So, it is Thursday, and on the downward slope towards the weekend, which looks like it will be full of painting. Which is a good thing.
Yesterday the basin and WC were taken out, and in the evening Mike, Jools’ brother, came round to fill the larger holes in the wall in preparation for plastering and skimming today. Although it doesn’t look like we’re any further forward than Tuesday, a lot of preparation work has been done, the new waste pipe for the new shower is in, and once the plaster has dried the new base will be able to be fitted and tiling can begin too, but that might be on Monday.
But there is a chance that the shower will be up and running for Monday night! And the painting should be done, as Sunday is forecast to be pouring with rain so very little reason for going out with a camera.
The previous owner had installed a hand decorated scene of the seabed on MDF around the bathroom. It was all very nice, but the board trapped damp and since removing most of it we have found many black patches of mould. The final bit of MDF was behind the radiator, which despite being hidden was still decorated, and they had mounted it and then fitted the radiator through pre-cut holes. Now, this was all well and good, only that the valve on the rad is seized in the on position, and so removing the rad was not an option. Mike found a way to remove it, though, sawing an inch at a time from the bottom until it could be slid off. Good work!
Anyway, even though it still looks like a bomb has gone off, the floorboards have been replaced, and once the plastering is done it will look better. And then there is the painting. So, all well and good.
As I mentioned a year ago at this point, my company announces its annual results via a webcast. Now, like most multinationals, it is very good at propaganda and spin, but there have to be honest with the financial results as this is released to the Danish Stock Exchange, and as last year’s results were so dire, things had to be done. And it is like turning an oil tanker round; it takes time, but the Q4 results are a massive improvement, but more needs to be done. Anyway, at least there was some good news (no further redundancies announced) amongst the news that more lean times are ahead.
And England beat Brazil last night, and not really a fluke either! A 2-1 victory with one of the England goals and the Brazil one coming from defensive errors. And the team played well, passed well which is a real pleasure to see and write about. They just have to carry that to the next World Cup qualifying games at the end of March.
Don’t Stand Me Down
Hounds of Love
A Few Small Repairs
One Mississippi
In the Heat of the Night
Rumours
Back in Black
The above four albums (I may add to that list, but not by much) are the four albums I think are pretty perfect. In fact, as I write this I realise there is one track on Hounds of Love I dislike a lot (Mother Stands for Comfort), so maybe I should take that off the list. I write this as Danny Baker is hosting a show each night on BBC 4 this week which looks at great albums.
As a music geek, freak and record collector, it may come as a surprise to learn that I am not an album fan, I buy them, and bought them by the truckload on the strength of one song and if it didn’t grab me, I won’t listen to it all or ever again. I have records, CDs and DVDs still in their wrappers, as I bought them on a whim and just haven’t found time to listen to them.
So, here is a short list of some great albums I have not sat down and listened to all the way through.
Ever.
I mean I have not heard these albums at all, all the way through.
So, every Beatles album. Every one. I have reached the grand old age of forty seven and a half without listening to a whole Beatles record. The single most popular band in history of rock and pop. A friend did burn me a copy of Revolver or something and it was on as we drove to Niagara but it didn’t sink in. So, Revolver, Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Abbey Road, Help!, Let it Be, Rubber Soul and all the ones I forgot; never listened to one of them. But I do have the Love remix album; does that count?
Didn’t think so…..
Who next? I was going to say Pink Floyd. But I have sat down and listened to all of The Wall. In fact it was one of the first records I bought. I played it once and after that just played Another Brick in the Wall and Comfortably Numb. I have never sat down and listened to Dark Side of the Moon. I’m sure I have heard it all on the radio at different times, but I have never actually listened to it.
Pet Sounds. When the Beach Boys got it right, they were wonderful. And yet for every God Only Knows there is a Sloop John B. Oh yes, Sloop John B: I hate that song with a passion. I mean I freaking hate that song. I had a music teacher in Middle School who loved it and we used to have to sing it. I hated it then, I hate it now.
Bob Dylan. I like Bob, I really do. But, even though I own one of his early records, name escapes me (see), I have not played it. It might be Highway 61 revisited. Never. Played. It. So, Blonde on Blonde, never heard that. At all.
I used to like rock. Heavy rock. But I have never heard, all the way through, any albums by: Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and the list goes on. So, on the first show of the series about great rock albums, how many of those 12 featured have I heard all the way through?
