A quick note first that webmaster Dale's laptop battery is on the blink therefore the tables at the bottom of the page may be a bit delayed in updating...

I'd forgotten what it was like to be able to relax again in the evenings and not have work to do. Now the book's finished, I really can.

Went and bought some DVDs and we watched "Deja Vu" - this was a pretty good thriller. And I bought five other DVDs. Yes after months of working on the wretched book I can finally slob out and enjoy more time with toddler.

Who is keeping me active! His favourite game is now jumping up and down on the sofa with me...Mrs NT has given up worrying about the sofa (it was the 5k one) after she gave up the fight with the aged cat who decided from the beginning it looked like a massive sharpening claws toy.

The weekend was spent giving toddler a good time, we went to the park, went swimming, bought some toys, etc etc and it was all good fun.

Tonight though it's adult time as we're off out to try and celebrate the anniversary again after the aborted attempt last week when we were sick... lovely French restaurant booked.... (the one with the English chef)...

And at last it looks like we're going to get some sort of summer... back out into the garden, hurrah! And my biggest problem today?

I can't get the milk to froth properly for my cappuchino which is quite distressing. Sometimes you just get a dodgy cow who doesn't produce frothable milk. Still, if that's the only problem today that's not so bad.

Oh well, I suppose I have to send that dratted cheque to the tax man as the deadline is tomorrow! May Gordon Brown use my contribution to the economy wisely. But that's unlikely.

Spending a lot of money today on the most boring thing you could possibly imagine... yes... replacing the ventilation fans in the two bathrooms.

I know the bill is going to be enormous. That's because the guy has taken nearly three days to do it and keeps telling me why it's so complex. Could be nasty. Still we can't have damp bathrooms... !

Talking of damp a film is about to be released showing what'll happen to London in 2030 when the Thames barrier collapses. That's me a goner as I live right by the river. Still I'll have had a good innings by then so can't complain...

Big Brother groans on with 5 more cretins. The bloke with the teddy bears and who likes spanking rather than sex is plain weird. In a way, poor guy. He must have had some kind of awful upbringing and I hope he doesn't make it in there because I just couldn't bear to see it.

It still seems to have been the easiest betting Big Brother ever though, buy Brian, relax and wait to pick up the winnings. Unless he does something really stupid. Could he??? Chanelle leaves, she comes back, she leaves she comes back. Take a hint Chanelle and.. bugger off!!

Interesting documentary on Friday regarding the re-make of the old St Trinians movies. It was fun watching them try and sell it to not very enthusiastic buyers.

Quite why say Americans would be that interested I don't know. Well, they blew £7m. The old movies were great and I would probably bet the remake is pants.

Shock showbiz news: now BOTH Cheeky girls have moved in with that lib-dem MP. The mind boggles. (Touch my bum) (Touch my bum).

Geoff writes: Ever listened to Radio Four's "Moneybox"? This programme should be banned, it is dangerous. It could seriously injure your wealth. First, the patronising preface: "Are we sitting comfortably children? Today we are going to talk about investing in the Stock Market".

Some poor victim calls the "experts" on hand (usually an Independent Financial Advisor and a Fund Manager), saying they want help investing, say £5,000.

Oh, yes, they say, "go and see your Independent Financial Advisor, who will guide you to a Managed Fund, and your money will be invested wisely by experts.

A more accurate story would be "see an Independent Financial Advisor, who will pocket a large slice of your cash, (called "commission") send the rest to an incompetent Fund Manager, who will pocket another large slice, (called "commission") and invest anything that is left so badly as to lose the lot before the end of next year". That's par for the course"¦

Better advice would be something like: "Get a copy of the Motley Fool Investment Guide, and a subscription
to Investors Chronicle. Dig around the Global Investor Bookshop website, and invest in a couple of books, by, say Robbie Burns or Kevin Goldstein-Jackson. Get an online sharedealing account, and spread your dosh around. If you want something simpler, put the cash into an Index-Tracker.

Investing in the Stock Market should be taught in schools "" it's what supports businesses, and creates jobs for the future. But that does not fit in with the BBC's left-wing philosophy.

Enough from me, best of luck with the new book, I will be buying a copy (and one for brother John).

Thanks Geoff - don't listen to that show so can't comment but agree schools should teach the stock market in some way or another!

Jim writes: No I never bought from the QVC Xmas shop it was all sold out! I am a real Aberdonian every penny is glued to my pockets, and I hate Xmas.

OK, Jim let's hope not too many Aberdonians are reading..

Mark writes: You have the perfect audience - in your own website to help you decide. Show 3 new book covers and let them Vote. They have served you well to date. Look forward to the new book.

Not a bad idea Mark! I'll have a think about it..!

Steve writes: What's going on Robbie, you went to the City to get a cover designed for the new book. I'll bet you paid though the nose and yet it is so obvious to anyone who knows you and your antics. A cheap looking toaster, a few rounds of toast on a plate and a couple of boiled eggs! Simple, that'll be 50p + VAT thanks!

Thanks for the offer Steve, lucky for me the publisher pays for the cover but I'll send them your invoice!

Well so far anyway it's gone a lot quieter which is rather nice after last week's crazy moves. As usual it all hinges on what happens in the US this afternoon. We seem to have a rather "special relationship" with the Dow Jones. Friday's 1.30pm announcement of non-farm payrolls over there will swing things one way or another I should imagine.

With such a massive pointage gain on my FTSE 100 short I decided it was time to cash in my brilliant insurance and I closed my FTSE short this morning at 6221 for a brilliant profit of £3,630 . I cashed in just as the FTSE started to rise and it seemed a sensible move until it started going down again!

However I am eyeing up another short of the FTSE at the right time and felt considering playing the FTSE "Isn't my bag" the profit looked too good not to grab for now. And as I said I could always re-short fast if need be.

For the moment I'll keep the other shorts going as a continued insurance. It's difficult to know whether it's time to pick up any stock on the cheap yet but I have my eye on a few but generally keeping the powder dry for now. It really could go either way right now

On Friday I could not resist a final (really!) top up on one of my big faves Wellstream (WSM) and bought another 1,000 at 520.5. Target 580 stop 470. Not sure whether I'm pushing my luck but it's been showing a lot of strength in turbulent times and really wants to go up further.

And I made a little "range trade" in William Hill (WMH) - someone on my BB pointed this one out and I thought it looked a good short-term trade and I bought 1,000 shares at 604.76p (late Friday) - target a quick 635p stop 595.

The shares have been trading between 600 and 640 for a while so it's a play for a bounce back while a quick exit with no damage done it it falls much below 600p. We shall see!

Elsewhere nothing too dramatic going on for now - best short-term winner is the short in Informa which is really bringing in the money now.

Most shares seemed to be marooned - they're stuck, waiting for events to unfold. Shares hovering around stop losses which I will sell if things turn down again are in no especial order, Vent Prod, Oilexco and Ncc.

Vislink announced an acquisition today - but the share price seems unmoved by anything. I wonder if I forget it till 2015 the share price will still be 80p? The new Xchanging quick trade is cautiously working out again so far though there are still a few points to go...

Carphone Warehouse continues to trade well which bodes well if the market turns around. Renold shows a good strength today.

Meanwhile really everything awaits the States for the moment. Which makes investing a little difficult to say the least. I shall try and play it as best as I can without trying to second guess events but it looks like for this week it'll pay to be close to a computer at key times of the day.