I’m not talking about Woolworths.

I entered December in reasonable shape for the exams. But I didn’t take into account two weeks of client work with long commutes. But a combination of sympathetic managers, a well designed revision plan, sticking to one half of the revision plan and blind panic means that I pass the exams. I celebrate by going on a midnight pub crawl in Greenwich finishing at 3.30am. I would recommend "Desperados" as the place to get a beer at 2am (because everywhere else is shut).

I spend two quiet weeks in Liverpool at the end of the year. But not before the new joiners in my department fulfil their duties at the Christmas party. We sing a song that professes our love for audit using the music of Take That’s "Back for Good". 

There are 30 blank days in my diary during November. It really was quite unmemorable. There was a week in college at the start of the month followed by evening revision. It’s wasn’t particularly interesting but it didn’t leave any free time.

I did start clearing the backlog of friends that I had seen far too rarely in the last two years. I start to make serious plans to go to Nottingham but no weekend ever becomes available. It looks like March 2009 will be the earliest chance I get.

At some point I question the wisdom of blogging when I have so little to write about. Oh well.

The stress really kicked in October. But I started in the Kensington Day centre on a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) day. We were asked to re-paint the main rooms. Being one of the shorter auditors, I take one of only two ladders for personal use.

This was followed by bowling, where I talked a big game and ended up scoring 40. The new joiners sang a beautiful rendition of Take That’s "Back for Good". Never again.

I revise like crazy for my first two accountancy exams. Then I flee back to Liverpool for a short break before I start my first engagement.

The Client

Auditors don’t like being in the office. They prefer to go where the action is – straight to the client. I was assigned to my first client after the exams were over. It was difficult -  high stress, long hours I was never 100% about what I was doing. However, the team were good fun and I got through it. Job done (yes, I will use a cliche here).