Action

Today I took some positive action about our mini-crimewave and wrote a long letter to the guy in charge of security at the factory behind us to say "hey, what are doing about it" basically. Also wrote to our local Councillor to get him on board and doing something hopefully. I have also gleened the email addresses of our neighbours so hopefully we can start up a little email group to keep each other informed on what is going on.

Our security light is now up and in operation - trouble is when you are laying in bed trying to sleep the thing keeps pinging on and then you are listening like a hawk for the slightest noise outside. Not exactly condusive to sleep but hopefully it will help a bit with our crime prevention measures.

This evening was beautiful and sunny and we sat outside eating our tea which was bliss after so long being hemmed indoors because of the rain.

Peter came back with some freebies from work - a work colleague was chucking out (yes, chucking out!) an MP3 player and a canvas bag. Some people are so wasteful you know.

Every Cloud ..............

This morning at 12.50am our fears were confirmed. I was woken up by the sound of someone trying to get through our garden gate. I looked out of the bedroom window and saw one bloke keeping look-out by our bins and I could hear the other trying to force our gate. I immediately woke Peter and we charged downstairs and threw open the front door - but too late they had scarpered. Not the wisest move really but when you are bl**dy angry you just want to confront the b**s**ds.

We called the Police and reported it and Peter managed to flag down a patrol car at the end of the road so I did the whole witness statement thing. We were told that the factory behind us (just over our wall) uses a large amount of copper to make its' products and this is what the thieves are after as it has shot up in value due to high demand in Asia.

Peter stayed off work today and my dad came over to fit a security light for us. When I got back from work we went and got a very heavy new padlock and chain for the gate (the previous one having been taken by the Police with the criminals bolt croppers attached!). We then went around all our immediate neighbours to warn them and their universal response was "we know, it has been happening to us since mid June and on numerous occasions". We had a mixture of emotions on hearing this - a bit of relief that it wasn't just 'us' and concern that it is so prolific. A lot of our neighbours have raised their fences, fitted security lights, installed CCTV and STILL they are getting these scumbags coming through their gardens.

Anyway, we got to meet a few of the neighbours that we hadn't spoken to before and we now have their phone numbers if we see anything untoward. The neighbours don't have much faith in the Police or the Company that owns the factory but we're not going to leave it at that so watch this space! Tomorrow I'm going to get in touch with the factory owners, our local Councillor and the local Crime Prevention Officer to try and get some action.

Worrying times but, at the end of the day, we felt a bit more reassured knowing that we have a group of neighbours around us all watching out for each other.

Parents, Pomme and Sunshine

Got up early this morning to do some tidying before mum and dad arrived. Peter meanwhile was digging up our potato crop and jolly impressive they are too - we have quite a sack load which will more than see us through to autumn and perhaps winter.

Mum and dad turned up at 9.30am - dad complete with tool kit - and he and Peter started work on our gate which is now fortified. Whilst this was going on mum and I did some much needed weeding.

I then cooked lunch - dad had a hankering for packet mash potato, so I cooked sausages in onion gravy and mash. Mum and dad, the workaholics they are, mowed and strimmed most of our lawn whilst I was doing this and Peter started to clean up our spuds ready for storing in the shed.

Mum and dad stayed for part of the afternoon and read the papers and I gave mum a bit of Internet training. When they'd gone I sat in the garden for a bit and caught some sun (yes, real hot sun what a revelation!).

Tonight Peter and I are going to have a delicious pizza tea and watch the new Griff Rhys Jones series 'Mountain' which looks great. Peter said he might even have a wee dram of the whisky he won yesterday - we know how to live dangerously you know!

It's been a grand weekend :-)

The Show

Today was the day of the St Mary Bourne Show. On the way over to mum and dad's we called into Andover and picked up a tapestry frame and wools for free for mum from a guy who had advertised it on http://www.freecycle.org/. Peter and I got to mum and dad's place at around 8.30am and headed over to the recreation ground at around 9.00am to put our entries in - I put in some shortbread, mum put in flowers, veg and a photograph and my brother's kids put in some handicrafts. Saw loads of people I knew from my past time of living in the village whilst mooching around the tent. We then headed back to parent's place for lunch. The show started at 2.00pm so we headed back then to check on the prize situation and to enjoy the rest of the attractions. Mum and dad won some prizes for their flowers and veg, Amy and Jo (brother's children won 1st and 3rd respectively in their handicraft) but no luck for me in the shortbread - the competition was just too steep!

Peter bought a stack of bargain books from the book stall and we also picked up a couple of plants. Peter also won 2 bottles of wine in the tombola, a bottle of whisky in the bottle draw AND a coconut on the coconut shy! We sat down for a bit and hand a pint of beer near to the cow pat bingo - luckily the wind wasn't blowing in our direction!

The weather held off and I really enjoyed the day - it's like an annual tradition that the family goes along to and long may it continue...................

We headed back to mum and dad's for tea and to load our car up with the following: a heavy mesh which is going to be fitted to our garden gate to make it more secure, a standard lamp and shade that mum and dad are getting rid of, all our prizes and some wooden posts. It was a really tight squeeze getting it all in and we drove home totally illegally with bits of wood poking up between us over the handbrake and with my chair so far forward my nose was almost on the windscreen. Anyway, we made it back ok despite seeing a Police car!

