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.
Monday 31 August 2009
Friday 28 August 2009
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.
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!
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.
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.
Thursday 6 August 2009
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
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
Saturday 1 August 2009
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.
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.
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