Tuesday 14 September 2010
Job hunting - Update
Today Andy went back to JCB for the second round interview. I've only spoken to him briefly but he seems really impressed with the work he would be doing and the workshop environment. The downside is a 35 mile each way commute. More later when he's had a chance to update us further.
Puncture
Sunday evening I was checking te motorbike over making sure everything was in order for the coming week when I spot a nail stuck in the rear tyre. I checked the tyre pressure and it was 5 pounds down from the 42 psi it should be. The last time I rode it had been Thursday, so working on the basis that it could only have lost those 5 pounds in a minimum of 3 days then it was obvious the leak was pretty minimal, so I left the nail in the tyre.
I'd pre-booked today as annual leave to take Mark to an interview in Oxford, which he had cancelled after getting the job offer from BMI. So I used today to take the bike over to Tim Booth at MSL Nottingham, for a puncture repair. He took one look at it, got the depth gauge out and proclaimed that Avon would cover the cost of a new tyre if I paid the fitting charge, which would be the same as the cost of a puncture repair. No contest, new Avon Storm Ultra 2 tyre fitted! So that was 1,500 "free" miles on the tyre that is going back to Avon. Excellent!
I'd pre-booked today as annual leave to take Mark to an interview in Oxford, which he had cancelled after getting the job offer from BMI. So I used today to take the bike over to Tim Booth at MSL Nottingham, for a puncture repair. He took one look at it, got the depth gauge out and proclaimed that Avon would cover the cost of a new tyre if I paid the fitting charge, which would be the same as the cost of a puncture repair. No contest, new Avon Storm Ultra 2 tyre fitted! So that was 1,500 "free" miles on the tyre that is going back to Avon. Excellent!
Eye tests - update
Suzie can't get on with the vari-focals prescribed for her so she's going to have one pair for reading and computer work and another for distance work. Andy found that he could see better using Mark's spectacles than he could with his own, so he went back and retested him - they had got the prescription wrong and he's now waiting on a new pair. And today I was in town so popped into SpecSavers because the right "arm" of my specs had gotten all floppy - and they simply issued me witha new frame and swapped the lenses over for me.
Thursday 9 September 2010
Job hunting - One success
Mark has today received a job offer which he has accepted, to work for BMI at Donington starting 11th October, as a Pricing Analyst.
Well done son!
Well done son!
Safety Cameras are go! Update
Last night's BBC local news - "East Midlands Today" - announced the news that Derby City Council have decided to switch off 12 of the cameras under their control, with the remainder under review (so they must be money earners).
Additionally they announced that the council was going to switch off 15% of the city street lights at various times of the night in order to reduce spend on electricity.
And my view on this? It's a sensible move in the right direction. We don't need a big brother nanny state. Sensible solutions to real problems not over the top solutions to problems that don't exist until the solution is put in place - the imaginary problems of those that have nothing better to do than witter and worry their lives away. A hearty "Well done!" to Derby City Council.
Additionally they announced that the council was going to switch off 15% of the city street lights at various times of the night in order to reduce spend on electricity.
And my view on this? It's a sensible move in the right direction. We don't need a big brother nanny state. Sensible solutions to real problems not over the top solutions to problems that don't exist until the solution is put in place - the imaginary problems of those that have nothing better to do than witter and worry their lives away. A hearty "Well done!" to Derby City Council.
Eye tests
Recently we have all had them, except for Mark. First up, I had to have an upgrade to my varifocals. Then Suzie, now using varifocals (after single focus specs that she never wore) and finally Andy, who now has his first pair of specs for close up work. How did we all manage without them?
Job hunting
No, not me this time. Both the boys are looking for employment.
Andy has become very unhappy at Stratstone and is looking for alternative employment. He’s had a first interview with JCB and has a date for a second interview. There are 2 positions going and only 6 applicants being interviewed. The qualifications required were very specific to the industry, hence the short list for interviews. The only problem Andy has with this opportunity is the commute distance which is over 30 miles each way – he sees this as creating additional wear & tear on his car, increased travel costs and time and no increase in his pocket (possibly being worse off) but it would give him the change he is seeking and a way out of Stratstone.
