So, here's an update on the reality situation at the factory.
Not much to tell, really. On Monday I did the usual stuff, in the afternoon working with a couple of sour old women who held a grudge that a few weeks ago as a QA I had rejected some of their work; speaks more about them than me I guess, but they tried to make my life uncomfortable for an afternoon whilst I stuck calico onto some white card.
Ho well, time passed.
Tuesday was much better; I worked with a great small team folding CD covers, and we had a laugh and ribbed each other. Days like that make work bearable, you know?
Today I actually did some training; in that I was trained, I say trained, shown what to do and left to it; But I worked the mouther and press on the Folio line, and did ok; better once the mouther did it's job rather than crushing the slipcases. I had to concentrate, and so time flew and soon the day came to an end.
I don't know what tomorrow will bring; it's Thursday, and nearer the weekend of course. Work is supposed to be light next week, and so I expect to have next week off no matter what; restarting in January if I have a job, or signing on if I don't.
I was let go home early; only Jools had gone to Canterbury shopping, and so I walked some of the way home. I got down all of Combe Valley Road, along Cherrytree and right to Conaught Road. Up that and right to the Castle, buy which point I ran out of pavement and so waited for the call from Julie to let me know she was near.
I cooked herb crusted pork with pesto pasta and chorizo and two cheese bread; of would have been, so made do with left over paprika chicken from last night. Darn good it was too, and enough left over for lunch tomorrow, bt they'll probably froun at a glass or two of red wine which I had tonight.
Wednesday, 9 December 2009
Sunday
And so Sunday rolled round, just right behind Saturday, just like we expect it to. Once again it was raining when we woke up, and the deluge continued through the morning. The BBC had promised that it would brighten up, but looking p to the dark clouds it seemed the rain had set in for the day.
As what seems the custom, just before 11 we drove down to St Margaret's Bay to listen to Desert Island Discs and to watch the waves; but the wind had dropped and so we headed up the cliffs to Dover Patrol to look out from the cliff edge. The rain had stopped, and there were breaks in the clouds, and bright spots of sunlight played on the channel from our high vantage point.
A Flickr-friend, Matt, came over from Ashford, we met him at Western Heights, overlooking Dover Harbour; the clouds had broken, and big areas of blue sky could be seen, and waves crashed against the breakwater and beach.
We headed down to the cliff, and wound our way down the cliff to Shakespeare Beach, the sand all red in the bright light, and the air seemingly sparking in the sunlight after over 24 hours of rain. It was high tide, but we dodged the waves and made our way along the beach, walking in and out of the flotsam.
It was just wonderful to be in sunshine after a week in the factory and the rain of the previous 24 hours. We got caught in the waves, not big ones, but thrilling none the less. We marvelled at the cuttlefish washed up on the beach, and how amazing that the light should be like this so sudden after such torrential rain.
We headed back home and grabbed a lunch for pizza and beer. Matt and I headed to Deal to catch the last of the daylight and just for the trill of being out. It grew cold, but we headed to the beach and walked among the fishing boats and watched the people out and about doing the same us us, enjoying the light and sun.
The sky turned pink and the sun went down; Matt and I headed home and talked some; We had dinner, steak and ale pie, roast potatoes, and lots of veg and gravy.
As what seems the custom, just before 11 we drove down to St Margaret's Bay to listen to Desert Island Discs and to watch the waves; but the wind had dropped and so we headed up the cliffs to Dover Patrol to look out from the cliff edge. The rain had stopped, and there were breaks in the clouds, and bright spots of sunlight played on the channel from our high vantage point.
A Flickr-friend, Matt, came over from Ashford, we met him at Western Heights, overlooking Dover Harbour; the clouds had broken, and big areas of blue sky could be seen, and waves crashed against the breakwater and beach.
We headed down to the cliff, and wound our way down the cliff to Shakespeare Beach, the sand all red in the bright light, and the air seemingly sparking in the sunlight after over 24 hours of rain. It was high tide, but we dodged the waves and made our way along the beach, walking in and out of the flotsam.
It was just wonderful to be in sunshine after a week in the factory and the rain of the previous 24 hours. We got caught in the waves, not big ones, but thrilling none the less. We marvelled at the cuttlefish washed up on the beach, and how amazing that the light should be like this so sudden after such torrential rain.
