A good Christmas

Yes, it was a good Christmas this year. Last year I was without a job and early in 2009 I was lucky enough to get me a job in Leicester. There have been ups and downs but I'm settling in and just starting to feel part of the team. That has made all the difference to our outlook this year, and that has been reflected in our approach to Christmas. More contact with family and friends, spending time with mum & dad, the boys, everybody. Going to the "works do". Last night we held a well attended party and everybody had fun. Tonight we are off to a wedding reception. Andy started back at work today, I have to work tomorrow, but Andy is doing 3 days this week. Then we all have a long weekend. Because of the weather Angie & John haven't got up here to Derby but I've spoken to them and Chris in America - all on the phone.

Here's hoping that this pretty good end to 2009 bodes well for 2010. Happy New Year to you all.

The Future

Despite everything that the politicains and bankers have done to destroy this world of ours, there is still a future. This is evidenced by the fact that as I sit here now I have four weddings, two 21st birthday parties, two Christmas/New Year parties and a graduation to look forward to - all of them already firm dates in the calendar and taking us through to October 2010.

And while there may be no pay rises to look forward to we can look forward to loans ending and freeing up money that has previously been commited to servicing those loans. So we will be better placed to save and survive.

As for the youngsters, Andy is almost there with just one module left to get to achieve his BMW Senior Technician certificate. Mark is starting to look for suitable post-graduate positions for when he has completed his degree course and he's still on for a first class degree, so let us all hope he achieves it. Their girlfriends are both studying for thier respective qualifications and while job opportunities are thin on the ground right now they continue in the hope and belief that the good times will return and that things will pick up.

So yes, there is a future and we just have to live it as we find it and the hand it deals us.

My Rant - Bankers again...

The top plonker at Barclays Bank, John Varley, has said that the one off tax on bonus payments to bankers will damage the standing of the UK finance industry. He is concerned that the individuals likely to be affected will defect, leave to work in other countries - which just goes to prove how out of touch these overpaid ivory tower clad individauls are.

We trust these people to handle our money as trustees. Where they provide us with additional services they charge us hansomely for doing so. Then, while we go about our lives they grab our cash and "invest" it - their term for some very dubious forms of gambling, and when they get it wrong then we are the ones that suffer. How? With job losses, plundered pension funds, reduced interest (income) from savings and restricted credit (though that may possibly not be a totally bad outcome).

So why should we want to retain these plonkers - who created all the current economic problems? Why would we want to pay them even bigger bonuses for GAMBLING with our money? Why would we want to stop them going abroad? More to the point, why woud foreign banks want to emply our plonkers knowing that they have such an appalling track record?

If the bankers were in the position that many of us working outside of the banking/finance industry are in then they would (in my view) have reason to gripe. But they aren't. They are still expecting, and mostly getting, inflated, unwarranted and unearned salaries and bonuses. For years bankers have refused to aadvance investment funds to inject into British industry and IT development. They have been a driving force behind moving jobs off-shore. As taxpayers we have bailed out their industry and shored up their jobs, and now they want our sympahy!

Sorry - the sympathy cupboard is bare, and if they think they can do better elsewhere they go - I for one will be glad to see them go.

Respite

Last Saturday Dad was collected by privet ambulance and taken to the Helen Lay Centre for his final period of respite this year. Unlike previous visits - this was one he had decided he didn't want to have. Due to a mix-up, mother hadn't packed all his medication so I took Mum and the medication down to the centre on Sunday afternoon and Dad was much more receptive after having had a damned good sleep and plenty of food and rest. He was in excellent spirits and glad to see us, as jovial as he can be and chatty from start to finish.

Mother was upset by Dad's initial bad attitude towards the respite trip but aftr Sunday's visit she was much happier. I've spoken to her most evenings this week and she seems in good spirits and (weather permitting) he will be delivered back home this Saturday.

More news of Dad

Last night, just in from work and (fortunately) dinner consumed I got a phone call from Mum - the ambulance was already there to take Dad to A&E. I got down there just as the ambulance pulled out of the end of the road, so I slotted in behind and followed it to the Royal Derby - that was at about 20:20.

A&E was very, very busy. Once admitted we were shown to a bay to await a doctor. At 23:00 I took mum home before returning to stay with Dad until the doctor showed up. Now call me an old sceptic, but, the government has laid down guidelines / NHS targets that state everybody attending A&E should be seen inside 4 hours, so on the basis that he was checked in at 20:40 I was very unsurprised when a doctor mysteriously materialised at 00:30 and spent 10 minutes asking questions and checking Dad over. A plan of action was then laid down...
1. Replace the catheter that had come out
2. Take some blood samples and get them analysed
3. Based on the results of the blood tests, decide if he was to stay or return home - but beds are short and so were his chances of staying in.

So, at 01:20 I made Dad as comfortable as I could and left him in their care - by now I was falling asleep on my feet. I drove home via Mother to return the blister pack she'd taken in with her & Dad in the ambulance (just in case he was admitted) and to advise her that Dad would probably be coming back home but that she should get back to bed.

I got home and fell into bed around 02:00 and was dead to the world inside minutes and was only woken up by the morning alarm. I get to work this morning and make a call to Mum. Dad had been sent home as predicted, arriving a litle after 03:00. I spoke to Mum again at lunchtime and again this evening. Dad has some antibiotics for a urine infection and he's been seen by Dr Paul Moss and is much more comfortable than when laying on the trolley waiting in A&E.

The additional good news is that Social Services have contacted the Helen Lay Centre and Dad will still be allowed his week's respite starting Saturday so Mum gets some much needed extra rest.

I know that Angie has spoken to Mum & Dad tonight so hopefully the news is getting round the family fairly quickly.

Visit to Dad in Ward 404

Today I picked Mother up just before 2pm and took her to the Royal Derby Hospital to visit Dad. He seems to be making progress and have told Mother that they will be sending him home on Monday. While I was there I phoned Angie on my mobile and after chatting with her I passed it to Dad so that they could chat. Having it on speaker-phone meant that Mum & I could join in the conversation too. We had intended to stay until 4pm but nurses came to tend to Dad at 3:50 so we left those few minutes early. On the way home in discussion with Mum it became obvious that she now believes Dad to be on seriously borrowed time but he has confounded us all for the last 2 years so who knows how long he'll keep going. The fact remains that the longer he keeps going the more of a problem caring for him will become.

As a foot note, Angie still hasn't been given a start date due to the need for her new employer to get a CRB check done as Angie will be working with children and people with special needs.

Busy day off

Last day of November, a day off work and a planned service on the motorbike before the winter sets in. Last Wednesday I had a puncture repaired after a couple of weeks trying to find the time to get it done. Riding the bike I realised it wasn't running at it's best so today that was sorted. A fellow Deauville rider and good mate of mine Phil Swain popped round to give me a lending hand and some instruction. He's always taking his bike apart and putting it back together so knows his way round the model real well. Thanks to his advice and guiding/helping hand my machine has now had it's tappets adjusted, loose exhaust bolts re-tightened, spark plugs and airfilter replaced and carburetors balanced. Tyre pressures, all lighting and brake pads checked and all that's left to do is a quick oil and filter change (I thought I had a spare filter, but hadn't) which I will probably do this coming Saturday. All told, a very good day's work - Thanks Big Phil.

Chaotic weekend as Dad is rushed to A&E

Friday night I'm on my way ome when my modile rings, and as I'm stationary in traffic I answer it. Andy has gone straight from work to his grandparents for tea (as usual on a Friday) and there's nobody home. Now as Dad can only get about in an ambulance the conclusion is simple and Andy has rung to say he's going straight off to A&E to look for his grandparents. I quickly ring Sue and tell her that I'm going to head straight to the Royal Derby myself.

I've made good ground on the M1 but I'm stuck juct before J24 in the road works when Sue rings back to say that she's phoned A&E and mum & dad are both there as Dad has a problem. I get tgere and find Andy, Mum & Dad - he's in a bad way and has been there since 2:10pm (it's now 6:00pm) so I ask Andy to take Mum home with him, collect his other nan and drop them both of at the Derby Assembly Rooms as they are supposed to be attending a Choral Christmas Concert there and I'll stay with Dad - which is what happens. At a little after 7:00 Dad is moved to the Medical Assessment Unit, where they suddenly have a frantic hive of activity around him for over half an hour which ends with his bed being moved to a quieter corner of the MAU. Andy arrives at about 7:40 and after getting Dad fully checked in and a report on what had happemed we both leave.

Saturday afternoon Mum makes her own way to the hospital, but later that evening I take her up for a visit 7:00 - 8:00pm. By now Dad is much better and I get to talk to the Sister Nurse who I'd finished the checking in process with (that Mum had started) the previous evening. Her assessment is that he'll be OK, probably in for 4 days and that the antibiotics were working, however, it had been a very close run thing and they had nearly lost himduring that aforementioned activity the previous evening.

Sunday Mother came to have Sunday roast with us before going off to visit him again. Sue & I had other commitments so I popped down to see Mum around 7:45 that evening. She said that Dad was even perjier than he'd been Saturday night and appeared to be well on the way to fighting off whatever it was that had infected him.

The summary is that he'd had a blood clot on the lung, had managed to pass it into his urine (which Mum had seen in his catheter) and that following that he'd got a viral infection. When I got to see him on that first visit in A&E his pulse was 130+ and his breathing 34+ a minute. When I saw him again on Sunday evening the pulse was down to 88/89 and they were no longer monitoring his breathing.

Today (Monday) Mum has been uo to visit him and he is now in ward 404 on the 4th floor, room 1. Andy had made arrangements to take Mother up there again tonight so I'll (hopefully) get to see Dad tomorrow night. He's just got in and says that Dad'sthe best he's been for a few week snow, so he should get released home sooner rather than later.

