It's very quiet at USSU at the moment. Pete's away on an NUS training course for Presidents ('People & Money') and Claire's away at 'Support & Represent'. On top of that, Andy and Scott are both on holiday and Carol's meeting some people elsewhere. It's kind of eerie, having the Union this empty.

I've just made a list of things I need to do. It's very long. I'm a little more confident about the Guide to Life now. I'm doing it completely differently to before, which means I can't lift much from previous year's copies (which often happens). Still, I like trying out new things, so it's pretty exciting.

Yesterday I started using a Wacom Graphics Tablet that's been in the barefacts office for a while, and it's really quite cool. It's taking a bit of getting used to, and is very different in operation to a mouse, but I think it could turn out to be quite useful for the design/layup element of my job.

Well, best be off and be productive. I'm off on holiday to Torquay with Ben tomorrow, for 5 days, and I'm really excited. We might even pop in on my sister in Dorset on our way... we're really close but haven't seen each other in 7 months so it's be great if we can.

I get back on Sunday, and then go straight off to 'Participate and Develop' in London from 4th - 7th August. And then on the 8th.... it's my 22nd Birthday... yippee!!

Still happy, still busy.

Ben and I are off on holiday tomorrow to Torquay, staying in a rather nice looking hotel which bears an uncanny resemblence to Fawlty Towers! We're going down to his home home tomorrow night, then taking the car with us for the next 5 days. I really can't wait.

We spent the weekend at his home in Salisbury, and had a great time until yesterday afternoon when, in the middle of the New Forest, our car was broken into and his mum and Auntie's handbags were stolen. It caused so much upset and trouble, and really put a damper on the weekend. Still, it was great to meet his family - they're really lovely people.

Well, having spent most of the morning messing around with email accounts, I've at last managed to get my comms@ussu.co.uk account working, so I'm gonna shoot off, and get back to work!

Oh yes, I've got another weblog...

I am writing this from NUS Convention up in Loughborough. I'm here with Pete, Chops, Claire and Chris for 3 days, and so far it's been pretty cool. The proper sessions start today, and I'm booked in for 'Building up to the National Demo', 'Reactive Media' and 'Proactive Media' over the next 2 days.

Our accommodation is very nice - we're all along one corridor so it's almost like we've gone on holiday together!

Right, I'm gonna go have a peek around the 'sabbatical area' of the Students' Union... all I can say is, it's niiiiiice...

Time is shooting by at the moment - I've almost finished my 6th week at the Union, and 3rd as a proper sabbatical, and it feels like no time at all. Then again, I have done one whole publication and am well into my next one, the revamped Guide to Life that'll be going out to all Freshers' and new postgrads come September.

I'm looking forward to tonight (Fake-FNO-HRB) and the weekend a lot. Tomorrow Ben and I are planning on going to see Blood Brothers in Woking (fingers crossed they have some standby tickets left!) and doing some shopping as well. I can't wait.

On Monday I'm off to Loughborough for 3 days with the other sabbs, for the Annual NUS Convention. I'm quite looking forward to it (though not to being away from Ben) as we'll get to meet lots of sabbs from all over the country. Kinda exciting....

Anyway, back to work, and to counting the minutes until 12.30pm..... :)

Before you ask, things are still going very well, thankyou! I'm stupidly happy with Ben, and despite the fact things at work are incredibly stressful and busy, just a yahoo message from him can calm me down and make me feel all happy inside.

My first publication as VP Comms arrived here on Friday, so if you're around in Guildford just pop into the Union and pick up a copy. It's a mini guide to everything offered by USSU, so come in and see for yourself!

Next on my plate is the Guide to Life, which (if all goes to plan) will be in a slightly different format to previous years. It's going to take a lot of work, a lot of time, but hopefully in a month's time i'll be sitting here surrounded by boxes of lots of lovely new shiny publications.... i hope.....

:ox

I am so happy! It's a wonderful wonderful feeling.

Just wanted to tell the world....

Phew, I'm absolutely knackered!

Spent most of today at the University Open Day telling people how amazing the Union is, which was incredibly tiring - standing up for over 4 hours really takes it out of you. I'm still pretty happy though - the proofs for my Pre-Freshers' Publication came back yesterday, and I'm soooo proud of it... can't wait until 8,000 of them turn up here on Friday!

Think it's time to head home early (for the very first time), and curl up in front of my favourite film, with someone who's "pretty good" at hugging... ;) :)

Well, it's been one pretty damn cool week! Despite the fact I spent around 75 hours at work in 5 days, I really have loved pretty much every minute of it. I finished my 'Pre-Freshers Publication' on Friday, and ISDNed it off to the printers. Fingers crossed 8,000 of them will be delivered to me on Friday, looking nice and shiny and colourful! It's quite exciting.

This next week should be slightly less crazy... think i'll start giving some thought to the website and Guide to Life, not to mention the dreaded (dun dun daaaah) comms budget....

Last night I went on a pub crawl round town with the J-Team guys, and had the best night out in a long time. Not sure why it was so cool... think it's probably cos it was pretty chilled, and I was happy and relaxed. T'was only a pity that there was no HRB/Union open after 11pm for us to carry on the partying!

Day 2 of being a sabbatical officer: Well, in the last 2 days I have spent over 26 hours at work - pretty damn impressive! I've been working on a publication to be sent out to all Pre-Freshers next week, and it's really quite exciting. The 4 sabbs who are here (Chops is away at BUSA) have been working really well together - it's all starting to fall into place.

So, if you walk past the Union at some unearthly hour and the media centre light is still on - give me a wave! :)