Wages day yesterday and once again the idiots I work with have invented new ways to ensure that a simple straightforward process is made as difficult as possible. One of these days I really am going to think ‘stuff it’ and pay them what they’ve claimed for instead of what they are due – it will save the company thousands.

It's always hard to get back into it after taking time off - I was ready to go home by 3.00pm, but made myself stay. I just played Simon up instead, you'd really think that by now he'd be wise to me - sucker! The devil makes work for idle hands, and all that malarkey. It's hardly fun any more - it's no longer a challenge. It can be as simple as changing the left/right click on the mouse settings on the computer - Simon was on his hands on knees under the desk fiddling for ages. I'd been sat at his desk just minutes before hand and he still didn't click (Ha Ha) onto the fact - and he's worked with me for over nine years now. I have learnt from my previous mistake and only play jokes on the people who can take them - the very same group of people that will return the favour.

We used to have a lot of fun when the company consisted of the 5 of us. Our manager at the time didn’t really have a great sense of humour - miserable cow - but we basically just ignored her, like the time we told her we were going to paint our office. OK, she said, as long as it was a workable colour. So we stayed behind one evening and covered the walls and Tom - who got more paint on himself than the wall - with a lovely bright terracotta that funnily enough she didn’t like – kept her away from us mind. She complained that it was too bright - she didn't have a reflection in the mirror either.

Then there was the time Julie brought a melon in for us all – we were on a healthy eating thing at the time. It wasn’t quite ripe so she put it in the window and religiously turned it everyday. One morning it was declared ready to eat and agreed that everyone would come back at dinner time for a slice. Whilst they were out I printed off a face on the computer, along with hands and feet, and a speech bubble – inside I’d typed: ‘Help, Help. I’m been held captive by a group of cannibals and they are going to eat me!’ It was great watching people faces as they walked passed the window – we were on a main street at the time - it always good to spread a little happiness. Both Julie and Tom have now moved on, only the three of us left from that group - but I still have the cartoon that Simon altered for me on my wall.

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When Himself came in from work last night he announced that as I had, had a couple of rough days over the weekend he’d brought me a present to cheer me up. Isn’t that romantic – whatever could it be? A box of chocolates? – noooo. A bunch of Flowers? – noooo. You’ll never guess, he said. To right I wouldn’t – never in a month of Sundays would I have thought of a box of Fireworks! Now, this has distinct similarities to that Christmas present I told you about – the tape recorder that I never got to play with on Christmas day because my dad was enjoying himself with it too much. I casually asked where we could set them off – Billy is terrified of fireworks, so we couldn’t do it at home. Not a problem, he’d already sorted it – we could go to Mick’s mum's house. The lady in question is knocking on 97 – did he really think it was a good idea? Yes, she was looking forward to it – and from the way he was looking at the contents of the box – so was he. Just think, he said, I’d be able to take loads of photos – while he, of course, could play at Guy Fawkes.

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We had our first frost this morning – not a bad one – but most definitely time to start wearing jumpers again.