Service time comes around

Motorcycles require servicing and after an expensive 20,000 mile service I've been doing just oil and filter changes in the expectation of another big bill at 32,000. However, I have a day's annual leave to take before Christmas so I've booked Monday 30-Nov as a day off and arranged for a mate to pop round to assist in drinking tea and carrying out a full and thorough service.

In preparation I've started to get the bits together, searching out the best price / deal on the internet in order to save a few quid. So far so good and finger crossed I get everything together in time.

Same day a nice man is coming to service the house alarm. Another is coming to fit a shower in the bathroom. And I have to pop out to see the nurse at our local GP practice for an injection. It's going to be a fun and hectic day.

Nothing for ages, then they all come along at once

They say that about policemen and busses, but this time, it's about a job. Well more than one to be precise. Angie has been without a job for more months than I was, and that was too long. Yesterday she learnt that she'd been successful in applying for 2 positions one in cleaning and the other in patient care - both requiring CRB checks which are now being carried out and should be just a formality.

Well done sis. Hopefully 2010 will be a much better year for you!

R & R

To take our minds off the possibility of me being made redundant again, Sue & I took time off to go to London last Thursday to take in a show and spend 2 days in our capital city. I've never been a friend of London, or any big cities for that matter, but I really enjoyed this trip. London is now much more car free with pedestrian areas predominating and the Congestion Charge keeping vehicle numbers down - result being fewer cars with access to even fewer streets.

We walked miles. Oxford Street disappoints, being all cheap and down market. Everywhere else is nice and clean with a mysterious absence of pigeons fouling and pestering for feed. Trafalgar Square is a really nice place to be, as are most of the streets. Convent Garden - I loved it with it's market stalls and cafes.

We saw the show "We Will Rock You" based on the music of Queen. Fabulous, funny, full of music and wit with great lighting and a humorous story line (Simon Cowell is responsible for the dead of Rock & Roll!). Other than that well... we had a nice meal out, just the 2 of us. We walked miles in the glorious (and un-seasonally warm) sunshine under clear skies. We took a boat trip down to Greenwich and back - a 2 hour trip, well worth the fare. And we walked miles (again). Stayed at the Strand Palace Hotel, and had an enormous full English breakfast - which was just as well as we walked.....

We needed the break and today's news that I've still got a job made it even better.

How many more times

I shouldn't complain but it is getting a bit tiresome. Late January 2008 I got made redundant when the company I worked for went to the wall. Two weeks later I'm working only to get made redundant again late June after 4.5 months work. That lead to 7 months job hunting before I secured my current job... less pay, longer commute and unfamiliar teritory as it's more systems and test analyst than business analyst - which is what I am/was. But ever grateful I'd got a job.

Then 3 months in, on the last day of my probation period, I got a "your job is at risk" interview and letter. One week later I advised (in writing) that I'm no longer at risk. Last Tuesday the "your job is at risk" interview and letter was repeated. Today I got another letter to say that (again) I'm no longer at risk.

Doesn't exactly fill one with confidence for long term prospects and leaves one wondering - how many more times....?

Saturday - UBG Ride-out

Used Bike Guide is to motorbikes what Parker’s Guide is to cars – a magazine and a guide to secondhand prices for both the trade and and non-trade alike. So when a few months ago I picked up a copy and read their summary of the Deauville I was so incensed that I knocked off an email to the editor. The result was a ride-out yesterday with fellow Deauville riders, as well as a couple of FJRs and Tigers. Derby to Malock Bath for us all to meet up, then on to Ladybower Reservoir for a photo opportunity then ride up Snake Pass to eat at the Café in Glossop. Leaving there in smaller groups, going their own ways, the largest group accompanied me back down the A6 through Buxton, Bakewell and Matlock to Derby where we said our farewells. A great day’s riding in very good company.



This picture is from the stop at Ladybower Reservoir and mine is the 3rd bike from the right with the helmet on the seat, next to Pat's FJR.

Mum

With Dad away and both getting respite, it's been a good day for Mum. Andy picked up the Alhambra and took it to work, put it through the MoT which it failed - on a broken rear spring. I'd picked up a replacement at the weekend because we knew of the problem, so after Andy fitted it the tester gave it a pass, recommending new wiper blades to finish off the job.

Andy then put it through the valet shop, inside and out so when he delivered it back Muum rang to say it looked like new. She sounded fresher than at the weekend, but admitted she had been a bit down during the day - cheered up when Andy delivered the Alhambra back.

A question of confidence

If you are a follower of this blog you will know that in 2008 I was made redundant twice, making a total of four times I've been made redundant in my working life. The big difference was that when it happened on 26th June 2008 it took 6 months to get a job offer and 7 months to get back into work.

And while on the "jobless/jobseekers list" (you can't call it "the dole" now I ot beat up bad after a night out. I didn't even know I was in a fight until I'd been thumped 3 times just above the temple on the left hand side of my head. Al because ayob decided he wanted the taxi cab I'd phoned for and ordered.

The upshot of these events is that I, someone who has never been short of confidence and with an ego the size of Essex now find myself always doubting myself, my actions and my abilities. I get flashbacks to the thumping that I took that night and I have a constant fear of again loosing my job.

What do I do? I have to earn a living, but every day all I want to just ride my motorbike. Where? Anywhere. I ride my motorbike to work as much as possible simply because I find it theraputic. Riding down to see Dad today meant I did 2 normal days riding in one day (125 miles). But I know I'm being less sociable and more reclusive now than at any other time in my life, and I'm sure that's not the best solution for me, my employer/employment or my family.

I've been depressed before, and this isn't that - it's different, frightening in a way. I recognised the depression and handled it. I'm not sure I can handle this but I have to try to do so.

Respite for Mum & Dad both

Saturday Dad was collected and transported by Phoenix private ambulance to the Helen Lay Centre near Leamington Spa, Mum & I followed him down (I drove) and Mum checked him in. After work today I rode down on the bike and paid him a quick visit, just to make sure he was settled in OK and to drop off a charger for his mobile phone. He's well and happy. Now we just have to get mother to get some rest and recharge her batteries.

World Habitat Day

Please support World Habitat Day.

What sort of world do we live in?

Two news stories today...

The first - a mother is convicted of stabbing her 2 daughters to death to "get at" the father - her ex-husband.

The second - a man is convicted of breaking of breaking the legs of a 4 year old girl in his care beacuse she kept crying - crying because he was hurting her.

What sickos share this world I live in?

Say aahhhh!

What's the most common response to seeing a diddy little kitten? One so small he can sit in you hand.

Ah! Isn't he sweet....

So that's all I'm hearing right now as Charlie has been added to the family fold.

Falling apart at the seams

This last week has seen me take a couple of days sick, my first since joining Fidelity. I went into work on Wednesday despite a sore throat but Thursday morning I woke to find it was much worse and my voice had gone AWOL. Not much point going in when you can't function - so popped them an email and hopefully I'll be back in tomorrow (Monday) because goodness knows, I've enough work on my plate right now.

I tried to get to see my GP, but was told to "go away and we'll get the nurse to phone you". I'm into the car and on my way back home when the mobile rings - less than 2 minutes after being told to "go away" the nurse is on my case. I'm told to take paracetamol, drink lots and rest, and if there's no improvement come into surgery tomorrow. So Friday morning I get an appointment for 9:10 to see Dr Spincer - a good "old school" GP. He checks me over, notices I'd already had one high blood pressure test reading so does another test and I'm now on Beta Blockers for high blood pressure. All part of being a diabetic I'm told. The results of my last retina check-up were not on file so he's going to chase it up and I've to go back next month to find out the news.

Mark & Eleanor spent last Monday - Friday in Barcelona, 4 days & nights site seeing and relaxing prior to restarting their final year at university. Mark's results see him on course for a 1st, and Eleanor is 4% away from a 1st for herself, which she's finding unbelievable, she's not used to having results at that level. That's just reward for the effort she's putting in so we all hope she can maintain it through this last year.

Andy took the first exam in the series towards his Senior Technician's ticket following a couple of weeks at BMW's college during August - and was classified as "Mastered" with 80% on all sections - so he's mightily pleased and ready for the next stage. Right now he's busy fitting some really special Alpine SPX-17REF speakers into his Civic Type R. Although they are available here in the UK he imported them from America and made a 30% saving.

Earlier this afternoon I visited Mum & Dad. They've had a bit of a week, with a trip to the hospital on Tuesday for Dad to have a check over. Transport is by ambulance, so they get collected, get seen, then spend 3 hours waiting for a return ambulance - 4 hours in the hospital for a 15 minute consultation, seems bonkers to me but there you go. Mum was very tired mid-week but she seems better today. Wednesday they had to have the District Nurse out to a problem with Dad's catheter, right when mum was at her most fraught.

Dad's off to Helen Lay for 2 weeks respite on the last weekend of the month and Mum so needs the rest that will give her, a chance to recharge her batteries prior to the run down to Christmas. I don't know if they will be, but I'm hoping Angie & John will be up to see Mum while Dad is in Helen Lay, especially as John now has a rather nice Ford Focus estate.

Bankers Bonuses

Back on Sept 1st the FT carried an interview with Prime Minister Gordon Brown in which good old GB vows to crack down on excessive pay for bankers. "We have to move faster" he said, referring to regulatory restructuring efforts that would allow regulators to claw back bankers' pay if performance subsequently suffered and set higher capital standards for banks.

Now here's my point - it's been nearly a year now since the global econimies went into melt down and trillions of GBP & USD were pumped into failing banks - so why is he NOW saying "We have to move faster"? Surely it's already too slow and too late. Big bonus payments are back and everything is returning to how they were before it all went bang, which means it'll happen AGAIN!

This week's news is that while the rest of the world recovers, and despite GB's promise that "Britain is well placed to make a quick recovery (from recession)" - we find that Britain is still deeper in recession than just about every other economy, with more debt and a government that hasn't got a single idea how to put things right. They are completely devoid of solutions beyond raising duty on fuel and slashing the NHS staffing levels.

