Four very full days

Thursday - 300 miles and a last ball draw for the Sabers
Friday – 400 miles and meal with relatives
Saturday – 90 miles and two long walks separated by a dominant win (0-4). We looked good and in control for most of the 90 minutes, and but for their keeper, it could have been 7 or 8!

It was great to spend the afternoon and evening with the BOSS and his family, good sport, nice win, melt in the mouth food, and a debate that lasted until 01:30, after the girls had gone to bed.

Martin – 6 – One good save and 89 minutes of watching the game from a far
Gilbert – 7 – Another strong performance, out of position once, which gave a chance
Morrison – 7 – A solid performance, strong in the air and forming a good partnership with Hobbs
Hobbs – 7 – Getting better by the game, excellent heading, still needs to work on his distribution
Tunchev – (Sub 81) – 6 – Playing out of position, he did a good job, although was helped by poor boots by the opposition winger
Powell - (Sub 9) – 5 – Not enough time to show
Dickov – (Sub 59) – 6 - Right wing will never be his best position, but frequently made Alan Wright look stupid
Gradel – (Sub 31) – 6 - His first proper touch set up Howard with a pin point cross
King – 6 – More assured, although no real challenge
Oakley – 7 – A captains performance, strong and a get shot for his goal
Dyer – 9 – What a change from the pre-season game against Birmingham, it was like having Max on the left. He beat players time and time again, and scored 2 great goals.
Howard – 7 – Unlucky to have his goal ruled out, solid performance against a weak backline
Fryatt – 7 – He got a chance, he scored, he had a good game, although you have top question any defence that makes Fryatt look fast!

Sunday – 90 miles, 5 hours writing the re-structuring report, and an early night.

I am starting to feel like I am reaching the middle of my candle, and this week is no quieter, never mind, at least its 7 nights in my own bed!

His name is Yada.............

No entry last night because of winning the International and African Cup with able support from PASH. It was a good night, and the wine flowed, and if anyone is interested we also made up a super song about a footballing Hippo! How is that for creativity.

Had a couple of good work days, today was the legendary expanded PSOR, and it was a good meeting (10:00 – 15:45), good vib, and I think we will have a good new team. Everyone has now had the structural overview, and I have some excited people, which is great. We need energy, and PASH has really gigg’d thinks up.

Tomorrow is the start of a long slog, I have a 9:00 in Worcester, a 12:00 in Bristol, a 14:30 in Hutton and a 16:30 in Taunton. They better win after all that driving.

I would like to thank thought that commented on smell, and say the person that read 3 books over a weekend, ‘smart arse!’

Holiday of Bankers

Decadence, in bed until 13:00 reading, unfortunately unlike Lizsara I didn’t finish a book, I just made 100 pages progress, so still another 100 pages to go.

We did the shopping, and bought more books, but still failed to find the right birthday present, less than 10 days and counting.

Thanks to PASH for answering the smell question (see yesterdays comments). Whilst it was a typically academic reply, it fits and therefore I will go with it (anyone saying he could sell me snow, is just not right).

Back to work tomorrow, and the start of the finish of structure planning. I also have a very challenging 121 and a meeting for final handover with my predecessor.
Then PASH for tea, and an evening of work (or hopefully PS2).

Take a look around you…….

Sunday was supposed to be sport and work, but I had one of those frustrating days, when I was not interested in the sport, and could not get the vibe for the work. In fact it was not until 18:30 when I started cooking tea, that I got into the work bit, and therefore ended up doing it until 22:00. Good news is we are down to just 8 emails, I have prep’d for the week, and just have the restructuring to get sorted (and even that is sorted in my head, just need to document it).

It was nice when doing tea to think that there was another day off, and we are going shopping tomorrow, so that will be good. I am sure I will end up with more books, cos you always need books.

Not sure if I will get anything else, I am currently in that, I want to get something, but don’t know what.

I also need to get a couple of birthday presents so that will be a challenge. There are some people who I always find I get inspired for, most of the family and a few friends, then there are thoe were I just get stuck, and that is what I need to find tomorrow, wish me luck.

For the last couple of days I have been thinking about smells, and given that I have not found an answer I will throw it out there and see if I get an answer.

So if you smell and smell is there less of it to be smelt? I have examples of both. We currently have some great Orchards and when you walk in the house the smell hits you, then later you don’t notice it. Yet when there is a less pleasant smell, like the compost heap the smell is as strong the second, third and tenth time. So what is the story with smells?

