WH Smith

I can see my case study slowly taking over my life, today's big question being, who are WH Smith, who shops at WH Smith and what is the point of WH Smith?

Last week my college home work for my post grad course was to look at the Macro Environment of WH Smith, which went well. Although, this week my group has to produce an internal company analysis of WH Smith. The fist step of which is to define their market. I have come to the preliminary conclusion that there is no logical need for the shop to exist!

They are not cheap, they are not quality, they are not specialist, they are not openly eco friendly and they are not cool, what is the point in WH Smith?

They don't specifically cater for the young, they don't specifically cater for the old, they don't specifically cater for the rich, they don't specifically cater for the poor. Who shops at WH Smiths? I know I do from time to time but then you get to asking yourself who am I?

Who would have thought that marketing could get so self reflective?

Got my big meeting with my boss in 2 hours to tell me about the result of my secondment, then that will be nearly the end of my week of stress. Still no noticeable ageing or hair loss.

4th Kyu

Well it's official I am now a 4th Kyu aikidoka (orange belt). Grading went well last night moved well and didn't have any moments when I forgot everything and made a fool of myself.

Good nindoris and a big nikyo on Ian during my nindori from grips. Had a bit of panic when I was told to “shewari wasa,” kneel down (as I haven't practiced much from my knees) but they only wanted to see shwari wasa ko kyu ho - A simple demonstration of balance and breaking posture.

I'm looking forward to Sunday where I can show off my new belt and go back to being crap until Scott decides I'm ready for my green belt.

Restless Legs

After a punishing couple of hours throwing people around a padded room whist wearing a white suit my legs are killing me this morning. I hope they fix themselves before my grading tomorrow because I feel like a cripple.

Karris came round last night after splitting up with George so we have an inflatable bed in our living room for the time being. Not a problem though, she leaves around 6am, before I get up. Sounds pretty serious between those two.Just come back from Sainsbury’s, the rabbits are going to love me. I bought rabbit food and... Carrots.

Only 9/10ths of this week left

Super Mick McCarthy

Just got back from the match. Leon Clarke Scored! George Olofinjana had a great game too.

Shame the Alb*on had to go and pull back for a draw after being 2-0 down at half time.

Oxford won as well!!

Got my car cleaned and had a pint in the royal with Dave before the match.

Time for curry!

Back to the land of my forefathers

That's right, this weekend this weekend I've driven up to sunny Wolverhampton to make wine, watch football and eat curry. The drive north has two noticeable smell experiences on the way. The first is as you drive through Banbury you can smell Marmite from the factory there, and the other is when you come off the M5 at Oldbury you get a whiff of toxic fumes and animal fat, oh the sweet smell of home. Also the sky goes a disturbing shade of orange if it is dark and there are clouds about.

I hope wolves win tomorrow as I haven't seen them win since the playoff final. I've stopped wearing a wolves shirt in case it is that which is bringing me bad luck.

Meeting big Doyve in the pub before the match. Then off to Ellie's parents (The other side of the park to Molineux) for a Shebab curry. The usual no doubt, lamb rangoon with special rice. They don't make them as good in Oxford but don't get me started on that one coz I'm a bit of a curry snob.

Songs of Ignorance

Downloaded one of my favourite albums last night. I bought Songs of Ignorance by Murry the Hump years ago but for some reason I can't find the CD anywhere. I have the case but it is empty.

Last night I got an e-mail from Tom (thanks Tom!), saying he had uploaded the album to Oink for me. Very happy now.

Murray the hump are lyrical Genius. "Darling you are a lump of coal in a heap of slag" and "There's never a rose without a prick" are lines that gain 'nuff respect from me.

Requesting a 8 day week

I am begining to feel the effects of a 12 hour working day about now. Sitting at my desk with a minestrone cuppa soup and trying not to fall asleep. I have sandwiches with home grown tomatoes and M&S olives though so all isn't too bad. Just had an e-mail from my dad asking me to tweak his website for him.

7 minutes of lunch time have already passed and I could do with going for a short stroll around Milton Park. Still... Management De-brief meeting this afternoon, so that's 1 1/2 hours when I don't have to be at my desk this afternoon.

George is coming round tonight to help me set up my wireless network and stop Ellie from Hijacking my PC for her own means.

Well I guess I ought to post something

After seeing other people's blogs and sending utter crap to people by e-mail I guess I felt that it was time I created a blog.

After seeing other people's blogs and sending utter crap to people by e-mail I guess I felt that it was time I created a blog. I have 3 major things that are taking over my life at the moment but that will be down to one by the end of next week. Then of course the onslaught of Christmas. I couldn't believe that they were already selling Christmas decorations in Boots on Saturday. It's September for goodness sake. Anyway, next Tuesday I am grading for my Orange belt in Aikido. This I have been doing now for 2 years and is a great way of reliving tension after a stressful day in the office.

I work in a computer firm in Didcot Oxfordshire and am currently on a 3 month secondment as a Marketing Analyst. At the end of next week I find out if my secondment is to be made permanent (with the high possibility of a pay rise) or if I will be thrust back into oblivion. My boss has dropped a few hints already so I am quietly confident - Although I could do without the stress at the moment.

The third string in my bow of stress is that last night I started on my final module in the CIM post graduate diploma in marketing. from now until Christmas I will sit in a small room at Oxford Brookes University for 3 hours on a Wednesday night and study in preparation for what amounts to a 3 hour open book exam on all aspects of a company that will be determined on the 3rd November.

To go with all of this is the fact that my partner (Ellie) and myself are looking to buy a house together next year and need to get looking by about Christmas.