THINGS are looking pretty good for Gloucestershire as we head into an important month ahead.

Mood in the camp is good after the win at Derbyshire, which keeps us nicely placed for a promotion challenge, and as long as Atomic Kitten don't prove too much of a distraction, we could even pick up our first piece of silverware this weekend.

We play Surrey in the second semi-final of the Twenty20 Cup at Trent Bridge on Saturday and I think if we can beat them, we will go on to win the final (Warwickshire and Leicestershire play in the other semi).

Surrey have got a number of internationals in their side but in Ian Harvey and Craig Spearman we've got two of the most destructive batsmen in the competition.

It's all about the first six overs and your top two batsmen and top two bowlers hopefully myself and Mike Smith this weekend.

The teams who have done well are the ones who have done well in those first six overs, where your batsmen attack hard or you attack hard with your bowlers.

I know a few of the lads are looking forward to seeing Atomic Kitten but luckily they appear after the semi-finals so they shouldn't prove too much of a distraction.

After that it's off to play Essex in a day-night game and then on to the Cheltenham Festival with key championship games against Worcestershire and Yorkshire.

And going back to the win over Derbyshire that was a key result for us. It brought an end to a run of three away games on the trot and that means we've got five home games left and just one away.

Confidence and spirit are high, and after the Derbyshire game, we stopped off at Nottingham for a team-bonding night out.

We don't get too many chances to go out together during the season and it was good to all have a few beers.

Jonty (Rhodes) I have to say, though, is a bit of a wine connoisseur, but I think he's coming round, though. He lives out at Chew Magna in the heart of Somerset and I've heard he's taking a liking to the local cider!

Anyway, here's to the Twenty20 finals, and did I mention Atomic Kitten...?