The list:
Physical Graffiti
Rumours
Crime of the Century
Dark Side of the Moon
Transformer
London Calling
Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars
Sheer Heart Attack
Hot Rats
Coliseum
In the Court of the Mountain King
We’re Only in it for the Money
The Hissing of Summer Lawns
From this list I can tell you I have only heard Rumours. I have bought it three times, and it is perfect, so I will add it to the list above.
I have not listened to any David Bowie albums released before 1983, so that’s Hunky Dory, Aladin Sane, Ziggy,. But wait a minute, I have . I have listened to one. I bought Low and and played it once. Liked it, but not enough to play it again.
London Calling. I have it, and yet have I played it all the way through? I heard ‘Police on my Back’ a few months back and I swear it was the first time I had ever heard it. So maybe it’s another unlistened purchase?
This may surprise Jools, but neither have I ever heard an album by: Elvis Costello, Squeeze, Blancmange.
Oh and the pop ones; which ones I have I listened to?
Hounds of Love
Hatful of Hollow
First Last and Always
Hunky Dory
Tanx
Desire
A Hard Days Night
There Goes Rhymin’ Simon
Court and Spark
Off the Wall
Electric Warrior
Captain Fantastic
The Ramones
We already know that I have Hounds of Love, but that is the only one form that list. And as for The Smiths: Well, I have two Smiths albums, the first one and The Queen is Dead, both played once and dismissed. Maybe I just don’t get Morrissey, or that much miserable is too much.
Jools and I look at our overloaded bookshelves and say will we ever get time to read all the books we have? Well, I now know that I will have to be listening to some of rock and pop’s most classic records to get everything in.
I think for a project this year, I will sit down and listen to some of the classic records and blog about what I think of them. For my first one it will be the Beatles. And I will listen to each album and see what I think.
Yay, I like projects….
Thursday, 7 February 2013
Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Wednesday 6th February 2013
Like many things, the experience of something is so much different to the anticipation. Take for example snow: me all love the thought of snow, but once we have to get up half an early to clear the drive just to slide and slither to work we soon are wishing for a thaw and a return to normal. And so it is with getting a new bathroom. As I now can see, the bathroom is most difficult of rooms to change; tiles to be removed, water to be turned off and finding somewhere to have a shower when yours it out of action for days on end, floorboards to be ripped up in order to follow a copper pipe and the dust as walls are rubbed down in preparation for new tiles and some new paint.
I have worked from home these past two days, so I can help with taking the old bath and shower out, and be on hand to make tea and offer advice (ha!) on what to do next or why the water hasn’t stopped coming out of the shower. Monday the bath was removed; we are not replacing this so the pipes had to be cut down below the level of the floor and capped off. The old shower base was cut out from the wall and carried to the front garden where all the other rubble and broken tiles are being stored.
Yesterday, the shower was taken off; it took three hours to find where the previous owner had hidden all the stopcocks! And once that was off the remaining tiles were taken down, the guy prepared the new shower base, and in the evening Jools and I got to rub the walls down so her brother can come round this evening to plaster.
It looks like a bomb has hit, with the floorboards exposed, bare brickwork too, but, once the plastering is done, and tomorrow when the shower base is put down it will begin to get better. The new sink and toilet will go on, and then, hopefully on Friday, the new shower tiles can be put in and the rest of the shower frame. Then, just painting and the flooring next week and it should be back to normal.
But with a new shower and all that.
Last night, after a couple of hours of rubbing the old plaster down, and a quick dinner of fish and chips, we drove to Jools’ Dad’s for a shower before getting back home in time to be able to flop down in bed and so be ready to do it all again today. I know people who build or renovate their houses do this month after month, year after year, sometimes. Rather than me, but it must bring a certain amount of satisfaction knowing you have done it all.
Or most of it.
And that is it, really. What has been happening in our world. Other than to say, the year is getting on; it is now getting light when I drive to work, and I know had it have not been cloudy this morning I would have seen the sun rising as I came out of the tunnel in Ramsgate on the way to work this morning. It is light now until after five in the evening, and there are green shoots of growth in the garden. It will soon be spring. And on the 2nd, Phil did not see a shadow, so no 6 more weeks of winter.