We headed back home and grabbed a lunch for pizza and beer. Matt and I headed to Deal to catch the last of the daylight and just for the trill of being out. It grew cold, but we headed to the beach and walked among the fishing boats and watched the people out and about doing the same us us, enjoying the light and sun.
The sky turned pink and the sun went down; Matt and I headed home and talked some; We had dinner, steak and ale pie, roast potatoes, and lots of veg and gravy.
Sunday, 6 December 2009
The day after
The next morning we went to B&Q to buy a Christmas tree; this is the first time I will have been home for Christmas since 2005, and I thought it would be nice to have a tree. We got a 6ft fake one, but got some bargains of decorations.
We then went to Deal as Jools wanted to buy some wool as she now been asked to knit a couple of scarves for someone's children at work. And anyway, Deal is a great place to wander around just looking.
She got the wool and I went into a book shop and saw a few books on local history I would like. Then to the French bakery and deli to get something sweet to have with a coffee in the afternoon; croissants and pain au chocolat it turned out.
Back home to trim the tree whilst listening to the Danny Baker show on the radio, not a bad morning. And very nice the tree looked when we finished.
Some French bread and stinky un-pasteurised cheese for dinner, and then Jlie headed off for a beading class, leaving me to listen to the football on the radio as the weather turned wet and windy outside.
For dinner we had what has become our favorite meal for Saturday, a curry from Tesco; not as good as one from a curry house, but just a fifth of the price, and for that, good enough.
The house is quieter now, Sulu made noise enough for three, and without him it does seem silent. Molly and Little Girl seem happy enough still, we settled down for an evening listening to music whilst the wind and rain did their stuff outside.
We then went to Deal as Jools wanted to buy some wool as she now been asked to knit a couple of scarves for someone's children at work. And anyway, Deal is a great place to wander around just looking.
She got the wool and I went into a book shop and saw a few books on local history I would like. Then to the French bakery and deli to get something sweet to have with a coffee in the afternoon; croissants and pain au chocolat it turned out.
Back home to trim the tree whilst listening to the Danny Baker show on the radio, not a bad morning. And very nice the tree looked when we finished.
Some French bread and stinky un-pasteurised cheese for dinner, and then Jlie headed off for a beading class, leaving me to listen to the football on the radio as the weather turned wet and windy outside.
For dinner we had what has become our favorite meal for Saturday, a curry from Tesco; not as good as one from a curry house, but just a fifth of the price, and for that, good enough.
The house is quieter now, Sulu made noise enough for three, and without him it does seem silent. Molly and Little Girl seem happy enough still, we settled down for an evening listening to music whilst the wind and rain did their stuff outside.
Friday, 4 December 2009
Bad Friday
Little did I know when I wrote that last post yesterday afternoon, Sulu lay dead under our bed, possibly from a heart attack.
The night before he had seemed very slow, not his self, he was bright-eyed and alert, but not eating and not himself really. At night he pestered to be fed from about four, so he usually gets to sleep in the kitchen. But Thursday night we let him sleep on our bed. He slept right through, or at least was quiet. He ate a little at breakfast and seemed fine when I took Julie to work and then do the shopping.
I was bsy during the day, and really did not notice there was no sign of him until late in the afternoon and it had begun to get dark. I looked all around the garden, but with no luck, and then in his usual places around the house. Somehow I missed his body under the bed, and it was Julie who found him when she looked.
We took his body downstairs, wrapped it in a pillowcase and buried him in the garden. The house now seems quiet without him, he leaves a big hole in our lives, but he died happy and loved.
We'll miss you, old fella.
The night before he had seemed very slow, not his self, he was bright-eyed and alert, but not eating and not himself really. At night he pestered to be fed from about four, so he usually gets to sleep in the kitchen. But Thursday night we let him sleep on our bed. He slept right through, or at least was quiet. He ate a little at breakfast and seemed fine when I took Julie to work and then do the shopping.
I was bsy during the day, and really did not notice there was no sign of him until late in the afternoon and it had begun to get dark. I looked all around the garden, but with no luck, and then in his usual places around the house. Somehow I missed his body under the bed, and it was Julie who found him when she looked.