I just hope the Great British Public vote labour into oblivion when the opportunity presents itself.

Happy Birthday dad

77 years old today, just a few days after his sister Katy celebrated her 80th with a party and 80 guests. Dad isn't in a condition to party, so through the day he's had visits from me and my boys, phone calls from Angie, John, Christine and Katy that I know of, and a good showing of birthday wishes in the form of birthday cards.

So while it's Happy Birthday Dad, it's a bit of a shame Mum was sick this morning. Fingers crossed that it's nothing lasting or more serious.

On & off road

Father-in-law has finally had his lisense taken off him and the car has been sold. Silly bugger hadn't admitted to a bump at the front when he hit a bollard AFTER the pictures were taken and the ad placed in AutoTrader. Andy was selling it and guys came all the way from London to Derby to view with the intention of buying. They drove it away, but only after knocking £500 off the asking price. Mother-in-law was furious but it underlines the fact that he was no longer fit to drive.

Mark is getting used to driving his Punto, which is doing just fine. Better still he sold the scooter after posting it on a couple of web sites and then putting it on eBay. It didn't reach the reserve on eBay so we relisted it, but, one of the other sites came up trumps and it sold to a local buyer from over near Burton-on-Trent, and I had to ride it over as I was the only one insured to ride it after Mark cancelled his policy.

Andy was given a Vauxhall Insigna to get to BMW college last time out, and what an impressive car it is. I'd love one but boy, are they expensive!? His was a diesel SRi, so quiet, so comfortable. I want one (but can't fund one).

I've been managing to use the motorbike for most of my commuting, but, today I got caught out. Nice morning and "dress down" Friday saw me leave for work in jans and leather jacket. Nice morning, then after lunch the skies turned grey and the rain fell. Still falling when I left for home, and with no waterproofs I got a tad wet. Still, I didn't get stuck in traffic and the sun came out before I was half way home so I dried out a bit. The joys of motorbiking.

Old work pals - keeping in touch

By that I mean ex-colleagues and freinds from the work place...

Carol and Susan (both ex-Zeda) have been in touch this week. Carol is enjoying retirement - her miece has secured a university place in her first choice university where she will be studying forensics - while Carol spends time with her mother, and next month the two of them are off to holiday in Egypt. Susan is at HSBC in Sheffield, earning the money to pay the bills and wishing she was 4 years older so that she could follow in Carol's shoes. Apparently, Viv is settling in at Egg after temporary covering for maternity leave turned into an offer of a full-time job.

And Garry has at last had a job offer after being made redundant by Midland HR. By my reckoning he was out of work for around 7 months (just like I was) so he's dead chuffed to get a job offer and was wading through the Ts & Cs when I last spoke to him. The last I heard from Vanessa she was unemployed and looking for gainful employment. Ditto Geeten, as Argos have released him. Kev McIntyre has started sending through humourous emails again so I can only assume that he's busy earning and has found a renewed source of content.

My bother John is still working, but, construction contracts seem to be a bit thin on the ground right now and his current site has only a few weeks left to run. Angie still hasn't found a job - she interviwed for a new Waitross opening in Colchester, where there were 220 new jobs AND 7,000 applicants.

Andy's girlfriend had an interview on Wednesday after the shop she worked at part-time closed. She needs the funds to be able to complete her studies and qualify as a primary school teacher, so we all hope she gets this job. Mark's girlfriend has been doing part-time work at Sainsbury's, locally at Ripley during breaks and in Manchester in between her studies - but she's had to give up the Manchester job and when she returns to Manchester in a few weeks time Ripley have said her job is up for grabs, so she'll have to live off savings for the coming important 3rd year of her 4 year course.

The government think we are coming out of recession. What do they know - it's really tough out there and every job is precious, they are hard to come by and many aren't paying anywhere near what they used to. Bloody Bankers - I notice they are getting back to their old ways with their bonus payments - about time the government ACTUALLY got off their collective butts and DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

It's catch-up time

Work has been very hectic and socially, Suzie and I have been a bit gusier that usual - something has to give and it's been my blogging time that has suffered.

It's not just been us two that have been busy, so have the boys. Mark has been working on his internship stuff, which is progressing nicely.

And BMW's current 320d seems to have a number of problems which means that Andy has had a number of complete engine rebuilds to do replacing crankshafts, camshafts and turbo. He's the onlt technician at Stratstone Derby to do this level of work on the latest generation of BMW diesel engine and he's loving it. August has seen him at BMW's college near Reading for 2 whole weeks as well, and he "mastered" (at 80%) the first of the senior technician exams, so he's well on his way to that qualification.

Also during August, Angie and John finally got up to Derby in John's recently acquired Ford Focus estate, bought 2nd hand from a dealer on Mersea Island, it is in excellent shape and will hopefully serve him well for the next couple of years. Not sure if we'll see them again this week end, it's Dad's birthday on Bank Holiday Monday but it's only 2 weeks since they were here last.

While talking of birthdays, it was my Aunty Katy's 80th this week, so happy birthday and congratulations on becoming an octogenarian.

Suzie has been using up some of her holiday entitlement this week with a couple of days at home then a trip to Suffolk to stay with Liz & Bill at Kesgrave, along with Karen from Canvey Island. From the texts and phone calls it seems like she's had a good time with her friends so hopefully she will be nicely relaxed when she gets back.

Postie Bike Challenge

Got the following message on the Deauville Owners Forum, worthy of more exposure...

Hi Folks,

My husband, Ron, and I have both been keen motorcyclists for more than 30 years and, after many years of procrastinating about participating in the “Postie Bike Challenge”, we've decided to take part this year! You can read more about the “Postie Bike Challenge” on the following website: Postie Bike Challenge.

The spirit of the event calls for the support of those less well off than us and, in keeping with this, we will each donate the money we raise from selling our Postie Bikes at the completion of the Challenge to a registered charity. We have chosen “Habitat for Humanity” as the benefactor because of their well established domestic and international programs of providing safe, decent and affordable shelter to underprivileged families in need. You can read more about “Habitat for Humanity” on their Australian website: Habitat for Humanity.

This year’s Challenge will cover more than 3,300 kilometres on a route through outback Queensland, western New South Wales, the Snowy Mountains, the Victorian Alps and the Yarra Valley.

I've setup a website so that our family, friends and sponsors can follow our preparations and progress - see see Ron & Kathy Leslie's 2009 Postie Bike Challenge.

Kathy

Post holiday blues

After a thoroughly enjoyable holiday in Jamaica both Suzie and I have been busy both at work and at home, playing catch-up and trying to stay on top of all the stuff that is modern living. At the same time we have both been feeling lethargic and suffering interupted sleep patterns and feeling tired as a result.

Accounts of our holiday may or maynot get posted to the web site (I still haven't done last years's write up yet). Other things are currently taking a higher priority in our lives and I hope to get back to regular blogging again sometime soon.

Jamaica

Yes, we are back from our vacation in Jamaica, so here's the answers to the standard questions:-

Yes we enjoyed ourselves. We had a relaxing time and ALL INCLUSIVE is the only way to do Jamaica.

Mostly we relaxed but we also went on some organised tours, including...
* Rafting down the Martha Brae
* Climbing Duns Falls
* Walking round the Blue Mountain coffee plantation
* Dining at Strawberry Hills
* Visiting Bob Marley museum and Devon House for an enormous ice cream cornet
* A day's shopping trip into Montego Bay which we cut short
* Visit to Negril's 7 mile beach for 4 hours in beautifully clear water
* 2 hours at Rick's Cafe to watch the cliff jumpers
* Luminous Lagoon (night visit)

Food was excellent, normally buffet but with 3 speciality resturants which we sampled.

Weather was hot and got hotter every day. Mostly clear skies but some overcast periods. Tropical lightening storm on the 2nd Monday night (after the lagoon trip) which we watched for nearly 2 hours.

Entertainment everynight, some better than others, music, dancing, limbo, fire eating, steel band with acrobatics.

There were loads of organinsed sports, fun and games to join in, watch or ignore as you wished.

We both spent time just chilling and relaxing in the sun and have come back with pretty good sun tans.

An excellent holiday, glad we've been there and done that but no desire to go back again. When I get round to it I'll post a full account with pictures on the family web site.

The fundamental difference

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies, cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber goes to open his shop the next morning there is a ' thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The cop is happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week.'

The professor is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your Business' and 'Becoming More Successful.'

Then, a Member of Parliament comes in for a haircut and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'

The Member of Parliament is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the Members of Parliament.

Vote very carefully next year.

MP's Expenses - again

Following the relevations that MP's have been egging their expense claims, it has been announced that there will be a Police investigation and that "prosecutions may result".

While I applaud the announcement, and the sentiment behind it, I've developed a healthy scepticism for these things so whatever you do don't hold your breatrh or expect any real activity in this area - the Old Boys Network will swing into action (if it hasn't already) and virtually nothing will be done in the end. A few minor (community charge or jail) sentences, a bit of public wrist slapping, a good deal of back patting and sealed brown envelopes being exchanged. Just enough will be done so that the authorities and political party leaders can claim the "situation was investigated" and "appropriate action was taken".

European Parliament Elections

It appears that it is not just the world of Islam that has problems with election results. In the recent UK elections a BNP MEP was elected. Ever since opponents to the BNP have protested every time they have tried to organise a press conference. However, again one has to ask just who is benefitting from the resultant publicity?

Islamic Elections

The recent elections in Iran, controlled by the Islamic clerics, has been validated despite 50 cities each recording 3million more votes than there are voters. This could lead one to conclude that those that preach the Islamic code are basically corrupt.

Or, that as they can’t do basic maths , that they are just plain ignorant. Make up your own mind.

