Well that's my holiday screwed for another year. I was due to fly to Thailand from Heathrow at 12.30pm last Thursday, when they cancelled all flights from 12pm! So the volcanic ash has claimed another victim, one of millions Europe-wide.

It cost me some money, not on my main flight but on a connecting flight, plus a wasted day and diesel travelling to and from Heathrow. Plus I apparently have to wait several weeks for my refund (why?). Anyway it could have been worse and many people are in a much worse predicament stranded abroad or missing really important events rather than just a sunny holiday.

It will be interesting to see when flights resume, and whether the airlines apparently succesful test flights in the volcanic ash sway the decision to re-open European air space. There are going to be some serious economic consequences if flights don't resume soon.

So it's back to the day job instead of lazing on the beach. Currently continuing work on IVA Debt Problem, a website dealing with debt problems and solutions including debt management, debt consolidation and IVAs.

Starting to make its way up the rankings, albeit rather slowly, but I have high hopes for it making the front page for a key phrase or two in the next few months.

Nothing much else to report, no competition wins, no good luck of any kind in fact! No new projects on the go, I really need to concentrate on the ones I already have and start to make them profitable (easier said than done).

So just to remind you there are pages on the main website for making money, online business opportunities and more. If you haven't given them a read so far now is the time - everyone could do with some more money in these difficult times.

Well, just as I was moaning about the lack of competition prizes coming my way I receive two competition wins in three days!

As I've always said, it's a numbers game and the more comps you enter the more prizes you are going to win. However, the distribution of these prizes is not always equal, so some months you won't win any and others you will win two or three.

That's why I've been so disappointed recently as I've been managing to enter plenty of competitions but without success. But all good things come to he who waits, and I've had a couple of prize wins this week.

They are listed on my Competition Wins of 2009 page and make it look a bit better, at least numerically if not in terms of the prize value.

The State of Play goodies, a clipboard and T-shirt, received on Tuesday without any note of who sent them, and the Tanning Mousse from Cosmopolitan will both probably end up as stocking fillers at Christmas for some lucky (?) person.

I've just entered a couple of competitions with GMTV and ITV which offer considerably better prizes, and I'm hoping as it is my birthday today (40th!!!) that I will have some luck and land a big one.

I used my Visit Liverpool prize last night to spend my birthday at the Holiday Inn Express in Albert Dock. I have to say it is a lovely hotel, very much recommended, and very handy indeed for the Albert Dock area which I really like visiting.

The room was large, spotless and had views over the central "lake". It was well fitted (lovely big flat screen TV) and had everything we needed. The inclusive breakfast was good too, lots of choice and very tasty.

Anyway, I have some more celebrating to do this evening so I will end here and keep my fingers crossed for more prizes soon.

Received an email yesterday evening from Visit Liverpool advising me of another prize win. Tickets to Underwater Street and a 1 night stay at the Holiday Inn. I've added this to my list of 2009 competition wins.

This comes almost exactly two years after my last win with Visit Liverpool in September 2007 (see competition wins 2007). That time we had a 2 night stay in a boutique hotel.

We really enjoyed our last trip to Liverpool and it will be nice to get back there and see if anything has changed. We have baby with us this time so it will be his first trip there.

Can't decide whether this should be on my 40th birthday or it could be for our wedding anniversary. Either way it is likely to be in December so hope weather is not too cold as we really enjoy walking around the city.

2009 has picked up just as I expected. As I've been able to enter more competitions more wins have started to flow. And with every win comes an extra spur to enter some more.

Good luck with your comping but don't win any prizes I want!

A holiday would improve my future. I was planning a big one in December for my 40th but that is pretty much on ice now due to financial constraints.

For those that want to get some winter sun my parents apartment in Spain is available to rent for only £25 per night (plus £30 laundry charge).

It sleeps up to 6 so if you had a week there it would cost you £205 total, less than £35 per person! My parents recently got flights over there for only £10 each INCLUDING taxes so it would make for a nice cheap holiday.

I've been putting the website together at www.spanishgolfapartment.co.uk and on there it tells you a bit more about the local area, beaches, eating out, days out and the golf too.

The apartment itself is on Las Ramblas golf course with swimming pools, clubhouse and other facilities. Most people who have gone over so far have been non-golfers so it is suitable for everyone.

Give it a read and if you're not interested yourself pass the website address onto someone else for a look. We may be running a comp soon for a weeks free accommodation so keep in touch.

Not really a long-term future improver but the chance to get away from work, relax and unwind will certainly improve your life for a week or two.

If you book early enough you have something to look forward to for a few months, giving you a bit of escapism from your day-to-day troubles or the dreary UK weather.

I'm looking forward to a late November/early December break, subject to available funds and getting time-off work. I may have to take unpaid leave for a few days as we have to save 4 days holiday for Christmas but it will be worth it.

I've added a holidays page to the website with a few links to sites for your holiday booking. This includes my parents apartment in Spain.

Their website is Spanish Golf Apartment where you will find out more about the apartment and local area. You can't really go wrong with a Spanish holiday, you are almost guaranteed good weather, great food and the prices are still reasonable, although a better exchange rate for the Euro would be a great help.

The golf course on which their apartment stands is very good I'm told although it's a few years since I've played golf.

There are plenty of weeks rental available so please get in touch for a great price!