Monday

Up early, big dog walk in the woods and back for boiled eggs.

Did loads today - picked up a bit of freelance that earned me more than I get for a weeks teaching, will be invoicing this week.

I'm still not sure if I'm getting paid this week - I'm told there was a cheque run but I usually get email notification of BACS payments, and nothing yet - it can take 4 days for money to clear and I'm dreading that even if I get paid - I won't see anything until next week at the earliest.

I can't pay my bills until I get paid - so they are sitting on my desk glaring at me and making me feel bad. I'm not ready to seal with the revenue yet - I'll try later or tomorrow ( actually - have a couple if meetings tomorrow early - but they are all about paid stuff, so I can't complain.

Watched 'The Walking Dead' on catch up - which was actually pretty good. I really like watching stuff on the telly - I never bother unless it's something I'm specifically interested in - and it's not as 'passive' as watching a real telly - I'm always doing something. I can't actually remember ever TV on a sofa on my own... sounds a bit weird.

The pissed woman from up the road was outside her house when I walked past - she introduced me to her new Staffie - a really sweet and lovely little puppy but I dread to think what it will grow up into. She introduced me to her boyfriend - about 60 - a lifetime of drinking written all over his face - but with the soft, north Lancashire tones to a voice that screamed 'public school'.

I'm still really tired and run down, but I've already picked up some sun ( 'Dago blood '  innit ) and look obscenely healthy. I'm going to try and get everything out of the way this week and do nothing 'academic' next week - just work on the house and do some urgent jobs - fix a couple of bits of furniture - sort out the hot water and the dodgy electrics and recover a couple of chairs. I caught a dog flea on Little Mouse today - so there's another 30 quid down the drain and I need new tyres for the bike.

It never ends.