I have worked from home these past two days, so I can help with taking the old bath and shower out, and be on hand to make tea and offer advice (ha!) on what to do next or why the water hasn’t stopped coming out of the shower. Monday the bath was removed; we are not replacing this so the pipes had to be cut down below the level of the floor and capped off. The old shower base was cut out from the wall and carried to the front garden where all the other rubble and broken tiles are being stored.
Yesterday, the shower was taken off; it took three hours to find where the previous owner had hidden all the stopcocks! And once that was off the remaining tiles were taken down, the guy prepared the new shower base, and in the evening Jools and I got to rub the walls down so her brother can come round this evening to plaster.
It looks like a bomb has hit, with the floorboards exposed, bare brickwork too, but, once the plastering is done, and tomorrow when the shower base is put down it will begin to get better. The new sink and toilet will go on, and then, hopefully on Friday, the new shower tiles can be put in and the rest of the shower frame. Then, just painting and the flooring next week and it should be back to normal.
But with a new shower and all that.
Last night, after a couple of hours of rubbing the old plaster down, and a quick dinner of fish and chips, we drove to Jools’ Dad’s for a shower before getting back home in time to be able to flop down in bed and so be ready to do it all again today. I know people who build or renovate their houses do this month after month, year after year, sometimes. Rather than me, but it must bring a certain amount of satisfaction knowing you have done it all.
Or most of it.
And that is it, really. What has been happening in our world. Other than to say, the year is getting on; it is now getting light when I drive to work, and I know had it have not been cloudy this morning I would have seen the sun rising as I came out of the tunnel in Ramsgate on the way to work this morning. It is light now until after five in the evening, and there are green shoots of growth in the garden. It will soon be spring. And on the 2nd, Phil did not see a shadow, so no 6 more weeks of winter.
Monday, 4 February 2013
Monday 4th February 2013
It seemed such a good idea at the time, volunteer to help take the beer festival down. I mean, should be easy, shouldn't it? And all in all, it was easy enough. Thing is, with CAMRA, the typical member is of probable later-middle age, portly and serious. Anyhow, whether that is true or not it cannot be denied that most of the others who turned up were of little use other than to point out to those who could do the work what should be done.
I turned up at nine, as agreed, to find those who had arrived early treating themselves to a cup of tea. I passed and got on with the first job of taking the empty firkins down to the basement and then loading them on the dray when it arrived. And then there was the batons, planks and all the other stuff.
Now, those of you who know will appreciate I have been flying a desk for a few years now, and my hands have grown soft. In other words I am not used to manual labour, and my back certainly was complaining as I lugged another plank to the fire door. But, in due course we had moved all the heavy stuff. When we went back up the the main hall, we foud all the trestle tables had been cleared away, along with the chairs; the floors had been swept and mopped and so there was little else to do, other than to bid my farewell to those who remained to load cars with unsold glasses and programs.
So back home for a cuppa and a stretch on the sofa to give my back a break. Later on in the afternoon, I decided that what my back needed was more exercise, so I got on the cross trainer and give my back something to really complain about. It wasn't really that bad, but using my back will be the only thing that will make it stronger and in the end, me be in less pain.
Mummy's little soldier. Or Airman.
Anyway, I do know that sitting around waiting for the back pain to go does not work, and only exercise will make the muscles (what I have) stronger and stop the disc i have from bulging.
Today was day 1 of operation bathroom. Operation bathroom is the plan for us to have all the MDF, worn out carpet and tired fittings ripped out and replaced. And so at nine a man with a van and a lot of tools turned up and began to remove the fittings. Jools and I had spent last night taking out the old shower and removing lots of tiles from the walls. It was hard work, but worth it for when our lovely new tiles will make it.
So, as the day went on, the 'innovations' of the house's previous owner became clearer, and his unusual methods. However, by five, the old shower pedestal is out, the bath is out and old pipes have been capped and hidden away. It looks like a bomb has hit it, but by the end of tomorrow, the new toilet and basin will be in, and the walls will have been plastered.
Oh and one last thing, the body of Richard II has been identified. I'll say that again: the last Plantagenet King of England, the last English monarch killed in battle and someone to whom history has not been kind. Most of what we know is from Shakespeare, written in Tudor times, the very house under who was to become Henry VII who was Richard's foe in the Battle of Bosworth. It is an astounding thing that his remains have been discovered, and an infamous figure from history now seems so much more real and closer.