Mark has had some interviews, 2 in London, 1 at Donington and another coming up next week at Stratford upon Avon. He cried off from an assessment day in Oxford as he’s decided he wants to work closer to home and the expense of living there would have taken all his salary leaving nothing to live on. BMI at Donington would have been good but he felt the interview didn’t go too well and he’s not (yet) been called for a second interview. Next Tuesday he’s got to do a presentation as part of the interview/assessment day at Stratford, which is making him nervous.
Hopefully they will both find something sometime soon.
Andy has become very unhappy at Stratstone and is looking for alternative employment. He’s had a first interview with JCB and has a date for a second interview. There are 2 positions going and only 6 applicants being interviewed. The qualifications required were very specific to the industry, hence the short list for interviews. The only problem Andy has with this opportunity is the commute distance which is over 30 miles each way – he sees this as creating additional wear & tear on his car, increased travel costs and time and no increase in his pocket (possibly being worse off) but it would give him the change he is seeking and a way out of Stratstone.
Mark has had some interviews, 2 in London, 1 at Donington and another coming up next week at Stratford upon Avon. He cried off from an assessment day in Oxford as he’s decided he wants to work closer to home and the expense of living there would have taken all his salary leaving nothing to live on. BMI at Donington would have been good but he felt the interview didn’t go too well and he’s not (yet) been called for a second interview. Next Tuesday he’s got to do a presentation as part of the interview/assessment day at Stratford, which is making him nervous.
Hopefully they will both find something sometime soon.
A holiday beckons
It’s not long to go now, just over 10 days in fact, to our well earned break in Tenerife. Just like Jamaica last year, we are flying out and holidaying with Carole & Giuseppe – that way Sue has company for lazing on the beach and that leave us two guys free to roam and explore. Yes, Suzie and Carole have similar likes and dislikes, as do Giuseppe and I so nobody gets left out on their own or feels guilty of neglecting their partner. It has worked well in the past and should be the correct recipe for the coming one week holiday break.
As usual, us two guys have left the booking and arrangements to the ladies. Suzie loves researching places we are visiting and she has already found a bar called AJ’s Bar None for us to frequent in Tenerife, just a short walk from the hotel. Currently the ladies are reading up on all the tours and (as is fairly usual) we’ll hire a car, I’ll do all the driving, and we’ll get to see everything without the expense of all the individual tours that the tour companies like to persuade tourists to go on. So roll on 21-Sept, I can’t wait.
As usual, us two guys have left the booking and arrangements to the ladies. Suzie loves researching places we are visiting and she has already found a bar called AJ’s Bar None for us to frequent in Tenerife, just a short walk from the hotel. Currently the ladies are reading up on all the tours and (as is fairly usual) we’ll hire a car, I’ll do all the driving, and we’ll get to see everything without the expense of all the individual tours that the tour companies like to persuade tourists to go on. So roll on 21-Sept, I can’t wait.
New car
On the Friday of the last Bank Holiday weekend Suzie & I took a trip over to Stafford Volkswagen to have a look at a VW Passat that I’d seen on the web, via VW UK. The trip over confirmed that even with all the recent work Andy had put into the Mercedes, that while it was now running as I’d always expected a Mercedes should, it still wasn’t and riding as it should, still a suspension clunk or two along the way. Too bad, it had tried my patience and stretched my bank account once too often and I wanted rid of it.
The car we went to see was a Passat B6 model, 2.0 TDi SE saloon in my preferred colour of Iron Grey and when we got there we were not disappointed – definitely the best pre-owned Passat we’d seen to date. The test drive was quite generous as Tim (the salesman) had been busy and wanted a bit of time to relax. On returning to the dealership Sue and I had a private chat and decided that if I could get the “right deal” then I’d be it’s next owner. And so it is. I collected it on 01-Sept after finishing work and was more than happy to leave the Merc with them for them to put it through the auctions, but not before it threw one last tantrum resulting in me having to fit a new anti-roll link rod to the n/s/f suspension when that collapsed on Saturday morning. At least that finally got rid of the last of the suspension clunks.
VW Passat 2.0 TDi SE saloon, B6 model from May 2007.
So after just over a week with the Passat, how is our relationship developing? Quite nicely, as it happens. One of the central air vents in the dashboard needs replacing, the steering wheel isn’t on straight when driving in the dead-ahead and the chunky rear tyres make some strange noises on some road surfaces. The vent and tracking will be covered by the warranty (one year asit’s an approved used VW) and the tyres I can live with. At the weekend I won a set of genuine VW mats on eBay and I fitted them when they arrived yesterday morning. I’m very impressed with the ride, handling and pulling power. Acceleration is very good in any/all of the 6 gears and while it’s not an automatic, the torque from the engine means you don’t have to be fussy about which gear you select, there’s usually enough urge to get you going as quickly as you wish.