During the evening we watched a film that my dad had lent us - more his taste than mine I have to say but it was nice to relax on the sofa and watch a film with Peter after a busy day.

Couple of Days

Whoop's didn't blog yesterday - slapped wrist!

Things at work have calmed down a bit and gradually most of the admin staff who were 'at risk' are being slotted into roles - albeit very different ones in some cases. Things are still very raw and there are still a steady stream of people leaving but at least people are starting to 'know' where they stand now - the uncertainty has been one of the hardest things to bear.

As for me, I'm still here sitting on the fence. A job I had a second interview for I decided wasn't for me (not enough money and I would be too isolated in the office in which I would be working I felt) so my plan is to see what happens here whilst keeping an eye open. I will be getting a new colleague soon as Carol is retiring so a lot depends on our compatibility I guess - it is so important, in the small part of the office that I work in, so I hope they chose the right person.

The sun is shinning today which makes such a difference to my outlook. Tonight I have to do some baking for the village fete we are going to tomorrow and it looks like it might be fine enough for us to tackle our long grass again :-). Hopefully we will get some garden relaxation in too :-)

Tea on the Terrace (2)

More pics from yesterday!

Pictures from the Tea Party

Here are two pic's from yesterday's wonderful 'tea on the terrace' at Lainstone House.

In Search of Semolina

Went into Sainsbury’s this morning to look for some ingredients for some food I am preparing for the Village Fete this weekend. I have decided to make flapjacks and shortbread (nothing too challenging!). Anyway the ingredients for my recipe of shortbread include semolina (not something we normally have in the cupboards at home you understand) so I was at Sainsers at 7.00am and was combing the store for about half an hour before I gave in and asked a member of staff who annoyingly located it in an aisle I had been up and down numerous times – don’t you just hate it when that happens!

Lost 1lb at Weight Watchers this evening - hoorah!

Peter was at band tonight and I was pooped so just read the papers and watched telly - tried to watch all of Wire in the Blood but failed to see the end due to nodding off as usual.

Tea on the Terrace

Today was a much better day than yesterday - it could hardly have been worse could it?

Anyway, the sun has shone all day which really lifted my spirits and I got through the work day ok.

This afternoon, at 4.30pm, most of the Central Services admin team (21 one of us - all women) went to Lainston House (www.lainstonhouse.com) - which is a beautiful country house - to treat our wonderful Central Services Manager, Bridget, to high tea on the terrace. The place is just beautiful and looking out from the terrace your eye is drawn to a very long lawn bordered each side by rows of mature trees (you could just imagine the horse drawn carriages galloping up towards the house in the olden days- very Jane Austen). We had the most amazing tea of dainty sandwiches and gorgeous cakes and scones with home made jam and clotted cream - oh dear not exactly diet food but it was a special occasion.

We gave Bridget some gifts including some fun ones with a photograph of the whole team superimposed onto a key ring, tea towel and mouse mat. She truly won't be allowed to forget us!

Got home around 7pm and sat in the garden with Peter for a while which was nice.

All in all a good day - hoorah!

Miserable Monday

Why is it that Monday’s are a total disaster in my life at the moment? Last Monday was dreadful and so is this one. When I woke up this morning I wasn’t feeling too good and felt decidedly giddy when I got out of bed so I did consider staying home – now I wish I had!.

Peter called up the stairs to hi-light a problem we have with the house – I’m not going to blog about it as it’s too sensitive – but something has happened that is a big worry for us.

Mid-way through the morning at work a close work associate got a call from the mother of her son’s girlfriend to say that he (the son) had attacked her daughter. This situation has been building for weeks and involves lots of different elements – not least a young child, debt, an affair and cannabis – so she truly is having a terrible time of it and has had to rush home to try and ease the situation.

Everything seems to be so grim at the moment – it’s just one worry after another and what with the weather and the news being full of people's suffering with the current flooding (poor souls) it makes everything seem even grimmer.

Something good has got to happen soon.................. apart from anything else I'm fed up with writing moany blogs - although I do find it cathartic.

Film, Gardening, Veg and Victor Meldrew

Bit of a topsy turvey day today - I was really decadent this morning and tuned into a film and slobbed out in front of the TV. It was a film I've been wanting to see for ages as I usually like Kate Winslett films - it was Little Children which I thought was brilliant. Much darker than I had been expecting and, in one or two places, really disturbing but I was totally gripped. Set in the American suburbs, Sarah (Kate) is a housewife with a small child who dreams of something more - she discovers her husband indulging in internet porn and that pushes their already shaky marriage to the brink. Across town Brad is a house husband who has twice failed his bar exam and like Sarah thinks there must be something more to life, he has a young son and a stunning, if distant, wife. Sarah and Brad meet at the park and so starts a friendship that slowly turns into something more. Running parallel is a sub-plot concerning a newly released paedophile who returns to the area to live with his mother and whose life connects with Sarah and Brad in various ways. The film is keenly observed and avoids being over sentimental and instead hi-lights the messiness and heart ache of the affair. Go buy it / rent it -it's well worth a watch.

Late morning the sun was shining so we both got out into the garden to do some much needed weeding. Peter also pulled up one lot of potatoes to see what they were like and they are beautiful - so much better than last year's specimens. We also picked our broad beans which we'll eat tonight.

