Long time no see

Ok so it's been a while, not that I haven't been thinking (I did manage 5 minutes to update my reading list last time). Been busy.

Excuses, excuses, I know - shouldn't have to, and is any excuse really any good? So what's been happening?

Firstly keeping up the same old - dancing, coursework (which I'm failing, but I've got to the point where the course descriptions are never what the course is actually about so, particularly on this one, why should I get myself overly worried), the house, gardening, and well there was work. 

So we decorated the last bedroom and about 2 weeks ago got it carpeted, since then we've had nearly all the decorating and "rubble" removed, a few pieces of furniture moved in and around the house. 

Work was a pain in the rear but I was reminding myself (almost constantly) that it didn't matter. We'd have meetings between 6 of us only for things 5 minutes after the meeting to be changed and for 3 of us who attended the meeting to find out by grapevine. Very badly handled. They even put someone in charge without discussing it with the group and completely p'd 1 person off as they were on holiday for that 1 day and didn't even have the courtesy to go tell them face to face but let them "work it out" during the day. Mind you, what should an employee expect? I remember the time I was off sick for 2 days and came back to find I was in a new group - no one told me for 2 days, and then someone slipped up and said "oh you shouldn't be doing that you're supposed to be working in that group". Makes you wonder how these places stay in business!

Anyway I'm not to worry about that, as long as I have s job of the same pay when I go back... yes that's right I'm now "laying in" as the census details on one of my ancestors called in. The baby was due last Monday/Tuesday, hence one reason I feel there should be no excuses as to not being able to update my blog. Unfortunately it's not here yet. Obviously too cozy where it is and not eager to come out into such a mean world - well it has spent the majority of 9 months at work with me!

So on top of everything else we've had to do the whole baby item hunting in our spare moments. At least the first week on maternity I managed to clean the whole house from top to bottom - from window frames to ceiling dusting. Ok so I did have help, there are things that people feel you shouldn't be doing such as climbing 3-step ladders, and lifting anything heavier than a chair. 

I had help in the garden yesterday and now it looks better - less weeds more flowers. There's a few odd jobs with the veg, as always but generally I think things are now "under the thumb", at least for a little while. Although saying that we get the odd "bad surprise", like the other week when the baby was due the front door lock failed. In fact it was funnier than that. I had visitors to help clean the bits I couldn't reach and when it came to opening the front door we couldn't. They had to clamber over the neighbours garden into mine. Lots of comments about not dropping the baby just yet else I'd have to  climb out the window! Anyway we got a locksmith and eventually got the door sorted, lucky I didn't have to go to work as we could only chain the door shut.

Well for now I think that's enough, must get on as I have some new dances to learn.

Ella Minnow Pea

I know I don't usually comment on books - I read them and my tastes are the same as everyone elses. it's just I had to mention this one, it's unusual. You could probably read it in 3 or 4 hours - I read it in about 8 days bus journeys.
All I'll say is if you like words and are interested in written English this book is worth a read. I can't say I got overly involved in the whole storyline or characters but I enjoyed it for the concepts it put forth. I'd guess a teenager or thereabouts might find it better.

Nearly there

Yesterday was another non-speaking day, until lunch time wen I was approached  by the "offending" party and we had a chat. There were points of "it's not me, I've been asked to" and as I was relaxing all I could think was along the lines of, then it's the way it's communicated - I attempted a few comments along those lines, whether it's picked up I don't know. If it isn't then I'll have to have words to those above to approach and say that tone and wording needs to be looked at.
Mind you I'm only half and half inclined to believe that it's a response from "other people" complaining about me.... who? That's what I like to know, not to be nasty in anyway, I don't think they have valid points, but often these people do need to be looked at and say "well you expect that of me but you don't actual fulfill it either" like the timekeeping business, the person monitoring the time often has no idea when they themselves go out for lunch or come back, plus they question the amount of time it takes to get a coffee and we know their tea breaks are over 30mins..... is it not fair to say look at yourself before causing trouble for others.
And I'd also like to know, why me? Have I done something to cause all this trouble?