Mark's 1st car

Parked up in front of the house, waiting for Andy to return from his holiday in Cyprus to do the service work and get it sorted for the 1st July when it goes back on the road, here's the first photo of Mark's first car:-



For those that don't do cars it is a Fiat Punto 1.2 from 2000 with 70,000 miles under it's wheels it runs sweet as a nut but needs some attention to the brakes and a good T-cut and polishing.

Mark's gets exam results

Yesterday Mark got the exam marks for the end of his 2nd year Maths degree course. Overall he achieved 76% which means that he is still on course for a First Class Degree.

For both Mark and the family this is great news. It is confirmation that he is putting in the effort, getting to grips with the subject at every level as it is introduced and a positive reflection of his dedication. He puts in long (and sometimes late night) hours and this is just the confidence boost he needs to take him into his final year.

MP's Expenses - Taking the Piss!

Today the BBC news is reporting that....

"More than 50 MPs have claimed expenses for council tax they have not paid the Daily Telegraph says.

They are said to have claimed more than the rates of tax published by councils.

The new expense allegations came after police launched a criminal inquiry into an alleged misuse of expenses by a small number of MPs and peers.

Police say it’s economic and specialist crime command will investigate, following a public outcry about the way some MPs used their allowances."

Now the recent revelations have been eye opening enough on their own, but to find that these so called "Honourable Gentlemen" have actually claimed on their expenses for more than they have been charged by their local council, AND that some of them actually haven't paid their rates even though they have claimed/over claimed those same rates on their expenses to my mind is CRIMINAL!

We have seen a redaction (where did that word come from) of expenses for claims supposedly made in error. I just hope we get to see these MP's doing a jail term for fraud or criminal theft. They have been stealing from ordinary folks like you and me, tax payers, voters and mostly people earning far less than MP's get as a salaary.

Is my blood boiling? No, not yet, but it's getting there! If you want to read the whole report then visit the BBC web site.

MP's Expenses - New rules

With all the fuss being made over the recent disclosures I thought I'd make a few suggestions for Mr Gordon "Bleeding Liar" Brown to mull over....

Primary Residence - MUST be within the defined boundaries of the sitting MP's constituency. If you don't live in the area you can't stand for the seat -- that should cut down some un-necessary travel.

Secondary Residence - NOT PERMITTED if the PRIMARY residence is within a 1 hour commute or 50 mile radius of the House of Commons.

Secondary Residence - MUST be within a commuting distance of the House of Commons NOT EXCEEDING 30% of the distance to the PRIMARY residence.

Commuting expenses NOT ALLOWED:-
1. Between Primary, secondary or any other residences owned by, rented to, leased to (or in any other way used by) the MP (i.e. not the ex-husband/wife's home, the girl/boy friend's home the mistress/lover's home). Same applies for any commercial property or business by whatever association (it earns a 2nd income so it can fund the travel).
2. Any travel claims between any of the properties identified in 1 above and the House of Commons on the grounds that normal working people have to pay their commuting costs so why should MP's be any different.

That'll do for starters....

Sunny weekend, wet Monday

Yes, the weekend was nice a sunny and (mostly) warm. We did the usual mundane things necessary for "normal" daily life, like the weekly shop at ASDA, washing and ironing. But we also managed some more relaxing things, like Friday night meal in the local pub, time gardening and with parents.

Saturday evening Fred cooked Suzie and I a meal because his wife Addie is away and it's Fred's opportunity to do what he wants to do, with his friends (us!). We responded with a BBQ for Sunday lunch and had Fred round to ours to join in. Good weather, good food & good company.... what more can one ask for?

Today has been a complete change. Back to work, it's thundered and lightening'd and been generally damp. Nut when it's on a working day that's not so bad!

Dad's back home

Dad's back home, delivered by private ambulance. Both he and mother were refreshed by the break this 2 weeks of respite have given them both.

What did mother do with the spare time the respite gave her? She took the dog to various parks for extended walks and she cleared a load of junk out of the garage (it's still got loads left in there though).

And Dad approves of the new television, which is crystal clear for him even though he watches it from diagonally across the lounge.

Oh! And Sheba has got to go to Weight Watchers, starting Monday (tomorrow) because she had her annual check over and she has put on far too much weight in the last year.

Tickets to Jamaica

This week Suzie got our flight tickets and accomodation vouchers for our holiday in Jamaica.

On Friday she got some Janaican Dollars, £54 worth....

That's $7,500JA

Not sure what that will buy but I have done some checking and for 2008 the minimum wage in Jamaica is $3,200JA per week. That's not much at all and I'll bet there are people living there earning that.... Makes one think about certain values, doesn't it?

Speeding motorcycle rider convicted

Two friends set out on two motorcycles to race on public roads. One is filming the whole event, including the head on colision that results in the death of his "friend". The film footage which shows his motorcycle travelling at 156mph is used by the police to convict him.

As a motorcyclist / biker / ride of powered 2 wheelers I am appauled at the contempt these 2 riders had for both the law and the image of motorbike users that results from their actions and the media coverage it has attracted.

But I ask you, would you want to count the survivor as a friend? Somebody who puts their life, your life and the lives of countless others at risk doesn't deserve a friend in the world.

Suicide Bombers

Some would call them the bravest of the brave, martyrs to their cause (whatever it is) but to me they are the most cowardly form of ignorance. These are people who see the act of strapping a bomb to their body or driving a bomb loaded vehicle and then placing and detonating the device where it will cause most grief and loss of life and publicity as a courageous act.

There’s nothing heroci about that AT ALL!

Their actions are born out of ignorance, fuelled by arogance and perpetuated by lost causes and out dated philosophies. Think of the irony – pilots of suicide aircraft wore/wear helmets! Why?

Islam & Islamic Extreemists

If Islam is such a “good” and “worthy” religion then how come the only views, news and images that we get are those covering the violent actions of Islamic Extreemists?

It has emerged in the news this week that the downing of the Air France aeroplane in the Atlantic off the north coast of South America was another bombing by Islamic Extreemists. The image I and much of the world has of the World of Islam is one where voilence rules, where rational thought and democratic negotiation are rejected out of hand and where there is no individual or collective conscience. As a result I have to conclude that death is all that should be bestowed on ALL those that follow the Islamic faith to rid this planet of an uncontrolled and uncontrollable scourge that cannot adapt to encompass or embrase modern society and values different to their own.

Darby & Joan

Yesterday Andy and his girlfriend left for 2 weeks holiday in Cyprus.

Mark departed at the same time to spend a few days with his girlfriend in Manchester.

So Suzie & I are home alone, Darby & Joan... Oh the house was so quiet last night.

Bliss!

In a little over 2 weeks Suzie & I will be off to Jamaica... Can't wait!

Mark's first car

Well it has been bought, newly MoT tested (and passed after replacing a duff bulb). It's done 70,500 miles and last year had a replacement engine out of a 30,000 mile car after the original engine broke a valve. That engine had a new cam belt fitted, so what's to be done? Here's the list we are working to...
1. A full service, with
2. New brake pads (front) and
3. New brake shoes (rear)
4. A new clutch (the current one is near the end of it's life and very heavy)
5. Interior valet
6. Removal of a small dent in the nearside door
7. Exterior valet, buff & polish
8. 2 new hydraulic strutts on the rear hatch
9. Replace a duff exhaust mounting bracket.

Including buying the car, all that should come in at under £800 -- a bargain for a first motor!

New 50mph speed limits

Derbyshire has been following Worcestershire's lead in introducing county wide 50mph speed limits. Main roads with national speed limits -- thats 60mph -- are being restricted to 50mph. The labour controlled county claimed that this was being done to reduce accident statistics. To back up the speed limit reductions more mobile speed traps are being set up and Specs 3 avarage speed cameras are being deployed across the county.

So the question is... will the roads of Derbyshire be safer? The short answer is NO! Those that drive or ride with excess speed will continue to do so, but larger numbers of us road users will be at risk of exceeding the un-necessarily low new 50mph speed limit.

Police and the Road Safety Partnership have admitted that they are targetting riders of motorcycles in their selective choice of locations for speed traps. Why? These same riders bring millions of pounds in tourist revenue to the county and if they stay away then that's lost revenue and fewer targets for the "Safety cameras".

And when the manufacturers of cars and trucks build their cars to be most economical, fuel efficient and environmentally friendly at between 56mph and 62mph, then imposing a 50mph limit will hit us all in the pocket as we have to use more fuel to travel slower.

Includied in the upgrade to Spec 3 is an upgrade to make the sensors built into the road more sensitive in order to register motorcycle traffic, which also means that they will have no trouble registering HGV traffic and prosecuting them for exceeding the 40mph limit that applies to them but which they can get away with exceeding at the moment because the road sensors don't distinguish between them, cars or bikes.

Road pricing via the back door? The government says no! But then they have lied to us about everything else -- so if they can't be honset with their expenses claims why should we believe them on ANY other subject?

Will the fact that Labour has lost control of the county to the Tories after 28 years make a difference? You'd better hope it does?

MP's expenses - Truth is out

There's been a lot of hoo-ha and media coverage about British Members of Parliament fiddling, falsifying or exagerating their expenses claims.

So what? Big deal!

We all thought that MPs were only seeking election to line their own pockets. All the recent revelations have proven is that we now KNOW that they are only seeking election to line their own pockets.

Will any good come of the revelations. Normally I'd say no, but, under the current economic circumstances I'm hopeful that change will happen.

A Special Sunday

Today was a bit special. Sue and the boys are involved in the counting of votes for the European vote that took place on Thursday leaving me free to do my own thing, so, I’d arranged to take mother down to the Helen Lay Centre to visit Dad in the morning, then go to lunch and return after Dad had had his Sunday lunch for a second visit before heading back home. We left mother’s place at 10:10, got to Helen Lay at 11:15 after driving through some attrocious weather. Mum admitted that if she’d been driving she’d have gone back home. We saw numerous accidents on the way, the biggest being a 5 car pile-up. Standing water on the motorways was the problem, that and the fact that drivers weren’t slowing down, so when they hit puddles in the outside lane it just spun them into the barrier. Must have seen a dozen wrecks in all.

