One week in and it feels like I have been beaten with a large stick. Nothing to do with the job, rather spending 2 days attempting to ride a Honda CR250 through the Welsh countryside. Apparently this is practice for Cambodia but crikey, if I am this battered after 2 days what will 15 days be like? Top moments were probably Mike E. launching himself and bike across a hillside into the woods, only just managing to let go before he shot down a hill and somehow guiding the bike so it didn't hit another road warrior. Steve K's pirouette and shoulder dismount over a small hillock, for almost no apparent reason other than to entertain, and my para inspired backward roll, flip, and recovery after failing to negotiate a tree. It was as simple as falling off a log.

The specials at the New Inn (which was new in 1751) were the same as the pub across the road and didn't change and it wasn't possible to get either a mobile signal or Welsh TV. There was a promised program called Gay Rabbit but I didn't see it and so can't share.

I have an office with my name on the door, which one might think means for all intents and purposes I would be the master of said space and maybe people would show a small degree of politeness when entering into it. Seems not. 2 IT bods, a computer person and a health and safety botherer all came in, not one acknowledged the fact that I was here and working, and proceeded to talk loudly and longly about removing a large screen TV from here. It's a bit too early in my career here to tell them to piss off I think. Or a missed opportunity.

Was shown around some of the toys in another dept. the other day. Somehow they got money to build a dome and stuff a mini in it so that they can show wraparound computer generations of roads and see where you look when you drive, and another bit of kit so you can chase each other through the streets. Rumour is that there's a guy doing similar with a motorcycle. In my line of work all I can hope for is a blow-up doll with anatomically correct pneumatics.

Thought I'd look for guitar lessons and thought I'd found someone. He asked for what I was looking to play so I was honest, AOR. His next email suggested that I contact someone else. Obviously not a lover of melodic rock then.

Still haven't found a place to live. Technically that is inaccurate, I have found places but the agents don't get back to me. Useless.

Looking forward to a short weekend in Shepshed. Not particularly for the place as I know nothing about it, but for the company. Living in interesting times is good.

Visit to a Preston prison with a wild flower garden and some kind of bird of prey sanctuary. Is that a prison? Did require staying in a hotel in Liverpool, which is a first, and not to be recommended. At around midnight two blokes started shouting at other from different sides of the street. One wanted to know where Ben was, the other had climbed up some scaffolding and when that impressed no one he decided to sing. Weirdly they were both Londoners. Still didn't discover where Ben had got to. Bacon and egg sandwich at my favourite Liverpool cafe, pie and a pint for tea, then mock vivas.

Shepshed. Once a 1,000 acre farm, now 4,000 houses surrounding a farmhouse, which has been converted into cottages. Really nice. Shame the surroundings are not so peachy. However, who really cares when you don't need aluminium underpants, find a Chinese takeaway that does a version of crispy chilli beef (still think Thai Ping does it best), and have one of those great nights. Some people do manage to colour groups of days and it's fair to say that the colours were quite beautiful. It's almost enough to make you glad that you've come across some ultimately unpleasant people so that the nice ones shine all the brighter.

Times are getting busier.