Dear Manager,

As you know, this year I will be participating in the Camp America and so will be leaving the company...

On the 10th of May, I'm leaving the trendy accessory shop where I work. It's all in the name of exams, and then floating off to America for three months.

I feel a bit sad about it all really. It's the first job I've had which I've actually enjoyed. Well, the first proper job. I loved the Record column, but that took all of half an hour of my time, normally still in pyjamas on a Sunday morning. But the shop's different.

Ok, so I know I haven't lasted long elsewhere. Two months stuffing bears in the Bear Factory, a week and a bit in the hell of a certain clothes strore. That was justified though, the manager was a complete fruit loop. She's actually known throughout the company and beyond as being a complete fruit loop - and not in a good way.

Not only will I miss the great big whopping discount which I get, but I'll miss the girls. It's a rarity, my shop. And I will keep calling it 'my' shop while I still can. It's an all-female environment, but it's not all that bitchy. Ok, we say the odd catty remark but it's generally done face-to-face. We don't have the snotty, fashion retail girl thing. In fact, most of us are completely mad.

Our manager, for instance. She likes to dance on the shop floor and threaten beatings with a ruler.

Our assistant manager has been known to answer the phone with, "GAFFER SPEAKING!" only to realise it's an outside line.

We've had the days where we try on the slippers and skate across the shiny floor. Dress-up days where we just try on whatever we fancy from the shop floor and can't be bothered buying. Swanning around in the bridal hats and smiling at customers like it's normal behaviour. The days where we play games - points for slotting certain words into conversation, Easter egg hunts and the account card competition. And of course there was Pyjama Weekend.

On a more personal level, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the last two years. I have loved my time with the company and gained a lot of valuable experience and happy memories. I can only hope that what is to follow in my future career can be as positive.

Yours sincerely,
Lindsay Cochrane

As you may or may not know, Tommy Sheridan (yes, that Tommy Sheridan of the SSP and dodgy matters which I'll avoid for fear of being sued) is studying for a Masters at my uni.

Yes, honestly.

Today, who should myself and my lovely friend Emma (of the Glasgow Girls campaign and Sunny Govan FM) see as we bounded down a hill?

And we really were bounding, you have no choice. The hills which my uni are on are at such a gradient that bounding is the only option. Otherwise, you fall.

But, yes! It was Tommy Sheridan! So what does Emma do? Well, seeing as he was going to be a guest on her radio show, she decided to stop and have a wee chat!

I've never wanted to laugh so much in my entire life. There she was, "Oh, hi Tommy!" and chatting away. And he actually came across as quite a nice bloke. I mean, he's a bit orange, but I was quite surprised.

So that was today's excitement.

Speaking of Emma, she reckons a boy fancies me and that I fancy a certain boy. I told her, quite firmly, to shut up.

I do still love her, though. She keeps me distracted in those two hour, should-be-in-the-library breaks. I do believe the same thing happened this time last year. And that's when we met David Gest.

All in all, she's the person to be with if it's a minor celeb you're after...

So. I've done it. I have successfully attended every single one of my classes for my second year of university.

And tomorrow I'm going to be in the library for 9am to do a spot of studying.

I am Mrs Swotty-Knickers and do you know what? I don't particularly care.

We'll just forget what happened to the "spend time in the library" plan for this afternoon, opting instead for lunch then shopping then coffee with Emma, and think instead of my good intentions for tomorrow.

Now, just the small matter of exams to get out that way and that's me...