3 Games watched and 3 wins!

Saturday and after getting woken up by the door bell and charging down stairs only to find nothing there, it must have been a dream, damn! Fortunately I was able to get back to sleep.

A successful afternoon again, 3-1 against a good looking Tranmere, and although we struggled for the first 20 minutes, we scored first and looked in control for the rest of the game.

Ratings

Martin – 6 – Good positioning, and an excellent point blank save, but a couple of runabouts
Gilbert – 7 – An excellent game again by the right back, pace and positioning and some good runs
Hobbs – 7 – Best game yet from the loanee, confident at the back, needs to improve his distribution
Morrison – 6 – Nothing spectacular, but generally save
Dyer – 7 – A solid game, with some good runs, let down by Porter in front of him
Gradel – 7 – (Sub 57) - Another great game from the pocket rocket, got up after being fouled to take the free kick which lead to the second goal. Then tried to run it off, unsuccessfully
Adams – 6 – (Sub 57) – An improvement including some good play for the 3rd goal.
Oakley – 6 – Solid but unspectacular
King – 5 – Another poor game, either anonymous, or giving the ball away
Porter – 5 – (Sub 64) - Still jumping out of a tackle, showed a couple of good turns of pace, but needs to get his balls back
Dickov – 5 - (Sub 64) – Played out of position, and struggled to get in the game
Fryatt – 7 – Scored 2, but is still to slow and selfish, but did what he is paid for
Howard – 7 – See Fryatt, scored 1

Shopping on the way home, and why oh why was there only 2 tills open at a supermarket @ 18:30? Rubbish.

I think, there for I am, I think? - And now I know again!

So the day of the 121 arrives and the good news is I am doing ok! I have had my structure signed off, so will need to start work on implementation next week (this weekend). The number is still to low, and whilst we have some coverage we are not making the kind of impact we need.

Today is actually a milestone day, after the lows of wondering if I was really that good, would I work again, I feel that sense of confidence returning. Positive affirmation is a great thing.

The 121 should have been 2 hours and ended up being 5, but as it was the first meeting with my boss in 12 weeks, I guess that should be expected. It is always interesting to learn about a new boss, what he thinks, and how he thinks, those things are essential to ensure you get your approach right.

It was a bit distressing to get home to over 100 emails (after getting it down to 16 by working till 11:00 last night), but I decided to stop at 19:00 even though there are 55 left, I have read them all and know I can clear them in a hour and ½ .

I am really looking forward to the long weekend, I have split it into 3 groups. Saturday of to the pantheon of football, Sunday will be working and watching some sport, and Monday will be some shopping. The key will be some good sleep and hopefully finishing my book.

It will also be good to spend some time with Belle, as the last few weeks have been full on for both of us.

One of my problem staff has applied to another job, which could be good. He is a good guy, but just not up to the job, and in a week where someone who is very good as lost out, it is right that those that cant are removed. So I am looking forward to finally being able to implement a matrix structure, I have been trying for 7 years, and finally someone agrees!

Drowning in Emails

Yesterday was one of those classic old time nights. I meet up with STAI in the day and it was just like the days of yore when we would discuss the business merits of ‘things’ and have general agreement. Then we were joined by Statto and had a few beers, a few bottles of wine, and off for a meal. Despite the fact that STAI had a very nice brollie, we got very wet as it chose those 10 minutes to rain! Once we got to the restaurant we did have a great meal, and gave KFC a really good slagging!

Unsurprisingly STAI and I left the bar at 02:35, after the hotel decided they did not have a residents bar!

Thursday was a techno frustrating day. I was forced to change my password for one system, but because I was not on the LAN, it did not propagate, and therefore I could sync email. It took IT support 4 hours to get back to me and only after I escalated, if only I had said ‘do you know who I am?’

All in All it meant I finished work tonight at 22:45! Another long day, of joy.

Tomorrow is my first 121, I am sure it will be fine, and I do need to get some direction on some of the dross.

On a completely different note I am currently listening to Earth calling Alice, a group from Birmingham, which despite that handicap are fantastic. I would recommend anyone to listen to them, so go to www.overplay.co.uk/earthcallingalice and down load the new EP, and if you are ever in Europe’s largest city in the evening see if you can find a gig.

The Best of Times, The Worst of Times

So two days of the new boy, and I have been working him hard! A customer complaint within 2 hours, an external contractor meeting within 4 hours, and come the end of day two I had got a good 15 hours out of him. It was sad that he wanted a sleep mid afternoon, these youngsters just cant hack the pace!