This afternoon I've been planning what entries I am going to put in next weekend's flower show in the village where I grew up. I've decided upon scones, flapjacks, vitoria sponge and shortbread. Peter is going to put in some photography.

It rained again this afternoon so we scuttled inside and stuck on UK TV gold which had back to back episodes of One Foot in the Grave which we sort of got sucked into watching - it's pure class that show!

Peter has now shot off to Sainsburys to belatedly get the papers (if they have any left) and I'd better get on with some housework now...................

Rain, Parents and Perfume

Weather forecast was grim for today but when Peter left on his bike to go down town there was a clear blue sky and sunshine. However come mid morning the skies darkened and the heavens opened - I imagined that Peter would come back any minute soaked to the skin. However, he turned up a couple of hours later reasonably dry as he'd taken refuse in the library while the storm passed. He'd come back with the papers (which he'd managed to get from Smiths without being trampled by Potter fans!), some bananas we needed and some yummy chocolate coated hunny combe off the sweet stall (naughty but nice).

We had a big disappointment today. I think I blogged recently that I'd won two train tickets in a magazine competition. Well, on 13 July I emailed the competition (as they had requested) and told them we'd like to travel to London on Sunday 22 July (to go to Tate Modern) - this gave them the 5 days notice they required to send the tickets. On Friday this week I got an email to say the tickets had been sent - I said to Peter that I hoped they hadn't left it until Friday to post them out as first class post isn't exactly reliable at the moment. Anyway Postie came this morning and there were no tickets, so now we can't go - very disappointing indeed. I've emailed them back and requested another date but they may decline as you have to travel within a month of winning and we now can't because of other weekend commitments coming up and our holiday - I just hope they will issue a ticket for after our hols.

This afternoon I found myself nodding off on the sofa (what is wrong with me? Must be the weather). Anyway, there was no use fighting it so went off to bed for a nap - just as I was nodding off I heard the door bell ring - Peter was downstairs and ignored it (as we always do if we aren't expecting anyone as it's usually sales people or religion converters). Anyway, the doorbell rang again and I heard the window being tapped - it was my parents making a surprise visit. It was nice to see them but I do wish they'd ring ahead as I was half asleep and looking a mess and the front room was a tip which I think they noticed! Anyway, Peter had the tea on the go by the time I made it downstairs and we had a nice chat. Dad is shopping for cars and the amount of choice is doing his head in - he also has an immaculate saloon Passat (and I mean immaculate) which only has about 20,000 on the clock and is less than 3 years old and he is getting truly terrible trade in quotes from garages of £4,000 (for a car that originally cost over £20,000). I'm trying to persuade him to sell it to us (in instalments of course!!) but he reckons he wouldn't be doing us any favours because of the lower fuel consumption and the fact that it isn't a hatch back (something that would be a slight problem for us given the amount of stuff we are always lugging in the boot). Anyway, my argument that there is no way we'd be able to afford a car of that calibre normally and our one has gone past 90,000 miles now. I have bought two of dad's previous cars from him which has been the only reason I have been able to have a decent car - so I'll just have to wait and see if he 'caves' and we can do a deal.

Miraculously our Sky Box office came back on line today - they have finally fixed it after me spending over £6.00 on phone calls trying to resolve it and then sending us a back dated bill of £40 as they'd never bothered to bill us before! Anyway we decided to watch Perfume: Story of a Murderer and it was fantastic - the sets of 17th century France were out of this world and there was a narration guiding the story which made it feel like watching a very dark Grimms fairy tale, the actors were extremely well cast BUT the ending is bizarre and really let the whole film down. As I'm only part way through the book I don't know if they kept the ending faithful but the beginning certainly was very faithful to the book so I guess they must have; in which case you can probably forgive the film makers. I still wouldn't hesitate recommending it as it really is such a feast for the senses (although smelly vision hasn't been inented yet you really do feel like you can smell the aromas in the film).

Rain and a Surprise Email

The forecast had predicted that it was going to be rain today and they weren't wrong - it has been tipping it down big time since we woke up. I'm a bit concerned that Wales is going to be particularly hit today as our holiday destination, the Wye Valley, which borders Wales is prone to flooding apparently. There's a few weeks to go yet until we go but this weather has got to improve by then hasn't it ?????????

In the last week I've noticed that the slugs that plague our garden have started to think it is a good idea to slime their way up our glass patio doors - there were two stuck on them this morning which Peter bravely went and hooked off and salted them to death.

I took Peter to the Station as the rain was so atrocious so ended up in work a bit earlier than planned but, no matter, it's nice to start off the day with hardly anyone in the building when it's quiet and I can make myself a leisurely cup of coffee.

I had an unexpected email from my brother enclosing some pictures of my niece, Amy, who was 3 the other day which was a very nice surprise. My brother and the children are down this way next weekend so I'm looking forward to seeing them then.

Above is a picture of Amy opening the present of 'Paddington Bear' books I got her. She looks really pleased with them I think!

Papers and Caves

Both bosses were out today so just myself and Carol in the office which was nice. We did a fair bit of talking, mostly about our jobs and our aspirations for the future ................. all deep stuff!

