not yer average day

its been a little stressful today at work. not as stressful as many I'm sure but the vehicles on the oil refinery which exploded yesterday were serviced by our business. we have 2 workshops on the site and 14 employees working there., i've visited the site a number of times since I started this job. Thanks to god all our guys were safely at home yesterday morning otherwise the situation would have been horrendous. as it is, it's not good, with no workshops (or at least we don't think so, can't get near the place for the flames still burning)and no real prospect of getting back to normality. So tomorrow I have to go and talk to them all, but I've not really got much to say.... just have to be grateful if was so early on a sunday morning .

fab photograph/picture website

clikc on the link to go to Karen and Craig's website. It looks really good - great idea for that difficult christmas present.....

ready steady cook....

Anyone know any good recipes which include:

Sausages
Raisins
Cottage cheese
Potatoes
Sweetcorn
Maltesers
Rum
Mustard
Ice cream

Could be interesting!

back for good!

I DID IT!!!!!! Only took me 7 hours but I eventually got them!!!! only problem is the date I managed to get is my brother in law's birthday... Rachel's going to have to do some serious negotiation... I suggested that she tell him she got him a ticket too and his birthday present could be that he doesn't have to come. That way her not being around will be a minor issue.

anyway, off to find that battered old Gary Barlow poster....

hell is...

trying to buy take that tickets on a shit ticket company's server that crashes and sends you straight to the back of the queue. Grrr my chance of persuading mark owen to marry me is fading into the distance.

it's a sign...

last week whilst allegedly "working from home" (ah that old addage...), I spent a little time ordering some christmas pressies off the old internet. Today I picked up a parcel from mum and dad's (I use their address for deliveries although their social life means they are out having fun even more than I am out working).

Unfortunately Parceline had delivered my goods elsewhere and had sent me a box originally (and quite obviously) destined (had soemone bothered to read the label...) for Hampshire. That place has really gone down since they lost a fantastic HR Officer a few years back.

Anyway, not realising the mistake until after I had opened the box, I'm now in a quandry. It's not what I ordered..... but it's destiny.... IT'S A CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN!!!!!!!!!

UH oh.... dilemma.....!

don't worry kids, honesty will come good I'm sure.... now where's that instruction manual....

freaky....

Freaky coincidence of the week… I was enjoying the delights of Peterborough on Tuesday night, well actually I was seeing the inside of the Holiday Inn but let’s not digress…. And walking to my room a young man kindly opened the door in the corridor…and who do I see? Andy Newman of Sagga fame! How freaky, how obscure… how ace!!! He declined the offer of a meal together having brought his own food – he is experienced in the culinary disasters that make up their room service. Me, I ordered a jacket potato that had seen better days, with salad that had been left to wither for at least 24 hours before being ceremoniuously dumped in the plate. Mmmmm.
So we had a drink and put the world to rights, confused Mad who called me on my mobile and when I said “guess who I’m with” thought it was Fraser who’s back in the country this week.
What a nice surprise!

feeling a bit rough

had a good weekend but had to take things easy as by sunday my throat was sore and my nose was running. never a good sign....
My snotty nose could possibly be an allergy to IKEA as Sarah, Paul and I visited the mecca on saturday morning after a jolly evening and Mr and Mrs Wood's on Friday. Paul had to be persuaded to come but he soon got into the swing of things, and was lulled into parting with cash alongside the two of us. It was good to see that Ikea have finally removed the barriers which force you to go and collect your car, they used to drive me nuts when I went on my own and had to abandon my purchases to go and bring the car round to the collection bay, I always felt it was discrimination against single people. Typical they finally change it all when i finally become attached!

ooooh I'm famous!!!

I've just had an e-mail read out on Jonnie walker's radio 2 show!!! I'm famous!!
Nothing politically insiteful or intellectually pointed, I was just writing to say how much I like Nerina Pallots album as she was playing on the show today. but who cares.... HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!

I had friday and monday off so that Paul and I could go up north to see some friends. i have to admit I'm a big fan of long weekends, obviously i'd not be a fan of the reduction in wages but there are times when the 3 day week concept of 1974 seem highly atttractive. although perhaps we'd all be forced to wear bell bottoms and sideburns too....

anyway, i digress.. we went to Lytham on friday which is a really pretty place, and then on up to Galasheils on the sat. the fog coming back on monday was pants and lead to a bloody long drive home but in all it was a really relaxing weekend.

My cats have only just forgiven me for taking them to the vet on friday morning for a jab. Millie was very badly behaved and hissed permanently at the nice vet. jet just looked sorely pissed off with me. They meowed in beautiful unison all the way there and back in the car. bless em

come back fraser...

I miss you....come back sooooooonnnnnnn

sundays... love 'em...

yeah I'm back online. thanks to Paul who managed to resolve my technological issues (he's not started on my other issues yet...)so now thanks to him and wireless networking I'm able to blog whilst watching the repeat of X factor... fab.
Not that I'm a big fan but it beats hollyoaks.
so I spent week travelling basically. I was in Poland with one of my service managers recruiting for more Polish technicians to work on our trucks. it was worthwhile and we got some really good people - some of them travelled over 200 miles for the interview at their own expense, and they are all willing to leave their wives and family to come to the UK. Just a shame we can't get decent people in the UK really. It was a knackering trip though, not helped by a 5 hour delay at Luton which meant we didn't arrive at Wroclaw until gone midnight, and then I managed to oversleep on the last morning, and woke up 3 minutes before I was being picked up to go to the airport...!!! oops! Managed to get up, dress, pack and clean my teeth in six minutes though, not bad!!!
back in the UK, I made it though friday evening barely awake, then saturday was spent cleaning the house. depressingly dull but necessary. also realised I'd thrown away an important document away so spent most of the afternoon looking for it (tidying things as I went so i guess it wasn't all a waste of time), even rifled through the bin a couple of times, mmm week old banana skins, yum....

Last night we went to see the Constant Gardener - excellent film!

technology is pants

grrr, my internet at home isn't working, some guy from work came and fitted my wireless networking so that I can use my work laptop on my broadband and in different parts of my house (becuase I have SOOOO many rooms...) - it worked for a few days and now it's gone kaput and it's driving me nuts. I want to write my blog, i want to order pointless things, i want to write a wish list on amazon for my christmas pressies, I want to catch up on whats on at the cinema.... oh what did I do before broadband??? so i'm cheating adn writing this whislt at work.

the good news is it's friday! yeah the weekend looms once more! nothing too thrilling planned, bar fireworks somewhere along the way. last weekend we went to see Boo Hewerdine who used to front a band called the Bible. Not well known but writes fab songs that others sing (such as Eddie Reader and the like). just him, a guitar and a small room of people, that's what I call a top night out. he was brilliant. there's something so amazing about the simplicity of music without the big amps, drums and all that techy stuff.

anyway, good news on the baby front for clr and ed - congrats guys!

back to work for me.....

if you click on the link....

you'll see how I feel today

having been abandoned in favour of scottish rapids and canoes by Paul I chose to eat cheese at the great british cheese festival (yum), go shoe shopping and drink lots of vodka with the girls. my feet are absolutely killing me - not due to new shoes but due to being old and not being able to take the pace anymore. but hey, it was fun. Only down side it now I have no-one to distract me from housework, pants :-(

phew

dresses viewed... and I'm still attached. Phew - that was a close one!
Saw Hugh Fernley Wotsit last night at the literature festival. Never been big-time into him but Sarah, Rob and Mad were going so I thought I'd tag along. Aside from being delighted by the freebies from the local health food shop (I'm a sucker for a marketing ploy) I really enjoyed it. He was very entertaining, intelligent and down to earth. He spoke with real conviction about what he believed in but didn't come across as pretentious or holier-than-thou. His arguments for organic and lcoal produce were very logical and by far the most refreshing thing was that he seems to accept that he's not going to change the world with a revoultion, more like he is hopeful for change by evolution. Anyway, he convinced me, so I shall be thinking much more about what/how I buy and eat food from now on.

ouch

must have slept funny last night as my neck is killing me and I am walking about like I have a broom handle up my a**e. ouch.

good job I'm working from home as driving wouldn't be much fun and I'd just get the piss taken out of me anyway. Problem is I actually have LOADS of work to do, otherwise I could lie on the sofa, watch Trisha and feel sorry for myself. Still, at least it's friday and oooooh, I get to go wedding dress shopping tomorrow, haven't done that for .... mmm.... at least 6 months! Still, hopefully I won't be in the middle of splitting up with my bloke this time, it doesn't really put you in the best frame of mind, (at least I hope I'm not in the middle of splitting up with my bloke.... perhaps I should never count my chickens......)

fab day

well all went really well, it was a great day. the rain was a bit cruel, which was stressful in trying to get into the chruch gracefully AND dry - well one had to go.... My over-riding memory will be of Karen realising she had lost an earring about an hour before we were due at the church, and thinking that she may have hoovered it up the previous day, thus deciding to empty the contents of the hoover onto the kitchen floor and sift through it, wearing her tiara.
The service was really good, and quite funny as the vicar messed around with the order of service, at times mistakenly, and at other times on purpose to allow various people to gather their emotions... there were a lot of tears (good ones!!)

the recption venue was brilliant, the speeches very funny and also full of tears (bless 'em, craig's lot are an emotional team!), the band played brilliant music and the alcohol flowed freely. they had avoided a wedding cake and produced lots of fairy cakes which people could decorate. A dangerous concept when the only options that spring to mind after copious amount of alcohol are rude words and pictures....

Finally, SOMEHOW (????) the car ended up full of balloons and confetti and wrapped in clingfilm.... strange things happen at night eh.....

here comes the bride...

no not me you idiots.... it's karen and craig's wedding tomorrow so once again I shall be trussed up like a prize turkey to provide amusement for various wedding guests...

Nah actually the outfit's ok and I'm actually quite looking forward to it all. Just need to keep Ms Henderson chilled out this evening and persuade her not to go clubbing on Broad Street till the small hours......

Omnes viae Romam ducunt

Ok so I’m back in the swing of things, trying to come back to work with a positive attitude rather than be manically depressed that I’m stuck in High Wycombe as opposed to wandering round the delights of Italy’s capital city. Not easy but I’m determined to give it a go.

Last week really was brilliant, the sights of Rome were just breathtaking, and the sheer history facing you sometimes blew my mind. Perhaps now I can have some empathy for an American faced with sites such as Hadrian’s wall and Shakespeare’s cottage. Standing looking at the Colesseum, and also the historical Forum area, the magnitude of it all was quite hard to comprehend at times. The best bit for me was definitely this historical part of Rome, although the rest of it was pretty amazing too. Siena was also lovely, and a bit more relaxing which was needed after 4 days of exploring Rome.

Bits of Rome that weren’t so great -

- The transport systems which were erratic to say the least, they closed the Metro early 2 nights in a row for no apparent reason!

- The mob of demonstrators (possibly to do with the problems in the government) who prevented us getting to the station on our bus – causing us to have a mercy dash in a taxi to catch the train to Siena, making it just in time!


Best bits –

- The eternal “pizza or pasta tonight?” debate… yum

- The Gladiators which hung around outside the Colesseum, smoking and having their photo taken with tourists – now there’s a job.

- Large amounts of red wine

- Seeing the Pope! – we’re top buddies now, I’m sure he waved straight at me….

- Seeing a dog with a floppy sun hat which bounced around as he ran about.

- Watching Paul trying to persuade an impatient Japanese guy not to enter the automatic toilet until after the door had shut and it self-cleaned by spraying water all around the cubicle. I wanted him to let him go in, it would have been bloody hilarious!

- Watching rain coming in the hole in the roof of the Pantheon

- Reading over an American's shoulder at their Rome guide book which had a chapter called "All Roads Lead through Rome" , now is that a language thing or is it the US-centric version of the old saying which basically means all roads go via Rome but end up in Washington DC, as it clearly is the centre of the universe??


We didn’t make it to the Sistene chapel (went to say hi to the Pope instead) but at least that gives us an excuse to go back again, which I really hope I get to do. It was by far the best city I’ve ever visited. But for now, I need to think about the next holiday…… hmmmm. Prague anyone?

ps....

did I miss anything juicy?

we're back!

wow what a fab holiday! Rome is amazing, the sights were mind-blowing and the food and company pretty damn good too. will update soon bu for now I need to wash those smelly socks......

i'm soooo tired. need sleep

3 days to go

oh boy it's only 3 more work days to go, and they will be spent in a training course in warwick so in fact, you could say today is my last real work day before my holiday - wahey!

so saturday evening I fly off to the delights of Rome for the best part of a week, to take in some culture, museums, churches and hopefully eat lots of pizza and pasta. mmm.

last night I went to see David Gray in Birmingham, he was suitably gorgeous and talented, and more than a little head-wobbly, bless him. the venue (the academy) wasn't too good for his type of concert. I really like it, (it's small, sticky floored and got a good intimate atmosphere), but having seen him at the NEC he was better in a bigger location, as you could get a decent view and his music isn't really the type you'll feel the need to groove to - so being able to see him was more important than space to dance. It didn't help that Emma was getting really wound up by the couple in front, as she was only able to see him through the gap between them, but they insisted on snogging every few minutes, or swaying together in time to the music. We ended up moving before they started getting even more intimate as we were fearful Emma might crack and headbut them! Having said that, he was amazing, his voice is so clear and I really enjoyed it.


and now I'm off home, hopefully via tim's to shamefully return his radio and to hopefully cadge a bit of tea - or at least a cuppa.

the drugs don't work...

actually they do!!! yey!
I'm prone to the odd migrane, not so often as to be a real problem but when i get them they are bad and they linger like a bad smell for hours if not days after the initial attack. With the new job I was worried that I'd get caught at a time when i couldn't chuck up, take myself off to a dark room and sleep it off for a few hours. so I went to the doctor, who told me I had 2 choices. try and prevent them in the first place, or carry some drugs which might stop them once I felt an attack coming on. The prevention side involved giving up certain things like drinking red wine - I didn't even have to say anything, he took one look at the expression on my face and was immediately reaching for the prescription pad..... ! Bless him, my kind of Doc

anyway, I felt a badd'un coming on this afternoon so downed a pill on my way home from Warwick. still felt rough when i got home so went off to bed. Woke up an hour later - feel fab....! No lingering thud, no nausea.... bloomin marvellous. I love the NHS!

The only wierd thing was waking up at 8pm - and it was dark - completely threw me, did someone turn on the autumn switch whilst I wasn't looking???

spooks is back!

god I love that programme.

big pants

that's not a description of this weekend - far from it... but it certainly gives a flavour of the attire Ms henderson was wearing on the saturday afternoon. In between drunken debaruchery we managed to find time for a quick game of mini-golf (in homage to our girlie holidays where this was a common theme..)whilst the sun held out. To add a bit of interest Karen found that, as she went along the 18 holes - there were various bits of clothing (in the loosest sense of the word) which she was required to put on.... including a fetching bra, HUGE purple pants, stripey tights, pink ear muffs and dangly earrings which were attached to the top like nipple tassles. She took it all in her stride, and even kept the clothing on after to wander round the shops in bath and a quick drink with myself in All Bar One. The exhibitionist in her came good in the end. Despite the lack of printed t-shirts, I think she enjoyed herself!
Me, I'm off to bed.

permanently engaged

more like permanently surrounded by people being engaged... congrats to the newest members of the "happy couple" clan, great news, really pleased, couldn't be happier, hard to imagine two people better suited etc. nice to feel I played a part - we got there in the end! As said in her comments box, in the words of my niece, "USUALLY I'm a bridesmaid" but I'll reinforce the fact that after the 8th oct I shall be going into retirement.... yes seriously, no bribery can make me do this again, I'm too old..... so you're let off that particular hook!

that said, it's Ms Henderson's hen weekend from tonight, so the men of Bath should be quaking in their boots. We've suitably stressed her out with tales of printed t-shirts, cave girl outfits and L plates, so I'll be suprised if she actually turns up! Hopefully I'll survive to tell the tale on monday. My better half (am I allowed to call him that?) will be hurtling down some slalom thingy in a canoe. Each to their own i guess. As long as he survives to make it to Rome with me in a few weeks time. Can't wait, need a break from the drudgery of work.

pllllleeeeasssse someone tell me it's all been a big mistake adn it's actually friday today not thursday.......

I had asparagus for my tea
and now, I note, I've smelly wee

just been reading Rob's missive on the toothbrush episode and have to admit to having had a similar incidentby finding myself staring at a lady's bottom in the communal toilets on the public campsite we were on this weekend. not that I've taken to regularly admiring other women's assetts (unlike Ms Emuss who seems to have become obsessed with mine...) but due to the fact that this particular lady was wearing pyjama's with Miffy on them.
Cow.
Now I want some.
and even worse that led me to search on the internet for some and have now found an expensive ebay outlet for my miffy obsession, selling not only pyjamas but also miffy bathmats, gym bags, duvets covers.... oh dear god where will it all end.

cats and the great escape

me, jess and millie are bonding - not unlike some others this afternoon looking at another blog. and we're appreciated the quality tv (well a bit of it). Plus I weeded, and washed.

good end to a top weekend!

ok ok

so I'm kind of getting used to the odd dead bird and mouse, I accept it's a part of nature and all that. We also had words over the live bird that pooed all over my carpet.... but I draw the line at a live bat. Gee thanks guys. And I think it was Jess as well who brought it in. Sly fox that she is, acting all sweet, innocent so I blame Millie for it all.

So I picked it up in a tissue, set it outside and locked the catflap (officially "grouding" the two of them) to give it a chance to recover and escape, which it eventually did. Jess sat headbutting the catflap for at least 20 minutes! I'm considering installing a "naughty corner" or a "reflection room" like on supernanny.

me too....!

Given that I was born at 9.05am on the 25th (or thereabouts), first on the list for the days Cezarian ops.... the below kind of makes me wonder what day I should have been born naturally, cos this sure ain't me!!! Possibly the 27th?

Your Birthdate: May 25

Your birth on the 25th day of the month (7 energy) modifies your life path by giving you some special interest in technical, scientific, or other complex and often hard to understand subjects. You may become something of a perfectionist and a stickler for details. Your thinking is logical and intuitive, rational and responsible. Your feelings may run deep, but you are not very likely to let them show. This birthday makes you a more private person, more introspective and perhaps more inflexible. In friendships you are very cautious and reserved. You are probably inventive, and given to unique approaches and solutions.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

3 barbeque's in one weekend is too much, even for someone with as strong a constitution as me. I'm stuffed, I'm knackered, and stroppy and basically not a pleasant person to be around today.

photos

oooohhhh... I'm so proud of myself - photos ahoy!!!!

today I will mostly be completely knackered. I seem to have lost all energy and am struggling even more than usual to get out of bed in the mornings. Oh for another week off, and for a weekend which wasn't filled with various BBQ committments.

a hard habit to break....

Well it was a really successful Sagga Camp.

The weather was variable but good on the days when it mattered, ie. The day we walked along some of Hadrian’s Wall. It is a lovely site that we stayed on and having the indoor facilities was a real bonus, without really detracting from the Sagga camp feel – the indoor marquee was just as messy as the outside one would have been, and the only real difference being you didn’t have a constant nagging fear that you would be hit on the head by an errant tilly-lamp succumbing to gravity!
The kitchen facilities were a real bonus, and despite the odd “issue” arising, it led to a much more relaxed and less antagonistic cooking experience. The fact that you couldn’t have too many people in the kitchen at once probably helped, and also not having to bend down or sit on tiny stools to cook eggy bread for 80 made a big difference to those with aging bones (including myself on this one!). The change also removed a few of those necessary but ultimately irritating rules about the position of flasks and the eternal rinsing debate. But before we all start freaking out…. It was good to know that some things remained….. so in summary –

Lost for this year
- Flasks – up or down? Who knows who cares..
- Rinsing –do you or don’t you?

No chance of losing these….
- To bang the pan lid/ring the bell in the morning or not to? (Surely the old people are so deaf they won’t hear it anyway)
- Porridge –salt or not? (Who cares, it’s tastes like shit either way)
- The numerous eating disorders seem to be multiplying, with Mr J’s inability to eat concrete causing no end of culinary challenges.

Hey look it’s some new ones…
- String on squash bottles. Why? If it tastes too strong, it’s probably not diluted!
- Just because a man is wearing a suit doesn’t always mean he knows what he’s talking about
- Forget colour coded plate stacking, lets get into “adult plates” and “children’s plates” – except it doesn’t work when you have adults with tweenies and miffy plates……
- The phantom early morning bottle-recyler – who’s the culprit?

Anyway, I digress. It was great to see so many ex-SSAGO people and they all worked bloody hard. I tried not to work as usual and spent most of my work day falling over in the mud rather than actually shifting it. The dancing on the Friday night was a bit of a risk but it paid off, with only a few not joining in. Heather and I experienced the basketing skills of Hugh and Swedish Scout number 1 (or was it 2?) which led to a near shoe-flying incident and aching arm-pits the next day – that took me back to SSAGO rallies of old!

So in all a great camp and I’m looking forward to Sweden next year. Looks like quite a few people are keen to go which will make it a real laugh. Perhaps we can rent a big red bus and drive it over there, Cliff Richard style…

camping!

Back from a bloomin' brilliant weekend in the Gower with Paul. We went to a huge public campsite in port eynon which overlooked the sea, excellent view and a quiet spot possibly the furthest you could get away from the toilets (and therefore the screaming kids...). Didn't do much for my bladder though - holding it all in until the last mintue!

Paul and I seem to be compatible on the views on camping - which is a refreshing change. he even managed to carry out karen's role of getting up and making me a cuppa and bacon sandwich in the morning. Sorry karen, you're surplus to requirements now! Having pitched the tent we downed a bottle of wine, then started on another as the first seemed to ahve gone down too well without any impact - unfortunately we hadn't tried to stand up by this point adn the econd bottle certainly had it's effect when we tried to stand up to go to bed....
We went on a walk to Rhossili on the Sat - the weather was warm but cloudy so I made my usual mistake of no suncream - and now have a seriously burnt face and have taken 2 days to get over the heat exhaustion! Chilled out sat evening then went to the beach on the sunday. really relaxing and a good start to a week off!

now just packing manically before heading off for a ridiculously long drive to sagga camp...... :-( will be worth it when i get there....

reading everyone's blogs it seems like the entire world is camping, except me. Very frustrating, but this time next week I will be residing in a tent up north, no doubt sporting a lurvely pair of wellies and a mac, wishing I was at home in front of my PC. So it all comes to those who wait. I'm really looking forward to my week off, work is quite exhausting really, and it's a wee bit stressful at times. Starting a new job is great, and I like the people and the company, but it will be nice to have a week where the hot topic of the day is not disciplinaries and absence, but rather "what time do you need to get up to put the porridge on" and "do we put out 2 packets of bourbons at elevensies or do we go for the safer option of 1 packet of bourbons and one packet of Nice biscuits"... ah the dilemmas......

Before speeding up north i'm hopefully going to spend a couple of days in south wales, which should be fun. Good to get some time away with the man, and see a bit of the sea. The programme Coast on BBC2 keeps telling me that you're only 72 miles (or soemthing like that) away from a coast, I'm sure Cheltenham must be that mid-point. It would be great to live by the sea.... fresh air, knotted hankies, seagulls, fish and chips, what more can you want.


On a completely different note, my slacker use of a laptop, without proper keyboard, over the past 4 months has finally taken it's toll and I seem to have developed really painful wrists. No dodgy comments please, this really does bloody hurt! I've got msyelf a proper keyboard now and wrist support but it's been a real shocker to me. I guess it's not so much the actual pain, it's the fact that, in my mind, this means I'm now starting to suffer from "old people's" complaints. This isn't the sort of thing young people deal with, it's the thin end of the wedge, soon it'll be varicose veins, ringing in the ears, creaky hips.... oh god my mind is going overtime.... I've gone to the dogs..... help me i'm melting.....

the weekend

Wendy + BBQ + tent + wearing glasses = guaranteed rain

Trust me on this one……

I like these...

keeps me amused anyway!

The Keys to Your Heart

You are attracted to those who have a split personality - cold as ice on the outside but hot as fire in the heart.

In love, you feel the most alive when your partner is patient and never willing to give up on you.

You'd like to your lover to think you are stylish and alluring.

You would be forced to break up with someone who was emotional, moody, and difficult to please.

Your ideal relationship is lasting. You want a relationship that looks to the future... one you can grow with.

Your risk of cheating is zero. You care about society and morality. You would never break a commitment.

You think of marriage pessimistically. You don't think happy marriages exist anymore.

In this moment, you think of love as commitment. Love only works when both people are totally devoted.

What Are The Keys To Your Heart?

ouch

my arse, my arse, it's killing me.....

but a great weekend in all. Good friday night out with Paul. nice food and company and accidentally drunk too much. oh well

sat was lovely and sunny and we cycled nearly 26miles to Caerphilly castle and had a really good laugh. I got off a few times and walked but didn't make a total idiot of myslef, plus I even had the guts on a few occasions to really fly down the hills with no nervous braking. saw a snake, discussed shotgun weddings, pre-marriage guidance and structurally engineered bras for the more endowed lady.

Sat night BBQ was tops but I was knackered

sunday drove home, cleaned house, had sunday lunch, lay in the park, dragged mysef from sunbathing to drive to Bedford. met 12 polish guys in an irish pub. Just your average sunday evening really......

wahey! - in case you really wanted to konw i am part passionate/part expert kisser.....

Part Passionate Kisser

For you, kissing is about all about following your urges If someone's hot, you'll go in for the kiss - end of story You can keep any relationship hot with your steamy kisses A total spark plug - your kisses are bound to get you in trouble

Part Expert Kisser

You're a kissing pro, but it's all about quality and not quantity You've perfected your kissing technique and can knock anyone's socks off And you're adaptable, giving each partner what they crave When it comes down to it, your kisses are truly unforgettable

probably too much information but it amused me!

What Kind of Kisser Are You?

should that have been I've just mowed my lawn. I guess the lawn is mown and I mowed it? I need an english teacher.....

I've just mown my lawn. It's quite a major achievement and there's no one here to say well done, so I thought I'd tell the world instead.

hot hot hot

ooh what a scorcher....

it's almost too hot to write this. I'm a wee bit sunburnt, I've eaten and drunk way too much this weekend, I've been in fab company and I hate the fact that it's Sunday night! It looks like the sun is going to continue all week, no doubt at least until friday at about 5pm....

highs and lows

after the high of yesterdays olympic announcement comes the low of today's events. Anything you'd like to say seems a bit trite so I'll just say that as long as I live I will never understand the mentality of wankers who believe the slaughter of innocent people is a justifiable act.

On a lighter note (and back to my little world - which is a lot nicer to be honest..)

Question - what do you do when you think you've thrown away your new tax disc????

Answer - You thank you're lucky stars you were too much of a slob (or was that dirty stop out..?) to put the bin out this week and go trawling into your wheelie bin to find it. You then "whoop" with delight in the garden, and dance round the piles of discarded rubbish scaring the cats and attracting seriously odd looks from your neighbours

I happened to be in the car in Sainsbury's car park about to pop in to buy an sandwish, when the announcement about the Olympics happened. So I hung about to listen in. Despite my innate British cynicism it was quite exciting, even if just to imagine how it must feel if you were part of the team bidding. Like A Level results only hundred times worse.

I was pretty gobsmacked when the bloke said London, and it's brilliant to know that we'll actually host it in 2012. I could even go and see it. God I'll be 42 - now there's a depressing thought, guess I'll not be entering for the javelin then...... another illustrious career door closes....

another successful malvern challenge base completed, less rain this year which made it more pleasant, although the red faces at the end of the day were more due to wind burn than the sun. The sunday was beautiful so I imagine those attending for the whole weekend looked very healthy when they went back to school/work this morning.

I had a good but busy week in general last week, hence the lack of blogging. Ran around the country talking to people about the Polish recruitment stuff, and managed to squeeze in a visit to London to see Keane and James Blunt (who is boody gorgeous it has to be said). both were fantastic live. We did consider hiding in the bushes in Hyde Park for a couple of days to see if we could wangle our way into Live8, but decided our roughing it days were over.

So onto another monday, this year seems to be flying by...

bring on the weekend

after a knackering trip to Poland I am back in the land of the living. I was there to recruit mechanics as we have a major shortage over in the UK and they are clamouring for decent jobs/wages over there. The reality of how tough it is for them was pretty stark when you really get talking to them, and despite the obvious arguments about draining their country of resource it clearly is something that the individuals want to do, to try and create a better life for themselves and their families. It's such a lovely place, but when they are working all hours to earn less in a month that some peope in the UK do it 2 days it's a pretty damn thankless task.

It was a gruelling couple of days, interviewing 20 people one after the other, not helped by the horrendous hangover I had from downing nearly 2 bottles of red wine on a stomach that had only been lined by a bowl of cereal, a picnic bar and a polish sausgage in the preceeding 24 hours. I don't exactly make life easy for myself though do I!

So it's now friday I'm working from home and I like this lifestyle. I've just received an e-mail from my American cousin who I haven't seen for many years, and who has just had a little baby boy. Great news all round.

The thunder has come and gone, it's still muggy though..... perhaps we're in for some more sun?

job satisfaction

don't you just love it when you get up at a ridiculously early time to drive 3 hours to luton for a disciplinary that the bloke doesn't bother to turn up to. No? Actaully me neither.

still, could have been worse - at least I wasn't the one being disciplined I guess.

getting better

good day today and good evening last night. Saw our mate Mr Holland play in redditch which was excellent, with my fave people in the world around me. Then had a good time this morning at the car boot sale, the weather held out luckily. Karen, Craig and I laughed at the wierd things people buy (and sell - including us!) and I made about £100. Not bad at all!
Came home seriously motivated to sort stuff out so mowed lawn, repotted plants, planted/dug in my garden, washed and vacumed car and just about to clean/tidy house and start ironing whilst watching Dr Who..... scary or what.

It's nice to be back.

sorry

life got a bit pants for a while. still is really. i'll write soon when I'm happier! :-(

eeek

who nicked my comments?

good film

Watched Butterfly Effect last night on DVD. I remembered Het and Andy had recommended it sometime and it was excellent - thanks for the tip guys!

off to pack again - my life and it's suitcases...

saturday "to do" lists

my list of things to do today is endless, all very dull, all of which will probably only take ten minutes each but I will spend the entire day prevaricating and avoiding rather than actually getting down to it and then having the rest of the day free.

hence why I am blogging and having a cup of tea, instead of cleaning the bath and putting the bin out.

oh for a hired help......

dilemma...

It's 7am, I'm up (have been for over an hour) and i don't need to be.
Question is.. do I go back to bed for an hour or do something worthwhile?
Tough one really

back home

after 4 nights away, which is a little too much. but at least I'm working from home today. have re-acquainted myself with cats - who are pissed off with me at the moment, not least for having been away. There is a ginger cat which has taken to visiting my back garden late at night. My two spend most evenings sitting ,looking out the patio doors waiting for it to arrive - with their little bottoms sticking out under the curtains. The cat tends, however, to,arrive about 3 in the morning and (when i am here) I am usually woken by the dull thud of one or two of my darlings running straight for him, but actually hitting the patio window. Then i get a loud, low growling/yowling sound, and then the two of them run around like headless chickens because they can't get out the back, and haven't grasped the concept that the catflap at the front logically provides the means to get in the back garden and kick the shit out of the little bugger.

I have therefore taken to shutting them in the kitchen at night when I am in, which allows them shelter and food and access to outside. But I hate it, as their little faces when I open the door in the morning breaks my heart.

Tough love eh. I need to watch more of those parenting programmes to appreciate the harsh realities of being a mum.

living the dream....

today I went to the Commerical Vehicle Motor Show at the NEC. Lots of trucks, equipment, and men. not a lot of women, apart from the odd one in hotpants handing out leaflets - good to see the industry is still in the last century regarding womens lib! Still - it's the first time I've been to the NEC and not had to queue for the ladies loo.

once more unto the bridge my friend....

I'm coming out of retirement. after all, I am USUALLY a bridesmaid, and I'm probably becoming one of the few single female friends people have who can organise a damn good hen night. so it's on with the frilly dress, flowers in hair and tissues at the ready.

And if you don't know who for perhaps you should be requesting an update on the letmeentertainyou blog.......

my view on the good Dr

thought it was v good - humour, sexy Mr E, Billie not too annoying, and special effects worked too.

I'm no expert but it's looking good for sat nights from now on....

my view on the good Dr

thought it was v good - humour, sexy Mr E, Billie not too annoying, and special effects worked too.

I'm no expert but it's looking good for sat nights from now on....

bloomin marvellous

it's a bank holiday, I didn't get up till 10am, I've wallowed in the bath, used all the expensive products that I don't usually have the time or inclination to use, I've bonded with my cats, and now I'm off to pick up my new cd-player from the parents. I love the life of leisure. I need to become a kept woman.

update

Last week at work completed…..

Last few days – mad rush, lots to do, successor turned down job – damn
Leaving day – flowers, tears, food, alcohol and relief.
Day off – new car – sunshine and shopping
Gold cup – drinking, rental money, house still standing.
Friday – puncture in new car, learned how to change a wheel (managed to avoid until the age of 31 – not bad), facial and manicure (never had enough mails until the age of 31 – very bad), fallout with bloke, party at Dave and eleanors
Saturday –, buying niece Laura BIG and FRIVOLOUS present cos I’m her aunt and I can get away with it, beer and rugby, make up with man , Chinese takeaway, yum.

Sunday – prepare for first day at school, pack bag, wash hair, long bath, early night, realise have left toothbrush and toothpaste elsewhere, wake up at 3am with toothache and phobia of having bad breath on my first day. Oh god……

So, today is Tues – it’s two days in and despite being completely knackered from early mornings I’m loving it. The people are very enthusiastic about the business, they are really down to earth and my brain is being seriously taxed – exactly what I was looking for.

Hopefully the early mornings will settle down a bit once my induction is over. For the time being I’ll need to spend a lot of time with my boss in High Wycombe which is involving a 6.30am start, and a 1.5 – 2hr journey each way. I think I can manage the driving, but early mornings and me were never going to be a happy marriage. I kept thinking today, “god this must be how parents of children who get them up at ungodly hours must feel”. Again, another wonderful contraceptive!

I went to Heathrow today, as part of the business maintains the ground support vehicles for British Airways. Amazing stuff, and the size of the whole place was just gob-smaking. Tomorrow is Bristol (yay, lie in!!) and then of to the RAC HQ on Thurs before a well earned day off on Friday.

Today’s condundrum was the arrival of a bunch of flowers wishing me good luck in my job but no message… v frustrating as I want to say thanks, and don’t want to appear ignorant/rude by not doing so, but can’t find out who it is from. Not the usual suspects so will just have to hope they come clean. Lovely flowers though!

Splashed out at the weekend and ordered a new CD player online, now waiting for it to arrive. I’ve had my big bulky flashing noisy one for 10 years 9yes andy – it’s the one you took the piss out of at my party) and I’d always promised myself a nice posh one when it finally went to the big turntable in the sky. So I’ve ordered a nice shiny Denon one….. yeehah……. Got to be frivolous once in a while.

Other flashy bits in my life is a new work phone which I cannot fathom for the life of me how to use it. Seemingly you need a degree in illogical technology and fingers the size of matchsticks to press the keys. Oh joy……

Anyway, another 2 days and a lie in awaits…..

another day.. another lunch...

My burning the candle at both ends is taking it's toll - especially on my waistline. I will need a bigger company car just to fit into after all these leaving lunches. Had my farewell drinks last night, bit of a tender head but more knackered than anything. I would give it all up for a lie in tomrrow but instead I have to travel to Bristol to spend time with the family. I have a feeling I may sneak away mid-afternoon for a siesta, after shopping in Clifton that is!

Red nose day today has me wearing rather fetching red ribbons in my hair with bunches. I think it gives me an air of professionalism despite me looking about 12 years old... perhaps I'll do this for my first day at the new job, that should impress 'em.

uh oh...

it's 2.30. I went out for lunch. I had a large glass of red wine.

I'm drunk.

uh oh.

I've got "leaving lunches" every day this week.......

still sniffing an sneezing. oh joy

damn

Well either the radical change in temperature from Egypt to the UK, or the delights of sharing breathing space with a couple of hundred others in the Eypt Air flight, has taken it's toll, and I now have a cold. Just what I needed.

I'm back!!!

wow, what a great trip, I had a brilliant time, really enjoyed the experience, the country is wonderful, the people fantiastic and the sights were breathtaking. I'll tell more when I have the energy, maybe attempt to bore you with photos too at some point. Got back yesterday pm, had 2 glasses of red wine which, when added to 2 weeks of teetotalism (darn muslim countries!), dehidration, early start and long journey, meant I had pretty much passed out at 8.30pm. rock on.
Absence deffo makes the heart grow fonder so have attached msyelf like superglue to dave since my return, which was pretty handy as he was able to help me fix the flood in my bathroom/kitchen this morning on my return home. Damn toilet still bust, water flooded through ceiling and into kitchen. Paint peeling off walls and very damp floor. Insurace claim afoot. :-(

So back to real world tomorrow, to finish my 2.5 weeks of notice, assuming my new employer hasn't seen the light and rescinded their offer!!!

packed and ready to go

I've managed to squeeze nearly everything in, just need to go out for a few drinks tomorrow night, have an early night and get on the bus on saturday morning to heathrow. Scary stuff, I've been so busy concentrating at work trying to ge things sorted, plsu worrying about the new job, i'd kind of forgotten i had a holiday coming up! Bring on the Sphinx....

this evening is brief respite, as I had planned an evening out with a friend but due to him beeing poorly I have a free evening. So I am spending it downloading albums onto my pc and looking at my packing and considering what other things I need. I think the trick with packing is to leave it to the last minute so you don't have time to keep adding things you "might just need". shame I gave myself a week really.
Meantime I am trying to fend off a headbutting cat who seems to love spending time with me when I'm on my PC. She's normally the less needy one, but obviously considers my spare room as her territory rather than Millie's - which is the rest of the house!. it makes for difficult typing.

I thought I was supposed to relax now?!*!

So much for winding down, there's so much work to do I'm working harder now than I ever did when it made a difference to my career prospects! Guess I've gone into Completer-Finisher mode, had to happen someday! I tried to lay out what I need for Egypt last night, it's not easy knowing you are going somewhere very hot, but also possibly very cold, as we will be camping in the desert for a few nights and it can get dam't cold apparently. hmmm, wooly hat? check! Factor 30? check? thermals? check! Bikini? Check! (actually that last one's a lie - haven't worn a bikini since I was 12 and, even with my new found confidence I have no intention of displaying my layers of flab to the world - even if it does consist of camels.)
As I tried to cram far too much stuff into my rucksack I (once again) pondered the logic of going on holiday to a place that you know will probably give you diahorrea and vomiting... guess it'll be worth it in the end but as you pack the Dioralyte and Piriton you have to wonder at those who are content with a weekend at Butlins Minehead and consider who is the idiot.

So anyway, it was a good weekend of film (Meet the Fockers - good solid fun), shopping (shorts and drugs - as above), drinking and rugby (Mad and I discovered the delights of the vodka chocolate mud-type drink, mmm, alcoholic nesquick, yum!), got drunk, got girlie, got emotional, got sorted by Mad in toilets, got home, got pizza, passed out by 10pm. rock on... (we did start at 4pm).

Sunday I did sod all.

It's official

apologies to those who know already, as I've actually been telling everyone for the last week but didn't want to blog it until it was formal here at work. Yep, I'm leaving! not the country - just my job. Ok I know it's only been two years, but to such a high-flying, ambitious old soul like myself 2 years is plenty when you're on the career path to taking over the world!

I've handed in my notice, had lots of nice comments from people who will forget me in 2 months time (Wendy Who? ah yes seem to I recall a short ginger bird with a big mouth....), and have even had possible counter offers thrown at me (how exciting, usually they're glad to get rid of me!). now I have to wake up and realise that it's all for real. After attending an interview, a visit to a dealership, a very tough assessment centre and a 3 hour psychometric test session, I have been offered and accepted a position of HR Manager - Business Support. It seems a good role, with a good boss who can help and guide me and the package ain't bad either.

now that I've stopped spinning around I really ought to knuckle down and realise I'm on holiday a week on sat and I need to buy essential items such as mosquito repellant and a sunhat! Whew

ouch ouch ouch

A painful weekend. I had jabs in both arms on Friday afternoon to prepare for Eygpt. Diptheria, polio and tetanus in my left, Hepatitus A in my right. - not a sugarlump in sight :-( My left arm was very sore all weekend and I made sure that people around me knew it (it's SO annoying when there's no bruises or similar to show for the pain). The discomfort was just about subsiding yesterday afternoon when I walked barefoot into the wooden base of my sofa - hard. Ouch. Lots of swearing at the cats and jumping up and down. Why didn't I wear my new slippers that S gave me for Christmas????
Last night my little toe went light blue, today it's moving towards black and the bruise is spreading. I'm limping like a wuss. I think it may be broken but who knows. Not much I can do about it. Everyone here at work seems to assume I was pissed at the time. In fact I was hoovering. Always knew it was a dangerous sport.
So tomorrow I have to attend an assessment centre with a broken toe, that'll impress 'em!

monday

I'm feeling a bit down today, not for any valid reason, just the post-weekend blues I guess. So any messages to cheer me up would be most appreciated. :-(

Friday

so the weekend looms again. I write this at work, living in fear that I may have to sack myself for inappropriate comments about my employer - not that I ever write any cos they're quite nice as opposed to some others I have been reading about on various blogs.

It's a tough call reading that detail, as an HR professional, but also as a blogger. I'm trying to see both sides and would like to know a bit more about the facts, but at the end of the day, I think that there needs to be a balance. For example an employee has a responsibility beyond the time they step out of the employer's door. If they are wearing they work uniform and verbally attack a little old lady they will be bringing the company into disrepute. But it is really in the same vein to be simply putting your thoughts and views in writing and happen to mention how you feel about something related to work?

On the other hand, does an employee have a responsibility not to promote bad publicity about their employer? - to me that is implied in their employment contract.

Whatever the answer, it does seem to be a heavy-handed response when the guy had offered to remove it. I don't think they'd win at a tribunal. Hmmm.. interesting ... perhaps I'll do a Phd on it. I hear they're dead easy to do.

Anyway onto more mundane things - I'm now officially NOT FAT. Having reached my goal weight, becoming a Weightwatchers Gold member, and being able to stuff my face with doughnuts for the rest of eternity without putting on a single pound! (Oh, is that not how it works? What do you mean it simply means I don't have to pay to attend meetings - damn!). I went out for a fab Thai meal with Fraser and Heather Rooke to celebrate, and to catch up on the gossip and say tara to the Burrundi boy.

So the weekend looms - I've been conned into going to see a very scary film tonight (White Noise) which I'm looking forward to with about the same amount of enthusiasm as Joan of Arc probably felt about that bonfire she got invited to. Still it means I score enough points to drag him to Vanity Fair next week.

I am 87.5% British, just likeMr Bean - "Shy to the point of ridicule, you've probably never been out of the UK."

Not strictly true but it works for me

weekend

gentle but deffo good weekend. started with a cuppa with my mum, then a curry and a few drinks, sat shopping for food, sat evening eating it and dvd, sunday lunch at a nice pub. Definate theme there really.

and now it's monday and I'm stuffed after my rather fab trout dinner.

I love my life. Food is my life.

day two

so it was day two of being back at work, and it wasn't actually too bad. yesterday my head was too fuzzy to actually achieve anything, I just sat in my office feeling sorry for myself and sneezing a lot. one of the benefits of being ginger and pasty is that when you're ill (and can't be bothered to put any make up on in the morning) people really notice when you are not well and comment on how pale you look and question whether you should go back home to bed. Boy I love sympathy!!!

We held the three minutes silence at work yesterday. I didn't really think about the length of time until I watched the news that evening and they were dicussing the rights and wrongs. On reflection I do agree that it was a good thing to do but why 3 minutes? I don't think you can categorise these things, so why have a different amount to a "usual" moment of reflection. Does that mean that we have to have 30 seconds if it was a "small" disaster - a disaster is a disaster, and the purpose of the silence is to reflect, and show some form of support in a time when you can do bugger all else to make a difference. Really I guess it's just to make us feel better - and people could say that's selfish, but personally I support it.

anyway, rant over, I'm off for tea - mmmmmm

Best laid plans..

I'm writing this from my spare room instead of my lunchtime break at work. This is due to the fact that, instead of returning to work as planned this morning, I was sneezing and coughing for England all through the night and couldn't face it. I went to bed early last night, feeling a little rough so wanting to get a good sleep before going back to the real world. But unfortunately I saw through every hour of the night, before giving up at 4.30am and watching an episode of Casualty on cable TV. Hooray for cable!!! I had planned on giving it up in the course of my economy driver (one of the many new years resolutions) but sod that - I now realise it's uses!

So, as I can hear you saying to yourself, if she's capable of writing the blog then she should be at work. Possibly true, but I honestly think that I would be more of a hindrance than a help, give all my germs to my colleagues, and I really don't think the sight of me in my fluffy slippers and dressing gown would be appreciated! I shall give you a taster of my Christmas and new year then return to catch up on the snoozing I was so cruelly denied last night.

the most important bit of news is the wonderful guy I met called Dave just before Christmas, who has (don't throw up here) ... brightened up my little world (except when it's full of sneezing) to such an extent that could almost say I am ridiculously happy! Blimey, scary stuff. The last bloke bowed out (fairly) gracefully, knowing that he was the master of his own downfall and finally returning his key yesterday. Not an easy situation, and despite my mothers early words of wisdom ringing in my ears "never finish with one guy until you have another one lined up", I wouldn't actually recommend it as a course of action. In fact there was gap, if not very long, but I guess thats just semantics when it comes down to it.

So christmas was good, quite on the day with mum and dad but very stress-free, family round on boxing day was great, walking with Dave, friends and Rach/Andy on the Monday was a welcome bit of fresh air. Fair bit of drinking in the middle, and then off to St Ives for new year. photos will be forthcoming when I have the energy/capability of showing them, with Mexican outfits a plenty. The place we stayed in was fantastic, right in the centre of St ives and great facilities and a cosy atmosphere. The company was fab and the weather kind. Visited the Tate Modern to re-emphasise my complete inability to understand or appreciate the complete bollox that is written to justify pictures that my 6 year old nephew would be embarrassed about producing. Breathed in the sea air, ate Cornish pasties and fab fresh fish, played Trivial Pursuits and Dingbats, and got dressed up, along with the whole town, for the new year. There were dalmations, Jedi Knights, Storm Troopers, nuns with beards, surgeons warning of "little pricks", ghostbusters and plenty of laughs. It's a great atmosphere and the place just comes alive!

So back to reality.... looking forward to feeling well again, seeing my sagga mates next week for a curry and catch up, cosy nights in with a dvd and also my up-coming trip to Egypt in Feb.

Happy New Year folks, lets hope its a good one.