Dad was really well, looking very good. He’d had a hair cut and was well rested. He’d been in a jacqusi pool in the week and really enjoyed it. Tonight he was going into the church service. And he’s been mixing with others in there for respite. He looked well and mother is benefitting from not having to care for him 24/7. Yes, today was a special day.

His first car

Over the last few weeks we have been seriously looking for a little first car for Mark. After looking at scores of overpriced bangers advertised on eBay and AutoTrader, in local newspapers and on staff bulletin boards, the success was eventually found in our own close. Jacqui and John not only got given a CRT tele (from my Mum) but also a Ford Mondeo from some family friends, leaving him to find a home form his faithful 1200cc Fiat Punto hatchback. Which will very soon be sitting on our drive awaiting Mark's careful ownership. It needs some loving care and attention but at the price he's got it for he can afford to spend a few bob on getting it sorted.

TVs for OAPs

This week has seen both sets of parents (that's mine and Sue's) or grandparents (Andy and Mark's) deciding to upgrade their old, large, CRT televisions for new slimline, flatscreen, modern replacements. Andy takes my Mum to our local Curreys Electrical and they come away with a 37" Toshiba, while Mark accompanies Sue's Mum & Dad to the same outlet and they come away with a 37" LG. Both get installed by the respective grandson and grandparents appear happy with the resultant installations.

Both large CRT televisions have been donated & gratefully received by new homes, both to families that need but can't afford a new tele. That's charitable giving in action.

Playing catch-up .... News in brief

Thursday 4th June is voting day across Britain for local and European elections. For us there's no local elections so it's European's only. Sue is responsible for making sure ALL the Polling Stations in Derby City are set up, provisions made for storing the boxes until the count on Sunday, facilities in place for the press, etc.. etc... etc... She's off to work at 08:00 and gets home at 02:30 in the morning (today). She just has to do the votes count on Sunday now...

Wednesday 3rd June is a bad news day. Andy tells us that at the weekend a workmate was knocked off his motorbike and has a broken neck, no paralysis but 12 weeks off work. Then I hear that a former FNIS work colleague gave birth to a daughter prematurely, and the baby died some 6 hours later. And young Robbie at FNIS had his motorbike stolen from outside the gym that night, all caught on CCTV which isn't clear enough to show the registration of the van used to take it away.

Sunday 31st May I lead another ride out around the roads of Derbyshire and the Peak District, starting out from Arkwright's Mill at Cromford, up the Via Gelia to Hartington, through Longnor and Buxton to Fernilee Reservoir before heading up to Newhouses on the A6 and heading cross country to Glossop for a stop at the cafe for lunch. Loads of bikers there, great weather and motorbikes everywhere.



After lunch it was off down The Snake Pass (blustery strong winds)through the grounds of Chatsworth House, up over Downey Moor and down the A61 to Stratstone Motorcycles at Clay Cross for a browse and a cuppa. Then off across Wooley Edge to Matlock Bath and several hundred powered two wheelers. A day in heaven.



Saturday 30th May First thing I'm up and away to the local MoT Centre to get my motorbike MoT tested, and it flies through, no problems. Just after mid-day Dad gets picked up and taken by private ambulance to the Helen Lay Centre for 2 weeks respite for both of them. Mum's now at home resting and doing all those things she doesn't get time to do when Dad's home.

Thursday 16th May A review has been undertaken and I'm given a letter stating that my job was no longer at risk. A mighty sigh of relief was heaved I can tell you. I sent Sue a text to say that we would still be going on holiday with Carole & Giuseppe.

Thursday 9th May was the last day of my 3 month probation period with my new employer Fidelity National Information Services. I was expectant but got a shock, a letter advising me that my job was at risk. It was Mum's birthday but my mind was elsewhere that weekend when Angie and John were up to see Mum & Dad. I didn't want to, and managed not to, say anything about it to any of them.

Walking the Dog -- Update

As a result of the fall, Carole ended up having to go to Casualty Dept at the local hospital and taking 3 days of work due to a badly sprained knee. Last night she and Suzie went out to watch Suzie's boss in an Am Dram play (The Greatest Little Whore House in Texas) and I ended up taking Carole back home in Nottingham as she can't drive and has been told to rest it (which she can't / won't).

Diabetes - one year on

Last Friday I had my first annual checkover for my diabetes. Marion (the Diabetes Clinic nurse) confirmed the result of a Fasting Blood Test taken 3 weeks earlier. It was a straight 5.0 against a self test meter reading taken that morning of 5.7. Either way it's good, the nurse is happy and I'm happy. She says I can reduce my pills, but, was happy that I'd stay on a nominal 2 daily, which I'll reduce as I feel fit based on how I feel and meter readings -- I use Accu-Chek. My weight has gone up a little but that's not an undue cause for concern and hopefully will reduce with a bit more exercise in my daily routine.

Walking the dog

This has become the latest request every time anybody goes near mum.... "Can you walk the dog for me?" Now mum & dad got Sheba to replace Donna after she died at a time when everybody though dad was closer to death that he is right now. He was going through a bad spell with his MS and they insisted that Sheba would be good company for mum and get her out of the house. They had forgotten just how much of a chore walking Donna had become. I argued that another dog would become a liability but no, mother was going to have another dog, another Welsh Border Collie, another dog that requires lots of regular exercise.

And now I'm expected to find time to walk a dog that isn't mine!

Well, while I was gardening this afternoon Suzie took the dog to a local park to walk with Carole and her dog Nero (a Doodle). The dogs go into a stream, Nero gets out, Sheba gets stuck in the mud, and in pulling her out Carole ends up face down in the stream and soaked from head to toe.

And now they wonder why I won't walk the dog!

Mother's birthday

Yesterday was mother's birthday, so I got down there early on to take her a card and present. Later on Angie and John arrived from Colchester for a pre-arranged weekend visit. While they were there the 2 boys popped down to see them, and then later still Suzie & I paid then another visit before returning home as I had a "taxi run" to do to take Fred & Addie to the railway station at the start of their 2 week summer vacation - they are flying off today to have some fun in the sun and would have been catching the train to London this morning except there were no trains in the UK today.

Anyway, I think mother enjoyed her birthday even if she did look very tired. John's leg muscle is repairing after a very bad strain which he got at work over a month ago. His employers have been good and put him on very light duties since he returned but every now and then he gets a twitch to remind him that all is not yet right.

By the way -- Happy 74th Birthday Mum! From all of us.

Gardening

Not my favourite passtime, but, today I've been out in the back garden doing a bit of tidying up. I cut the Leylandi at the bottom of the garden down to size to balance up the view. Next was a trip round the borders sharpening up the edges, then out with the strimmer to do those awkward bits that used to be done by shears. Next, out came the shears and a couple of bushes got trimmed and shaped, then finally out came the lawn mower for some stripes in the lawn.

The result must be worth the effort, even Suzie commented how smart the back garden is tonight.

More (unplanned) expense

Last weekend it was a new tyre for the motorbike, this weekend it was a new windscreen for the car. Fortunately I'm insured fully comprehensive so I only had to pay the excess of £60, but, it's still an expense I could have done without.

Tell you what though. It's wonderful to drive a car with a clear windscreen and not one that has been ravaged by 90,000 miles of (mainly) motorway driving and which has the effect of having been sand blasted, it's like driving a new car.

Keeping in touch - family

Last Sunday we had a visit from my cousin Susan with her dad Alan and his sister Katy (my uncle & aunt respectively). They came up to visit father who can’t get out of the house unless in a medical ambulance and they like to keep in touch with him when they can. Katy is older than dad and is 80+ while Alan is a couple of years younger and roughly the same age as mum at 74(ish). Katy had recently received Maundy Money from the Queen at St Edmundsbury Cathedral and it was interesting to see the 1 penny, 2 penny, 3 penny and 4 penny pieces that are specially minted in silver and kept in a little leather pouch, while in another pouch there is a £5 coin and a 50 pence piece. One pouch is white and one red (I don’t remember which is for which). Alan was her escort on the day and they both enjoyed the service and presentation although Katy commented that the Queen didn’t actually speak to the recipients of the Maundy money. Today when I visited mum & dad, mother showed me the Diss Express where the event was written up and both Alan & Katy got a good few lines of coverage, which is nice for them and the family.

I rang my sister Angie on her birthday to wish her many happy returns. She’s still having no joy at all in finding employment and she will soon be out of JSA and on means tested benefits. I really do hope she finds something soon.

Then after the above mentioned visit from Susan, Alan & Katy I got a phone call from little sis Christine in America. During the call I mentioned that we will be holidaying in Jamaica this year with friends after we got a bargain deal on flights and all inclusive accommodation. Chris comes back at me with news that the hotel we are staying at is the one where she and Wayne married, then returned to for their 10th anniversary and that this year is their 20th anniversary. We will be there for the week that their anniversary falls so hopefully our little party of 4 will be come a party of 6. Again, fingers crossed (by the way Wayne – you are working too hard man!).

Keeping in touch - friends

This last couple of weeks haven’t seen me post very much on this here blog, but, it has seen some news from friends and ex-colleagues. I had an email from Carol (hi Lofty) to say she still reads this blog so we swapped a few more newsy emails. She’s enjoying retirement and still sees a number of former (female) colleagues so I got to hear the good news that Viv has been taken on permanently by Citibank after doing a 6 month cover for maternity leave.

