Happy birthday

Happy birthday to Charlie - our little and newest cat is 2 years old today.

Where does time go?

It has been over a month since I last posted on this blog - no I haven't lost interest but time has flown by and myself and the family have just been so busy.

First, we have all been so busy at work. I've been settling into my new role, my manager has resigned and moved on and new managers mean new ideas on how things should be done. Sue has had her role confirmed as permenant (it was 2 year fixed term) and is undertaking a number of site visits in her attempts to make significant cost savings for Derby City Council. Mark got promoted after just 6 months at BMI and that has brought added duties and responsibilities. Andy has been working long hours and hard to achieve maximum bonus, trying to boost his savings for when he joins Rolls Royce in September on their apprenticeship scheme (when the money will drop significantly).

Outside of work - well I went off on my motorbike touring across France to the annual European meeting of Honda Deauville owners at Riegel in Germany (a full write-up is underway and will be posted on my website sometime). At the same time I had to arrange for a joiner/carpenter to sort out a soft patch of flooring in mother's entrance hall, resolved with additional noggings. We have had a scare with mother having to be checked for cancer of the colon which thankfully hasn't returned (she had it back in 2005) and she has been given the all clear (next check-up in 5 years time). We have had to do the reseach in readiness for Dad going into a residential nursing home - he's on the list and gets a place when one becomes available. We have also had Sue's sister Janice up to stay with us for a few days so that the two of them could sort out some respite day care for their Dad and he now goes into a care centre each Thursday (which he loves) so that Sue's mum can have a break (there's nothing wrong with him, they are both just old). Sue has/is been helping our friend Carole who has just had a successful operation to remove a breast cancer tumour and her nymph gland, but thankfully that was a total success and she now has to take a course of pills (instead of chemotherapy) so she will be off work for a long time.

On top of that, we've had the decorators in and the master bedroom has been completely re-done with new paint, paper, carpet, curtains, bedding and lighting. Also took the opportunity to dispose of some of the clutter both in the master and 4th bedroom (now my office). Still got some trips to do to both the amenity tip and the local charity shop but I've got to get that room cleared and sorted so that it is properly my office - don't hold your breath.

Following a recent trip to my dentist I went down with a rather nasty case of Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis (ANUG) which resulted in a sunny Sunday afternoon being wasted on a trip to the local emergency, out of hours clinic, followed by a trip to see my GP and 2 days off work (no work = no pay). Thankfully I am now just about over that, but it was rather painful at the time.

Andy has today flown out to Lanzarotte with his girlfriend and her family for a week in the sun. Mark has just found out that he has to take 3 weeks leave by the end of September and Sue and I are hoping to get away for a week in September - we were planning to go on holiday with Carole & Giuseppe but that is going to depend on Carole's recovery. Sue has got a long weekend this weekend as she's taking Friday & Monday as leave and is hoping to spend time with Carole.

Add to all that the usual household chores, gardening, shopping and socialising and it's been a busy few weeks and really does make you wonder where does time go? It's not until you look back like I am in writing this blog post that you start to realise how much we cram into our lives these days.

New car

I forgot to mention that Suzie has a new car - well, new to her. A pre-owned Peugeot 207cc in white that is less than 9 months old and fitted with all the toys has replaced her 6 year old Tigra. I'll put up some pictures on the family website when I get back from Germany.

Initially, while it was the car she wanted she was also a bit wary of driving it but as she's now done a trip to Manchester (to see Take That in concert at the Man City ground) she's now fallen in love with it and has no regrets about the change.

To the 4 winds

Last Saturday Dad went into respite to ive mum a 3 week break. Unfortunately he was vomiting on arrival but this was put down to a combination of factors - he'd just had lunch when the private ambulance turned up to collect him, it was a different driver and the journey was extended due to traffic. However, the staff soon had him cleaned up and resting

So this Saturday sees the family scattering off to do their own 'thing'. I'm off to do a bit of motorcycle touring of France en route to Riegel in Germany. Andy & Emma are off to Lanzarotte for a week while Suzie & Mark are taking in a show in London (Jackson's Thriller) on a day trip. Hopefully Mark will take his grandmother to see AJ in respite on Sunday ahead of Joh & Angie's visit to see Mum the following weekend.

