An Ordinary Sunday

Harriet woke me in the night. When I got to her bedside she said to me 'I can't decide what to dream about'! Had a lazy morning. I even went back into bed for a nap about 11.00AM. In the afternoon we went out for groceries. Later, I got some Land Registry paperwork signed and witnessed by Steve next door. He gave me some Spiderman 2 publicity stuff he'd been given. He said it was for Dylan. I said it was for me! I wonder when we will be moving? Mom phoned, back from holiday. I phoned Dad back later and we chatted about the state of the M6. I know it's boring but I maybe I AM boring. Drank wine and caught up with Big Brother this evening. The army task is SO twisted. If they pass the task then their reward is to be up for nomination. Time for bed. Time for work again in the morning. Time goes so quickly. NP: Supine - Weather Outlet

Saturday Grey But OK

Took Dylan for his first swimming lesson today. He did great and he said he enjoyed it. Must get him practising when we're on holiday. Spent the afternoon doing bits and pieces around the house. Weather was damp and grey which didn't inspire sorting out any big stuff and getting to the dump. See how tomorrow is, but as Jacq pointed out, it's only a week to the hols and we had the central heating on! Summer, where have you gone? Tasty balti session tonight yum. Now sorting out CDRoms into my big new storage case. Now Playing: Radiohead - Hail To The Theif

Finishing Off Friday

Todays management roadshow at our offices has turned around my negative attitude. The UK division manager came across much better than he did yesterday up at Manchester. I got to throw in a few questions and points which hopefully he and the management will respond to. I might even try to keep up the pressure with a few mails (he did invite them). We shall see.
Went over to site for a hour in the afternoon to clear a few bugs. Got home not long after the kids had got home. Dyl had fallen and scraped his knee on the run down our road to the house. When is he going to learn the little cutie?!
Anyways, we all went up to the 'Hill' for some retail therapy. Snacked at BK on our 'Web Fries'. Kids got some clothes and some beach toys ready for hols. The magazine run was performed and I ended up with a Computer Arts and Edge. Couldn't resist a peek at the HMV sale. Picked up a couple of Tears For Fears CD's so cheap I had no choice. OK, so I've already got 'Songs From The Big Chair' on CD but this new version had a bunch of extra tracks. I'll eBay the my old copy. Also got a compilation which had a track called 'Pharaohs' which I've only got on a 7" B-side. Listening to these tracks now. Great stuff. Time for another Speckled Hen.

Not With A Bang

Seems no-one else in the office was impressed by yesterdays conference either. There is a meeting this morning to follow on that I hope will be more focussed on our business. We shall see. At least it's Friday and Beard-free. Should be a pleasant morning in the office then over to Kingsbury site to tidy up some software issues. Hopefully home in time to get the kids again.

Only one more week of work before holidays. Probably need to do the 'magazine run' this weekend in preparation. Also must do some serious sorting out of the junk that's not coming with us to the new house. I think a trip to the dump will be needed.

Communication Backfires

Communic8 conference at SWSH was a real let down. Sales managers offering banal drones about stuff that meant nothing to me. I felt disconnected. At the end I found myself with no-one to talk to except my boss and I didn't fancy that so I slipped away through the crowds. On the drive home I couldn't work out why I felt so deflated, and I still can't. Strange that it should have such a negative effect when I guess it was meant to have exactly the opposite. Also, clocking the mileage at 160 round trip has shut the door on any pipe dreams I may have had of one day working there. So what's left? Am I driving to Coventry for the next 25 years?

On a positive note, I got home in time to collect the babes from school then we took Dylan to Davids party a the Wacky Warehouse. He didn't want to join in at first and found the noise intimidating, but settled at food time and in the end he enjoyed himself. Until he let his balloon float off into the sky as he got out of the car. More tears. Harriet too, upset by a painful loose tooth. Poor sweeties.

Sounds enjoyed in the car today from 2 eBay purchases that arrived yesterday. Fout Tet single (with DVD of video for 'She Moves She') and Fat-Cat Split compilation (some nicely mashed electronics on there). Both eBay wins were kind of accidental. I just threw in a few quid for fun, not minding if I won or not. I ended up with bargains for both. Nice.

Envy Or Inspiration? You Decide

So I'm just driving down to site this morning, cursing the closure of the spagetti junction exits on the M6, and I'm listening to this program on Radio 4. The guy being interviewed was a doctor. A specialist in cardio stuff who helped discover the 'fitness' gene. He is also a published author currently working on his first Hollywood screenplay. He also gets to the gym for an hour most nights and spends his spare time mountaineering around the world. AARRGGHH!!! How is all this possible? My first reaction was I suppose, pure envy. I listed out my own summary to myself. I've got a 'reasonably' 9 to 5 job, I have a family, I get my chores done and watch a bit of telly and that's the day done! Thinking about it later on today I've tried to take inspiration from the guy and so I now I see it as an example of how much it's possible for a person to do. So why don't I start doing some more stuff with my time?! Ummm. I'll have to sleep on this. But if I should suddenly become this mega-creative explosion of energy, then you'll know what started it all.

Hiccups In The House Chain

A pleasant weekend full of the usual activities plus a visit to Galton Road (hopefully our new house). The owners gave us the news that the house they were buying has been taken off the market. Disaster!
Although they gave us assurances that they were on the case looking for properties, the main thing we were thankful for was that they did not decide to break off the sale to us. That would have really screwed us. Apparently prices have moved on in the two months that we've been sold.
Later on in the afternoon we got a call to say they had put an offer in on a property they viewed earlier in the day. The offer was accepted and the upward chain is small and ready to go. So this is about the best news we could get following the previous collapse. Even though it means another six weeks wait, at least it should all complete this time. Hopefully before the end of the summer. Tried to call Ken and sell the concept to him but no answer. Try him again tonight.

Last Gasp Before Offline (Again)

Just in the office picking up kit for another three days on site and hence offline. Had to post a quickie but I don't have much to say anyway. Quite where last night went I don't know but either way I've not a lot to show for it. The usual trip to the father-in-law's was as eventful as ever. At least we were home in time for the kids to have a play before bed. I always feel guilty when they protest at no play-time when we've rushed them around on our own agenda. Once they were in bed it was time for something to eat then a hour in front of the telly watching Big Brother then bed. Done.

Payday Is A Damp Squib

Just got the text to confirm that this months wages have gone into the bank, yipee! Then I realised just little cash there is left in there after being swallowed by the overdraft, boohoo! What am I going to do? Hope site is still on for tomorrow. I NEED the overtime big style.

Getting Around To Doing Stuff (Gradually)

Took my laptop into the office today so that I could backup my mp3's onto CD in the background. Also started bringing some of the computer clutter from home into the office to keep it out of the way during the house move.

Got mail from Fergus. Glad to see he's still talking to me! Finally got some of his photos online tonight. Just the basic layout is there at the moment but it looks OK. See how it looks after a few days and get an opinion off Fergus also.

With sitework again this week I've had to cancel Mike till later which also gives me a bit more time to collect some samples. One that springs to mind is a small riff from 'Clap Clap Clap' by XTC. And another is Augustus Pablo 'King Tubby Meets Rockers Uptown - various drum fills.

Phil brought in the artists booklet he designed today. He did a real nice job with it. Bloody hell was I jealous. Really. He should be right proud. Proper Bo!

Weekend Summary

Little progress made creatively this weekend. Did a couple a Photoshop montages that I must post up on the web somewhere. But most computer time spent trying to stop damm pop-up windows in IE. I need to do a complete re-build of the laptop but I'm waiting for XP SP2 to be released first.

On Saturday we got Dylan signed up for his swimming lessons which will start in a fornight at the same time as Harriets. Harriet played with Lizzie at her Dad's in the afternoon. Me and Dyl played Tony Hawk 4 on the Gamecube. Evening movie was 'Welcome to Collingwood' which Jacq got me for our anniversary. Top movie, great characters. As always, William H Macy stole the show for me. That guy rocks!

Weather screwed my plans for a trip to the dump, plus I couldn't get a parking spot anywhere near the house! Did get the grass cut on Sunday before it rained again. Quite sucked into Harry Potter 5 at the moment. Managed to snatch a few minutes with it here and there.

Arse End Of The Week

In the office (and therefore online access) today, Friday. General mood still black. Strange to be on site missing the office then when I'm in the office, wishing I was somewhere else. This can't be good. Surely a sign to take some action?

Inspired somewhat by Phil's blog entries that show he's clearly got his head in the right place despite office gloom. I should take a leaf.

MUST focus this weekend. There's lots going on and I'm not getting involved enough with all this time away from home. When I'm there I seem to just be recovering from the rigors of work. Got to get busy with the house moving organisation. Take the opportunity to have a good clear out of stuff. Maybe a trip to the dump?

Reading Books Before Work

In the office for a hour or two this morning to get some admin done then off to site again. Finished Harry Potter 4 this morning. Up till 1 last night trying to finish it but my eyelids wouldn't hold out. But I was too close to the end to not finish it off before going to work. Enjoyed it. Strangely moved by the end. Might do 5 next.

Top Telly Treats

Tired now, but it IS quite late. A week of site work has kept me on the go. I'm thankful that the weekend has arrived. The occasional phonecall from Trapper has kept me in the gossip loop. Of which there's actually not that much to get excited about. Things drift on. As normal. Ho hum.

Of MUCH more interest of course has been the big bust-ups in Big Brother. Splendid television! Dissapointed at tonights cancelled eviction. There is no way that Daniel is going. My prediction for the final three is Daniel, Stuart and Shell.

After Big Bro I caught the new series of Bo Selecta! Haven't watched it in a while I was in exactly the right mood for it. Laughed my tits off. Shamone!

Back Home From Site (For One Night)

Site work finished unexpectedly early today so I gave the hotel a miss and was back home before five. Lovely sunny evening with a refreshing breeze. Out in the garden later I took a moment to enjoy the sound of the wind in the leaves of the huge trees a couple of streets away.

This evening was one of those times when thankfully time seemed to run at a reasonable rate. There has been time tonight to do various chores, to play hide and seek with the kids, to read a bit of my current book (Harry Potter 4), to bath the kids and read a story, to do a bit of web surfing, and finish off with a blast of Big Brother (which is just SO good this year! Have I said that already?). It makes a nice change to feel that my life isn't racing ahead of me and I'm struggling to keep up.

A Quick Catch-Up Blog Entry

It's been a week since I've been online. Site work has kept me busy and home has been too busy to even power up my laptop. Many thoughts have occurred and I've said to myself 'I must get that onto the blog' but as always, the moment passes and here I am playing catch-up.

Thoughts that pop straight in right now. It was our anniversary yesterday and I didn't get a pressie organised. I'm angry at myself for that. Then England tore my guts out yet again by snatching defeat from the jaws of victory against France. I literally felt like throwing up. I'm not watching them again. I'm not letting them do that to me. Thankfully Big Brother brings a dose of silly fluffyness and all's well. Really enjoyed the eviction of two housemates into the bedsit on Friday night. Top telly. Such funny reactions. Plus tits falling out everywhere which is always good. Getting texts coming in from Mike on a trip up to Edinburgh with Liz. Today he reports that he is recording sounds up there on his new mp3 recorder thingy. Sounds interesting.

Back in the office just for tomorrow. Maybe a chance to jot a few more entries. Then back down to site for a few more days, and a little more overtime.

Off To Site Today

Going down to Hemel Hempstead today which will probably be the start of an extended period of commissioning. Don't fancy the drive as I got no sleep last night. So hot, and my shoulders were killing me. Oh well, at least site will keep me busy and that's a good thing compared with the depressing atmosphere in the office.

Office Morale

I'm only away a week, but I get back in the office and the morale seems to have gone down through the floor!

Managers resigning. Managers STILL failing to communicate when on our site. Capex cancellations. Projects bollocking Systems. All in all a deadly cocktail. A recipe for disaster.

I'm REALLY concerned that this place is going into a tailspin. A few grumblings I've heard have mentioned putting escape plans into action. Once some guys make a break for it then I think the floodgates will open and the place will just wither. What a cheery outlook!

Mice Parade

Saw Mice Parade at the Jug Of Ale last night. Nice gig. First one in ages admittedly. Depressed by all the usual trappings of the pub gig experience but elated by the noise that Mice Parade made. Post-rock jams in a tortoise style. Mike said he heard Laika in there which I thought made a lot of sense.

At the end of the set I picked up their first CD. Mike got one of the others so we can trade. Adam Pierce seemed like a nice bloke. He liked to use the word 'awesome' lots. Which in their own way, they were.

Back From Holiday

The holidays were lots of fun. Did some swimming at the local country club, nice. A couple of trips to the beach. And return trips to Eden Project and Springfield Pony Farm. Relaxed lots then spoiled it all by knackering my back on a trampoline! As t'wife enjoyed reminding me, I'm forty now and you have to be careful. Bummer.

Back home to catch up on domestic chores and the new Harry Potter movie. Harriet brought Lizzie with her for support but it turned out to be not that scary. All enjoyed the movie.