We took his body downstairs, wrapped it in a pillowcase and buried him in the garden. The house now seems quiet without him, he leaves a big hole in our lives, but he died happy and loved.
We'll miss you, old fella.
Good Friday
It has to be a good Friday when one is not at work. Not THE Good Friday, however.
But, although the factory was closed but the offices are open, and so Jools had to work as normal. And so we had to fight through the traffic, and now as a truck hit the railway bridge on the road to the factory, everyone now has to go through a turny twisty housing estate until the bridge is repaired. But, with the factory being closed, traffic was light, and after dropping her off I drew a deep breath and headed up to Tesco.
Friday mornings are not a bad time to go shopping, as long as it's the period before all the school kids pile in the buy 'energy' drinks. One can only imagine the scene in classrooms up and down the county as hyped up kids up to the eyeballs with caffeine causing chaos for teachers. Such is the modern life of today's teacher.
Anyway, I whisked around the store picking this and that and filling up a family sized trolley with stuff; mainly fruit, veg and breakfast cereal. We have fond a wonderful new thing called Dahl lentils, which we had for dinner last night, along with breaded pork pan fried and corn. Very nice, very easy, and doubly nice washed down with a glass of red.
Anyway, along with the fruit and veg, six weeks of cat food and cleaning stuff was overflowing the trolley, I found and empty (!) checkout and loaded the belt and then went to pack in such a way as not to damage anything.
This done it was then tricky to get it all in our little Polo and drive back home, put everything away, and finish off the pot of coffee. Addicted to caffeine? Not me!
And then back out to order two calenders from the Tesco photo-booth and then, finally, the day was mine. But left with a day of endless possibilities, I was at a loss as to know where to go, other than to take photographs.
I headed out to a small village between Dover and Folkestone called Hougham; I had seen it on a list of listed buildings, or the church is, and I wanted to photograph it.
Off the main roads here in East Kent, the lanes are narrow and twisty, to the point of being silly. Hardly room for one car to get down the road, let alone if you were to meet someone coming the other way. Anyway, with a clear blue sky above and the sun on the countryside, it was no chore as I tried to find the church, or the village in which the church is.
It should have been easy, there is a TV transmitter next to the church, several hundred feet tall, but the twisty turny nature of the roads mean I took the wrong road several times. But, I did find it, and found it locked, as is the way these days. But it was wonderful outside in the sunshine. I snapped away, only to find I had left the battery for one of my cameras, and so had to go all old school and swap lenses to get the shots I wanted.
I drove back through Dover to Tillmanstone, which was another former colliery town. The church was small and surrounded by a centuries old village. I snapped away, and as the church was once again locked, and so after getting the shots I packed up my cameras and drove home for lunch, thus saving the coast of a pub lunch.
But, although the factory was closed but the offices are open, and so Jools had to work as normal. And so we had to fight through the traffic, and now as a truck hit the railway bridge on the road to the factory, everyone now has to go through a turny twisty housing estate until the bridge is repaired. But, with the factory being closed, traffic was light, and after dropping her off I drew a deep breath and headed up to Tesco.
Friday mornings are not a bad time to go shopping, as long as it's the period before all the school kids pile in the buy 'energy' drinks. One can only imagine the scene in classrooms up and down the county as hyped up kids up to the eyeballs with caffeine causing chaos for teachers. Such is the modern life of today's teacher.
Anyway, I whisked around the store picking this and that and filling up a family sized trolley with stuff; mainly fruit, veg and breakfast cereal. We have fond a wonderful new thing called Dahl lentils, which we had for dinner last night, along with breaded pork pan fried and corn. Very nice, very easy, and doubly nice washed down with a glass of red.
Anyway, along with the fruit and veg, six weeks of cat food and cleaning stuff was overflowing the trolley, I found and empty (!) checkout and loaded the belt and then went to pack in such a way as not to damage anything.
This done it was then tricky to get it all in our little Polo and drive back home, put everything away, and finish off the pot of coffee. Addicted to caffeine? Not me!
And then back out to order two calenders from the Tesco photo-booth and then, finally, the day was mine. But left with a day of endless possibilities, I was at a loss as to know where to go, other than to take photographs.