I turned up at nine, as agreed, to find those who had arrived early treating themselves to a cup of tea. I passed and got on with the first job of taking the empty firkins down to the basement and then loading them on the dray when it arrived. And then there was the batons, planks and all the other stuff.
Now, those of you who know will appreciate I have been flying a desk for a few years now, and my hands have grown soft. In other words I am not used to manual labour, and my back certainly was complaining as I lugged another plank to the fire door. But, in due course we had moved all the heavy stuff. When we went back up the the main hall, we foud all the trestle tables had been cleared away, along with the chairs; the floors had been swept and mopped and so there was little else to do, other than to bid my farewell to those who remained to load cars with unsold glasses and programs.
So back home for a cuppa and a stretch on the sofa to give my back a break. Later on in the afternoon, I decided that what my back needed was more exercise, so I got on the cross trainer and give my back something to really complain about. It wasn't really that bad, but using my back will be the only thing that will make it stronger and in the end, me be in less pain.
Mummy's little soldier. Or Airman.
Anyway, I do know that sitting around waiting for the back pain to go does not work, and only exercise will make the muscles (what I have) stronger and stop the disc i have from bulging.
Today was day 1 of operation bathroom. Operation bathroom is the plan for us to have all the MDF, worn out carpet and tired fittings ripped out and replaced. And so at nine a man with a van and a lot of tools turned up and began to remove the fittings. Jools and I had spent last night taking out the old shower and removing lots of tiles from the walls. It was hard work, but worth it for when our lovely new tiles will make it.
So, as the day went on, the 'innovations' of the house's previous owner became clearer, and his unusual methods. However, by five, the old shower pedestal is out, the bath is out and old pipes have been capped and hidden away. It looks like a bomb has hit it, but by the end of tomorrow, the new toilet and basin will be in, and the walls will have been plastered.
Oh and one last thing, the body of Richard II has been identified. I'll say that again: the last Plantagenet King of England, the last English monarch killed in battle and someone to whom history has not been kind. Most of what we know is from Shakespeare, written in Tudor times, the very house under who was to become Henry VII who was Richard's foe in the Battle of Bosworth. It is an astounding thing that his remains have been discovered, and an infamous figure from history now seems so much more real and closer.
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Sunday 3rd February 2013
And welcome to Sunday afternoon. The thing about getting a new bathroom, or the best thing about getting a new bathroom is when its all finished, the dust has settled and been swept up and life goes on as normal. Until that point all is dust and disruption up to that point. The real work is due to begin in the morning when the plumber comes in to removed the old stuff and put in the new shower and all that stuff. We have ripped off tiles, the MDF undersea scene which was all round the bathroom. All is now faded and peeling paint.
In preparation for the new bathroom, or bathroom 2.0 as we're not calling it, hem, we had to go and get some new fittings. And the ones we saw we liked were in Ikea. Ikea; a name to chill the heart. What can be so bad about a furniture store? Well, it's the pretension of it all. There are new stories of people fighting before new stores opened, and people fighting over items on sale.
So, we were there when the store opened, poised when we were allowed into the actual shop itself rather than just look at the displays, got our stuff and headed for the checkouts. And walked and walked and walked. The store goes on forever. Then you reach the escalators, you think you're nearly out. But you have to go through the furniture racks. Round and round we went, and all the time the signs promising the checkouts were this way.
In the end we did reach the checkouts, queued to pay, went through and other canteen past more vending machines and then we saw the sunlight. Free at last, free at last.
Ikea is at Lakeside in Essex; a huge shopping centre just north of the Dartford crossing. It is modern shopping to the max; all circular dual carriageways, massive car parks and huge shops. It is hateful. As we left the car parks were filling up, and we seeked the quiet of the countryside.
Our plan was to head to Bradwell on sea, where there is a very old church standing on the remains of a Roman fort overlooking the Essex saltmarshes. And if we happen to see any interesting churches on the way, well, we could stop off. Once we drove off the A13, we headed into deepest Essex, and to the left I spotted a small white steeple on the crest of a hill. We turned off the road we were on, and headed up Church Lane to Ss Mary and Margaret, Stowe Marie.
