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September 27, 2005
Wagons Roll!!
Well we're in, finally, our new offices that is. And what an awful hovel it is too. By the end of yesterday, we were all filthy dirty; cut to ribbons and sporting various strains, aches and pains from humping orange crates around for the last three days.
The usual IT catastrophes are happening. I've been linked up to a printer at the far end of the office that I swear is in a different time zone (or postcode at least). The first few times I phoned my manager and asked him to get my printing he thought it was hilarious but it's starting to wear a bit thin now.
This, by the way, is the building my mum works in. The one that was flooded with raw sewage a few weeks ago! Property Services have assured us the rumours about mice and other vermin are unfounded but the presence of several strategically placed bait traps around the place isn't convincing anyone.
The particularly paranoid contingent have also decided that the carpet is alive with fleas. Three of them claim to have been bitten while rummaging about under desks plugging in phones. Just after lunch yesterday one of them thrust a finger in my face with a small dark object stuck to it and asked "has that got legs?"
"No Max," I replied "it's a chive!"
I guess these rumours will persist until they eventually send someone in to hose us all down. Again!
The really stupid part about it all is that our senior manager has assured us we will be here for seven weeks at the outside. Seven weeks and we have to do it all again.
They really should have issued us with tents.
Posted by lilliebet at 07:27 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 25, 2005
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehn, adieu
Last night we had a family get together to bid farewell to my cousin, Mike, who's emigrating to Australia on Tuesday. It wasn't a sad occasion by any means. In fact, a rip-roaring time was had by all.
There was a slight wobble when Mike's mum announced very loudly that the minute he got off the plane he'd find himself another blonde hairdresser. Sitting next to his about-to-be-ex-girlfriend as I was, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I settled for an embarassed cringe. To be fair, his application to emigrate was already in process when they met so she knew the score from day one. I don't imagine that makes it any easier for either of them but that's life I'm afraid.
So I guess it's sad that Mike's leaving us and we won't be seeing him quite so often (he only lives over the road so I see him most days). But on the plus side, as he pointed out in his parting speech, we're not losing a relative, we're gaining a free holiday. lol
And, hey, Australia's only a day away isn't it?
Posted by lilliebet at 12:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
September 22, 2005
Pick up thy intray and walk
I've worked in the same department for eleven years. The first seven of them was spent happily enough in one building, 4th Floor, P Court. No problem whatsoever.
Then about four years ago, the powers that be started a relocation programme that defies understanding. This didn't just happen to us, the entire authority seems to have been permanently in transit ever since. I don't know why they haven't supplied us with tents.
See if you can follow the logic here...
Move 1: P Court to V Place
Move 2: V Place to G Street
Move 3: G Street to P Court
Move 4: 4th Floor P Court to 3rd Floor P Court (??)
Move 5: P Court to T Buildings (this one happens tomorrow)
and in two months time...
Move 6: T Buildings to V Place
Why? What on earth do they gain from constantly shifting us from one place to the next? The cost of these moves must be phenomenal and this seems to happen to everyone. It doesn't bear thinking about.
To enable these moves, everything has to be packed into orange crates which are rented by the day. If it's not crated, it doesn't go. You can recognise corpy workers easily.... they're the ones traipsing around town carrying coat stands, pedestal fans and anything else that won't fit in an orange crate. With a rather lost, faraway look in the eyes.
Oh well, I guess I'd better get on with it.
Posted by lilliebet at 07:22 AM | Comments (4)
September 21, 2005
It's all go...
I'll never understand why this happens but, at the times when all sorts of things are going on, I don't post here. I guess I'm too busy getting on and dealing with them to write about them. Strange that.
Today we start packing for another move to another office, our fifth in four years. This is only a temporary relocation, in two months we move again. I'll tell you more about that anon.
Right now though, I'm a bit pissed off....
I got to know a bloke recently through work. We've been helping each other out with some stuff and we've become quite pally. As the friendship's progressed (as friendships do) we've relaxed, become less formal, and the banter has flowed. Recently though, the banter has turned to innuendo and there's been some blatant flirting... all in good fun it has to be said.
But last night I had to pull him up. You see he's married, to a gorgeous lady and has two sons. I told him, "don't you think you're being a bit stupid risking all that." He got rather defensive then, protesting that it was just talk and he we would never carry it through. He even told me to "get a life".