Super Injunctions

Superstars have been taking out these so called "super injunctions" and MPs in parliament have been naming names, flouting their priviledges and people in the know have been using social networking sites from Scotland and the USA where the injunctions. part of British law, has no meaning or effect.

Now the judiciary has said that the basis for privacy laws needs to be reviewed and the government has said that they will ensure such a review is performed, BUT, that it is "difficult to draw a line between an individual's right to privacy and the media's right to publish news worthy items".

No it is not!

What happens between a husband and spouse (also read "civil partnerships") is private and should be protected in law. But the moment either of the partners has an affair outside the marriage/partnership then that is public domain news. Sir Fred Goodwin, Ryan Giggs, Andrew Marr, etc... should all expect the privacy laws to work for them in their "home life" but an affair is outside "home life" and as such is outside the laws on privacy.

Simples!

Congratulations

Suzie has completed an intensive 3 day course, terminating in an examination for the Prince2 Foundation certification. While she is still waiting on formal notification, she has already been told unoffically that she has passed. It will immediately help her in her new role as she helps drive change in the local authority where she works. We are all very proud of her and our congratulations are both deep and heart felt, well done Suzie! Congratulations!

While I'm posting good news, our Mark is also to be congratulated as he has just completed his 6 month probation period by securing a promotion into his first managerial role, rewarding his hard work and the sweeping changes he has already brought to the Revenue Management section in which works. Well done Mark! Congratulations to you too!

Deauvilles ride-out May 1st

Sunday, May 1st saw the 5th anniversary ride-out around the Derbyshire Peak District. This is an event that I inaugurated, planning the route using a number of tools, and make available to participants in advance so that those with Sat Navs can pre-load the route making it easier to keep the group together. This year though I had the assistance and input during route planning of my mate Phil Swain, as it was a route he'd previously introduced me to which I reversed and modified to start at Cromford Mill and end at The Fishponds in Matlock Bath. The day was bright and sunny but with a very stiff breeze, which made riding over some of the higher points of the route very interesting. Anyway here are some photos I took:-

And here are some more taken by Steve Adcock:-

An enjoyable day marred only by a glitch with my bike's HISS system which (as has happened previously) cured itself after a few minutes but resulted in me gaining Rachel as a pillion for a few miles until we caught up with her husband Nev after he'd left her at the roadside when he went chasing after Phil Swain (who, as the leader, was unaware of my problem). On the day, including myself, we had in attendance 3 Phils, 3 Steves, 2 Colins, Nev & Rachel, Dave and Marie. That's nine bikes, Deauvilles except for Nev's Pan European. A great day's riding taking in the Churnet Valley Railway and a lunchtime stop at the CVR's Tea Rooms - very nice.

I have a job

On Monday I had an interview at 11:00 at Capita on The Wyvern, Derby. On leaving I phoned Duncan MacDonald at the agency who had got me the interview to supply my feedback, that I thought the interview had gone well. I then got into my gear ready for a ride on the motorbike and was just about to leave when the phone rang. It was Duncan, and they wanted me back for a 2nd interview at 16:00. I asked "Which day?" and Ducan replied "Today".

So at 16:00 I was back there for the 2nd round, which turned out to be a "test". Twenty minutes to prepare, then 8 - 10 minutes to present, followed by some questions. Again I went straight home to phone Duncan, but no sooner was I in the door than my phone rang and there was Duncan with his news. They'd already spoken and I was being offered a Senior Analyst role. "Did I want it?" Excuse me, silly question! Minutes later I had an email outlining the offer, which was followed by a further email the next morning, this time with attachments that are the usual Ts & Cs, but with that all important start date - 9th May 2011.

So it appears that I have a job. Relieved? You'd better believe it. Chuffed? Too right I am.

Microlight flight

My two lads, Andy & Mark, treated their dad to a microlight lesson with a voucher from Adventure001.com as a Christmas present and today was the day I used that voucher. We drove over to Ashbourne airfield on Darley Moor under overcast and grey skies. Dave was my pilot for the day and I had a 30 minute flight which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was everything I was expecting it to be, nice and smooth and really quite graceful, so here are some pictures that Suzie took at the start and end of my flight:-

I had been wanting to do a microlight flight for some time and my expectation was high beforehand, and I wasn't disappointed, so a big THANK YOU to my lads for treating their dad to such a fantastic Christmas present. I will probably do that again sometime.