I managed to leave a few minutes early which meant I could call in at a Post Office to post an Ebay parcel off. I had been just about to file some bad feedback for this customer as she had repeatedly lied about sending payment but finally her cheque for the massive amount of £2.99 turned up at the weekend; a whole month after the auction had ended. Needless to say I took the precaution of obtaining a certificate of posting as I get the feeling this one's a tricky customer to say the least.

When I got home I decided to cook something for a change rather than our normal 'bung in the oven' job. So we had grilled pork chop with steamed vegetables and rice with sweet and sour sauce - yummy!

Peter bought a mass of papers home as Thursday night is jobs night and I spent most of the evening wading through them (nothing of note this week though unfortunately). Then watched a bit of telly - Eastenders where the creepy child abusing Stella is about to be found out (brill!) and How Clean is Your House which I just love. The chap they had this week lived in a complete pig sty and at the end they had given him back a beautiful cosy home (I just love a happy makeover ending!).

I think Peter was in his 'cave' this evening, and I was tired, so we sort of left each other alone - sometimes that's best I think!

Work was hectic today and went in a flash.

Barely ate a thing today as I was starving myself ready for Weight Watchers tonight (shouldn't really do that but it makes me feel I've got a bit more of an edge). Anyway, lost 1.5lbs which is what I put on last week so I'm back on track now. There were a couple of new ladies there today who were joining the class. I felt really sorry for one of them as she was dripping with perspiration (menopause symptoms) and said she was feeling really uncomfortable - poor thing. I dread when it's my turn to go through that, it must be ghastly.

Peter was very kind and didn't eat his evening meal until I got home so we ate together in the garden which was very nice.
I think I mentioned that I won a competition the other day for two rail tickets. We have decided to use them this weekend to go to the Tate Modern which I have been wanting to go to for ages. It's free to get in - however, the Dali exhibition costs extra and I love Dali so I hope we can go to that too if it does't cost too much.

Roofers and Cheapo Shopping

Today I phoned the roofer we have decided we want to do our roof for the second time as he had failed to call me back when I told him last week that he had secured our business. Alarm bells were starting to ring a bit due to his lack of response - I mean did he want the work or not? Anyway he did eventually return my second call and advised that he would do the work in mid to late August (subject to weather) which is fine by us.

Work was much calmer today, I am pleased to say, and there were no more incidents to report.

As we have a holiday coming up, in the not to distant future, we are on a bit of a budget at the moment and I decided to cancel our regular Sainsburys order and visit Lidls. Normally we would spend about £90 on a fortnightly Sainsburys shop but I went into Lidls with the challenge of just spending £50 and got everything we need for £49.75!!! Amazing! The only thing I couldn't get was bananas which we can pick up at the local market.

An 'almost' resignation

Oh dear today was truely terrible at work. My colleague said a few choice things to one of the bosses which left her shaking with anger and threatening to go home. Throughout the day I was emailing Peter asking if he would let me resign and he emailed back the 'voice of reason' and, once again, I saw sense and held off! Thank goodness my colleague didn't carry out her threat to go home - being left to cope on my own there at the moment would be just too much to cope with.

Sunday

Woke up early this morning and saw that Peter was still well in the land of nod which wasn't surprising really as he was up at 4.30am yesterday and didn't get back until after 10pm. I decided not to disturb him and took myself off to my parents for the morning, picking up the papers on the way. Today the Mail had the new Prince CD enclosed - I don't really know if I'm a fan of Prince or not - I will have to have a listen - but the fact that a newspaper was giving away a current top price CD for free was too good to miss.

Had coffee at parents and then we walked up to the boot sale which is just up the road. The weather was severely overcast so we weren't sure if we were going to make it or not but it held off. All I bought was a terracotta bird feeder though - last of the big spenders me!

Headed towards home at about 11.30am and received a message from Peter beseeching me to 'purchase chocolate' so, knowing it must be an emergency, I duly called in at the garage on the way back.

Peter was in the middle of cooking, I mean defrosting, lunch when I got home which was nice. We had lunch and then decided to mow the lawn. I did the back and Peter got half way through the front before the heavens opened. Will this rain ever end?

My dad has kindly found us a padlock and chain to secure our garden gate so hopefully that will deter our mystery garden chair mover which is still playing on our minds. It's horrible thinking that someone has been snooping around our home without our permission - it makes me feel invaded.

This afternoon I chilled out with the papers and fell asleep for a short while and dreamt of our holiday in a few weeks time - I so cannot wait.

Not looking forward to work tomorrow - I seem to be two people at the moment, myself at weekends and this horrible resentful, frustrated person during the week - it said in 'my stars' that a change was afoot so let's hope they are right!

The Mysterious Case of the Moving Chair

Peter left for his airport trip at 4.00am this morning - I was vaguely aware of him getting up and a car pulling up on the drive to collect him. I woke up properly at around 7.30am which is late for me! Anyway, it turns out that it was still to early as I've been really tired all day.

Spent the morning doing chores and also nipped out to get the papers. When my hair is messy and I can't be bothered to put make-up on I always drive to a little independent newsagents where you can park directly outside and nip straight in and out. By contrast the garage is always busy and they only ever have one person serving, regardless of the number of people waiting, so I tend to avoid them when possible.

