We got rid of the malware. All it took was to run the computer in safe mode with networking, then have both BitDefender and Malwarebytes run a complete scan of the computer. Basically it was the exact same process that got rid of ThinkPoint and Security Shield.

Anyway, today we went back to our normal routine at the Prince's Trust. For me, that meant waking up at 7am, getting the 34 into St Helens, the 32/32A to North Road and then walking through Victoria Park to Windlehurst Community Centre. It was bloody freezing, this morning - apparently meteorologists are predicting more snow, which we clearly need. Still, it was sunny all day. Frosty in the morning and bitterly cold, but I noticed that crocuses were starting to burst into life here and there. Towards the end of the day, it was mild - almost pleasantly warm; one of those rare Goldilocks days that never fail to make me high.

We started with a team-building task, today; while we'd all been working independently for two weeks, we needed to get back into the swing of working together. A guy from the army called Doug came in to do a task with us that involved the group being split up into two teams, each with a stack of five tyres. The tyres were numbered and stacked in order - 5 at the bottom, 1 on top. We had to work together to get these tyres from one side of the basketball ground to the other. The rules...

1. The tyres could only be dropped in three places - either end of the ground and on the white line in the middle.
2. We could only carry one tyre at once.
3. Tyres could not be stacked on top of a tyre with a lesser number (so you couldn't put 3 on 2 or 1, for instance).
4. Wherever you placed the tyre, it had to go on top of the stack. You couldn't slot it on the bottom, for example.

I think that covers the rules. I hope you lot get it, because I was clueless. Only towards the end when things were getting a little more organised did I click on and come up with a strategy - after everyone else had already thought the same thing. This is what happens when you give me a problem solving task before noon!

After that, we had a short break and then a task indoors - thankfully, as at this point it was still chilly outside. Our two teams remained the same. We were given a whole load of bits and pieces; plastic tubes, connector bits, platforms - a bit like a giant KNEX or Lego set - and with these, the other team had to build a bridge, while we had to build a vehicle to go across it.

It was quite fun, but nobody seemed to be able to decide on a way of building the damn thing. We came up with an initial idea that was too unstable and way too wide for the other team's bridge, then people bickered, then I found a platform bit to serve as the seat that was only half the width so we could narrow the vehicle to fit the bridge. In narrowing it, it not only became simpler but it was more stable; it didn't have all these bits that could twist about freely because it was just a frame, wheels, a seat and a handle.

After this, a guy came in to talk to us about opportunities beyond the Prince's Trust. It transpires that this week of our course is called the 'Next Steps' week, or something along those lines, so it's time for people to start considering what they're going to do. He told us about something pretty interesting; a Development Award grant of £250 that's available to anyone unemployed aged between 14-25 who need a bit of finance for their next step. It could go towards generic college materials, transport, or a passport for those daring adventurers who want to study or work abroad.

Speaking of adventures overseas, he mentioned a course that really interested me. It's a short teaching course that qualifies you to teach English as a second language to primary school aged kids and culminates in you spending a whole year in a different country. Japan is a popular choice, but China is a cheaper, more accommodating alternative. It's definitely something I would consider doing after university. Anna was interested as well, and I know that Laura (as in best friend Laura) has been chomping at the bit to do such a course.

We had dinner after that, which I was grateful for. Anna and I went to the local Tesco Express where I bought my own dinner for once. Then I remembered that I'd been saving that fiver for the March issue of Record Collector. Bugger.

Then came to our final tasks of the day: doing a presentation each on our work placements, which went well, and then catching up on the Dreaded Paperwork. Everything in my file's up to date now except for the fact that the contents of my placement pack - my diary, time sheets and the like - aren't in my folder yet. I'll sort that out tomorrow. As for the evidence side of things, I've got every article of mine that got printed to go into the folder, a heckload of e-mails and over 60 first drafts of articles. I won't be short of evidence that I've done a placement!

What remains today? Bed. I have written a bit - not much - but I know where the novel's going from here onwards. Tonight I'll catch up on my sleep, tomorrow I'll throw myself back into writing.

I do seriously need to get out of this 'tomorrow I'll' habit, though. You know how it is with me; tomorrow never comes.