The summer holidays: traditionally a chance to laze about abroad, soaking up the sun, sea, sand and sangria whilst ogling the female of the species sporting dental floss-thin beachwear - especially those who have names that sound a bit like the noise when you clear your throat.

Well, not for me this year.

Whilst most of my chums have been burning to a crisp and inevitably making a stereotypical nuisance of themselves over on the Greek island of Zante, I've been busy slogging my guts out on work experience... at ZOO!

Yes siree! Since Monday, I've been kept busy by doing all the odds and ends buying all the bits and bobs that are needed at ZOO Towers. From researching facts and figures for the next issue (boobs are rarely angled sharper than 60 degrees, by the way), to the obligatory mugs of tea for the editor, I've essentially been made into ZOO's errand boy. And how!

Each morning, I've been playing the role of Postman Pat around the office, before collating up all news from the day's papers for the next mag. I'm occasionally sent out to pick things up, and Tuesday saw a jaunt to Curry's - the world's most understaffed shop. Better than doing nothing at home, mind.

In fact, the week's been so enjoyable, I think I'll write home about it...

When I initially applied for the placement, I reckon I had about as much chance as Steve Irwin in a tank full of stingrays. But it seems the all the blogging on this very page has done a world of good; so cheers goes to all you ZOOians for reading! To mark the end of my first week at ZOO, I'm bringing you a few of the blog's big hitting pages since it started up on 2 October 2006.

Some of the most popular pages have undoubtedly been my Hollyoaks videos. One of the animated bundles of joy is even up to 100,000 views, with 12,000 coming from this page alone. So make sure you check out Gemma Atkinson gratuitously skimping down to her undergarments, as well as Emma Rigby undressing in aid of arsebotherer John Paul. Maybe even cast your eye over her doing it a second time? And when ZOO gave me the chance to join in on London's biggest - and only official - Superbowl party, Superbash IV, it was only right that I blogged home about the occasion; complete with boxershort-threatening cheerleader videos and wallpaper!

Mainly though, it's been remarkable seeing a whole issue of the mag come together from keyboard to paper - and back. I can guarantee you that next week's issue of ZOO is a humdinger - so make sure you head out on Tuesday to buy ZOO, too: it's a summer scorcher!

Available in all good newsagents, and some rubbish ones as well.