Also this morning I have been using the laptop to practice designing graphs in Excel. The 2nd interview next week is likely to involve a test and the company are big on graphs - which I can do if I think about it but not necessarily under short time-span test conditions - so I've been trying to get my speed up and I feel more confident now.

This afternoon I wandered out into the garden as the sun was shining and noticed that one of our green plastic garden chairs was missing from its normal place around the garden table. After a bit of searching I found it right in the corner of the garden next to the fence and behind a bush. There is no way it could have blown there as it would have got trapped on route by other shrubbery, plus it was standing upright, so that means someone has been in our garden without our permission which quite frankly incenses me. Nothing appears to be missing and we did have some garden tools out, so that's something to be thankful for, but I don't like it all and we'll be going to Homebase tomorrow to buy a padlock and chain for our gate - a sad sign of the times!

It's now 6.00pm and I'm going to settle down and read for a bit - Peter is due to be back at around 8.00pm and I know he will be shattered so it will be an early night for us both I think!

A Grand Day Out

Today I had a day's leave from work. I had an appointment with another recruitment agency, this time in Romsey, so headed over there in the morning. I was early and had a bit of time to kill so I had a quick wander around the charity shops first and bought myself a nice bracelet and also popped into Boots for some new lippy.

I was impressed with the Agency, they are a small concern but they have already put me forward for a job and there seem to be lots of prospects near to where I live which is great news.

After the agency visit I went over to Carol's for a few hours for lunch and I met her grandson, Harvey, for the first time. Harvey is three and a real charmer with blue eyes as big as saucers and he was very well behaved - it was a nice afternoon.

Then headed home and started on tea ready for when Peter got home. Peter is at another Air Show tomorrow (July is the month for them you know) so I'm not sure of my plans yet, I might knock around here or I might take myself down to the coast again and read my book - just have to see what the weather brings...........

Goodbyes

Today my pal Kate left the College. She has been a good listener and confidant over the past weeks for me and I shall miss her. She has been under an awful lot of pressure herself and has still had time to lend a sympathetic ear to me - I shall miss her. She is off to sample 'working for herself' and she's already secured herself more work than she can handle which is great news.

A group of us gave Kate a send off in the pub which was a good do and Carol and I had a rare escape from our desks.

This afternoon I had some great news. The Agency contacted me and said the Company who interviewed me yesterday have given feedback that they were impressed with me and will be contacting me with a view to arranging a second interview for next week - yes! Must not get too excited though as I know there are other contenders.

Spoke to my pal Wendy this evening and had a nice long chat. I had hoped to see her on Saturday but she is working again so I have arranged to go around next Monday night. She also reminded me that I have some Avon stuff to collect - lovely, it's ages since I have bought some new smellies.

Tomorrow I have a day off work and I had registering with another Agency in a different area (just to keep my options open and the momentum going) and then later in the day I'm visiting Carol at home (she doesn't work Fridays) and we shall have a nice afternoon celebrating not being at work.

Better sign off now as Peter is champing at the bit to get hold of the laptop.

The Wrong Sort of Gain

After yesterday afternoon's escapades it was nice to come into work and face a normal day. I had my normal Wednesday morning meeting to minute which ran over time by about half an hour which was a bit of a bind - I start getting twitchy when that happens. I produce 'timed' agenda's these days to try and keep things under control but sometimes the Chair lets things slip a bit ..............

This evening I went to fat club and I had put on 1.5lbs - that is BAD BAD BAD. I had thought that all the rushing around and stress I've been under would have burnt off some energy (including my naughty take-a-way last night but no such luck). So it's back to writing down everything that passes my lips for me. My aim is to try and lose the 1.5lbs, plus a bit more, ready for next week so that I'm back on track.

Watched Wire in the Blood on the box which was just the sort of non challenging TV I needed.

INTERVIEWS

I must have been mad! I accepted two interviews for the same afternoon - one at 1.30pm today near Fareham and one at 3.30pm on the outskirts of Winchester. I was honest at work and booked the afternoon as leave (although not filling in any details obviously). The first interview was a PA/Registrar at a private school and the interview was a saga from start to finish and went something like this:-

• Upon arrival I was told the Headmaster had had to dash out as his wife's car had broken down. Not a good start then!
• Started interview off with current post-holder who advised me the job was term-time only - this had not been mentioned in the advert or the job spec. No way I can afford to live on a TTO job so very disappointed to find this out and I'm effectively wasting my time being there.
• As job is described I realise they in fact want a 'slave' - the office is right next to front hall so warned there will constant interuptions from children and parents. Told I would need to work 2 evenings a month and some Saturdays. Barely any other admin staff and those that are there are part-time.
• Did three tests in Excel, Word and general spelling/grammar.
• Headmaster comes back and gives me three scenarios 'that have happened in the school' and asked me to solve them.
• Scenario one - child diagnosed with contagious disease and is sent home. Next day father turns up to drop kid off saying he has meeting in London he cannot miss and school must take child - rest of kids could catch disease. Luckily I got the right answer of isolating child in sick bay for the day even though I felt like saying - give the father a good bl**dy talking to!!
• Scenario two - press take a photo call of a group of students and a couple of individual students who have achieved well. Press choose to print group shot instead of solo shots. Next day mother comes to school ranting "why isn't my child's picture in the paper". My answer was to say I would tell her that the newspaper had taken the final editorial decision, not the school, and that the school had a 'team' ethos. He seemed to think this was a good answer.
• Can't remember the third scenario but then again that's probably because the interview then took a rather disturbing turn. Headmasters wife (who is supposed to give me a tour of the place) turns up - car now fixed apparently.
• Headmasters wife finds out where I currently work and starts slagging the place off saying her disabled daughter went there and was treated really badly and she wouldn't recommend it to anyone - RIGHT then! Then mentions daughter's name 'Poppy' and I instantly recall this women phoned up my office to have a rant - small world isn't it!
• Headmasters wife gives me a full tour of the place, I'm wearing new shoes and they are giving me blisters.
• Say goodbye and check my watch and realise I have 45 minutes to get to next interview which is cutting it fine.
• Go round corner from school and meat a huge lorry that is trying to do a three point turn - driver keeps jumping in and out of lorry to judge the width of road. I am fuming as I'm in a real rush. Stuck there for 10 minutes.