I also mentioned to Carol that I’d not heard from Susan in Belper, but that was soon cleared up as she’d been sending me emails using an old email account that my spam/junk filters had picked up and binned. She hadn’t realised that she’d been using that account so that’s now sorted and I’m glad to hear that she’s still in work with HSBC, even if the commute to Sheffield is a bit tedious.

4 Day week

No, I’ve not been put on a short working week. Tuesday I went to the Birmingham office to work and for a meeting with work colleagues based there, and as usual I used the motorbike for the commute. Nothing untoward about that except on the way home I had to pass the scene of a recent accident and I thought I picked a clean line through the debris on the road. Except, Wednesday morning I’m all dressed up in my gear, topbox loaded and I’m ready to go when I discover that I’ve a flat rear tyre.

So Wednesday and Thursday I use the car and get Friday off to get a new tyre. Why a new tyre? Well firstly, it had already had one repair job done on it, and two is all you are allowed these days, and secondly, the tyres cost around £90 and a repair job is £30 - £35 and as it had already had one repair spending £60 - £70 on something that costs £90 doesn’t compute in my books. The front was fine and has plenty of miles left in it but the rear was starting to square off so a new Avon Storm ST (AV56) it was to be, except the nearest stockist is the other side of Nottingham.

Friday morning I stick as much air in the tyre as I can get it to hold, around 30 psi, and with foot pump in the topbox I set off for Colwick. I find MTS without any real problems even though I only have a rough idea of where it is. Tim is cheery and welcoming in his greeting, he has another customer Ken in front of me with an immaculate Yamaha R1 in blue which is in dire need of some new rubber, back and front so that he can go off to tour the Pyrenees in a few weeks time. The new Pirelli Super Corsas being fitted will be in need of replacement by the time he gets back if his calculations are correct – he reckons to around 2,500 miles per set…. Ouch! At £225 a pair that’s expensive riding.

While I’m waiting another Yamaha turns up. This on is a Fazer 1000 in grey set up for light weight touring – topbox only, no panniers. The owner Ken is semi-retired from the coal industry and he and his wife are soon off to France for a week or two. His bike also has Avon Storm tyres on it and his rear is down to the minimum wear strips. We are comparing wear rates and mileages covered when another R1 turns up, this time a very well looked after and original Rossi Limited Edition from around 2004. Well looked after except for the rear tyre that is. That tyre is down to the steel the whole way round for a strip about 1” wide. Tim has finished Ken’s R1 by now and walks over to have a look. The owner says he’s had the bike since November and this is the first tyre he’s had fitted. Tim says he’s lucky it’s held together.

My wheel comes off, new tyre fitted and after returning home I set off with Mark and we ride together to Buxton where I turn round and return to Derby via Chesterfield and Clay Cross. Mark continues to Manchester where he is staying with his girlfriend for the Bank Holiday weekend. When I get home I get the bike in the garage and fit new brake pads to the rear. That should be all the maintenance needed until next Bank Holiday at the end of May when it will get an oil and filter change and (hopefully) a new MoT.

Tomorrow’s Bank Holiday Monday so this week will also be a 4 day week, and next weekend marks the end of my probation period with my new employer, so fingers are very definitely crossed.

Summertime

And the living is easy.... well, so the George Gerswin song says….

Back in the real world and there's a job to be done, a living to be earned and bills to pay. I'm very lucky right now that I'm back in work, in a pleasant environment with like minded, dedicated people.

But I still remember what it's like to have spent just over 7 months without work. Most days spending 5, 6, 7 hours searching out opportunities and chasing them. Going for interviews where they were obviously bored and had really lost interest in the act of recruiting. And today it's even tougher than it was back in November/December when employers were winding down for the Christmas - New Year break. It's Angie's birthday today, but it won't be a special day because she, like some 2 million other countrymen and women, is looking for a job.

How can I, how can we, how can anyone help family, friends and ex-colleagues to find a job when there aren't jobs out there to be had? When there are so many people chasing each opportunity? I don't have an answer, but, I really do wish that I did have the answer, and right now. But I do know one thing - the politicians don't have an answer either, what's more, mostly they don't care! All they want is to screw as much money in phoney expenses and living claims to furnish second homes that they have no right to have when others are homeless or having their homes reposessed. The greedy bankers and financiers are being bailed out by the greedy politicians and it’s the ordinary people who are paying for it with their jobs, their livelyhoods, their homes and treasured possessions.

There’s an old saying…. If it looks like shit, and if smells like shit, and if it tastes like shit, then rest assured… it damned well IS shit! Be careful and don’t stand on it – it’s most likely a politician.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday Angie...

Look on the bright side, at least you wasn't 50 this year (it doesn't happen twice).

Bank Holiday weekend

It came and went so fast. First intentions were to have a lazy, relaxed weekend and to let others get stuck in traffic jams and end up in crowded places. And in the main, that's how it panned out. The weather was none to brilliant so there was little or no opportunity to wash the cars, mow the lawn or trim the bushes.

However, Monday was fine enough for Suzie and I to take a drive out into the Derbyshire peak district, doing both the Cat & Fiddle and the Snake Pass. Ploice were out in force chasing every biker that so much as breathed. Along the six miles that is the Cat & Fiddle I saw a clearly marked but sneakily parked Police CCTV camera recording van, a plain Volvo estate car with speed detector and camcorder, a fully marked up Volvo persuit car and a couple of police motorbikes, one in full colours and one plain with discretely mounted blue lights. Talk about victimisation... (or targeting resources as the authorities term it) but it was enough to (almost) spoil our day out and I was driving (not riding) for a change.

Anyway, we had a walk across the top of the lady Bower dam and seemed to generally be going against the popular flow of traffic. We saw some pretty long traffic jams, with the one out of Chatsworth house being the most notible at over 5 miles long (and going nowhere at all). But we weren't part of it and had an enjoyable trip. It almost persuaded Suzie that touring on a motorbike might be "sensible" when she realised that to a large extent I knew my way round the area simply because I run and hide in the Peak District whenever I get a chance for a ride out. Now she realises what she's missing out on. Time will tell.

Happy Wedding Anniversary

I know that Mum & Dad won't read this until after the event, but, Happy Wedding Aniversary for today to you both.

Back to normal - not quite

Thursday was back to work for me, returning to normality, except on I was required to go to Birmingham office for Friday which means an early start to the day, which also happened to be Suzie’s birthday. She had taken the whole week off work so was free to do as she pleased, including a trip to Sheffield with her mate Sam for some retail therapy.

Saturday’s main activity was the removal of an old mattress and a load of junk from the back garden to the local tip, achieved by using Mum’s MPV. Andy had been pre-booked to give it a check over, which revealed two tyres cracking due to age and one of those had a small nail in it. Andy has made arrangements for 2 new tyres to be fitted later this week. Then last night we went out for a meal with Wendy & Barry, and Dave. The chosen venue was the Boat Stop at Rowley which was both a pleasant and popular venue, with good quality food and amicable staff. We all returned back to our home to share a bottle of bubbly Sue was given for her birthday. A nice way to end the day.

Today was marked by the clocks going forward and us consequently loosing an hour in bed. Also the start of the F1 Grand Prix season, and the first suitable day for cutting the grass. Additionally I took a trip down to see Mum & Dad, who has been having a few problems with his catheter. The district nurse called while I was there this morning and when I popped back down at 7pm, she had been again to give him another clean one. Hopefully he will have a better night tonight.

Tomorrow is my birthday and I have to go to the Birmingham office again. Back to normal? No, not quite yet!

Scottish trip – the irony

There is no doubting the fact that we enjoyed Scotland. However, there was an irony that behind the trip. On our way up the M6 on Sunday I received a text from my friend Don to say that he and his wife Liz were in Derbyshire on a week’s vacation. Now Don and I have been mates for around 35 years. He and Liz live in Colchester (where we met) but both originate from Stranraer. And my text response was to the effect that we were then pulling into Tebay West motorway services on our way to Scotland for a few days. Ironic or what?

The good news is that we got back on Wednesday and Don & Liz came round for tea and a chat, which was the icing on the cake of our anniversary celebrations. It was good to see them, have a chat and share our experiences of the previous few days.

Touring Scotland – Wednesday

Up just after 8am, breakfast, pack and load the car. We’ve chosen the route back via Loch Lomond and it’s a good choice – an entertaining drive and picturesque at the same time. Instead of by-passing Glasgow Sue navigates us straight through the centre. Then we pick up the motorway and head on down the M74, first stop Gretna Green, where, after over 3 hours driving we decide to stop for a light pub lunch. Then it’s back on the road down to Penrith, where we pick up the A6 over Shap Fell on the old route to the north. We pick up the M6 again south of Kendal and continue over the Thurlwell Viaduct where the effects of the strong side winds can be really felt. Traffic is heavy so we take another short break at the Knutsford Services before completing the final leg of our trip.

A trip that celebrated our Silver Wedding Anniversary, and what a way to celebrate. Thank you Scotland.

Touring Scotland – Tuesday

Silver Wedding Anniversary day, so it starts with opening our cards from friends and family. Again we are up just after 8am and down to breakfast. Then we head out. Our first stop is the Ben Nevis Range gondolas and a ride up above the snow line to The Lodge. It’s windy, gusting 35mph, and as we set off light rain starts, which turns to snow as we near the top of the 15 minute ride. We walk through the café and out onto the veranda. Boy it’s cold. We are tourists and dressed as such, not mountaineers, so it’s a case of a few quick photographs and retire to the shelter of The Lodge. No purchases from the café (we’ve just had breakfast) but we do buy, write and post a couple of postcards to our parents.

Our next destination is to be Fort Augustus, and we set off but we come across the monument to The Commandos and despite the rain I’m out of the car (the only on in the car park) and at the statue/monument – it’s fabulous and a fitting tribute to our fighting forces. Back in the car and we are soon in Fort Augustus, we park up and walk up the side of the lock gates to the top lock, across and back down the other side, cameras clicking all the time. The rain is returning so we get back in the car and head off up Loch Ness, next stop Inverness.

The Commando monument


Inverness is dry and bright, but chilly and breezy. We park in the multi-storey car park at the bus station and take the short walk into town. An indoor market, a shopping precinct, then the pedestrianised High Street, popping in and out of stores and small local shops. We stop at Smith & Jones for a light lunch before continuing down to the river, then back tracking up the High Street and back to the car. Our chosen route is to take the less well travelled Ness Trail down the east side of Loch Ness and after a slight detour heading the wrong way on the B852 we find our bearings and the right route out of town. The road is fabulous, narrow with passing places down the east side of Loch Ness. We stop and walk down to Flores Falls, both upper and lower view points, and back up to the car and on to Fort Augustus where we get a cake and a cuppa in the local Tea Rooms. Just as we get back to the car the worst weather of the trip blows in so we head for Fort William.

There’s no let up in the weather and Sue has always wanted to do Glencoe, so trusting that our luck will hold we drive straight to the turning onto the B863 at North Ballachulish. We get 200 yards from the turning and the weather breaks, the clouds clear and the rain disappears – our luck is in. It’s a 10 mile loop round the loch and back to the A82, and it is absolutely the crown to our trip. Fantastic, fabulous, everything. Momentous and powerful waterfalls, stark and stunning scenery, snow top mountain backdrops, it has everything, including sunshine – it was worth the gamble and the effort. We return to The Moorings for our last evening meal to find that they have set aside a bottle of wine, on the house, for us to have with our evening meal to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, a nice touch. Of course, I end the day with a wee dram.

Touring Scotland – Monday

Up just after 8am and down to breakfast. We don’t often make the time for breakfast at home so a real cooked breakfast is a real treat. Fortified for the day we set off from Banavie to Mallaig. It’s a pretty route and we take a few detours onto alternative routes, mainly through villages that have been by-passed, as we try and stay on as much of the old road as possible. The forecast has been for heavy showers passing through, and that’s what we get, but, we manage several stops en route when the rain eases and when we get to Mallaig, it stops after we’ve spent a few minutes sitting in the car and while there’s a strong breeze, it’s dry and we explore on foot. Needless to say we missed the 08:40 ferry to Skye (by 3 hours) but we walk up the hill from the shops and find a view point that makes the effort worth while.

White sandy beach near Arisaig on our way to Mallaig


After about a 60 – 75 minutes we are back in the car and heading back to Mallaig, but instead of heading straight back we decide to take the long route down the A861 to Strontian and Loch Sunart, returning to Banavie via the west side of Loch Linnie. My camera has chewed up it’s batteries so we stop by at the hotel to pick up some spares I have in the room before heading off to Fort William and an escorted trip round the Ben Nevis distillery at 4pm, followed by some whiskey tasting and the purchase of a bottle to bring home. Then into town for a wander round and a bit of window shopping and finding a suitable place to eat later that evening. It’s getting cold and it’s 6pm so we head back to the hotel for a bath, to freshen up and change. We then go back into Fort William to the pub we’d chosen as our evening meal venue, returning to the hotel and retiring via the bar and a wee dram.

A Mothering Sunday drive

An early(ish) start to the day saw us up and about, cards from the boy opened and hugs all round, then completion of packing and Suzie & I hit the road for Fort William. The route we chose was A50 (J2) from Derby west to the A500, up to the M6 then all the way up to the M74 to the M80 towards Stirling before cutting off across country on the A84, A85 & A82 through Callander and Tyndrum to Fort William. All told it was (according to the on board computer) 403 miles, taking 6hrs 39mins, averaging 61mph at an average of 45.1mpg.

On the way we stopped at Tebay West services – described as the best in Britain. Now I’m no connoisseur of motorway services, but, if that’s our best then “Lord help us!”. Somewhere between Glasgow and Stirling we stopped again (at 4hrs into journey) at The Silk House, a Chinese buffet restaurant which was (for us a toilet break and a cuppa stop). Just wish we’d waited to eat there too. It was (from observation) fabulous, and busy, and very reasonably priced. Highly recommended if you’re travelling that way.

The only traffic jam we encountered was just after leaving The Silk House, near J9 of the M80 for some road works that cost us about 10-15minutes. Otherwise a straightforward trip.

We checked into the hotel and deposited our stuff in our room, then went down and had a “bar meal” which includes waitress service. We both had baked trout and it was superb. Retired to bed fairly early as we were quite tired and wanted an early start to Monday.

Surprise! Surprise!

Saturday dawned bright and sunny. I’m up early with a number of chores to do before heading off with the boys for a “Mothers Day” meal, just the 4 of us. This had been brought forward because Suzie and I were travelling up to Fort William for 3 nights away to celebrate our Silver Wedding anniversary on 24th.

So I did the laundry, and ironing, getting it all up to date. Then Mark and I went and had a hair cut at the local barbers – all exciting stuff, but, all stuff that was planned. The boys had told us that the meal was booked for 2pm (but not where) so with those jobs done (and more) we get ourselves ready and pile into Andy’s car. We arrive at the venue, the Newdigate public house in West Hallam and on entering find that Sue’s parents, Janice, Desmond, my mum, Angie and John, plus Emma (Andy’s girlfriend) all sat waiting for us at a reserved table.

So we had a lovely meal, with a special celebratory cake done by Sue’s mum (with a bit of help from Adie who did the decoration) and some impromptu photographs which I may well hook up into the web site at some time after we get back home from Fort William (which is where I write this from).

So along with a huge bouquet of flowers that the boys got Suzie for Mothers Day, we had a family anniversary meal and a splendid time. Just a shame that dad can’t get out and be a part of these things, but we took him a bit of the cake back later in the evening and showed him all the photos on the laptop, so he didn’t miss too much.

A big Thank You to the boys and Joyce for the arrangements, the family for turning up and making it an event and the Newdigate for their hospitality and entertaining us.

Learner Riders

Today I got a call from my mate Phil who lives close by on Oakwood. Did I want to go for a ride out? Half hour later (12:15) we set off for Matlock where we planned to meet up with Colin and some of his young rider. Phil had spent the week with his bike in bits doing his own servicing and he wanted to do a shake down run. I needed no such excuse.

Arriving a little ahead of Colin's expected arrival time we paid a visit to the local car park tea bar (all of 10 feet from our parked bikes) for a sausage cob and cuppa special. There were several bikers/motorcyclists hanging around and it's a friendly place so getting chatting with total strangers soon becomes the norm. One such encounter was a young lady with a white Ducati 848 (called Karen I beleive) who I had a brief chat with. She was on her way for a ride up into the Derbyshire Peak district "just for the sake of a ride-out".

Colin's group turned up, a mixture of seasoned and young riders. It took them several attempts to decide exactly where they were going to park up, but, they eventually made it across the car park to the shack and (following the usual round of greetings, handshakes and introductions) proceeded follow our example and to refuel on cobs and cuppas. All the time bikes were coming and going and I took the opportunity to take a couple of impromptu strolls around, have a gander and a chat. Bumped into Pat & Mrs Cray (both looking in exceedingly rude health) who were there on their Yamaha FJR.

We set off up the Via Gelia towards the Cat & Fiddle, before turning towards Ashboune, then to Carsington Water for a stop off and another "biker chat" before Phil & I cut loose to head back to Derby (at a very "lively" pace) while the others returned to Matlock before heading for home.

I enjoyed the whole afternoon, but, most of all I enjoyed the opportunity to ride with young riders like Karen and these learner riders, to talk with them about riding and about their motorcycling aspirations. That's what motorcycling in the UK needs -- fresh young blood. Youth! And female riders. Prepared to just get out there and ride for the sake of riding -- something that the law makers of this country just don't, and never will, understand.

Red Nose Day

It can hardly have escaped anybody's notice that yesterday was Red Nose Day. The bosses controlling the office I work in had allowed us time to organise events at work. Now Fridays are usually "dress down" days, but yesterday was "fancy dress" day with the emphasis on pyjamas, costumes or Just Red. I went for Just Red in the form of my (very bright) red shirt. Light hearted fun. There were five competitions, including a Wii Mario race game, Body Parts, Through the Keyhole, Jokes, Picture caption and a pub quiz style name the cartoon character. I came runner up in the joke competition and won the Picture Caption competition. I also supplied various cakes and buns which went down well, however, there are some left over for Monday.

All told we raised a total of £439.10

Mercedes update

New front pads fitted by Andy Wednesday evening. I then fitted a new air filter. What a difference! Drives and feels much better, more quality and refined. Makes me wonder just how long the control arm bushes had been in that state?

Picturs of the car are on the family website and sometime soon I'll update the ownership and running costs.

Mercedes build quality

Today Andy caught up on some of the maintenance jobs outstanding on my Mercedes C220 CDi (a Sport Coupe SE if you really want to know). This meant replacing both front control arm bushes (also known as push/pull bushes), both front discs and the central locking door motor in the drivers door. I’ve to get a new set of disc pads to go with the new discs, and they will go on this coming week to complete the job.

Now historically I’m a high mileage driver often doing 25,000 – 30,000 miles a year and often doing more. And in doing those sort of mileages I’ve had my fair share of motors. But in all my time I’ve never done in a set of discs, never had a central locking motor fail and only a Toyota Carina e 1.8 needed the attention in the control arm area (the control link arms having to be replaced when the bushes went). But that car had done 113,000 miles. The Mercedes has only done 86,000 and Andy reports that the discs were completely shot to pieces and the hub/disc carrier had extensive corrosion which he had to address.

I don’t know when I’ll be in a position to replace the Merc but one thing is for sure… the longer I own this one the lower the chances of me ever owning another. Build quality is a long way short of the legendary levels that used to be synonymous with the marque. In the modern era Skoda, once the but of build quality jokes, can now give Mercedes lessons on how a car should be build and screwed together. Even the 2 troublesome Rover 800s that I had the misfortune to own were better built considering the cost to buy into the experience.

