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July 30, 2005
Let's have a drink...
.... it's Marguerita time...
I'm one of those annoying people who sing. Not that I've got a terrible voice, I can at least carry a tune. Still I'm no Charlotte Church it has to be said.
But I sing at the drop of a hat or, more to the point, at the drop of a keyword in a conversation.
For example: there's a woman who used to be on my payroll called Marguerita Brown and every time I came to the point of doing her pay, I would burst into my rendition of Status Quo's Marguerita Time. Yes, I know, god awful song, but you can see I had no choice. Fortunately she's left now so those moments are fewer and further between.
For some reason though, and I cannot for the life of me figure out why, at a certain point every day, I start singing Twilight Time by The Platters (and, no, it's not at twilight). I just can't figure out what it is that sparks me off.
Answers on a postcard please....
Posted by lilliebet at 12:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 29, 2005
Oh Shi...
My mum's office flooded yesterday. Only it wasn't your normal kind of flood, it wasn't a burst water pipe or an overflowing tank, oh no.
It was the toilets!!!
The entire basement was flooded and the ground floor (where she sits) was up to six inches deep in raw sewage.
So next time you think you get a lot of crap in work, stop and think about my poor mum. Eeewwww!
Posted by lilliebet at 06:33 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 25, 2005
Suddenly I'm bothered about traffic
Or the lack of to be more precise. When I started blogging, like most people I guess, it was for my own benefit. Even when I started surfing Blog Explosion and traffic and comments started coming thick and fast I never thought it was an issue.
BUT (<---- big but) since this new Surf By Description thingy caused a slow down in traffic, I find I'm actually bothered by it and that surprises me.
I guess it's like trying to be heard in a crowded room... you want others to hear your opinion. I wonder why?
I can only guess it's because, while I'm very outgoing in the company of friends, I'm actually quite reticent around those I don't know. Blogging gives me the opportunity to speak to people I wouldn't normally be able to and I suppose I miss that.
Posted by lilliebet at 10:13 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
July 18, 2005
I think I'll just sulk here for a moment...
Everything's going pear shaped at work at the moment. We're having another "re-organisation", we just don't have enough of them right? So, in theory, my job's on the line.
I'm substantively a Sys Admin but I've never actually been in post, I've been gamely flying the flag for payroll for the last four years and, in truth, I'd much rather it stayed that way. But it's the Sys Admin section that's being reorganised and all of a sudden someone's decided I am one!
So last week I spotted a vacancy for a Systems and Information officer in the neighbouring borough council (which is actually where I live and closer to home). It's a grade higher than I'm on and looks like a great opportunity. So, thinks I, it's a sign from the gods, I must apply.
Then my boss reminded me that if I leave, I'll have to pay back the cost of the DMS course I've been doing - £2000 - yikes! Not only that but I bought my daughter's computer through the home computing scheme at work. You pay installments over three years, through your wages, which means you get tax relief. Ultimately a £600 PC actually only sets you back £450 but the drawback is, any outstanding balance is automatically deducted from your final pay when you leave. Double whammy!!
I thought I'd approach my senior manager and try to cut a deal with her. After all, she needs to reduce numbers, I'd be doing her a favour wouldn't I? Reckon she'll fall for it?
Nah, me neither :( So I guess I'll just sulk for a while until I can come up with another plan. lol
Posted by lilliebet at 09:33 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
July 14, 2005
No more Diet Coke break
You remember the advert right? The one where the women in the office look at the clock, tip each other the wink and mouth the words "Diet Coke break" then all stand at the window ogling the gorgeous young builder, sans shirt, drinking his Coke.
Well, with all the construction work going on in town this summer and temperatures in the 70s and 80s all week, it should be shirts off heaven right now.
But alas it's not to be, thanks (or should that be no thanks) to the Health and Safety Executive. All those bulging, bronzed bodies now have to be covered by high visibility vests and my blimping days are over. Woe is me!
OK, OK, I know their safety comes first but.... ohhhhhhh!
Posted by lilliebet at 09:07 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Beware of The Body Shop...
... they put their hair wax and their face cream in two very similar containers...
Yuk!
Posted by lilliebet at 08:17 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Hmmmm, doesn't quite add up does it?
My daughter was just moaning to me about over-crowding in her classes....
"Yeah and, in Maths, there are like two of us who have to sit three to a desk!"
... I'm thinking maybe I'll get her extra lessons....
Posted by lilliebet at 11:26 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 10, 2005
Tips & Tricks #2
When removing the ball from your mouse for cleaning, its performance will be infinitely enhanced if you remember to PUT IT BACK IN WHEN YOU'VE FINISHED!
Doh!!
Posted by lilliebet at 06:31 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 09, 2005
Work, Rest and Play
I've suddenly realised that I have too many irons in the fire. I'm going round in circles. I used to say my problem was terminal procrastination but I don't think that's it at all.
The thing is, I'll suddenly have a good idea or a want to do something and that's it, I have to do it, there and then. I don't put time into planning before execution, I just go for it all guns blazing. Then as soon as another thought occurs, off I go again, only right now everything's overlapping and I need to sit back, take a deep breath and prioritise.