Absolutely belt it down the motorway and somehow manage to arrive at next interview about 10 minutes early. Park just down the road and tidy up hair and change shoes!

Met by the two female bosses I would be working for and taken into interview room where a phone is put on to the table and a connection made to HR manager in Cambridge who is on conference call all through the interview. Felt very strange talking directly to two people in the room and someone who wasn't - the HR manager actually asked most of the questions too. However, I instantly liked the two bosses and thought 'yes I could work for these two'. The job is easily to cope with and I would have a say in how it evolved - brilliant! The offices are modern and beautiful. Lovely ergonomic furniture, loads of plants. Came out feeling really positive and providing the salary was right I would definitely consider taking it. However, they did say they may be a second interview - WHY? I had given my all at that interview. Maybe I'm out of touch but it used to be so much easier in the job market but now you seem to have to jump through so many hoops - personality tests, proficiency tests, multiple stage interviews - arhhh - just give me a job someone!

Came home totally 'hyped' and couldn't really settle. Rang agency to give them feedback as requested and then went to pick Peter up from station. We had a takeaway tonight which was nice (thank you Peter). Phoned my work colleague to tell her how it went - will fill her in with more details tomorrow.

What a day !! Got to get up early again tomorrow too, to call in on mum and dad as they are going to Bristol tomorrow and can take my niece's birthday present with them. The money I'm saving on postage is probably cancelled out by the petrol I'll use to get to mum and dads though!

TESTING TESTING

After work I called into one of the Recruitment Agencies in Winchester to register. I find Agencies daunting, ok they can help you find a job but they always give you the dreaded 'test' before they will put you on their books. I had do a three part test; copy typing at speed, spelling and doing different commands in Word. I got 10 out of 10 in the spelling and 100% accuracy in the typing but my speed wasn't as much as I would have liked (62 wpm). However, I was really disappointed with my Word user results in which I got 72%. I know full well how to create a text box but when the test asked me to do that it wouldn't bring up the drawing menu as it was greyed out - several bits of the tests were like that. The 'tester' did warn me that the machine wouldn't accept any short cuts, which in itself is rather silly as isn't that part of the skill of knowing a package well by knowing the quick way of doing things? Anyway, they seemed pleased with my results even if I thought I 'could have done better'. Test completed, they gave me a briefing on an interview they are putting me forward for tomorrow which actually was really helpful. I came out of the Agency feeling really positive and that at least I had done something to move my future forward.

A DAY ON THE BEACH

Wow what a beautiful sunny day - I had forgotten just how good a bit of sunshine can make one feel. I persuaded Peter that we should go out, so we headed off to Stokes Bay which is near Gosport. By the time we arrived it was lunch time so we had lunch in the cafe that is conveniently situated right on the shore line. The place was heaving with people - I guess people had been holed up indoors for about 2 months and with a bit of good weather they were damn well going to get out and enjoy it.

After lunch we got the rugs out of the car and walked the few hundred yards down to the shingle beach and sat on a convenient little mound of shingle which was surprisingly comfortable. I'm not usually a beach person as I find it a bit dull generally, but this spot is great there is just so much going on; windsurfing, yachting, hovercraft, huge container ships passing by in the distance, the view to the Isle of Wight, kites, dogs and kids running into the sea. We had great fun watching one particular dog - its owners kept teasing it by throwing stones into the sea which of course it had no chance of retrieving and the dog was getting really frustrated and barking. They eventually gave in and threw in his ball - the dog swam out to it, gave it a sniff, and then swam back again - they kept trying to get him to retrieve it but he was having none of it (we just sat snickering on the shore whilst pretending not to watch). Eventually the ball sort of got washed in and the dad of the family caught it.

All in all we were there about 4 hours and my tan is back to it's pre-rain level - hoorah. Next time we might take a picnic.

As we drove home the rain clouds gathered and by the time we got back to the house it was tipping down - neither of us cared though - we'd had our day out and were ready to chill out.

HEDGEHOGS IN DA HOUSE!

