On Friday, after my first day in the new job, I said that "if the doorbell doesn't go, I'm allowed to surf the internet". Unfortunately that statement presupposes that at some point the doorbell stops ringing. That hasn't been the case since. I've never taken so many drugs. Taken delivery I mean. Obviously.

Lisa and I are supposed to be celebrating Valentine's Day with Derren Brown tonight. The tickets were booked on January 21st - two days before I landed this job, and two weeks before Lisa was told she had to go to London for the day. Suffice it to say it's not the best day to be driving over to Worthing for the evening. You don't need to be a mindreader to sense how knackered I am right now.

But I've coped this morning by drinking lots of tea out of a mug advertising a bone cancer drug (it's good to be reminded of death every time you take a sip), and I've been buoyed by the weekly staff e-mail, which contains this fantastic piece of news:

"NHS Discount

'Trickswop Workshop' invites you to learn circus skills using your NHS discount. Classes take place every Friday from 28 March and are from 5.30 - 7pm at the Dance Hall, Brighton Youth Centre, Edward Street, Brighton.

The workshops include - acrobalance, acrobatics, capoiera, character, contact, ball, club and ring juggling, dance, Diablo, devilstick, flag, hacki-sack, hula-hoop, performance, poi, spinning plates, staff, stilts, tightrope and unicycle."

I'm not sure about devilsticks, but I can see how the ability to juggle things, walk a tightrope, and keep a dozen plates spinning at the same time might come in handy in my job.