Hi there,

January is going to be very important for me. Just days into the New Year and I'm off to Malaysia and then on to South Korea for two Super Series Tournaments. At the end of the month, the Scottish Institute of Sport will review my funding.

To be honest, I'm only going to Asia because of the funding review. I'm currently at level B and I'm only too well aware that I'll definitely drop down one tier.

So I've just got to get out there and try and to get some good results. But if I think about it too much or try and second-guess what might happen, then it will drive me absolutely mental. I'll have to put it out of my mind, otherwise I'll play rubbish.

I know some things count against me as regards the review. I had to beat a world's top five player or reach a quarter-final of a Super Series to stay at level B and I haven't done that.

Also, I refused to make a permanent move down to the GB National Training Centre at Milton Keynes. It's not what I wanted so I accept that I've just got to take the hit for that decision.

One positive - I hope - is that they I will still be considered young enough to be a contender for the London 2012 Olympics. I know my time is running out for Beijing this year [Susan is currently No.42 in the world, and has to get into the top 16 by May] but I definitely want to stay in the sport for at least another four years. I'll be 29 by the time London comes around - I could be at my peak.

The positives at the start of 2008 is that the hard training regime that I have undergone over the past couple of months has definitely led to an improvement in my game. I could see the benefits last month when I spent time down at Milton Keynes and had games against Tracey Hallam (England's world No.16).

I'm slightly disappointed that I'm not playing in the Dunfermline Open at the very start of January - I could have played because I'm not flying to Malaysia until the 11th - but I am really looking forward to the Yonex Scottish National Championships in Perth at the start of February.

I'm not too sure what 2008 holds in store for me - but I just hope to prove that my standard of play is getting higher all the time.