And for a change, the church was unlocked, and inside it was a delight. I took my shots and left a donation. We set off through the village and onto Cold Norton; always on the lookout for a sign for a church, we spotted one pointing to St Lawrence and turned off one more. Out of the village along a low ridge stands the small church. I park up and head inside to find the two wardens cleaning the church and refreshing the flowers. I was the second visitor that morning, and they were thrilled and made sure i signed the visitor's book.
On the road again, and we were running out of land as we headed towards the Blackwater estuary and Bradwell. In the bright sunlight, we passed a sandy coloured church made of recycled stones looking wonderful in the warm winter sun. The village was called Steeple, and so I could not pass the chance to photograph Steeple steeple!
And onwards we go, through Bradwell and out onto the marshes. We reached the car park, get our coats and wrap up warm as the wind was keen and cold. Along a track about a mile long, we came to the church, St Peter on the Wall, standing alone and looking out to sea. The church was begun in AD 654 and built from stones from the Roman fort that used to stand here, and it is pretty much unchanged.
I try the door, push it open, only to find a full church in the middle of a service! The last thing i would have expected. We walked to the seawall, looked out over the saltflats and open water to the huge windfarm on the horizon. The flight everchanging over the landscape was enchanting, but the wind was cooling us down. We waited to see if the service was going to end; it didn't, and so we walked back to the car and then drove back to Bradwell village to stop at The Kings Head for a warm pint of ale and lunch. We both had fried haddock and chips, which was rather good.
On the way back to Dartford, we stopped at another couple of churches, both were locked. And soon we were back amongst the heavy traffic of the A13 heading into London. We turned onto the M25, over the bridge and through the tolls and back into Kent. And from there it was just an hour blast down the M20 back to Dover and home. On the radio we listened as Norwich drew 0-0 with QPR and so are another point nearer safety, but it is glacial pace at the moment.
In preparation for the new bathroom, or bathroom 2.0 as we're not calling it, hem, we had to go and get some new fittings. And the ones we saw we liked were in Ikea. Ikea; a name to chill the heart. What can be so bad about a furniture store? Well, it's the pretension of it all. There are new stories of people fighting before new stores opened, and people fighting over items on sale.
So, we were there when the store opened, poised when we were allowed into the actual shop itself rather than just look at the displays, got our stuff and headed for the checkouts. And walked and walked and walked. The store goes on forever. Then you reach the escalators, you think you're nearly out. But you have to go through the furniture racks. Round and round we went, and all the time the signs promising the checkouts were this way.
In the end we did reach the checkouts, queued to pay, went through and other canteen past more vending machines and then we saw the sunlight. Free at last, free at last.
Ikea is at Lakeside in Essex; a huge shopping centre just north of the Dartford crossing. It is modern shopping to the max; all circular dual carriageways, massive car parks and huge shops. It is hateful. As we left the car parks were filling up, and we seeked the quiet of the countryside.
Our plan was to head to Bradwell on sea, where there is a very old church standing on the remains of a Roman fort overlooking the Essex saltmarshes. And if we happen to see any interesting churches on the way, well, we could stop off. Once we drove off the A13, we headed into deepest Essex, and to the left I spotted a small white steeple on the crest of a hill. We turned off the road we were on, and headed up Church Lane to Ss Mary and Margaret, Stowe Marie.
And for a change, the church was unlocked, and inside it was a delight. I took my shots and left a donation. We set off through the village and onto Cold Norton; always on the lookout for a sign for a church, we spotted one pointing to St Lawrence and turned off one more. Out of the village along a low ridge stands the small church. I park up and head inside to find the two wardens cleaning the church and refreshing the flowers. I was the second visitor that morning, and they were thrilled and made sure i signed the visitor's book.
On the road again, and we were running out of land as we headed towards the Blackwater estuary and Bradwell. In the bright sunlight, we passed a sandy coloured church made of recycled stones looking wonderful in the warm winter sun. The village was called Steeple, and so I could not pass the chance to photograph Steeple steeple!
And onwards we go, through Bradwell and out onto the marshes. We reached the car park, get our coats and wrap up warm as the wind was keen and cold. Along a track about a mile long, we came to the church, St Peter on the Wall, standing alone and looking out to sea. The church was begun in AD 654 and built from stones from the Roman fort that used to stand here, and it is pretty much unchanged.