Don’t tell him, but he will definitely make a difference!

On the darker side the company formally know as CAPS have shown how little the new management know about how to run a company. It is great news that JASI has got a role, and she deserves it for all her hard work, however how any business can not also appoint MACO is just stupid! That in itsself is bad enough, but to tell him by phone ‘cos an office move is more important’ is crass beyond belief. I hope that we complete on project Apple, as that will hurt the idiots who have the power.

Off out tomorrow night with friends I used to work with, which will be nice, its been a while since we got together, so will be good to catch up. I am sure it will end up being a late night, but that will be fine. Thursday and Friday are working from home days, so I am sure I will have some recovery time.

Nothing fell into the cage today

Finally a relaxing Sunday, well lots of cooking, a bit of tidying, some sport and some rest.

It was another one of those, 5 dishes on the go, lets see what happens days.

I did 4 individual fish pies and 4 individual bread and butter puddings for a dinner party at the end of the month.
14 portions of soup, well really it is a broth, very thick and lots of meat (chicken and guinea fowl).
4 Ice bags of stock, and
I rhubarb and pear bread pudding (I am going to experiment on PASH tomorrow night)

Oh and of course the Sunday Roast.

I always used to think it was strange when people said they were tidying up the day before the cleaners came, and now I find myself doing it. Really its just clearing surfaces and making sure there is nothing on the floor. The feeling of walking into the house after the cleaners is almost as good as the feeling of getting into bed when you have just changed the sheets.

Its PASH’s first day tomorrow, and we have a very full day, including more games of chase the cash. It will be good to be able to leave one part of the business to be run, and given that it is the part that generates most of the money, it should help. The challenge will be not expecting him to fix everything in his first week, but you know I am good at patients!

Why do you read?

Saturday, and more gold than a Terry’s factory. I missed the tight one, but saw the swimming that was a walk and the cycling that made the rest of the field look like they were using stabilisers.

I did the obligatory trip to Sainsbury’s and watch the afternoons sport whilst building a monitoring dashboard for the Q2 financial stretch management.

Cooked Paella for tea, using a chilli and tomato salsa as a base, which gave it a peppery kick, as usual, cooked too much, but that just means I have a meal for Belle in the fridge for the week. I also tried a Pink Port, which is bland beyond belief, don’t go there!

And now to the really heart of today musings, we watched a BBC4 series on fantasy writing this evening, and it raised some questions in my mind.

Firstly, why do people read? The program suggested a simplistic escapism, where children and adults alike imagine themselves as the characters. The history of the genre is interesting, but the patronising view of the academics and authors is sickening.

So what do I think makes for good fantasy? I need to believe in the characters, they need to be created, and be credible, but I don’t need and don’t really have the patience for long back ground developments. The stories that effect me most are those where the characters have attributes that I would like to have, those that react in a way that I would like to act, or they carry me into a time in history that appeals.

Secondly the map. I don’t need a map, why does anyone need a map? A map is an excuse for not having imagination (or maybe just thinking differently). I can view the landscape through the authors words, I can sense the time it takes to travel and how hard it could be. I want someone to be able to create a world in words, without the need of pictures. If a picture can paint a thousand words, then it is either a lazy or limited author who resorts to that cheap visionation.

This brings us on to the third issue; Tolkien, a literary genius, or a deep academic, who really only wrote for himself. I think his trilogy is to long and to full of unnecessary detail. I don’t need to read elfish, to follow a map, or endure 4 pages of song, in fact it creates a staccato experience that just does not work for me. Don’t get me wrong, I like the story, but it is not a book I would ever read again.

That I guess leads to one of my failings, I am often told by my wife that the bible is more than Jesus Christ Superstar. I like hearing words, images being painted in my imagination without having to trawl through a mess of words, lost out of time. I am not stupid, I know what is real and what is fantasy, but I can also discern where words are being used to keep down the masses, to spin a web so complex that the insecure believe there are those that are better because they understand those that should lead. Complexity in words is the domain of the oppressors, true creators are able to create a world that anyone can visit. If you need a PHD in philosophy to understand someone’s writing then the author has failed.

I would therefore put Tim Rice, and Benny and Bjorn before Tolkien and C.S.Lewis. I would put Gemmel ahead of Eddings, for me accessibility is the key, I don’t want to work at a story, I work during the day, a story should be a pleasure. It must take me away from the issues of the day, and create a world and a set of characters that I want to get back too.

