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.