I try the door, push it open, only to find a full church in the middle of a service! The last thing i would have expected. We walked to the seawall, looked out over the saltflats and open water to the huge windfarm on the horizon. The flight everchanging over the landscape was enchanting, but the wind was cooling us down. We waited to see if the service was going to end; it didn't, and so we walked back to the car and then drove back to Bradwell village to stop at The Kings Head for a warm pint of ale and lunch. We both had fried haddock and chips, which was rather good.
On the way back to Dartford, we stopped at another couple of churches, both were locked. And soon we were back amongst the heavy traffic of the A13 heading into London. We turned onto the M25, over the bridge and through the tolls and back into Kent. And from there it was just an hour blast down the M20 back to Dover and home. On the radio we listened as Norwich drew 0-0 with QPR and so are another point nearer safety, but it is glacial pace at the moment.
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Saturday 2nd February 2013
And those of you with sharp eyes will notice my mistake in the previous entry, in that it was the 21st of the year, THIS is the 22nd. That apart, the previous blog is all true, as is this one. Honest.
Thursday was a day of non-stop excitement when those of us who love football still glued to our TV and ears to the radio as the millionaires and lesser lights of football jostle for a move or not on what is transfer deadline day. This, the transfer window opens for the whole month of January, where teams can freshen up their squads. They have 31 days, and yet most teams wait until the final hours of the 31st to even start.
I won't bore you with the details other than to say City signed another Leeds player to bolster our numbers as we head into the run in. We were priced out of another couple of buys, and yet the fans are restless as they think we are being unambitious. Truth is buying players we could not afford, could not afford to pay and were poor buys as they were nearer the end of their careers than the start. So, ambition with caution is the watchword and we won't upset the bank manager.
Hopefully.
So, I sat up until half eleven watching the updates on the BBC website as the deals came and went. and a wee malt helped me see the action, or inaction unfold.
Friday was the first of the month, and the opening day of the Dover beer Festival.
Yay, beer.
First thing was wait for the delivery of our new shower. And we were woken up at seven for the driver to tell us he would be with us at a quarter past eight. And that is when they turned up. The brought three big boxes in, would not take them upstairs, or unpack them. We signed for the items and added them to the good now filling up our living room. The action is due to begin on Monday morning where a guy with a hammer and a spanner is due to take out or old shower, sink and bath.
Jools dropped me off in Dover town centre, I did some chores then went and queued up to gain a nice early entry to the festival when the doors opened at one. I ambitiously bought tokens for seven pints and went to select my first beer of the afternoon. I met up with an old friend and we talked and drank the afternoon away.
By about half three things get a little bit hazy. What I do know is that I called up jools and she collected me at about quarter past four and took me home where I went straight to bed and slept for four hours. I woke up in time for Jools to be coming back inside with a bag full of curry which I washed down with another pint and then it was time for bed.
Again.
Thursday was a day of non-stop excitement when those of us who love football still glued to our TV and ears to the radio as the millionaires and lesser lights of football jostle for a move or not on what is transfer deadline day. This, the transfer window opens for the whole month of January, where teams can freshen up their squads. They have 31 days, and yet most teams wait until the final hours of the 31st to even start.
I won't bore you with the details other than to say City signed another Leeds player to bolster our numbers as we head into the run in. We were priced out of another couple of buys, and yet the fans are restless as they think we are being unambitious. Truth is buying players we could not afford, could not afford to pay and were poor buys as they were nearer the end of their careers than the start. So, ambition with caution is the watchword and we won't upset the bank manager.
Hopefully.
So, I sat up until half eleven watching the updates on the BBC website as the deals came and went. and a wee malt helped me see the action, or inaction unfold.
Friday was the first of the month, and the opening day of the Dover beer Festival.
Yay, beer.
First thing was wait for the delivery of our new shower. And we were woken up at seven for the driver to tell us he would be with us at a quarter past eight. And that is when they turned up. The brought three big boxes in, would not take them upstairs, or unpack them. We signed for the items and added them to the good now filling up our living room. The action is due to begin on Monday morning where a guy with a hammer and a spanner is due to take out or old shower, sink and bath.
Jools dropped me off in Dover town centre, I did some chores then went and queued up to gain a nice early entry to the festival when the doors opened at one. I ambitiously bought tokens for seven pints and went to select my first beer of the afternoon. I met up with an old friend and we talked and drank the afternoon away.
