Football is so depressing. Only a couple of seasons ago Southampton were in the final of the FA cup and were around 7th in the Premier league. Looking like they could still improve. Now they will be lucky not to get relegated out of the Championship and I am watching two of their recent best players playing for Fulham. Why bloody Fulham?

We've just had M&S&M&C staying with us for a week which was lovely. They did their own thing while S and I were at work but we had a great weekend and evenings with them. On the Sat we walked from the Luas to the Liffey and along to Phoenix Park - which is a long way! Went into the zoo while we were there which was fun. In particular 3 year old M enjoyed that. The Lions and Tigers were on good form which they weren't last time I went.

Just spent a couple of days up north. S was doing a Holiday Club recruitment spot at an evening meeting in Enniskillen on Thurs and Belfast on Fri. So we stayed in a hotel and spent Friday mooching around Belfast, enjoying being around UK shops. We stayed in Tara Lodge which was lovely. Would certainly recommend it for staying in Belfast. The PDA navigating us was brilliant. The maps for central Belfast were great, directing us perfectly even when I missed a turning it was telling me to take...

We took it easy this morning, enjoying a nice cooked breakfast before driving home via Sainsburys, to get those important things you cant buy in the Republic, like Old Speckled Hen! Arrived back home for lunch and then are going out to see J and P in town later.

Finished the day with a very annoying meeting today. Walked in the room 30 mins before I wanted to go home (ok, it was dumb to agree to a meeting at such a time) and answered the main question "yes, that'll be no problem" before I'd even sat down. We then spent 45 mins discussing the same point over again until everyone realised that the answer was "yes, that'll be no problem" then we left.

Had a nice long chat with my boss today about my future and how happy I am (or not) etc. While I don't expect anything to change, it was at least nice to be honest about the things I like and those I don't and what my thoughts are for the next year or so. Problem is I have no idea what so ever with what I want to do in the next year or so except probably not what I'm doing now for much longer than that...

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!! Ok, so that's a week late, but it's hard to post after spending two weeks away as there's so much I could write but wont actually bother... Anyway the holiday was fantastic! We spent a week in Winchester (England, not that I can think of any readers who wont know this but you never know) where we had 6 nights, 4 were spent at various grandparents, one in the pub (with a surprise appearance from J who everyone believed had turned hermit) and one in a Holiday Inn near Gatwick. It was really nice to just be in England with S and have a bit of time to enjoy being there together. Obviously nice to catch up with some friends and family too, but there's always far more than you have time to see.

The week in Cuba was amazing. We were staying in the resort at Jibacoa - while that gives a good idea of what's there, the page is actually out of date as currently is no longer US$ as Castro decided to ban it a year or so ago and introduce his own made up currency for tourists (Cuban convertible Pesos - CUC). The resort was brilliant. If you ever want an all inclusive sun holiday that has something interesting near by to see one day (Havana) I'd really recommend this place.

We basically spent the week sitting in the sun on the beach. The sea was completely clear even when there were people swimming etc and the beach was never crowded. Snorkeling was great fun. I've never done it before and found it hard at first to realise I wasn't going to drown. The fish were stunning - and all around you! When we first went swimming we had no idea that they were all around us. There's a coral reef just a few yards out which was stunning too, but bloody painful when I hit my knee against it.

We took a day trip to Havana which was very interesting. You see the 50s American cars and the old buildings that look like they're about to fall down. What surprised me was how safe it felt. Hardly anyone hassled us as tourists, except at the places designed for getting money off the tourists. I would happily spend more time there.

We also just enjoyed the facilities the resort had to offer. Meeting for drinks in the piano bar most nights before going to the buffet dinner. Then having a drink or two more in front of the show (if it was worth watching, some were, some weren't!) or a game of pool if the show was pants. At lunch you had to walk all of a few yards from where you were on the beach to the beach bar for burgers, chicken, pizzas etc. Or just for drinks (with rum, everything seemed to come with rum, including the coconut they hacked open with a mashetti one day and put a straw in. The bloke got me to drink a bit before topping it up with rum).

I'll stick some photo's on the net somewhere one day which will do it more justice than I am. And now it's back to reality living somewhere that's not 28degree sun every day...