Thurs 29 Oct

Sat listening to Chris Evans whilst tapping away, but he's distracting, I can't do both at the same time. I've decided to come clean with real names. For those of you who know me, it will come as no suprise that Cindy is Chloe and Ben is Rob. Miss Gulch, well she was the wicked witch in Wizard of Oz, make you're own mind up about that. and yes I work for the Halifax.

I went to visit my friend Chris last night, he lives round the corner from me, but it was the first time I'd been to his house, and the last as he's moving to Halifax next week. He's still working with us, but it wont be customer facing, just technology testing. Halifax is taking on the Lloyds counter system next February, he told me, so he's testing the system to make sure it will work. I wasn't impressed with what he told me, the Lloyds system is acknowledged as not being as good as ours, but instead of putting them onto our system, they need to rush the whole thing through and put ours onto theirs so that the European Monopolies Commission (i'm not sure I've got the right title there) can't break our new bank up. It's all political and not good news for the staff, who work at the coal face.

My other friend Chris, probably my best friend, is going on holiday with Caroline on Monday to the Dominican Republic. One week of fantastic weather, and beautiful beaches. I'm only slightly jealous. I've had plenty of holidays this year, and he deserves it.

We went to Austria this year, I know I'm beginning to become like Jackie and Andy. Same old place, over and over again. But at least we stop at different towns, not the same hotel every year. This years trip was a debacle. We took Chloe and her friend Lauren and my brother and his partner, Steve and Donna.

Chloe and Rob bickered, argued and were aggressive to each other, all the time, it ruined the holiday for all of us. Chloe sulked and cried. Rob shouted, swore and smacked her. We just sat back and watched the show. Poor Lauren was so embarrassed, and didn't know what to do with herself. She couldn't take Chloe's side because Chloe was in the wrong, but at the same time, she had to spend her time with her and not look like she was siding with the adults.

Definately my worst holiday ever. I hadn't wanted Chloe to come in the first place, financially we're not in a good position to pay for her and Lauren. I had just wanted Steve and Donna to come with us, but no I'm soft and relented.

I've let it go though, I'm not dwelling on it. But be assured, if there were any funny stories to tell I'd share them. I just don't remember anything funny happening.

We've booked the time off work for next year. All we have to do now is decide were in Austria to go.

I'm going now, not seen Chloe in days, so i've nothing to rant about, so this reads too boring and I need to keep you bought into this blog. I don't want you giving up on this.

I think I'll try and add some photo's