined a meditation class run by a Buddhist order. It was really interesting and I felt very relaxed when I walked out. That should go hand-in-hand with my yoga classes on either Saturday or Sundays. The choice of which day to go on depends on the amount of punishment I can take. The Saturday class is very calming and gentle, whereas the Sunday class is fitness yoga and stretches you to the limit.

I have not been walking in a while but my intentions are good. With the cold weather, I tend to enjoy reading and cooking. With my constitution I don't seem to suffer as many others do where my weight is concerned. I do like to keep it healthy but in saying that, I do love my full fat, lard-induced, stogy and stew-ie foods. For those of you who know me well, will recall that I am a chocaholic and that vice seems to be on a steady course to an addiction. For those of you who have not been witness to this disgraceful sight, I get these unbelievable cravings and when they strike, nothing gets in the way of me eating two slabs of chocolate and finish that off with two or three Aeoros. It isn't a pretty sight and you may think that I finish that off in a few hours, which would be ideal. I finish that off in 30 minutes flat. My absolute dread is that I reach 35 and my motabolism changes and I am left holding the love handles.

This years travel plans are: A Scotland trip in July. A possible trip to Sweden and a trip to Thailand to see my friend Lieke. Thailand will be a return trip to meet up with the person I went with the first time. If there is time...and money...maybe a long weekend break here or there would be ideal.

That is about all my news. Take it easy and remember;

I must dash but I'll be back in a flash!