But there in lies the problem. I have a life, a single life, that I'm quite content with right now and have no designs on him whatsoever but I'm at liberty to flirt and banter with whoever I like, I'm single, I have nothing to lose. He does and that's what I tried to explain to him....
He doesn't know me, he doesn't know what I'm capable of. I could be bunny boiler of the year 2005 for all he knows. Luckily for him, I'm not and I know he's not serious but I don't think it's occurred to him that his wife might not see it in the same light. I don't know her but there's every chance she would see light-hearted banter and flirting as bad a transgression as cheating. Some women do and it's something he should maybe consider.
I hope he doesn't stay offended by my words, I hope he can see my good intentions. But, if not, I just hope he counts himself lucky that it was me who brought this up... not bunny boiler of the year 2005.
Posted by lilliebet at 06:55 AM | Comments (6)
September 14, 2005
A Certain Saturation
Yes I'm one of those sad saps who's been bitten by the "number game from a certain country in the far east" bug. It's everywhere isn't it?
The trouble with "the gane" though is that it doesn't take much to master it and once you do, as I have, it ceases to present a challenge.
Yesterday I just happened to buy the Guardian to read on the train and I came across only the second running of what might just prove to be it's successor, "yet another number game from a certain far east country". It's fiendish and, so far, it's gotten the better of me. I'll let you know if I ever finish it....
Posted by lilliebet at 07:12 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
September 12, 2005
In England's Green and Pleasant Land
Man of the hour Kevin Pietersen celebrates his first test century before going on to make 158 and secure the Ashes series for England.
This has been an amazing series to watch and a brilliant summer for cricket in this country. I've enjoyed every nailbiting minute.
Posted by lilliebet at 07:01 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
With much bowing and scraping.....
... I have to make a huge apology.... to the lovely and very patient Peter.
During the installation of the banner I managed to screw up my main index template and couldn't rebuild the site. I tried a test post (see below), which saved but wouldn't post because of the rebuild problem. I had to grab a copy of the template from another friend in order to figure out what I'd messed up. Figured it out, fixed it and then buggered off to watch the cricket.
What I didn't realise was that the saved test entry posted once the template was fixed and I hadn't made mention of the fact that Peter was the one who first created the banner, which Steve subsequently tweaked for me.
So huge apologies and big thanks go to Peter (who has officially fined me two days of attention and refuses to speak to me until the two days are up). Well you really can't blame him can you?
Posted by lilliebet at 06:26 PM | Comments (4)
More changes underway
Thanks to some Blog Explosion reviewers, I've been making what I hope are some improvements to the blog.
And thanks to my fine friend Steve, I have a new banner...
....which I rather like :D
Posted by lilliebet at 09:13 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 10, 2005
Are they doing this on purpose?
I swear the Australians have done this by design. Exactly like the Rugby League Tri-Nations earlier this year. They played like puddings throughout the series, putting England in a great position, only to step up a gear in the final match and put us right back in our place.
268 for 2... oh woe is me!
Posted by lilliebet at 05:59 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
Here she goes again
I really am blowing hot and cold with the design here. I just can't settle on anything. So yet another change has been made.
I like this though. It's quite calming and it couldn't possibly offend anyone... could it?
Posted by lilliebet at 01:58 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Oh the pain...
I don't know what did it, maybe it was pre-Ashes fever but I woke on Thursday morning with the most unbelievable pain between my shoulder blades. It felt as though I had been clenched tightly all night, as though I'd been clinging to a cliff or something. Maybe I had, in my dreams.
I could hardly move at all, I couldn't even sit in this chair until yesterday evening. Thankfully it's easing now but it really made me feel for anyone who has a persistent back problem. I would hate to have to live with what I just went through on a permanent basis.
Posted by lilliebet at 07:10 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 07, 2005
Overheard
You know how it is, sometimes you just hear the most bizarre things...
Strolling through town at lunchtime, I noticed a camera crew and a rather harassed looking presenter who was shrugging his shoulders at them.
He suddenly appeared to have a flash of genius and turned to the four old ex-dockers sat on the bench next to him. Then, with the campest scouse accent you ever heard, he nudged them and said..
"Here, have any of you got a third nipple?"
Eh?