Six months ago a friend and I decided we'd start a website. We knew it would need a lot of content and that would take a lot of research. In other words, it would take time. But here we are six months down the line and there still isn't half the content there should be and we're still not in a position to "go live".
Before that I started writing articles for a friend's website. I did a handful and they weren't too bad but I'm guilty of letting them slide, I've only written one since Christmas and we're nearly on the icy road to the next one.
I've been doing two courses: the DMS which runs for two years and the IPRO2 which I've (thankfully) just completed. BTW I passed! Then today I received an application form for a job I really fancy so I have to put some time and thought into that.
I have my own site, lilliebet dotcom, which is great fun but again, content is lacking because I'm too busy having fun in the forums. Even this poor blog has been missing me lately.
Then recently I had my latest bright idea... my own online business. The idea is sound, the site is up (and looks great too) but what do I know about advertising a business, getting it started? Nada!
All this of course comes on top of work, home, kids etc. It's no wonder my head's up my ar...mpit. What I need to do is concentrate on doing a good job of one or two of these things at a time, not a bad job of all of them.
So I've decided. Firstly, I'm going to do a great application for that job this weekend. Then, I'm going to find out properly how to get the business launched. Of course, once it's off the ground I'll be too busy for anything else...... at least I hope so!
Posted by lilliebet at 09:17 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 08, 2005
Why?
I wasn't going to comment on yesterday's events in London for the simple reason that I'm not politically minded and most of it I don't understand. Some of you will think that's a lazy attitude to take and I'll admit that it is, but that's me I'm afraid.
But Mike's comment here and the many messages of concern and support I've had from friends overseas have inspired me just to say this.
I don't understand why this has to happen, I don't understand why man has to kill his fellow man and, frankly, I don't want to understand. We are people first - muslim, christian, jew, aetheist second.
We were put on this earth with the primary purpose of making lives not taking them. If our time on this earth has a positive effect on those around us, all the better. If our time on this earth is just spent enjoying our homes and our families, that's wonderful. If our time on this earth is lived without the fear of harm from others, that's how it should be and we will go to our graves at our allotted time having enjoyed a full life. No-one should have the right to take this away from us, least of all for their religious or political beliefs.
Thank you Mike for your comment. Thank you to all of you who have sent me your wishes. My thoughts are with those who died yesterday; those who were injured; and those whose lives will be forever altered by this unholy act.
Posted by lilliebet at 05:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 06, 2005
You only reap what you sow
Oh the shame, I am such an evil, evil person.
One of my colleagues has been off sick for a week and I did nothing but complain about having to pick up her queries while she was off.
She came back to work yesterday and was obviously still not 100% fit but she said she'd felt awful for leaving us in the lurch. Feeling like a completely repulsive worm, I continued with the work I'd taken from her in her absence and told her just to concentrate on anything new in that morning.
When I handed it back to her all done and dusted, she was delighted and my guilt was somewhat assuaged... until today that is, when she came over and quietly handed me a little thank you gift. It wasn't much, less than a fiver but it taught me a valuable lesson.
I'm blessed with good health. I'm never off sick from work and I should be grateful for that fact, not moaning about those less fortunate. There will come a time when I'm sick and I need colleagues to return the favour, I'm sure I'll get well a lot sooner knowing they're doing so with a smile on their faces.
Posted by lilliebet at 08:38 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
July 05, 2005
Reaches the parts other cereals cannot reach...
Since my son started his new job, every morning has seen a full out battle as I've tried to drag his unwilling, gangly, six foot frame from his obviously too comfy bed. To be fair to him, he's really grafting. There have been a fair few nights he's fallen asleep before his dinner and stayed there until morning. But even then it's still been a battle royal to get him out of his pit the next day.
This morning I thought I'd try the softly, softly, mumsy approach. So I made him a huge bowl of porridge and gently nudged the smelly foot that dangled off the end of the bed (only a mother could touch a foot that smelly.) He opened one eye as always and I awaited the barrage of abuse that usually follows my trespassing on the sanctity of his bo-boes.
But lo! With a muffled grunt of thanks, he instead accepted the proffered bowl and, in the words of the bard, scoffed the lot. I don't know if it was the sugar I'd sprinkled on it; the gentle touch; or the energy boost from all those hearty Scottish oats that did it but, in less than five minutes, he was up and dressed and heading for the train.
I think I may have made a significant scientific discovery....the power of porridge!
Posted by lilliebet at 10:42 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 04, 2005
Walking on the beaches, looking at the peaches
If you walk along the beach at the bottom of my road, you will run into the most unlikely people.
Antony Gormley's work of art Another Place has been installed along a 3km stretch of the Sefton coastline at Waterloo and Crosby and will remain here for 18 months.
The statues are cast iron and said to be casts of his own body. They stand naked and life-sized at various stages of submersion in the Mersey Estuary.
They are fascinating and it's amazing to think this work of art is right here on my doorstep. Look, you can see my house!
Posted by lilliebet at 08:21 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
July 01, 2005
What did you go and do that for?
Well I've gone and done it now haven't I?
Last night, in a fit of "I've turned 40 now it's time to do something new", I had my hair cut short..... very short.
It was about 4" below my shoulders yesterday, it's now 4" above. Quite a dramatic change, better start getting used to it.
Not much choice really have I?
Posted by lilliebet at 07:09 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack