  So glad to hear Mint is feeling a little better. It is a very complicated situation with being away, being best friends with El, I'm sure her loyalties are torn and she just wants all of her loved ones around her all the time. I feel for her. As for your work, it really sounds like it's time to get out. There is nothing stopping you, you have the skills and more qualifications than most people I know. It's funny that you mentioned the poignant side of the Office because in series 2 I found myself feeling even more sorry for the characters especially David Brent who I thought I was incapable of feeling sorry for.
Although it seems like a dim memory now, my two and a half years at Suncorp were quite horrid and it amazes me that I stayed there all that time. For what? To try and prove to myself that I was a 'good worker'. I ended up surmising that if I wasn't a good worker would that be such a terrible thing? There are so many worse things you can be. I believe in working hard but for the right reasons. It's a worry when your own warped self-perception is your driver for doing something you hate. Very neurotic. My new job has been great so far but I am really struggling at the moment. At the time my back went, there was a team reshuffle and as a result I am on a new whole new team.
The good thing is that my old manager and tech. manager are on this team too, but with being away with my back, coming in sporadically has made me feel like I'm not a part of it and that people are going to judge me by this period of my life. Before my back happened, I was so focused, now when I'm at work it's like a whole different job, because I'm standing and uncomfortable, my concentration levels are down and I feel muddled in the head! I'm afraid of making mistakes and losing the respect of my peers. I told one of my supervisors how I felt and she was very understanding as she had a similar situation that went on for about 5 months and she ended up on income protection of a few weeks but I just won't be happy until I'm in the saddle again.
I ended up taking the last two days off. I can't afford it moneywise - this trip is costing us heaps - but I'm hoping that 4 days in bed will help so that I can take less medication and be more on the ball. If I didn't have this trip I'd just get a sick note for the full 2 months recovery time but at the back of my mind is always the money. This trip is such a blessing but it seems like I really have to pay for it in other ways to actually go! And when I get really depressed I do stupid things like drink champagne with my painkillers and dance which has set me back (excuse the pun) even more. After Wednesday, I felt like things were spiralling out of control so I took the 2 days off, have gone on the Atkins diet to try and get healthy, also means no alcohol for at least 14 days and have started gentle walking on the treadmill again. It has made such a difference in my outlook on things and I am so keen to go back to work on Monday now that I have my positivity to keep me going.
I guess my point is that when things are shit, it is very easy to get stuck in a hole (for me, it's hard not to get self-destructive) or do nothing about it, wait for something to happen to change the situation but it feels so much better if you do something about it yourself, however small. 2003 has been such a mixed year, so much joy, so much confusion, a few obstacles. I hope 2004 has a bit more joy and less confusion....don't mind the challenges so much, they help us to grow don't they? DON'T THEY??!?!? I remember Slam Dunk from ages ago, it was big in HK, you could buy the figures and pencil cases....it was huge there when I was still in high school.
I can't believe it's gone on for so long, that's like 12 years or something, didn't they have comics too, maybe that's how it started.....it must be good. I never watched it because it was always translated to the Chinese....being the poor Cantonese speaker that I am, I need English subtitles! I hope we can all get together on the 13th of December at the Northern Soul for a X'mas party. I know Ninesuns and Tiger will be gone by then so we will do something with you guys before that. We leave on the 16th of December. I'm asking the universe with all my heart that my back has sorted itself out for the flight, I am keeping to my side of the deal by taking care of myself (no more dancing for a couple of weeks) so I reckon it will all work out.
We watched some fluff last night - Charlie's Angels - Full Throttle....all it made me do was think how good Kill Bill is (again). Can't wait for Vol. 2. Just think, this year Mick and I will be watching the final LOTR in the UK. I still can't believe it's happening. Had a dream last night that we were in Wales and I didn't pack enough stuff. I woke up this morning and decided to start packing asap. 