It felt weird waking up on a Saturday without Peter. I popped out and got the papers first thing and then settled into some serious gardening. The amount of weeds that have invaded our vegetable garden is incredible - they must know we can't get out there in the rain to deal with them and just run riot! I filled up a whole wheelbarrow with them and now everything looks much more tidy and we can see what we are growing again. Some things are thriving, particularly the potatoes, onions and pumpkins. However, our broad beans have suffered a serious attack of blackfly and are looking rather sorry for themselves and our cabbages have been attacked by slugs and resemble lace doilies.

After all that activity I took a rest and sat in the shade drinking a diet coke and reading the papers - bliss! When I had regained my energy I sprayed the drive with weedkiller as we have weeds growing through our tarmac, hung two of our best looking hanging baskets out the front, cut back one of our rose bushes and then thinned out the plants both in an around the pond which, like the weeds, have gone mad! Then for some reason I decided to look in the wooden hedgehog house my dad had made us about a year ago (and which has been snubbed by the hedgehogs during that time). It's situated in the wildlife corner of the garden which we have let go wild with woodland plants, rotting logs etc - anyway I lifted off the lid and there were a hedgehog family - I was so shocked they were in there, I closed the lid really quickly as I didn't want to disturb them. I am absolutely delighted they have found it - it's such a cosy little wooden home (with a proper felt roof, porch and soft bedding) it must be like a comparison between a Travelodge and a Hilton hotel for them I think!

I picked Peter up from the Station at around 9 O'clock and he looked rather sun burnt and tired but he said he had enjoyed the aircraft show.

Things are Looking Up!

Lots of interveiws going on at work today for managment posts. Never let it be said that my place of work do a short interview - the candidates arrived at 9.45am and were still there when I left at 4.30pm!

During the morning I took a phone call from one of the Agencys I have linked up with and I have an interview with a pharmaceutical company on Tuesday of next week! I only submitted my CV on Thursday so they appear keen. To top that, when I got home there was a message on the answerphone inviting me to another interview at a private school - also on Tuesday. I am going to go to both but boy it's going to be a stressful day!

The sun was actually shining when I got home and Peter is away tonight so I decided to get stuck into the mowing and strimming. God the grass was long - it is definately the longest it has got since we moved in 2 years ago. However, we genuinely have been unable to keep it under control for about the last 5 or 6 weeks as it has rained every single day. Frankly the grass was still damp when I mowed it but I beat it into submission. Made myself go dizzy by trying to do everything in one hit like I always do - I never learn! Anyway, it's done now and it looks 100% better.

Tomorrow I was supposed to be having lunch with two friends but one is ill so it got cancelled. I suggested to friend number two that I could visit her anyway for the morning or afternoon and just have a chat but she didn't sound keen so I didn't push it. Also sounded her out about popping over this evening instead on my way home from work but I sensed an non keeness for that idea too so, again, I made out that "it was just an idea and not to worry about it" - when what I really felt was "hey I'm your friend, who is not exactly having a great life at the moment and I'd like a bit of your time for a chat". That's me all over though - I make out things don't matter so as not to inconvenience anyone when actually it bl**dy well does matter and I end up feeling let down when people can't see that.

For the rest of the evening as I am on my own I'll settle down with my book as there is nowt on the box anyway. Tomorrow I'm going to be swatting up on my internet research on the two establishments that I have interviews with next week. Peter is home tomorrow evening so I'd expect I will pick him up from the station if it's not to late.

We have a baby!

No, no don't panic it's not me (as if!) Tonight Peter called me downstairs to look outside the patio doors as he thought he had seen a new addition to our hedgehog family and, sure enough, there was a little hoglet with it's mum (who was later joined by dad). Hoorah! we were getting a bit concerned this year that we weren't going to see any babies and therefore our hedgehog population of two would gradually die out. The baby was very amusing to watch as it kept trying to nudge up under his mum's belly to get milk but she was having none of it and continued to munch on the peanuts we had put out. The baby didn't seem to like the peanuts - too hard for it perhaps - and ran off into the bushes to look for other tasty treats I presume (well it can eat as many of our numerious slug population as it wants!). I do so hope it's going to thrive.

Delved into a bit of my new book tonight Interpretation of a Murder by Jed Rubenfeld. Too early to say if I'm going to really enjoy it yet as it hasn't yet sucked me in but it has had very good reviews - so here's hoping.

Life is a roller-coaster

Another roller coaster-ride on the job front today. It now 'seems' (this has yet to be confirmed) that some of the admin jobs will now be taken out of the 'at risk' category allowing the existing people to stay in their jobs. Now it was only 2 weeks ago that we were all told 'en mass' that every single one of us would have to re-apply for our own jobs, or another other job we wanted in the admin structure. We have been hanging on a thread since March about this and it feels crushingly unfair. If my job is one of the ones coming out of 'at risk' you may think I would jump for joy but actually I won't be because it just wouldn't be fair - I believe in level playing fields for all and that everyone should be treated exactly the same. Anyway, this is a strong rumour only at the moment so I mustn't get too heated - we shall have to see what tomorrow brings .......

My two external applications have come to nothing yet and I'm tiring myself out by checking the inbox on my private email about 100 times a day - willing a potential employers email to jump in but instead it's the usual spam that I see.

