...WYSIWYG...

Been sat here in work frezing cold all day. Just me, myself and I. Nothing to do but stare at the screen and await any incoming work - which hasn't been happening as the majority of people are still off. My moments of excitement have been

1. The girl and dog dropping me off to work
2. A phone call from another office
3. A phone call from power mad girl checking that I am okay - this despite the fact that I have worked here longer than her and I am the same grade as her
4. The arrival of someone into the office to complete some work

It's all go here...

The girl and I were having a chat yesterday about where we would like to live if we were to move house. I've put some thought into this and I have reached a list of five places where I would love to live.

Cardiff - I think as far as cities go Cardiff pretty much has it all. I mean it has a fantastic live music scene. It's a small friendly city. There's lots of places to eat and drink. Plus the local beer is Brains. Further highlights include the fact that there is a motorway close at hand and that both the Welsh coast and Welsh countryside are within easy reach. Finally I spent almost five years in Cardiff due to University and other things like that so I know the place relatively well.

The Mumbles - I'm sorry but I really do not like Swansea as a city at all. The Mumbles however, I love. Silly as it is essentially just a part of Swansea but it always feels completely different to me. I guess the attraction of the area is being close to the sea - being able to walk the dog along the beach in the morning would be incredible. Drawbacks are the difficulties getting into and out of Swansea by road. I think however, for a sea breeze I'd live with it!

Ross On Wye - I don't know why I like Ross so much. I think it's the whole small town feel of it coupled with the fact that I know of a few good pubs there. It is also within close reach of mine and the girls families nad is within a part of the country where you can just go out for long walks and lose yourself!

Shrewsbury - one of my favourite places in the UK as I guess it is mix of old and new. Whilst not a huge place it has sufficient shops to amuse me for long periods of time. It feels like you are in the middle of no where when you are up in Shrewsbury which is very often a nice feeling to have. That joined with the fact that it is so picturesque with the Severn flowing through the heart of the town and it offers once again loads of places to walk the hound dog!

Oswestry - it's small, it's old, it has lots of pubs, it has a fair few shops, it's just on the border with Wales and England and allows you easy access to loads of wonderful places including Llangollen, Lake Vyrnwy, Wrexham, Chester and Shrewsbury. Itt also always feels like somewhere I'd like to live as everything is in easy walking distance.

So not the most exciting list of places ever but it was good to think things through...I'll probably end up staying where I am though!

This Christmas I am down with my parents and have been since yesterday morning. Whilst I love my parents I find being around them hard work for a number of reasons

1. They think my girlfriend and I are no longer together - we split up temporarily in February and when we got back together I didn't tell my parents as they decided to spend most of the time we were together and apart being incredibly rude about her.

2. They hate my girlfriend - basically they can't cope with the fact that I am a lesbian and as she is the first girl who has met them they have taken a dislike to her. Or should I say took a dislike to her. It was over five years ago that we got together.

3. They hate me being a lesbian - this has partially been covered by the above points but to add some further points...they keep asking me when I'll find a nice boy, they won;t tell any of the other members of my family, they won't tell any of my friends.

4. They pester me repeatedly about returning home - I am 29 and as a result I would rather not be living under my parents roof - yes it would be more cost effective for me but for the above reasons it would drive me up the wall. Also if girlfriend and I went our separate ways and I got a new gf how would they explain that to the neighbours.

5. They are cat people - this isn't a problem but I have a dog and we seem to have been banished to the coldest room in the house this Christmas so that the cats can luxuraite and be pampered.

6. They comment on my weight and lifestyle - seriously my dad will still ask me if I have changed my knickers in the morning. They also criticise me for being overweight - I am not happy about my present size but I am going to do something about it. Their criticism makes me just want to eat all the chocolate and Pringles in the house!

7. They lie about me - I think this is the worst of all. They tell people I am doing a different job to the one I have, living in a different location, that I am straight and various other little lives in miniature have also been made up. It does nothing for my self confidence but also has the effect that if I see any of my relatives I run and hide as I am afraid to talk to them and tell them the truth!

