Tonight is a special night, or at least it seems it. Tonight I get to spend a night in my own flat and do my own thing without rushing about. After spending six weeks working in Reading, tonight I will spend only my sixth night in my own bed. I've still yet to spend a continuous 24 hour period in Leeds since I started in Reading.

Good things
* I actually think Reading is okay.
* I really like and enjoy what I'm doing down there, and the people I'm working with.
* The experience is very beneficial, from personal and career perspectives.
* I don't have to worry about cooking or going to the supermarket.
* I'm never stuck for anything to do.

Bad things
* Travelling (I've whinged about that enough already).
* Everyone who I see mentions the words 'Alan Partridge'.
* The fear of it not delivering the goods (but then that's just me).

People have already started to ask me whether I'm going to up-sticks from Leeds and move down to Reading. At the moment, the answer is no. Leeds is perfect for me.

* Leeds puts me in close proximity of Liverpool, St. Helens and Manchester where I've got good friends and family.
* I'm living in a nice flat with a really good rent, within short distance of the centre.
* Leeds is a big city, but not too big.

Maybe after another eight months working in Reading my opinion might change, but right now I'm happy to stay put. Work is important to me, but at least one person has reminded me recently that you work to live, not live to work. There's no substitute for being settled and having your friends near you. At the moment, I'm as settled as I have been since I left home - a nice thing to be able to say.