This evening I got home to an absolute mountain of post (adding more weight to my theory that our postie is storing stuff up and on other days we have had nothing recently). Anyway, the third roofing contractor has finally deemed to send us his quote (second class post of course) which we have been waiting for since the 6th June! I must say the quote is the most thorough and detailed we have had (but then again the most expensive) so careful consideration will have to be given a the weekend. One scary bit was "all items should be taken out of the loft space in the roof whilst works are going on" - yikes - that's where we put all the stuff that there's no room for in the house and I dread to think of all the cobwebs and creepy crawlies that will come out.

This evening Peter went to band practice and I watched Diet Doctors and the documentary about Cherie Blair which was illuminating but she still came across as totally scatty (even thought she has a top job). She definitely has the tact gene missing too - saying that Tony proposed to her whilst she was cleaning the loo floor on holiday wasn't really something I needed to know. As is usual I missed the end as I can't seem to stay awake past 9.45pm. Anyway, I'm not sad to see them go - not that I'm keen on Brown either but time will tell.

I was a bit political myself today, I wrote to our local Lib Dem representative in a formal manner (which I consider is the form when addressing such people) about the horrific cutting down of trees and shrubs that has happened overnight in the town - I was rather surprised by the pally and badly worded response I received - see below.

"HI YA SUSAN

Please do not be alarmed
The news is our cinema has at last started; there will be lots of things going on for the preparation of building works
This will mean the close of the car park for a time but we have put things in place to compensate for the loss
Of parking spaces
I know it looks terrible at the present time but please rest shore I will make sure they put back like for like
The thing I can’t say at the present time is where but I will make sure your concerns are heard
And the trees and or shrubs are put in
I do hope this makes you feel better and if I can answer anymore of your questions then please contact me"

Well, at least he answered me the same day but it's hardly a professional email I don't think! I'm not sure 'I feel better' but he gave me a laugh anyway.

Ruby Tuesday

Don't know why I used that title for my blog really - but I do love the song 'Ruby Tuesday' - especially sung by me Melanie Safka - see her on YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHF-iApfWis&mode=related&search=

I also love 'Look what they've done to my song' - oh dear - really showing my age here!

Today has been a mixture really - this morning was pants as I was coping on my own without my colleague but this afternoon is bliss as I'm on my own without the two bosses and I'm powering through the work.

Tonight is good old Sainsbury shopping night - as I said to Peter last night "We'll have banana's again (sounds like we are coming out of the war doesn't it!). Unfortunatey on a two week shopping cycle one does run out of the fresh stuff after about week one!

No other plans for tonight other than to watch the 'F Word' solely because Johnny Vegas and Ricky Gervais are on it.

Murky Monday

Another grey day in all respects - I got ready for work as usual and wondered why I couldn't hear Peter getting up after me - only to remember he is working at home today (not fair!)

Still spent most of the day in a total quandary about work and not knowing which way to jump - the goal posts keep getting moved on a daily basis so it's really hard to plan anything. I am really trying to be pro-active though, as it makes me feel so much better if I've actually done something to assist my future, rather than sitting around like a lame duck waiting to get shot at! I wrote quite a lengthy email to an old contact of mine who owns a temp agency - I used to hire temps off her way back in the 1980's/early 1990's and I've also worked as a temp for her twice (and twice being given full-time employment as a result of those temp jobs - meaning her agency have earned two lots of commission). All-in-all she has earned a tidy sum out of me and its' pay back time!

It felt strange getting home today and finding Peter already there but it was nice and we had tea early for a change which meant I wasn't quite as starving as I usually am! Having been very naughty over the week-end and eaten, amongst other things, a whole family bag of malteasers I am desperately trying to be good for the next three days before the next weigh-in. I hope I can turn things around in time.

Coffee, Plans & TV

Today we went to Costa Coffee as soon as it opened at 10.00am. I went and grabbed one of the comfy sofa's while Peter popped into Tesco's to get the papers. He was gone ages and eventually turned up a bit stressed as the queues had been bad in Tesco and the staff incompetent. However, he had picked up quite a few bargains so that was cool.

Whilst waiting for Peter I contacted Wendy and arranged a 'girly lunch' for next Saturday (which will replace our planned Friday night out last week). Peter will be at an air show that day so it will mean I can got and see my parents and friends in one day and make the best use of the journey up to Andover (nothing, if not practical me!).

We spent a bit of time in Costa reading the papers and then went to the main post office to post my latest job application (apparently after a strike it's best to post in main boxes) as I want to meet the Companies deadline of Wednesday. Then we had a good look around The Works and very unusually didn't buy anything. I was tempted with three Jodi Picout books for £10 (large print versions) but decided to be sensible for once.

Before going home Peter drove us up the road to Southampton Airport just on a quick visit to see if there were any interesting planes in. Police and Security Guards were everywhere because of yesterday's incident at Glasgow Airport. Peter told the Security Guard what we were doing there and he just stopped short of saying Peter was mad for evening thinking of looking round and said we were likely to get questioned by the Police if we hung about. We didn't and drove off.

This afternoon we are watching a Stephen King movie The Langoliers and are generally chilling. I have an Ebay parcel and Readitswapit parcel to wrap and that's the extent of my responsibilities today.

Next week is going to be crunch time at work - all the job descriptions will be out for every admin post in the place, including mine, and I will need to decide whether to apply for my own job, another job within the organisation (or several) or leave. It is going to be a very tough decision indeed.