I headed out to a small village between Dover and Folkestone called Hougham; I had seen it on a list of listed buildings, or the church is, and I wanted to photograph it.
Off the main roads here in East Kent, the lanes are narrow and twisty, to the point of being silly. Hardly room for one car to get down the road, let alone if you were to meet someone coming the other way. Anyway, with a clear blue sky above and the sun on the countryside, it was no chore as I tried to find the church, or the village in which the church is.
It should have been easy, there is a TV transmitter next to the church, several hundred feet tall, but the twisty turny nature of the roads mean I took the wrong road several times. But, I did find it, and found it locked, as is the way these days. But it was wonderful outside in the sunshine. I snapped away, only to find I had left the battery for one of my cameras, and so had to go all old school and swap lenses to get the shots I wanted.
I drove back through Dover to Tillmanstone, which was another former colliery town. The church was small and surrounded by a centuries old village. I snapped away, and as the church was once again locked, and so after getting the shots I packed up my cameras and drove home for lunch, thus saving the coast of a pub lunch.
Thursday, 3 December 2009
The Box Factor; day 2
Another day, another one without training.
I think it was something to be expected to be honest. I worked with Marting who is one of the other 'contestants' and is still angry. That I have some 'inside' information about what was supposed to be offered to us and this silly competition is something I kept to myself.
We spent the day either folding a CD jacket of turning the flap of the print to make it neat; or neatish if its me doing the turning.
Time went quite quickly, and we did some talking and laughing, but did churn out some 12,000 units, some 4,000 more than had been hoped.
But, no trials, tests have been done and so that will spin into another week. Tomorrow is a closed Friday, in that there is no production, and so we get a three day weekend, albeit with no pay, but hell, a three day weekend; what's not to like?
So, just trying to work out how to spend my extra day off; I'm guessing it may well involve photography.
I think it was something to be expected to be honest. I worked with Marting who is one of the other 'contestants' and is still angry. That I have some 'inside' information about what was supposed to be offered to us and this silly competition is something I kept to myself.
We spent the day either folding a CD jacket of turning the flap of the print to make it neat; or neatish if its me doing the turning.
Time went quite quickly, and we did some talking and laughing, but did churn out some 12,000 units, some 4,000 more than had been hoped.
But, no trials, tests have been done and so that will spin into another week. Tomorrow is a closed Friday, in that there is no production, and so we get a three day weekend, albeit with no pay, but hell, a three day weekend; what's not to like?
So, just trying to work out how to spend my extra day off; I'm guessing it may well involve photography.
Wednesday, 2 December 2009
Box Idol; day 1
So, the seven competitors entered the factory expecting it to be dog eat dog from the first bell with trials and tests at all turns.
But no; I was selected to work on the Zerox line, getting packs of ten photocopy paper boxes together, wrapping them with a mk 1 elastic band and then stacking them on a pallet. Repeat until quarter past five.
I have done something to my wrist, but at least I stuck with the job and did not feel tempted to say sod it and head down the pub for an all day sesh.
No news on when or if the real test will happen, if at all. And so it goes.
The rain has fallen all day, and the factory roof does leak, so it goes. So it goes.
At least tomorrow is the last day of the week as it is a closed Friday, and I day-dreamed all day as to how I was going to spend Friday, cameras in hand snapping away to my hearts content. And after that there is Saturday and Sunday to come.
So, just nine work hours until the weekend is to begin.
Yay!
But no; I was selected to work on the Zerox line, getting packs of ten photocopy paper boxes together, wrapping them with a mk 1 elastic band and then stacking them on a pallet. Repeat until quarter past five.
I have done something to my wrist, but at least I stuck with the job and did not feel tempted to say sod it and head down the pub for an all day sesh.
No news on when or if the real test will happen, if at all. And so it goes.
The rain has fallen all day, and the factory roof does leak, so it goes. So it goes.
At least tomorrow is the last day of the week as it is a closed Friday, and I day-dreamed all day as to how I was going to spend Friday, cameras in hand snapping away to my hearts content. And after that there is Saturday and Sunday to come.
So, just nine work hours until the weekend is to begin.
Yay!
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