So I am having a major challenge this Christmas biting my tongue and being polite. Oh and keeping out of sight when anyone comes over so that no-one see their overweight daughter and so that I can't tell them what's really going on in my life.

Tis the last working day before Christmas and all is quiet in the office.

Power Mad Girl has gone home for the festive season to spend time with her family and as for the others...well they just haven't bothered turning up yet!

I'd love this time of year even more if it didn't lead to increased levels of skintness brought on by excessive drinking, going out, present shopping and all the other Christmas joys as it is I return to work next Monday morning in an attempt to salvage some of my pay packet.

But I can put that to the back of my mind as tonight I am going to South Wales to see friends, family and presents!

I'm in the office on my own as everyone has either gone home or alternatively gone for Christmas lunch.

It's not that I didn't want to go for Christmas lunch moreso that I am skint.

I find it interesting being a temp how the attitudes of employers can vary so much. I was speaking to someone in the offices across the way from us who informed me that their temps were getting paid for a part of the Christmas break. Cool I thought it will obviously be the same for me, however, after speaking to the boss the best we could arrive at was that in the week following Christmas I get to work three days.

It sucks...well and truly...big time. At least it means that I have some money coming into the account though and I should be able to pay my rent without too many problems.

I think offices should look after their temps moreso. I mean it's not my fault I cannot work over the Christmas period due to office closures etc. as a result I am still available and should be paid. Doesn't work like that though does it!

Anyway I am off in twenty minutes to see the girl and hopefully have a nice meal with her!

I feel tired and cold so as a result of this I also feel fed up and grumpy. I really hate this time of year an incredible amount. I think I need to be living somewhere warm. I don't have the money to do so though so guess I am stuck here!!!

I seem to have been a little slack at posting lately and I am unsure why. I don't think that it's that life is particularly broing at the moment it's just that nothing noteworthy has happened.

I'm off on Conference with work for the next two days so hopefully will have something exciting to report following on from that!

If I was this horse I'd live in constant fear of falling over and breaking my neck...

I mean how on earth does it not trip over that pony tail? Can't the owner at least make it into a chignon?

It's that time of year and I've already started thinking about New Years Resolutions...

I want to
- exercise more
- lose weight
- drink less alcohol
- eat less chocolate
- visit at least two different countries outside of the UK
- contribute to a charity - in terms of assistance rather than money
- find a new job which is permanent
- see more of my family
- make some more friends

I was debating whether I should take a leaf out of Bridget's Diary and record my alcohol at the top of each entry - then again I'd only end up scaring myself!

My power mad colleague has reached a new peak of craziness. I am now not allowed within the general vicinity of her desk or to touch anything on it. The boss seems unbothered by this. The opposite is the case for her however, she is allowed to move stuff on my desk or do whatever else she chooses.

I explained to the boss in no uncertain terms on Friday that I was terrified of going over to the power mad one's corner of the room whether she was in the office or not. If here I get glowered at, if not here I can almost hear her telling me to stay away.

So at the end of last week when given the task of sorting papers out I did exactly what had been requested. I sorted through the necessary papers, and put away further papers into the boxes which were on my desk but I left her area alone. I figured this followed her request to stay clear of her desk completely.

This morning she came in, coughing, spluttering, she told me she wanted peace and quiet so not to talk to her. She also made no effort to speak to me.

The boss came in and then all of the sudden the performance started "why's all this stuff on my desk?" "Why hasn't she cleared it all away". My response "I was respecting your wishes and steering clear of your desk, I know how you hate it when I touch your stuff!".

The boss looked on stunned throughout this. Power Mad One left the office to get milk and I raised my point. "She always tells me to keep away from her desk so therefore I am".

He took my point as I thought he would. He hasn't had a word with her though. Guess he is as scared of her as I am.

I loved my job before she started here. Now I dread a day in work. I feel like I am being bullied in many respects and I feel like madam is allowed to get away with it.

I am also aware that I mention this to anyone and it is probably me who will lose my job. After all I'm only a temp.