...because I need a break. Last night I was up until two burning the midnight oil, producing a set of graphs that looked as though a spider with thoroughly inky feet had crawled all over them then exploded at inconvenient points on the page. Beautiful.

The best of it is that I'm still not done, but I've figured I've got about two hours of procrastination time before I have to look at it again and sort it out before I have to hand it in. Also today I have the happiness of handing in my electronics log book, which pleases me greatly. The sun has been out all week and I've been inside doing work, but you bet the minute all this is handed in it'll sod back off to somewhere warmer. I would.

DDS is looking a little stressed out this morning. His running away to Twicker's the other day (which we won - well done Benji on the try!) probably didn't help the matter, and he's now contemplating not handing the log book in at all, or emigration. Even if he opts for the first he probably will still have to do the latter anyway to avoid the wrath of the department.

Considering the workload I successfully managed to choreograph to jump onto me, I still found time last night to take a break, take a pizza and take stock of Wednesday's The Apprentice (BBC2, 9pm). It had been recorded as both Broomy and I had failed to catch it on the night it was aired due to stuff. Once again I found myself enthralled and was very pleased to see my predictions met and watch Paul and James head out. I know who I want to win now; I've always liked Tim and I think he's ideal Apprentice material. He might not have much experience of this stuff, but he's one of those people who is simply 'likeable' and seems to have a bit of nouse about him, unlike some of the others who have attitude/ego issues.

Once all that frivolity was over I stuck the Question Time Leader's special on (listening on the website) while I got on with some serious work. This quickly crumbled and I ended up sending painting to people in MSN Messenger.

Echos got their .com back yesterday and so all is now good. I'm still waiting on info about the .co.uk, but at least we've made progress. By the look of things I haven't been charged for it at all (no email, no account debit). Bonus!

We also managed to establish at least something about out housing arrangements next year. I will be in the big room, or the downstairs room - Jono and I will sort that out between ourselves, and the other three will draw between themselves. At least it's progress, and soon we might actually get it set in stone. It may however be a little difficult as Jono has stopped speaking to me (as a joke) after I messaged all of the hall committee and told them to change there MSN display name to echo Jono's and his girlfriend's display names. For the past few weeks they have read "I love my Chickie" and "I love my Mr Piggy" respectively and we all have been vomiting profusely.

The response to my call to arms was superb:

• I Love My Lil' Tortoise! - Devito
• I Love My Lil' Hedgehog! - Swan
• I Love My Snuggle Puff! - Emily
• I Love My Honey Bun! - Broomy
• I Love My Cheesy Weesy! - Mike
• I Love My Rubber Ducky! - Rob
• I Love My Froggy! - Ibs
• I Love My Cuddle Wuddles! - Me

There were more too, but off the top of my head I can't remember the others.

I've been warned by both Jono and Lou to watch my back, so I am acting with caution. I would hate to be repeatedly battered with a bunch of roses or pummelled to death with a lavender bag. I'm so scared.

Jon is taking me home tonight. I'm looking forward to the concert and getting a haircut, but at the same time I really would have liked to have partied tonight. I was also meant to be match-making for a girl-friend tonight, but that hasn't been going well so far as I haven't seen the target all week to make sure he's out.

As that dance track goes; It's time to burn.

How I got drunk last night is beyond me. One minute I'm protesting it's never going to happen - never - not tonight. Tonight is work night. Then the next thing I know I'm in a taxi heading into town with Sean, Devito and the Swan. I think this is where the root of the problem lies.

At about 10.30pm I was thinking nice things like "shower" and "bed", then suddenly I get this random phone call from Sean (I identified by his trademark 'subtle' tones) asking if I'd saved everything on the computer. He didn't wait for a reply, and promptly hung up. Thirty seconds later there is a muffled discussion going on outside my door. It didn't take two seconds to realise they were weighing up flicking the trip switch for my room, and so forcing me to give up my work and do my usual Monday night at Echos, which I had chosen to forfeit this week due to the lack of work caused by similar activities last week. So the switch tripped, thankfully not turning my computer off (I can't work out why or how) and I was bundled by all three. A swift exchange occurred,

"Come on, come on... [some pain inflicted]"

"I'm not coming out tonight..."