Essential maintenance

Spring has seen me catch up on some essential maintenance on the Deauville. Front forks were removed and the old fork oil drained and fresh oil carefully measured and duly poured in, forks reassembled, given a quick rub down and sprayed with Hammerite Smooth Silver before refitting. That started the process off.

Then a Motad full stainless steel exhaust system was fitted. It is so much lighter than the standard Honda system and will probably last long past the rest of the bike. Deauvilles have a reputation of going on forever, but, outlasting stainless...? Anyway, here's a picture I took when I was still at FIS just after it had been fitted.


Newly fitted Motad exhaust on view.

With all the time I've had on my hands I've put some effort into cleaning the bike up so it looks even better now than in this picture and if you want to leanr more and see more pictures then visit My Family website.

Job Interviews

Well the best thing I can say is that I'm certainly getting some practice in. It's 2 weeks today since I last worked, so that means that I've now been jobless for 2 weeks - simples! The sequence has been...

Last week - Monday 1pm - a phone interview, details of which I've already recountered..... (see previous post).

Last week - Tuesday 1pm - a local 1st round interview with candidates to be short listed by the agency for 2nd round interview. I thought it went reasonably well, but, for one reason or another I'm still waiting. Yes, I keep getting updates but not that "You are in/out" call.

This week - Tuesday 1pm - a 20 questions type interview for a role at HSBC in Sheffield. Again I think it went well but I won't hear until after all interviews have been held tomorrow (so that means Monday).

Last week - Today 8:30am - a whole day assessment at an office in Coventry. This one was one I was dreading as on face value I'd not got an ideal fit for their advertised experience needs. However, not one to back down from a challenge I went for it and was right up for it on the day. I enjoyed it. I gave a good account of myself and I don't think I let down either myself or the agency that put me forward (many thanks to Mark at Elan). No, I didn't get to the final 2 but I was in 3rd spot and they have said that they will keep my details on file as they are constantly expanding and growing the business.

So thats 4 interviews, no job offers, but spirits are still up and today was a much needed confidence booster. And there's still another local interview for me to look forward to next Monday at 11am, and I've more in the pipeline that I've applied for and I'm waiting to hear from.

My first job interview

I had a phone interview lined up for 1pm yesterday. The guy (Paul Stewart) was late ringing me and he went straight for location and the fact that I'm Derby based while the client's work is in London and the south and he just ruled me straight out. I didn't get a chance to sell myself at all. The job was with i-Realise who (from their web site) appear to be very similar to ZEDA Ltd (a previous employer of mine, no longer in existence) and with roles to fill that I felt I could slot right into. But no, I’m in the wrong place as far as he was concerned, unless I was looking to relocate (which I'm not). I tried to put a positive spin on it because I've commuted to Milton Keynes and north London in the past, and serviced clients in Bristol, Crawley, Croydon, Canterbury and the Isle of White. Paul was adamant that it's not possible to commute from Derby to Milton Keynes on a daily basis even though I've done it for nearly 3 years. That I can't best service clients in Kent, Surrey Hampshire, Beds & Berks - even though I've supported clients in North Allerton (up near Middleborough), Bristol, Crawley and Canterbury in the past and all in the same week. Yes, it's a lot of driving but I've been there done that. And as for his claim of clients in Essex - that's where I grew up, and we return there to visit family and friends on an occasional basis. But for him it was a deal breaker and the call lasted all of 5 minutes (if that).

Overall, I'm disappointed mainly because I wasn't given a fair shot at presenting myself and what I have to offer. No discussion of skills or past experience, what I've done, where I've been. No, I don't want to work in central London, but outside the M25 to me is fair game.

So if you are unlucky enough to find yourself having a first time phone interview with Paul Stewart then based on my experience, you are up against somebody with preconceived ideas, misconceptions and a closed mind – not the attributes one normally associates with a recruiter working for an agency and that agencies clients.

Anyway, I've got another interview in Derby today, so I'm hoping that goes better... then another one next Tuesday. All different roles. And yesterday I found another BA role right here on my doorstep at Derby City Council (where my wife Sue works although she knew nothing about it) so I'll be applying for that.