Rough as a badger's arse

Thats how I feel today -all self inflicted unfortunately so sympathy is non-existent! It was the auction of promises yesterday. Tasha was doing the cateering, so she was out most of the day preparing for the expected 100 guests. This was my first auction as a bidder (and I was also one of the lots for a full bike service). The idea is that folk turn up, eat and drink for an hour or so then then try and make pissed people buy things. I got away lighty (I think) I won 4 lots, and only spent £100 - but I got a family ticket to Heights of Abraham and a cave tour, Family pass to twin lakes, Ice age 2 gamecube game (one of Dave's lots) and tickets to see Leicester Tigers vs The Barbarians next year. The lot I was really after was the japanese meal, but that went out of my zone. The other popular lot out of the 93 in total was Tasha's cakes - which went up from the £57 winning bid last year to £70!!

I can't remember much about getting home, and I appently had a conversation with Tasha when she got back, which I have no recollection of. Couldn't even face a hangover curing big mac at lunchtime (which I was VERY disappointed about). I'm too old for this shit!

Friday was a good day at work, I've been given another task to perform, so I've plenty to keep me occupied now. Although the SMS message didn't work from Brookson this week I did get paid, which was VERY nice!! I got the complicated company shareholder pay slip the following day as well. Dan and I flew over to Coventry at lunchtime to see John at the cocked hat. Must have been everyone thats left turned out. Good to see folk again. Also had a great chat with John on the way home.

A night of 2 halves

Colin, Martin, Tasha & I all got together to watch the game. We had loads of beer, papa chips and good banter - as well as a pretty good game of football. They were good bits and bad bits. The result got through to the next round finishing top in the group, but a win would have been better, and it was on the cards right up until the last minute. We had 13 bets on the game and none of them came in!!

Martin got home to find water pouring down the interior walls of the house. The header tank for the hot water system broke and water was gushing out, mainly into Archie's room. Everyone was OK, but the damage is quite extensive. The insurance bods have been there all day and are coming tomorrow too. they are saying that the whole interior needs re-fitting.

Had some good comms with MArk, Steve and John today. Sounds like the deal at work is going through this week. Just before I left I was invited to a meeting, where it seems I'm getting some other work (software) - which could be interesting.

Build up footy

Invited Martin & Colin round to wathc the footy tomorrow night with us. Stopped off on the way home for beer and papa chips.

Went for another swim at the pool down the road from work (remembering my goggles this time). Managed to get 900 metres done in my time (about 25-30 minutes) which I was quite please about. Its my Gym induction tomorrow.

Work went quite quickly today, after speak with Mark W I actually had enough to get my teeth into all day. Trying to get my personal laptop PSU PAT approved for use, but the chap didn't get it done today. So that I can have an excuse to use Photoshop to improve some of the images I have for my training presentation.

Weekend

Finished my first week as a contractor intact. Got my hours emailoed on Saturday Morning, getting timesheets signed off on Monday, looking forward to the getting paid bit on Friday!!

Very busy weekend, after the usual ballet thing on Saturday, we went over to see Tasha's Dad, who has bought a new SatNav - very cool. In the evening we watched "Batman Begins", which was very good - really enjoyed it. Sunday, I had a real surprise for Father's Day and got a big pepper grinder (like in the restuarants), very cool. We went over to see Dad who seems a bit better. The decorating is coming on too.

Got back and we wnet to IKEA and bought some bathroom cupboards (just like the kitchen ones expect not as deep), that coupled with us finally ordering the new floor, should finish that room off!

England through to the finals

England won through to the last 16 in the world cup today with a win over T&T, I was able to watch the game as I had a new digital ready spanking aerial fitted. I also got a new SKY digibox, which after a lot of fuss getting the card re-authorised and the firmware updated works just fine. I have all my media channels back!

Engineering manager was back in today so had a sit down with him and came out with a bit more direction on what I shall be doing. He revealed a master plan that sounds very good work wise for me and might be very lucrative.

Looking forward to getting my first time sheet in tomorrow though.

Mark's fortunes had a rapid positive turn and he too has handed in the notice. I think that Adrian might be early next week too.