"Come on, come on [further pain inflicted]"

"OK"

That is how the battle was lost. I actually had a good night (I knew I would. Even though I had to work, I was well up for "Part-ay" involvement).

This morning I met up with Pennell. It was the first time we'd seen each other since the Schools Daily Mail Cup quarter finals back at OSH and we spent our time talking about his new business venture. At the moment his arm is in a sling after finally getting his longstanding rugby injury fixed. The guy hasn't played since the end of lower sixth form due to this malignant injury - over two years to get it sorted. That's pretty awful.

It's even worse for his brother. Last Monday Chris (who captain's the school 1st XV and is a leading light in rugger generally) managed to break his leg playing for Worcs. That probably means a year off the game. I feel well sorry for the lad; he was destined to go straight into a rugby career. Worcester still want him, but of course he's going to have to wait to see how things pan out. I hope it turns out well - it couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke.

I was pleased to find John is going home this weekend. Looks like transport back isn't going to be too bad, but he will have to drop me off directly at the NEC for this Elvis Concert my dad had booked for his birthday.

Tonight is Work Night and I mean it with all my heart. If I don't get some done now I really will be screwed - Friday is approaching at a pace and I've still got a lot to contend with. Onwards.

Today I am not at Twickenham, unlike Dan, who is skyving. I would love to be there as today is the BUSA Rugby Union finals and Lufbra are playing. As far as I know Benji is probably getting a game, but he did sustain an knee injury last week which might have screwed things up a bit. Damn this work.

I spent last night helping Flash out with a logo design in Photoshop. It's looking quality and I'll be putting it in my portfolio as soon as I'm allowed to. I wish more of my course was doing this kind of stuff, but then again, my course isn't called 'Creating Corporate Identities and Drawing Logos'. Shame.

This morning I had two hours of lectures on the finer points of welding (which I actually new very little about before) followed by an hour of lab demos and a further hour of watching Cat trying to retrieve one of her trainers from the roof of the CAD lab.

Things I am feeling proud/pleased of today are:

• Acquiring biros - It has become increasingly difficult to write without any pens, so it was a welcome relief for Rob to go and get some for me. This will make it easier for me to Work.
• Acquiring jotter pads - In the same vein as above. Writing has become more difficult due the lack of appropriate blank surfaces.
• Sorting out payment on my NTEC Europe logo project - I have been informed I will be receiving a Radeon 9800 XT graphics card which according to Neil is "5 millions times better" than what I already have.
• Getting sun in my room - for the first time this year I have sun hitting the back wall of my room. Granted, it's not very much, but hopefully as the summer goes on it'll be a bit warmer in here than it has been.
• Buying a External Harddrive - I'm lazy at backups so this is going to save my ass someday.
• Hearing from Alex - I need to email him back.
• Sorting out some issues with Echos' domain name - it's not done, but it's getting there.

On the other hand, I'm a bit worried about my BHF redevelopment project. It might have fallen through; at least it's been put on hold for a month. I'll have to wait and see. Also some more work for the Degree Show has popped up. They are going to spot varnish the text on the logo (which will look sweet) but therefore need to separate the background from the foreground. Not a big thing, but just another task on the list, which is getting longer by the minute.

Also while your on the net, check out Amaztype. A cool idea that takes info directly from Amazon and arranges all the books that meet your search criteria into piles, spelling out the search keywords. Quality.

Not mine, but Echos. The damn thing went into DELETIONPENDING and was snapped up the minute it got into the public domain. Trying to sort out a temporary replacement .co.uk address is like trying to pick up mercury with a fork as nobody seems to have any login details anywhere. Organisation is clearly a virtue here in Lufbra (hmm).

In the same vein I've had some more cheques in for French Cricket and Pedalo, but no where near as many as I need. I've asked for help from the others (which in retrospect I should have done earlier) and tomorrow the true sales drive begins. (Literally two more have just arrived. What is it with Lufbra and deadlines?)

I managed to set up my image upload thing I was on about, so you'll notice pictures popping up here and there now. Another complication to the whole system, especially considering I'm spending too much time discovering how to make sure this site validates correctly. At the moment Syndic8 are waiting for my stats to improve before they start listing me. Grr.

I was checking out Scott Will's blog yesterday, but I only got round to only following the links in his latest post today. This is truly strong stuff. PostSecret is an online blog where people post their deepest secrets in totally anonymity. There is a total mix of emotions, and I was surprised by the power that some of these real life snippets hold. It's really worth a peek.

Memo to self : I've still got the Creative Class 05/06 application to send off, just waiting on Tony to give me some final feedback. I mustn't forget to ask about it tomorrow.

Swanny, Rufio and Devito are trying to get me to come out, but I have work. What is going to happen? I simply don't know.

Last night I went to Comedy Club at the Union. I've stopped having piss ups and big Saturday nights, mostly because Echos is so packed, and with the summer coming means it's going to become more and more hot and sweaty.

The headliner last night was superb. His name is Carey Marx and he spent most of his set expressing his fear/loathing of albinos. Not a usual choice, and it was quite sick, but at the same time some of the best original material I have heard in a long while. Several towers people got in the neck after deciding to sit at the front including Emily, Max and Pamela, but mainly Rach after she owned up to the first comic that she too was from Dudley.

After getting back I absconded from doing any proper work and instead got on with sorting out my online portfolio. I am going to do the proper work right now because I am otherwise likely to further distract myself and then I'll never get it sorted. This weekend has been hopeless so far...

It's Saint George's Day which also means it's Dad's birthday. I tried to phone home earlier, but apparently he's out playing golf already which isn't too much of a surprise. It's probably the best thing he could have in the world; golf - on his birthday.

Last night was good. It was Rosie's 21st, and I assume she got drunk fairly early on as I didn't see her later on in the night. The theme was country - so I was wearing flat cap, tweed jacket and steel toecaps(wellies are not my usual summer fayre), the night starting in Cognito with a pre-party and finishing in FND. Jon got himself a free drink off me for showing his little party trick which is actually quite cool. Just a simple cigarette disappearing act, but I didn't catch how he did it. Big Chris, Guy, Ads, Jimbo, Alex, Sammi and Dylan were all out for it (course social), but DDS and the rest of 35 York Road made no appearance. I also bumped into Giles and Alex (both are clients). What the former was doing in the Union on a Friday night was fairly obvious - I did wondered who was back at Echos running their Echos though...

Currently trying to catch up with OC at the same time as trying to get motivated to do some work. I've got a lot on this week and with electronic log books, materials reports, CAD and DP4 all coming up, it's going to get a little hectic, hence my desire to get ahead with it all. On top of this I've got to sort French Cricket and Pedalo shirts out.

I need to get an automatic image upload feature on this blog too as it's starting to annoy me.

I got my mark back for my CAD animation today and was plesantly surprised to see at nice round 73 looking back up at me from the mark sheet. Agreed, it's not a big module, but it's nice to get a First every so often. Poor old Geo, I think he went over the top with his LEGO extravaganza, mustering a substandard 86. Not a bad mark really, but the amount of effort he must of put in, I think he was convinced of another 100% for a computing for designers module (genuinely not kidding).

Also today I made headway with Dynamic Teamwear and pocketed some cash for the first time in a while. Saying this, my loan, came through the other day, so things aren't too bad at all.

Furthermore, pleasure was passed on to me in the news that Yauli (I think that's how you spell it), our landlady for next year, has guarenteed us double beds in every room. I had always been convinced that it could be done; the others were sceptical, but the benefits will be wide felt, as no one wanted a room with a single in. She also informed us the bathroom has been done now and the kitchen is scheduled for the summer. I just hope we can move in straight away after the end of term to save me carting all my kit back to Stourbridge, but it sounds like the work being done could interfere with my plans.

The materials test went OK. I estimated guessed the majority of the way through - it wasn't hard. No idea how I've done however.

Finally I've made some improvements to my portfolio of work, which can be directly linked to the IdeasFactory Creative Class 05/06 competition. I have so much stuff that has accumulated since I built the site last summer that it looks a little behind the times. I will be uploading my recent work over the next few days. More work... [sigh]