Posted by lilliebet at 08:05 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 05, 2005
Let the Train Take the Strain
Steve rang me this morning to warn me that there was a problem with the trains and they'd been suspended. Feeling very smug, I told him I was already on the train and had missed the mayhem by minutes.
Not five minutes later I was feeling less smug and more hoist-by-my-own-petard as the train pulled into Sandhills station and we were unceremoniously chucked off due to a failed train in the underground ahead of us.
So I considered my options. 1. Wait for who knows how long until they move the failed train and be late for work; 2. Wait for the rail replacement bus service to be laid on and be late for work; 3. Walk half a mile to the regular bus route and wait for a normal bus and be late for work; or 4. Walk.... and be late for work.
Now Sandhills is only one stop before mine, how far could it possibly be?
Nearly forty minutes it took me. It was only when I got to work and looked at the A to Z I realised it was two miles, TWO MILES. Now I admit two miles isn't a great distance but in sweltering September heat with my little legs.... well it was no fun that's for sure.
It was kind of funny though watching all the long legged girlies striding out at a fair old lick while I marched along at my unswerving 3 miles an hour. About twenty minutes into the long march and I was passing them all again. The urge to recite the story of the tortoise and the hare was pressing but I doubt I'd have been warmly received.
By the time I got to work I was an unflattering shade of beetroot and my crisp white blouse was somewhat wilted. Today was definitely not walking weather. Still, in an effort to make me feel better, the lovely Steve greeted me as I arrived....
.... with a steaming hot cup of coffee!!
Posted by lilliebet at 07:09 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
A Haiku for Autumn
Summer not yet gone
No leaves fall from trees as yet:
Blog gets a facelift
Yeah I know, don't give up your day job! It really isn't autumn yet. By now it's usually blowing a gale and I'm peeling sopping wet leaves from my face on the way to work but the summer's actually hanging in there. Still and all I thought the blog could enjoy a change of scene.
What dya think?
Posted by lilliebet at 07:42 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
September 04, 2005
The Worst Mother in the World?
I occasionally write pieces for a friend's website. Here's the latest The Worst Mother in the World?
Take a look around the site while you're there, let me know what you think.
Posted by lilliebet at 11:13 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 02, 2005
What's in a name?
September is upon us but autumn hasn't quite descended yet, it's actually a beautiful sunny day today and, for a moment, I was able to forget that today is the day I dread most - school uniform shopping. No not for me, don't be daft!
This year, to make matters more frustrating (and costly), my daughter's school has "gone" Church of England; changed it's name (no I have no idea what to but I'm sure it'll come back to me); and (aarrgghh!) completely changed the uniform. From blue shirts and maroon jumpers to white shirts and black jumpers, only the black pants and shoes remain unchanged. So the whole kit and caboodle, right down to the PE Kit, has to be replaced this time round. Oh I have a pain in my cheque book!
But wait! My daughter is telling me said school (it's "Saint" something, I know it is) have neglected to come up with a badge for the school jumper. So all I need to buy is a plain black jumper? Hey, super dooper. So don't tell my bank manager but this evening I'm off to Marks & Spencer (ahhhh that's it .... St Michael's!)
Posted by lilliebet at 07:53 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
September 01, 2005
Well OK, if you say so....
I got a lift to Bootle after work last night, it's only two train stops from home and makes the grim task of the evening journey in rush hour so much more tolerable. The train was just pulling into the station as I arrived, so that was an added bonus.
I stood at the edge of the platform as the lead coach pulled up next to me, my foot poised to jump aboard.... suddenly there was a huge flash, an incredible bang and thick clouds of black smoke spilled from under the carriage.
In my desperate desire to get home, it actually took me a few seconds to react and I backed away but it was with some reluctance I've got to say. My brain could not compute recent bombing attacks + exploding train = possible danger, it could only process broken train = you're not getting home anytime soon.
There followed ten minutes of rail staff wandering up and down the platform looking perplexed (while we commuters stood stock still looking even more perplexed) until eventually the guard stuck his head out the door and told us to get on board, we were on our way.
Like sheep we did exactly that.... our homing instincts over-riding any fear we might have for our own personal safety. Once on board, the guard announced that they'd had a "problem with one of the motors" which they'd now shut down and "hopefully" we'd all get to Southport in once piece. But I doubt we'd have cared if they'd found terrorists in the driver's cab as long as the train kept moving.....
Posted by lilliebet at 08:15 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack