Weird or What

Went back into work today to tie up loose ends, hands things over etc. It's strange, but normally in Sales, you get escorted to the door and not allowed access to the computer etc just in case you want to steal information or just cause trouble by deleting files. Me, I was one of the last people to leave the office last night, had complete unsupervised access to the system today and I still have my keys and swipe card. I will hand them in when I go back again tomorrow just to check they are happy with the way I have left things. I even had a 25 minute conversation with a prospective client (who rang me) this morning and ended up booking a meeting for the Directors to go and see him - I can't as I won't be there anymore. I take it as a compliment that they trust me not to take advantage and that I am seen as a man of my word. Maybe I am a bit too soft after all. I mean it's not normal to help an employer who's just made you redundant is it? But I couldn't just walk away and leave it all in a mess, it's not me...

Jinxed or what!

I approach this blog with a strange sense of inevitability. I mean it had to happen, after all, it's that time of year. Greenbelt Ops weekend has just finished, so it is only appropriate that I get made redundant (again). Mind you, it's been three years since the last time, so the track record has improved... It's weird, but I don't feel bad. I suppose in a way I was execting it, what with the ("illegal") events of that August meeting, but having won a contract, generated several good opportunities, it was not on my immediate agenda. Fortunately I have been looking, but nothing as yet. Trouble is, I'm not sure I want to carry on doing the same thing. Even more trouble, I don't really know what I do want to do. I've never been one of those people who decide at three months they want to be a Vet (or whatever) and then that's it. My career path has been a bit more vague. So if anyone knows of a good job for a personable, articulate, customer friendly and presentable chap with good IT and phone skills, let me know.

And they're off!

Alan turned up on Monday complete with Kango drill to start attacking the concrete plinth behind the house ready for the foundations to be dug at the weekend. After a hard days graft, the skip is full of concrete and we have an outline ready for diggers to start excavating at the weekend. The back garden looks a bit like a bomb site already so by the time we get back from Yorkshire will resemble a WW1 scene even more with real live trenches! Just hope Boris (cat) avoids falling in...
So glad works have started, who wants to open the bidding that they will finish by Christmas?

A life less exciting...

Whilst waiting for the builders to arrive on Sunday I took the opportunity to review our church's website, one of the many tasks on my "to do" list. I was missing church, so why not do some church business. I looked at all the links and have decided that a large proportion of them we can do without! There are some to add including a certain annual Festival occuring over August Bank Holiday... I have also been reminded just how awful my photo is on there and I need to make it a priority to get it replaced pdq! Result was that got review done (only one who did so by Oversight meeting Mon eve - smug, moi?) and even started loading rubble into the skip until back started to complain. Then rang builders to find out they weren't coming after all. Highlighted one of the disadvantages of being x-directory; work have decided I don't need a mobile so cut it off and Alan only had that number. Afternoon was thrilling visit to Tesco's - can it get any better I hear you cry? Well, if you call tackling the ironing in the evening, then the answer has to be in the affirmative! This week is shaping up as busy, only out every evening with meetings and the off on Friday to Yorkshire - hurrah! A weekend with fab friends, a modicum of alcohol and no kids!! Bring it on.

Saturday Life

Well, what has my fascinating life held since last I shared it with you... Not a huge amount to be perfectly honest. The weekend was expensive - went out on Saturday and bought carpet for the loft rooms (ouch!) even going for the "economically priced" one. Found a neutral slightly mottled type that shouldn't show the marks that the girls will leave all over it with felt tip pens, make-up, squash etc etc. Toddled round Currys (next door to Carpet place) looking at fridge freezers for the kitchen and laughing at some of the vast double door types that are becoming more popular (not in our house) which seem to be anti-tardis ie huge on the outside and small on the inside! Coped with wilting daughter who was not feeling well and went back to bed when we got home, our bed mind you - I'm sure the fact we have a TV had nothing to do with her choice. Must go as work calls. More later!

And Again!

Timewarp time! Reading this blog it is actually chronologically correct even though entered in reverse... Anyway, before too much time passes, I couldn't not mention Friday 5th November famous for countrywide celebrations with fireworks, bonfires and general merriment all on the day Claire was born. Coincidence I hear you ask? Surely not and I've never hear of that Fawkes chappie.
For her birthday Claire had said that she just wanted a rear extension (got planning permission - hurrah!) but I wanted something just for her.
Discovered a shop local to my work called Lush. Smelt it on several occasions, but never ventured within it's portals. For the uninitiated of you, its an small emporium selling bathroom pampering paraphenalia with an emphasis on the female of the species. Bath bombs with glitter in, bubble bath cubes and all manner of other items jam packed with essential oils and organic ingredients. Evocative names like Two Timing Tart (couldn't resist that one). Anyway, I came away with a selection of stuff which the girls gave her together with a birthday card they had insisted on buying her several weeks previous featuring Aragorn (Lord of the Rings fame). They toyed with Legolas, but decided in the end she would prefer Aragorn (they were probably right).
Claire duly luxuriated in a bath which the ball had fizzed about violently in dispensing its glitter and essential oils and we all went out for a meal at the local Indian (Spice of Hanwell) which went down well. Had the usual giggles from the girls over the desert menu as on our first visit Esther had taken one look at the picture of the Indian doughnts and proclaimed in a loud voice that they looked just like buttocks! I can see where she was coming from.
Anyway back to the the bath which regrettably was not rinsed out in as comprehensive manner as I would have liked following the 'bomb' episode with the result that having had a bath Saturday morning ready for the wedding, I had to explain why I was lightly coated with glitter... My own fault I suppose.

If this is Cheltenham...

Had a weird experience on Saturday - yes I know I've just done Sunday, but quite frankly, I don't care. You wanted updates after all! Anyway, we went through Cheltenham which was very confusing because having got there, I had to tun left signposted Gloucester when all my instincts were trying to get me to turn right to the Racecourse. Fortunately, I resisted the inner voices and ended up in the fair if drizzly City of Gloucester which was our intended destination. Friends of ours were getting married and I just love a good wedding. I was not disappointed. The bride was radiant, the service in the local methodist church (by the Cathedral) was great with a good combination of old and new songs. I always get a little emotional during the vows and hold my beautiful wife's hand thinking back to 14 years ago, when she was the radiant bride whereas now she's just radiant. We even managed to persuade Naomi and Esther that their Tamagotchi's (electronic pets) would survive the service without expiring so they didn't need to keep hold of them. The drizzle stopped for the photos in the Cathedral grounds, so a good day all round. Whilst we drove home in the wet, the bride and groom were getting ready to fly off to Madeira on honeymoon.

Alright already!

I don't know, it's like having your mother checking up on you (from a concerned point of view, not generationally speaking).... Actually, if I'm honest, it's nice that people miss you when you don't blog. So what's been going on in my little world? A combination of Gentle Lavender, Sexy Pink and Violet White plus Sunrise, Kinsela and some lurid yellow gloss colour. Yes, you guessed it, we've been painting the loft! Esther chose the yellows (get the sunglasses out!) and I have a concern that people with either think there has been radiation fallout or our eyes will melt. She however, is ecstatic (that's ok then). We've moved onto Naomi's choice and spent most of Sunday slapping Sexy Pink all over the front room in the loft. Naomi had a friend over and they had great fun "helping" paint the walls - well, most of it went on the walls, some on the floor, on them, just glad the cat kept well away.
Good piece of news is that we have finally got planning permission for the rear extension (omit the does my bum look big in this jokes). Work should start in the next few days and the plan is that it will be finished by Christmas (like DC's blog, I'm not quoting a year). Bad news is that it's going to start costing money again. Ho hum, easy come, easy go as they say.