By about half three things get a little bit hazy. What I do know is that I called up jools and she collected me at about quarter past four and took me home where I went straight to bed and slept for four hours. I woke up in time for Jools to be coming back inside with a bag full of curry which I washed down with another pint and then it was time for bed.
Again.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Thursday 31st January 2013
As you may have noticed, I am trying to write a bit more this year. And so, I believe, this is my 22nd blog of the year. Why? I don’t know. I guess when I look at years gone by, sometimes there are gaps of up to 10 days between posts. And I know if I don’t write for a few days what happened the day before gets forgotten. Not that I am saying I am missing writing something earth-shattering that is going to change your life, nor do I have any insight into the human condition. No, it just a window into our life, and my trials and tribulations in the world of wind turbines.
Here’s something. I thought I was the only person with my name, but there is a second. He lives in Sussex or somewhere like that, and apart from tweeting he blogs too. So, yesterday I read his blog, and turned out he had a bad year, was made redundant and being messed around with various job agencies. This dragged on for a year, and reading his words I realised how easy it could have been me. He has not written since November when he was talking about depression; needless to say I hope he did find work and is in a happier place. I guess it shows how close we are to having our lives turned upside down by a bean-counter somewhere up the management chain who for no reason sees us as an un-necessary expense that should be terminated.
In fact, our big financial announcement is due next week; 2012’s Q4 results and where we are for the new year. Every announcement brings the need for more redundancies and more changes. I guess this year will be little different. My new boss has been unavailable all week, so is it all linked, or not? Whatever happens, we will roll with the punches and survive to fight another day.
60 years ago today, this very evening, a massive depression coupled with a strong north wind and an exceptionally high tide joined together to cause the worst floods in Eastern England all the way to Kent and in Holland. 1836 were killed in Holland, 307 in England, 28 in Belgium and 19 in Scotland. It was a thing of legend when I was growing up, those that lived through it told of their stories of escapes. My English teacher got home by walking over the railway bridge as the road bridge in Oulton road was under water. My Dad, who was 14 years old, kept a great scrapbook which I was unable to find when I was last at my Mum’s. I shall look when I go up next time, if I can. I guess the reason for all this looking back is that the lessons of the past are easily forgotten, money is cut from the repair or building of sea defences, the decades go by and no flooding happens, so we forget. And in the meantime, we build more and more houses in low-lying areas and flood plains and more and more houses get flooded more and more often.
Here’s something. I thought I was the only person with my name, but there is a second. He lives in Sussex or somewhere like that, and apart from tweeting he blogs too. So, yesterday I read his blog, and turned out he had a bad year, was made redundant and being messed around with various job agencies. This dragged on for a year, and reading his words I realised how easy it could have been me. He has not written since November when he was talking about depression; needless to say I hope he did find work and is in a happier place. I guess it shows how close we are to having our lives turned upside down by a bean-counter somewhere up the management chain who for no reason sees us as an un-necessary expense that should be terminated.
In fact, our big financial announcement is due next week; 2012’s Q4 results and where we are for the new year. Every announcement brings the need for more redundancies and more changes. I guess this year will be little different. My new boss has been unavailable all week, so is it all linked, or not? Whatever happens, we will roll with the punches and survive to fight another day.
60 years ago today, this very evening, a massive depression coupled with a strong north wind and an exceptionally high tide joined together to cause the worst floods in Eastern England all the way to Kent and in Holland. 1836 were killed in Holland, 307 in England, 28 in Belgium and 19 in Scotland. It was a thing of legend when I was growing up, those that lived through it told of their stories of escapes. My English teacher got home by walking over the railway bridge as the road bridge in Oulton road was under water. My Dad, who was 14 years old, kept a great scrapbook which I was unable to find when I was last at my Mum’s. I shall look when I go up next time, if I can. I guess the reason for all this looking back is that the lessons of the past are easily forgotten, money is cut from the repair or building of sea defences, the decades go by and no flooding happens, so we forget. And in the meantime, we build more and more houses in low-lying areas and flood plains and more and more houses get flooded more and more often.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Wednesday 30th January 2013
I don’t have the hardest commute in the world, I’ll be honest with you. At times I do grumble when there is a tractor in the way slowing me down, but for the most part it’s a clear run and I can get from Dover to the office in less than half an hour.