Tuesday

Apparently my appraisal form showed how angry I was, I got even more angry in the actual face to face. I got it all out right at the beginning. The points were valid and would be looked into.... I wont hold my breath but at least "we" can work forwards from here, I guess.
Then we worked through the form, that part was actually very good. I must have been inspired because I came out with some good ideas and usually in these things I can't think of anything. We were over 2 hours! Quite a record, most manage an hour more or less!
Still a little stressed in the afternoon and definately not usual self, now I have to wait for the colleague to have their appraisal.

Saturday

What a ruddy pain!
I thought I'd have a nice day at home, catch up on this and the other bits neglected in the past week and then shoot off to get a new car. Then the other half called and said they loke was on lunch till 3pm so no hurry, so when the folks phoned next I thought it would be a quick outing. Only it wasn't that quick - I really don't want to be rushed into a decision and they are pushing. Well dashed home and got the washing out before dashing off again. Got to the car dealers about 3:30pm, and was hanging around reading newspapers whilst he finished with another customer.
One of his colleagues took us through the finance only to have my bank decline us! I couldn't f believe it! After all the stress and trouble and knowing the money's there the bank declines us! I answered all the questions right... mind you the authorisation place was in India and he couldn't understand us very well, had to tell him 4 times my name!!
So ended up calling the folks out to come pay for the car - we're both very down about this. It just seems that we're being kicked in the shins everytime we try to do something. It's like every step forward seems to take us 2 back.
Well they bailed us, thankfully.
Hopefully now we'll have lady luck smile on us - think we need it.

Hi

I guess I should do a catch-up, I was going to do posts for other interesting points in the last month but I can't really think of anything much except the last week or so it's been soooooooooooo stressful.
Well the car went "pop" again about 3 weeks ago and it took the garage a good 2 weeks to get it sorted to the extent that it runs but not what I say with confidence.
Work is a pig, the lady I had trouble with before is much worse - I learnt this week that it's not just me, although it does feel like she's bullying me. She left a message to adjust my times and I took it up with the boss as the day she told me to change was the day I could prove the times I worked as there was a meeting I went to!
Anyway boss man seemed to brush it under the carpet a bit, thankfully I have my yearly appraisal tomorrow and have notes I want to go through. I mean I'm doing my work and get told to do xyz and when I say there's no chance I can fit that in get told I have to anyway. Well there was no way and a week later was told I should do it in the afternoon so of course I stopped doing the other work I do and got "reprimanded" that there were soo many with my name on without notes - well I couldn't very well do them if I was doing something else, also to make it worse I was off for 2 half days so there was no chance of me doing anything much except desperately try to catch up. So I replied to an e-mail saying I couldn't and trying to lighten it up saying how even W woman can't do it if she's not in the office, well the reply that came back was very officious and "will be brought up in my appraisal". Why can't she just leave me alone for 2 months. Apparently there are now others who think she's becoming a bully/headmistress type too. Mind you I kinda feel sorry for my Team Leader as she's her friend and also she's about 6 months pregnant, so I can see she doesn't need the stress, but then neither do I.
Anyway the Dr took my blood pressure and it's up not badly but it's up from last time so I shall have to take it easier. I also (in 2 lines) said I was pressured at work by someone monitoring my timekeeping and workload - she basically came out with the fact that I was being bullied.
Well we shall have to see how tomorrow goes.

11th March

Dashed round Vale Castle between rain, then on to the most interesting monument - Delurs. It's not well advertised or signposted but it's a definate if you like ancient monuments.
La Villette Military Museum was open and the other half was in wonderland looking at everything. Unfortunately Castle Cornet was closed. So we went back to the Sausmarez manor and managed to look round the garden but the manor itself was closed. There were several other sea view restaurants and cafes we tried but with no luck so we ended up coming back to our room with a packet of cakes each. We tried to get to other places but they were shut or the roads were closed due to last nights storm knocking down the sea wall. It really devastated Jersey and Guernsey too quite a battering - surprised that all the BBC news focuses on the South coast of England, feel that the Channel Islands are rather neglected on the whole.