Busy, busy, busy. Last week in work we did the interviews for and appointed our Smoking Related Litter Officer position, in advance of the ban next April. Very enjoyable and interesting process with some fantastic candidates making it difficult to choose. However, we did and he is an excellent candidate and should do a really good job. Interviews very tiring and draining, followed by marathon session on Friday afternoon of selection - grading all candidates, and then phoning all unsuccessful ones as I didn't want them having to wait all weekend before finding out. Finally shot off to the station to collect fave auntie at 4 who had come up for a weekend of fun and frivolity.

Saturday was our annual craft fest at the big Creative Stitches and Papercraft Exhibition. It would be fair to say we shopped till we dropped! Bought many many wonderful things, and to our great delight saw Alan and Barry, formerly of Create and Craft TV. Even had a signed photo, much to my excitement, and husband's bewilderment. Staggered home, exhausted. Sunday fun at Ikea bouncing on sofas as H is considering buying Ektorp. After a satisfyingly prolonged bounce, Ektorp was pronounced suitable. Also looked at lots of lovely other things there. Home for quick lunch then it was time to take H to station for her train home. Tried to see Borat on Sunday evening but it was completely chaotic so went on Monday instead. So funny that I laughed all the way through and emerged aching after it had finished. If you haven't seen it, I recommend it.

Tuesday night joined by the His Imperial Majesty Tsar Kevinovich - litter tsar of Plymouth who was visiting our city for a WRAP training course. He came over and we cooked a meal, drank too much and enjoyed catching up with all the news. Fantastic. Cooked honey and ginger chicken with a mango and chilli salsa, plus roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli, followed by a selection of cheeses. Yum. Just wish the evening could have been longer as it seemed the conversation was just getting going when it was time for him to go back to his hotel. Hopefully, he and Melinda will come and stay for a weekend soon.

Yesterday took day off for day of Christmas shopping with H, who came up again on the train. Very enjoyable and exciting day, with a successful trip to Lakeland to purchase two kitchen timers and a pastry brush. Saw lots of our city centre teams around. Had lunch at Starbucks and we had the cutest barista, who treated us to red sprinkles on our drinks, whoopee...... Bought myself a new pair of suede casual boots, and a casual western style shirt, prompting husband to ask on my return home if I was going line dancing. Humph.

Spent the afternoon today at our Highways depot, attending our monthly BIM for senior managers. Nothing wildly exciting on the agenda, but meeting deafened by howling gale and thundering rain - really quite awesome. Drove home with roads all flooded, heavy spray - glad to get home safely. Baffled completely by seeing (just) several cyclists with NO LIGHTS and DARK CLOTHING - do they want to be killed? I just don't understand.

Blimey, what a busy week. Well, last week was very momentous as it was the week the judges for the Cleanest City were visiting us to judge us. Spent some time in the city centre and must admit the cleansing standard was excellent. If I was being picky I would say we were let down by the street furniture - some of our bins are looking very tired and desperately need replacing as well as some of the other street furniture. We also have some empty shops which are waiting to be demolished to make way for the new shopping centre - even though the street is clean, these can pull down the overall visual impression. Took one of my colleagues for his first ever Starbucks as we were doing a walk round - he chose an eggnog latte and woofed it down at warp speed. Most impressive.

On Tuesday we teleported down the M4 to an event in swansea at the new Liberty Stadium. Lots of police and fire service people as well as the DVLA - looking at streetscene issues in relation to crime and neighbourhood policing - lots of crossover issues. Very interesting and a lovely little goodie bag from the DVLA - I really am a sucker for these! The stadium was very impressive - it is a joint home for the Ospreys rugby team and the Swansea City Football Club. Lots of meeting and conference space, and it was good to see lots of different groups using it that day.

Friday was marred by the news that one of our community sweepers was very shaken but fortunately not hurt after some tosser threw a firework at her while she was on her rounds. Words cannot even describe the rage I feel. Here is a woman doing an important and appreciated job for her local community. The local Councillors, police officers, shopkeepers and residents all rave over her and the wonderful job she does. She quietly goes about her business, making her neighbourhood a better place, is cheerful, positive and well liked. And some idiot teenager thinks it's big and clever to try and frighten her and is very lucky she is not injured, maimed or worse. Why do people do this? Why do people spit at, stone, abuse our staff who are simply providing an essential public service? It really does depress me at times.

On a more cheerful note, we ordered the Christmas turkey over the weekend. It's a free range, organic bronze from Marks and Spencer and was described in such glowingly happy terms in the brochure that it clearly is being as fulfilled as a turkey possibly can be, eating delicious food, hanging out with its friends, enjoying the fresh air, sleeping on high thread count sheets at night, doing a little night class in pottery - all the things that keep a modern turkey happy and healthy.

We also braved the hell that is Toys R Us - presents for nephews. Anyone contemplating breeding should be forced to spend an hour there. The smell, the noise, the double buggies that completely block aisles, the tantrums, the daggers on the axles of the chariot model buggies pushed by ubermummies, the small children cannoning round corners with no thought for who or what could be round the corner, the depressing rows of primary coloured plastic tat - aaargh! And blatant sexual stereotyping on the toys - lots of cute little girls pictured with the "My first Mrs Mop" kit, my first Hoover, etc.... and in the science section - do you think there was a single female to be seen on a box cover? No, all boys, and even worse, wearing glasses. Grrr.

This week is going to be quite hectic too. We are interviewing for the Smoking Related Litter post on Wednesday and Thursday with one candidate coming on Friday owing to a family bereavement. I am looking forward to the interviews as we have some very strong candidates. Tomorrow is J's last day in work for a while as he's heading for Tenerife for a much deserved break with his family. Will continue to post as the week unfolds.

The time is flying faster than a chav with a stolen Burberry handbag. A busy weekend just gone. Went to a Fair Trade Christmas fair where we made a start on a few Christmas presents. Also bought a new kettle - it's a disco inferno!! It glows blue/purple light when it is boiling - so great!! When I told Leila, she immediately advised to don the gold hot pants!! The fish are flourishing too - the cold weather means that they are less active and just sort of sluggishly laze around at the bottom of the pool. It's tempting to pour in a can of Red Bull to see if it has any effect.

On Sunday, Andrew went up to Manchester - we don't normally do work flights on weekends but the training course he is running started early this morning.

Busy day in work. Took a phone call from a Councillor about a problem back lane. As is often the case, it's a combination of flat dwellers with no refuse storage, some dodgy trade waste, residents putting out too early and a bit of mayhem into the bargain. Each element will have to be tackled. Fortunately, she is one of our nicer Cllrs, who is polite and friendly when she phones up - so much better to deal with.

Spent the afternoon shortlisting for the new Smoking Related Litter Project Officer. We received twenty five applications - more than I was expecting with an excellent mix of candidates, both internal and external. I love shortlisting as you feel as though you are opening a Christmas present with each new candidate - each form presents them in a different way. A wide variety of life experiences and ages and backgrounds to choose from. We eventually shortlisted down to ten candidates for interview. Hopefully (if HR play ball) we can interview next week. The candidates will also be doing a presentation as part of their interview. This will form 20% of the marking.

By the time we'd finished, it was nearly time to go home. So I did.