What I do like is the first morning back at work after being away, and getting in the car, turning on Radio 4 and just driving along looking at how the countryside has changed and, this week, how much lighter it was than last time I did the trip. Sometimes its these small details that make the difference.
So, it was back to work this week, and waiting for me on my desk was the new mobile phone I ordered after I foolishly told my new boss that I couldn’t check e mails whilst on the move as I didn’t qualify for a ‘smart’ phone. Me and my big mouth. Anyway, it has taken a full two days to synch my e mail with the phone and change the code on it that the phone likes. In the end I chose something that was easy to remember, the number of an A4 pacific after it been renumbered by BR.
Yesterday, I worked from home. I could have gone into the office, but given the choice, working from home wins every time. By a quarter to ten, I was hungry, looking in the fridge I saw eggs and bread. So, a simple choice for a snack was fried eggs on fried bread coupled with a huge cup of tea. Win!
As usual, I had to deal with the demands and whims of the three cats who, clearly, could not find their bowls of food, despite them being in exactly the same place they normally are to be found! Oh well.
The afternoon was enlivened by the delivery of the two CDs I have had on order; the expanded versions of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and 2112. The cats did not seem to appreciate Rush, and Molly sat on the sofa with her ears flat against her head, meaning she was pretty unhappy with all the noise. But she did not leave her space on the sofa.
I have been back on the cross-trainer for about a month now, on and off, and have done three sessions already this week, and despite my back grumbling about it, I am feeling the benefit, and in truth my back seems to be better this morning. So, onwards and upwards.
One final thing: It crossed my mind that this month is the 15th anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s death. She outlived her only son, my Dad, by21 months and spent it in pretty bad health, ending up in a care home as her body failed her at the age of 97. We always thought she would live to get her telegram, maybe she would have done if Dad had lived; who knows? She had her full faculties until the end, and with her on her death bed, I travelled up from Wiltshire to see her, for one last time. She was weak and could not see much, she smiled when she knew it was me. How are you feeling, I asked. With my hands, she replied. Still fighting.
Her answer has become a joke between Jools and me, but it is how I remember Nannie. Well, 15 years has passed in a blink of an eye…….
What I do like is the first morning back at work after being away, and getting in the car, turning on Radio 4 and just driving along looking at how the countryside has changed and, this week, how much lighter it was than last time I did the trip. Sometimes its these small details that make the difference.
So, it was back to work this week, and waiting for me on my desk was the new mobile phone I ordered after I foolishly told my new boss that I couldn’t check e mails whilst on the move as I didn’t qualify for a ‘smart’ phone. Me and my big mouth. Anyway, it has taken a full two days to synch my e mail with the phone and change the code on it that the phone likes. In the end I chose something that was easy to remember, the number of an A4 pacific after it been renumbered by BR.
Yesterday, I worked from home. I could have gone into the office, but given the choice, working from home wins every time. By a quarter to ten, I was hungry, looking in the fridge I saw eggs and bread. So, a simple choice for a snack was fried eggs on fried bread coupled with a huge cup of tea. Win!
As usual, I had to deal with the demands and whims of the three cats who, clearly, could not find their bowls of food, despite them being in exactly the same place they normally are to be found! Oh well.
The afternoon was enlivened by the delivery of the two CDs I have had on order; the expanded versions of Searching for the Young Soul Rebels and 2112. The cats did not seem to appreciate Rush, and Molly sat on the sofa with her ears flat against her head, meaning she was pretty unhappy with all the noise. But she did not leave her space on the sofa.
I have been back on the cross-trainer for about a month now, on and off, and have done three sessions already this week, and despite my back grumbling about it, I am feeling the benefit, and in truth my back seems to be better this morning. So, onwards and upwards.
One final thing: It crossed my mind that this month is the 15th anniversary of my paternal grandmother’s death. She outlived her only son, my Dad, by21 months and spent it in pretty bad health, ending up in a care home as her body failed her at the age of 97. We always thought she would live to get her telegram, maybe she would have done if Dad had lived; who knows? She had her full faculties until the end, and with her on her death bed, I travelled up from Wiltshire to see her, for one last time. She was weak and could not see much, she smiled when she knew it was me. How are you feeling, I asked. With my hands, she replied. Still fighting.
Her answer has become a joke between Jools and me, but it is how I remember Nannie. Well, 15 years has passed in a blink of an eye…….
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