As far as I’m concerned the Passat is the quality of car that I thought I’d bought when I got the Mercedes
The car we went to see was a Passat B6 model, 2.0 TDi SE saloon in my preferred colour of Iron Grey and when we got there we were not disappointed – definitely the best pre-owned Passat we’d seen to date. The test drive was quite generous as Tim (the salesman) had been busy and wanted a bit of time to relax. On returning to the dealership Sue and I had a private chat and decided that if I could get the “right deal” then I’d be it’s next owner. And so it is. I collected it on 01-Sept after finishing work and was more than happy to leave the Merc with them for them to put it through the auctions, but not before it threw one last tantrum resulting in me having to fit a new anti-roll link rod to the n/s/f suspension when that collapsed on Saturday morning. At least that finally got rid of the last of the suspension clunks.
VW Passat 2.0 TDi SE saloon, B6 model from May 2007.
So after just over a week with the Passat, how is our relationship developing? Quite nicely, as it happens. One of the central air vents in the dashboard needs replacing, the steering wheel isn’t on straight when driving in the dead-ahead and the chunky rear tyres make some strange noises on some road surfaces. The vent and tracking will be covered by the warranty (one year asit’s an approved used VW) and the tyres I can live with. At the weekend I won a set of genuine VW mats on eBay and I fitted them when they arrived yesterday morning. I’m very impressed with the ride, handling and pulling power. Acceleration is very good in any/all of the 6 gears and while it’s not an automatic, the torque from the engine means you don’t have to be fussy about which gear you select, there’s usually enough urge to get you going as quickly as you wish.
As far as I’m concerned the Passat is the quality of car that I thought I’d bought when I got the Mercedes
Family health news
Dad was seen by the Out of Hours emergency Doctor on the Saturday of the last Bank Holiday weekend as he was unable to keep food or drink down, vomiting within minutes of being given anything. I went with him to check him into the hospital, arriving at just after mid-day it was 22:45 before he was seen by a doctor and admitted. Due to his history of chest and urinary tract problems he was then put onto intravenous antibiotics and moved from the MAU to ward 404 in the Royal Derby hospital.
Sunday we had to get mother to the Out of Hours surgery as she was in agony with pains in her left side of her back. Drugs and rest prescribed, just as well dad was in hospital. Initially it was thought she may have shingles so she was banned from seeing dad in hospital and he was put in isolation in a room of his own on the ward, and there he stayed until the Thursday when mum saw he GP and shingles was ruled out. Dad was sent home on Saturday by ambulance, with me arriving just as they’d got him into the house and in time to get him in the sling and onto his recliner.
Sue & I spent the whole of that week running round for mother and me doing almost all the visits to see father. The boys went up to see him on the Thursday night as I had other commitments. Again the dog became my main bugbear – mother being unfit and unable to walk it, I still maintain her dog is not my problem especially as I was against her having it in the first place. Sheba is too big and too strong. A smaller dog for company? Perhaps, but not Sheba.
Anyway – I spoke to both Mum and Dad last night and both sounded OK, which is a step in the right direction.
Sunday we had to get mother to the Out of Hours surgery as she was in agony with pains in her left side of her back. Drugs and rest prescribed, just as well dad was in hospital. Initially it was thought she may have shingles so she was banned from seeing dad in hospital and he was put in isolation in a room of his own on the ward, and there he stayed until the Thursday when mum saw he GP and shingles was ruled out. Dad was sent home on Saturday by ambulance, with me arriving just as they’d got him into the house and in time to get him in the sling and onto his recliner.
Sue & I spent the whole of that week running round for mother and me doing almost all the visits to see father. The boys went up to see him on the Thursday night as I had other commitments. Again the dog became my main bugbear – mother being unfit and unable to walk it, I still maintain her dog is not my problem especially as I was against her having it in the first place. Sheba is too big and too strong. A smaller dog for company? Perhaps, but not Sheba.
Anyway – I spoke to both Mum and Dad last night and both sounded OK, which is a step in the right direction.
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