Time to look up...

Apart from it being another lovely day, and me being in a great mood ( notwithstanding the blood on my hands, see below ) I have something to celebrate.

I received notification on Friday that I am now 60% of a person. My 'fraction' at the college - the money I am paid for running the course, has been increased from 40 - 60% of a full salary ( nobody in H.E. works full time ). This means that I now have a basic salary that pays my mortgage and all my bills, every month - and as a lifetime self employed person that means I can do all the things you lot do - have a phone on a contract, pay bills monthly, have standing orders etc. In many ways I can now join adult society... which might sound a bit melodramatic - but you should try having a career where you can go for 6 months without getting paid despite working every day.

I'm still self employed, can earn extra money as I please and pay my own tax - but it's a really useful place to be. I have to find ways to work my business around the academic year - but that's fine. I'm quite happy about it.

I have managed to get my tax bill down to less than £3800 - which now means that I am one of the least 'in debt' people I know - in fact I'm about 10K below the national average for someone of my age. By the end of the year my mortgage will drop below the 100k mark ( ah - the glory days, when you could get a massive mortgage simply by wearing the right aftershave ) and I have no credit cards or household bills hanging about. I'm secretly pleased with myself - but keep it to yourself, if anyone finds out they will find a way to ruin in for me. ( actually - just remembered my insurance is due on the house.... I'm thinking direct debit for the first time ever! )

I actually quite liked Sherlock last night, it's really grown on me. There are things I don't like - but as a big fan of Conan Doyle who has read every one repeatedly - I liked looking for references, last night ran through about 200. I really liked Moriarty ( although I had suspected it was Lestrade doubling up - Rupert Graves is far too expensive an actor to squeeze into a minor role ). Mad, bad, ruthless and good looking in a nice suit - what's not to like. There were overtones of a phsychotic Graham Norton occasionally - but they should iron that out for next time. talking of which - did you spot the reference at the end? - The swimming pool is essentially Riekenback Falls, so lets assume the opening scene of the next series see's John Watson staggering from the  ruins with both Moriaty and Holmes believed dead - merely to return at the 70% point of episode 1 to rescue Watson from certain doom etc.