Looking back

I don't like to dwell on the past too much, but sometimes looking back does give us perspective. And if we don't learn from the mistakes of the past, how can we hope to improve things in the future.

I say this because re-reading my blogs from years gone by I see that on this day (10th January 2010) I was let go at the Box Factory is less than ideal conditions, being frog-marched from the premises twenty minutes before the end of my shift like I was a criminal. In the end, if course, all worked out swimmingly well, now that I am an International Playboy and Quality Expert, but at the time it hurt.

That in turn lead to a short time job surveying what was to become the Thanet Windfarm, then I got a job on that with the main contractor, which in turn lead to a full time job, company credit card and several frequent flyer cards. Phew, it has been a rush, I just wish I had been keeping this blog when I was working for Gardline from 2006, so you could share in my seafaring adventures. In fact I have many of the early blogs I wrote back then, but they are poorly written, with dreadful grammar and spelling, and would be out of sequence if I posted them here now.

Anyway, I relaise I forgot a few other highlights of last year when I did my review on New Year's Eve: the holiday, my 50th birthday and the holiday to the NE of England and Scotland. So many great memories and wonderful things we did. And there was the photo shoot in St Paul's Cathedral, a visit to St Bartholomew the Great, shoots in Dresden and Meissen and Amsterdam among other places. There were two reunions; school one for our 50th birthdays, and one in Lincoln for my old RAF trade. Memorable all, for various reasons, but also showed how I have grown and changed as a person.

Anyway, onwards and forwards. For the most part. The New car, Thursday 2nd April

Thursday.

The day of the great car exchange.

Or, the day we get our new wheels. And we're as excited as kids, although if the reality can be a little disappointing too. But more of that in a bit.

As I needed the car, old car, with which I had to part exchange for the new motor, I had to drop Jools off in town so she could catch the bus to work. For a working morning, all was quiet, and she was the only one in Penchester, and there were no buses. Hers was due any moment, so I dropped her off and went back home.

Another coffee, switch on the computer, fire off some mails, update a project document. And I think the rest can wait. At ten I switch the computer off. Into the kitchen to make saffron buns. This I really like, as the combination of yeast and saffron is wonderful, but that moment will have to wait as the dough has to be mixed then left to rise for several hours. I also make a batch of pasta salad, that done, I see I have a couple of hours to kill before I have to be at the garage.



I drive down the Nailbourne valley, up over the downs into another valley where there in a wood which is full of orchids. I walk up the bridleway to where the wood gets thicker, on both sides there are thousands of bluebells still growing furiously, and maybe a month from blooming. A little further up, there are the familiar spotted rosettes. There are many more than two weeks ago, but the spikes are still growing, and at least two weeks from being being full of blooms. I guess the weather has not warmed as expected, which explains why they are later than I expected.



Anyway, having seen the Early Purples, I make my way back down to the car, and drive back towards Dover where it is show time at the garage.

Traffic is light, so I arrive a few minutes early. Inside many folks are looking around the shiny things in the showroom. All is ready for me, the most amazing amount of paperwork to sign, I am introduced to the service manager, as they want to sell us a service plan, which may or may not be good value. Sign more papers, shake hands with the franchise manager, and I get the keys. It has been brought round to the door, all black and shiny. I get in, it has 5 miles on the clock. I adjust the mirrors, put on the seat belt and start the engine. It hardly makes a noise.

Driving off the forecourt means the car loses a third of its value. There is no indication of this when you are driving.

I take the car into town, down Castle Hill, through the market place and up Military Hill the other side to St Martin's Battery. I snap the car, snap the view. Any other driving around is wasteful I think sensibly. So I drive back, put the buns in the oven, as I have an hour before I have to leave and collect Jools from work.

The house is soon filled with the glorious small of the baking buns. It is wonderful. Once I cooked i could have eaten one thickly buttered there and ten. But I will wait until we are home.