Dull Day

It started out a really dull day and after a short walk to the butty van I was trying to think why I was getting so worked up about it. I'm getting paid a lot of money to sit on my ass. The unfortunate thing is that web access is restricted - so I did a lot of GTD re-work, and felt a whole lot better by home time. Hopefully as people come back to the office after a week of meetings on site I will be given something I can get my teeth into.

Disaster strikes at home - the SLY box is not working, not even the trusty power down thing works, its knackered.

New Starter

Yesterday was a complete mind f@@k with a lot of downloads from people, introductions and inductions. That over today I could actually get my teeth into something. Although I've not been given a formal task as yet, I'm building up to produce and deliver a training programme (I think). A similar course for another system is already in exisitance so the headings are already done.

On a GTD note, I'm still not sure what I need in my system at work to be efficient. I don't want to be taking too much stuff with me, I don't want to store things at work (in case I move on) but equally I don't want to be without things. I'd like to get down to not taking a bag with me.

We are encouraged to use lotus notes, which I've never used before. Its a little more than outlook (although it has the same basics) I understand that its easier to add things too. The new system certainly has a lot of custom database to access for holidays etc etc. All the calendars are shared too, and its tied into the resource calendar for the rooms, so when you arrange a meeting you can see who is available and what room you can have.

Well must continue with the Brazil game.

A busy weekend, especially considering that I'm officially unemployed! We had the Rolleston Community day on Saturday - fantastic weather and there was a flyby from 3 WW2 planes. Sunday we went swimming again and then we went to Colin & Lisa's for a great BBQ for Morgans 2nd birthday. As usual great food!

Cakes in the kitchen

...always signifies an occasion at work. Today its the start of me saying good by to all at the Coventry office. Tasha has (as ever) done me prowd and come up with a handsome trayfull, 1/4 of which went as soon as I walked in through the door. The weather is beautiful too, which I was outside!

Wormington seemed to have a few problems yesterday, which was a surprise as I thought it was all done bar the shouting. Today is the deadline for the information supply require for the make and break meeting tomorrow.

Spoke with Dan yesterday who has now received his first pay packet - looking forward to that happening to me in a week or so's time!

Squash

Finally got to play squash again last night, now that Stubbs is back from Slovenia and I'm back from Winchester. Sounded like he managed to have a good time over there (despite being away from home for so long) and he had some very funny stories to tell. Obviously I let him win squash!

The office is very quiet today, but had a good google chat with trapper, seems there is a big Wormiongton "make or break" meeting this Thursday, which should be interesting. Mavis is out of the office today (as are beardy, steve, dave, lionel etc etc)

On the trawl did bump into this, but better still - this is gadgetry gone mad (and I like gadgets)

Back in Town

Back after a week away. The weather started poorly and gradually got better - but in our holiday tradition managed to avoid getting wet. The day that it rained was spent on the Churnet Valley railway, and it only seemed to shower when we were on the train! The site that we went to was brilliant (somewhere to remember when we're all tall enough for Alton Towers), there were some other children there that meant ours were entertained. As well as the steam railway we also took a trip to Poole's Cavern which was really good. The day that we got back was a bit of a heat wave (as has the whole weekend). Tasha has been away on her NODA course this weekend, so we've been completely on our own. It sounds like shes had a great time. While we were away I received all my contract details through the post from Brookson and NES, so it really is all systems go now. Got all my timesheets and expense forms so it really seems like its VERY real now! Can't wait to start. Trapper had his interview with ALSTEC, but they thought he was after permanent, and told him that they didn't have any immediate positions for contractors - so it look like he just missed out. That coupled with Mark not getting an interview is a real shame. It would have been cool to see all those redundancy letters being handed in! Florence is finally starting her swimming lessons this Wednesday, she seems to have been on the waiting list forever - I'm really glad that its starting before we go to France, she will enjoy the onsite pool a lot more if she has that extra confidence. We went swimming this morning and she is doing really well anyway. We also removed the stabilisers off her bike and she was cruising down the hill at the back of the house in about 1/2 an hour!! All in all a busy bit VERY enjoyable week.