Mark’s Birthday

Tuesday was just like any other workday Tuesday, except it was the day that Mark ceased to be a teenager. Some cards, a few presents (he’d already had his room done at the weekend) and we all went about our usual business. That evening, however, we went to Pepito’s on London Road, Derby for a rather pleasant Mexican meal. A bit on the pricey side but it was marking a special event after all so no complaints.

25th Wedding anniversary

In a little over 2 weeks from now Suzie and I will be celebrating our Silver Wedding Anniversary. Now silver isn’t something we have an affinity for, so instead of buying each other something silver that will never see the light of day we have decided to treat ourselves to a short break, so Mothering Sunday will see us driving up to Fort William where we will be staying in The Moorings hotel for 3 nights.

Now, apart from a day trip into Edinburgh Suzie hasn’t been to Scotland, and my record isn’t much better. A family holiday there in a Commer campervan with my parents, brother and sisters when I was about 12 years old, then 2 weeks in Edinburgh when I was working on an implementation at John Lewis back in January/February 2000, followed by the day trip with Suzie and the boys when we were on a caravan holiday at Berwick on Tweed when the boys were small.

So what are we aiming to do? Visit some historic places and learn a bit of the Scottish history and culture. A bit of touring to see the Great Valley, the lochs and possibly the western side coast and maybe a bit of the Highlands. Ex-colleague and friend Kev Mc has made some suggestions on routes and attractions as it’s his native land and he’s far more familiar with it that anybody else I know, because Don & Liz are from the Straraer area. Whatever we do, it will be some quality time together for us, and that’s what’s important.

Family web site

While I’ve been neglecting the blog of late the same can’t be said of the family web site. I’ve added a number of pages relating to the Honda Deauville motorbike, improved navigation with more links in the navigation bar and posted my biking history along with some details and photos of my long standing friend Don and his bikes. The front page now has 8 photos instead of the 1 that was there before and I’ll be doing more work on it over the next few months.

My motorcycling

Well 4 weeks into my employment and I’ve been able to use the Deauville for my daily commute from week 2, when it got used 4 out of 5 trips, missing out on the Thursday visit to the Birmingham office. Ditto week 3. This week it only saw action on Monday (to Leicester) and Tuesday (to Birmingham) – the latter resulting in a very wet ride home after the weather took a turn for the worse. With day time showers and night time frosts I used the car for the last 3 days commute.

I’m still active on the Deauville forum web site and hoping to get out on some rides with the folks sometime this year. On top of that there are a number of race rep riders at work, as well as a Harley owner and a Virago trike pillion rider, so my motorcycling is accepted much more readily that I have experienced in the past.

Mark’s scooter is now proving more reliable after the attentions I gave it during my period of unemployment. It had got quite unreliable and Mark’s response was to just neglect it rather than telling me about the problems he was experiencing. With the help of Phil on the Deauville forum (he lives nearby and also owns a 400 Burgman) I got it sorted. Yesterday after finishing at university he went off on it to Manchester to visit his girlfriend Eleanor, and I got a text to say that he arrived safe and sound so it must have performed OK.

Over time I’ve got a bit rusty with my use of the spanners but this episode has proved that I can still resolve mechanical problems if I put my mind to it, so it looks like I’ll have to start doing so more often.

Neglecting the blog

Sorry folks, but, I’ve been busy. There’s a lot for me to take on board at Fidelity and some nights I get home feeling mentally shot. Anyway, excuses out of the way – let’s play catch-up.

The week before last Angie came up from Colchester on the coach and stayed with mum and dad through to Thursday. I/we didn’t get to spend much time with her but hearing it from mum’s side it seems that her visit went well, and mum enjoyed having her company and help with dad. Mum seems to have finally realised that the time is getting near when she will not be able to cope with managing and caring for dad under the current “Care in the Community” set-up.

That weekend we were running round sorting out a replacement bed and carpet for Mark’s bedroom. Why? Because that is what he’d asked for as his birthday present which was Tuesday this week. The laying of the carpet was arranged for 2pm the following Saturday afternoon (before his birthday) and the bed to be delivered on his last day as a teenager (this Monday). That meant that Mark and I were fully engaged through Saturday emptying his room, cleaning, hoovering and preparing for the visit of the carpet fitters. This included squirting expanding foam into the gap under the skirting board along the front of the house to reduce the cold air blast getting into the room that way. The fitters arrived early and were finished by the time they were due to arrive, which meant an early start to putting everything back into the room. The result was well worth the effort and best of all, he loves it!

Paid my 2nd visit to the Birmingham office today, and found somewhere to park the bike, close to the office FOR FREE! It's in a public car park but the bike parking is free and right next to the office that's ALWAYS manned (while the car park is open) AND covered by CCTV. Result. Now I can use the bike for trips to that office as well as my base office in Leicester.

Back into routine

After over 7 months on the unemployed register (27/06/08 - 08/02/09) I'm now settling into the daily routine of getting up and going to work. The added beuty of my new job is that I can commute the 30 miles between home and work by motorbike as much as I like. And this week I liked 4 days out of 5, with only Thursday being a car commute when I had to go to the Birmingham office on Thursday. I was glad the schools were on half term holiday though, that's not a commute I'd like to have to do everyday in a car in term time, and now that I know the way, parking arrangements, etc... I'll be using the motorbike for that commute also.

Work itself is going well enough. Friday afternoon I had an informal performance review with my manager and he's happy. We both recognise that I have a steep learning curve but initial progress is good and I've been given my first project to work on (hence the need to go to Brum) and my 2nd project has been outlined to me for me to pick-up in a week or twos time.

Redundancies at MidlandHR

Just over a year ago zeda went into Voluntary Creditor Liquidation at the end of January and throughout February we (ex-staff & industry media) speculated on the future of MidlandHR, also part of the Ancaster Group holdings owned by John Mills.

Well, the wait is over and the sad news is that during the past week MidlandHR told at least 9 of their staff that in order to maintain company profit margins they had been selected for redundancy. Some of these people are former colleagues of mine from my time with the company. Some have years of service within the group, while one had only started with Midland 2 weeks previous.

Will this be enough to keep Mr Mills in the lifestyle that he craves or is this just the start and will we now see redundancies at ABM-UK as well? One thing is certain, those shown the door this past week will find it tough getting another job in the current economic climate.

Quick update

Work, and no access to the internet while at work, means little time to update the blog. Not complaining, after 7 months jobless I'm happy to be back at a desk and tomorrow I'm starting on my first piece of project work just 9 working days into my job. That's progress.

My first week

Yes, I've completed my first week at Fidelity (FIS) in Leicester. The morning commute (by car) is taking 50 miles for the 30 mile journey, while the return journey only takes 35-40 minutes (unless there's been an accident on the motorway like on Friday). The problem is the nuber of oportunities to queue in the mornings, mainly down to volume of traffic. Never mind, I'll start using the motorbike as soon as the weather improves (i.e. possibly tomorrow).

The office is on the 4th (top) floor of the building in Sunningdale Road, Leicester on the edge of the business park. The building is undergoing refurbushment at the moment but our office is little affected. There are about 70 - 80 people in a mainly open plan office and a good number of them ride motorbikes of one form or another, so I feel as if I'm in good company.

Introducions have been made, I've got an email and mainframe logon, inherited an IBM Thinkpad (laptop) of indescriminate age and abilities (it crashed a couple of time Friday) so time will tell on it's worth. Mobile phone is ordered and inductions to the various areas of the business are scheduled for the coming week. I've joined the tea club (most important) and started digesting the manuals I need to cover in order to get up to speed.

All told, quite satisfactory and I'm happy. Let's just hope it stays that way.

My first day at work

Despite the attempts of the weather to prevent my attendance, I borrowed Suzie's Tigra and (because it doesn't have traction control) got to work with time to spare.

How did it go? From my point of view it went down well. Nice people, asigned to a team of easy going (but hard working) folk. There's loads to learn and little time to do it in, but, that's my first task.

How did I get on? Well enough for them to expect to see me again in the morning.

At last – my last day

As I’ve rarely worked anything other than Monday – Friday, and I start my job at FIS on Monday, as far as I’m concerned today is my last day unemployed. Thank you to everybody who has sent me a supportive message.

Now all I need is for this damned snow and ice to go away so that I can get to Leicester on Monday morning!

In my world

With snow on the ground my car isn’t going anywhere, however, yesterday there was a thawing so I was able to collect Mark from University and run him into Derby to get some prescription glasses sorted out at the optician. Having dropped him off it was time for a spot of supermarket shopping before picking up Viv for a lunchtime drink, snack and chat. It was good to meet up and swap survival stories, catch up on news of former colleagues and just plain socialise again. I do hope that the role she’s in at the moment does turn into a permanent role for her at the end of March.

After that little escape, it was back home to unload the shopping, do some housework and (later) after applying a few updates to my web site, I prepare dinner for the family. This morning the snow was back and the car is staying on the drive. Washing machine loaded with laundry and I settle down for some blogging.

What else? Oh yes, I’ve not mentioned that Andy was below par over the weekend and by Sunday night he’d come out in spots. Monday morning he gets off work to see our GP who diagnoses Chickenpox! That night when he shows his mum she says that they are the same as the ones Mark had immediately before his exams in early January. Andy took the rest of Monday off work, but, was back in on Tuesday as he’s through the contagious stage.

Yesterday Mark got his exam results. Good, no, Excellent news! He’s still on course for a 1st class degree…. in Mathematics! The weather is playing havoc with his commute run between Derby and Nottingham but he’s still banging away, hard on the studying away in his room. If he doesn’t get his 1st it won’t be for the lack of trying.