A drive through the Alkham Valley to Folkestone, then through Saltwood to Hythe, arriving at the factory some 20 minutes early. I work out how the radio works, and listen to the end of the Steve Wright show, I shudder to think Radio 1 used to be like this.

Jools drives back, and she is happy with the car. Just as well really.

Back home I make a brew and we have one of the buns. So full of saffrony goodness and flavour. Lovely.



Later we have Scotch eggs with the pasta, which whilst not perfect means it is dished up within 5 minutes of hunger being declared. That evening I watch TOTP, and it was the edition I hoped for, the one with Rush featured, and Spirit of Radio. Back in March 1980, I was into heavy metal and loud music in general. Rush were like Gids, like they are again now, but back then, when it was announced that Rush would be featured on Top of the Pops as they had a hit record, all of my friends and I were so excited. So we wait all week to Thursday night, and third record in, Spirit of Radio is announced, but much to our horror, its the song which the dance 'troupe' Legs & Co were dancing too. But its worse than that, as they must have had a week off, as its a compilation of their 'finest' moments, all done with added dreadful visual effects.



I remember the letters of complaints to Sounds the week after. The shock of that I still remember to this day. That was countered by Martha and the Muffins being on the same show, but then so was Shakin' Stevens doing his innuendo filled song, Hot Dog.

50th birthday, 25th AugustTuesday

50th birthday

Cease fire, we're going in!

I wake at six when the alarm goes off, outside it is still dawn, showing how old the year is getting. Indeed, in four months it will be Christmas Day. Apparently. This I know as today is my birthday.

Jools wishes me happy birthday gives me a kiss, and once downstairs, there is a bag of gifts for me. She makes coffee and watches over me as I open each of the presents and her card. There are cards from other friends and family, which I can now open too. Each gives me joy that they have remembered.

Jools has to leave for work, and indeed I have work to do, updating KPIs and checking mail. However, at ten I set an out of office message and decide I should maybe go for a walk as bad weather was due to be sweeping in by lunchtime.

I just walk over the fields to the butterfly glade, just to see what was about, and was rewarded with a few Speckled Woods, Brown Argus, Red Admirals, Large Whites and Common Blues. I get a few shots but I look to the north west and see huge black clouds approaching. So I turn for home, and am rewarded with a few large raindrops as I make my way back across the fields.

I have to field a call from Mother, which I suppose is to be expected, and as long as certain subjects are avoided, we remain on civil terms, which is what happens.

Post arrives and I have more cards, and again really nice that people have remembered.

At half twelve Jools comes home, and we ponder what to do the rest of the afternoon. Outside it is monsoon-like, throwing it down with rain. There is no point in going anywhere outside, or getting to anywhere that is inside, as this would mean going outside. We have fishcakes in rolls for lunch, then I am given the choice of what to do, so I choose to watch Bull Durham. Which is what we do, and whilst on the sofa, and the rain hammers down outside, we enjoy the film and I sip very expensive whisky, which makes me feel like a millionaire.

At six we climb into our wet weather gear for the dash to the car outside, and then we can drive to town to meet with friends. We find a parking place right outside the restaurant, which is always nice, and good as it is still hammering down outside. We have a table booked in Blakes, which seemed to be a nice place, and none of us had been in either been in or for over 25 years. If at all in my case. The beer is good and the food is OK. Sadly I chose the burger, which I really must get out of the habit of having, but hey.

As we go to leave, a car driven by Belgians stops to ask us directions; the best way is for us to show them to their hotel, so we take them on the big circle that is the one way system, and once outside it, we drive back home, under what are now almost clear skies, and the moon is now three-quarters full. Where did the month go?

City were playing at Rotherham in the League Cup, or whatever it is called this week, and we rund out 2-1 winners, but the big story is one of our players walking out. Oh dear, Lewis!

I resist another whisky, and instead I go to bed at normal time, with the wind howling outside, and Jools and I trying to find room on the bed between three sleeping cats.