I hate the beginning of the year. The long nights and even longer night shifts have a terrible effect on my body, depression sets in and a huge blanket of apathy stops me doing anything interesting - I return to the familiar comforts of food, sleep and occasional time-wasting computer games.

When I was an A&E nurse this effect was magnified by working all shift in an airless, windowless box. I would come into work in the dark, then miss what little seasonal sunlight there was only to return home again in the dark.

It hasn't been too bad this year, working out in the fresh air keeps me happier than I would otherwise be. It still effects me, causing a lack of enthusiasm but thankfully without the depression. It also hasn't helped that I've had a period of time off work - my month off sick with my knee could have been used to do some interesting things, but with the season and without work I became a bit of a barnacle.

This may explain why posting here has been a bit intermittent.

Thankfully, with the end of February and the beginning of March, the seasonal mood swing I have tends to lift and I throw myself more into life.

Tomorrow and Sunday I shall be going to BarcampLondon2 which should be really interesting - I would imagine that I will be posting interesting bits throughout the weekend on my Mental Kipple blog (another thing that has suffered of late). Next week I'm on a rostered week off, so I shall try to delve into the archives of my mind for interesting stories. If all goes to plan then there should be something a little bit special for the end of next week...