I don’t normally ask for the opinion of others, as I really just write this for myself, but if there is anyone out there then I would be interested in your thoughts. I know you will have difference reading habits and interests, so what are your answers these questions:

If you only every read the bible, would you ever question Gods treatment of Judas?
If you need maps to picture where a charter is, what does that map give you that the words don’t?
And finally, what is the difference between books and songs?

Its hot in the City, Hot in the City, oh ya!

Friday in London, the sunny was shining the birds were coughing on China(esk) smog, and the Tube was backed, more people, none of which seem to be able to afford deodorant. It is clear that Bonkers Boris’ desire for a £7.50 minimum London wage is to save our noses, go Boris.

I spent the day working out of the IoD, a building where once I felt like I should not really be there, but today, in my Summer jacket, I happily sat at a desk, talking on my phone, working on my laptop and drinking mineral water.

The 121 went well, and the latest finance review only lasted 45 minutes. Unforunately the rest of the day was spent on e-mails and phone calls so no progress on the required activities. Looks like more weekend working, although I am only doing 1 day.

It is a sport filled weekend, and we are looking to 3 in a row! I am still feeling confident, and with the premier season starting that mean that fantasy football starts too. I have made over 70 changes to my team before the season even starts, why is it that I can make a decision in business, yet I prat around with my team? If only it was like my Fantasy Cricket Team, where I am 2800 points ahead, and have over twice as many points as the red top that is supporting the table.

Belle's Birthday

Management team, which was ok, although the numbers I had prepared had been screwed by an accountant!

However good news was I got some great personal feedback from the boss, and managed to get home for 18:30.

I think Belle enjoyed her evening, we had a nice meal, a nice drink.

The presents went down well, although she will now have a challenge to not play with them or read them before she finishes her Masters!

Off to London tomorrow, and a 121 (for which I have not prepared!) The last 121 I had in the IoD was discussing the opportunities post merger, I hope for NAMO that her next 12 months works out better!

Then ifs off out to a leaving do, where I might only know one person, for me this is a big thing, so wish me luck!

Its nice when you feel you made a difference!

I awoke with a face like the elephant man.

It made talking on Wednesday hard, but the two meetings I have where pseudo consultancy, trying to solve the migration issues.

I really enjoyed it especially the afternoon were I feel I am making a real difference. What was most rewarding was to be told that the business unit manager had already got someone planning one of the ideas I suggested last week. If it is possible to turn this one around we will do it!

We have had 3 staff resign in the last 3 days, which will create some challenges. In the mid term its no great loss, however in the short term it will be a pain! The reality is in each case the move is the best for each person, so you just have to wish them goodluck, and get on with replacing there skills.

Managed to leave work early, as the face was still very sore, and had a short lye down. All in all not a bad day, its Belle’s birthday tomorrow, so out for dinner, and hopefully she will like her presents.

3 sporting wins in a row, its a record!

Tuesday was forecast submission day, and we survived. That is what prep is for and the hour I did on Saturday night on the cost saving review was of value. I would have liked more time with the boss, but it must be a vote of confidence that he only wanted 30 minutes.

Managed to get away at 17:45 and headed up to LCFC and the first cup game of the season. It truth it was comfortable, we only scored 1 goal, but the usual nerves we not there in the second half. Even when due to an injury we went down to 10 man (against 10 men) we still look safe. I am starting to become optimistic!!!!!!!!!!!!

Team Review

Martin – 6 – Good debut from the Red Top from Liverpool
Gilbert – 6 – Another assured performance from the flying right back
Hobbs – 7 – A much more assured performance from the young defender
Morrison – 6 – 3 games, and 3 solid performances, he just needs to learn better distribution
Mattock – 7 – Another flying display from the youngster, he got a standing ovation when carried off with a worrying ankle injury, good news is 24 hours on, it just a strain. It was his superb cross that set up the goal
Gradel – 8 – Wow, why did we loan him out last year? He put in another super racy game.
Kishishev – 6 – Solid if unspectacular, showed lots of energy, and fought well for the ball.
King (Sub on 63) – 5 – Another average game, a couple of good shots, but needs to establish himself more
Weslowski – 7 – Another strong performance, you can always rely on energy and passion from the young Aussie
Adams – 6 – A much better game, and may have found it easier without Pearson yelling at him for 45 minutes (move in, move out, high, low, you tell me)
Porter (Sub on 78) – 6 – Played the last 10 minutes as left back, didn’t really do anything to impress or worry
Campbell – 5 – Just not good enough again
Dickov – 6 – Pace and passion, and one blinding shot
Howard – 7 – When we walked out as captain, you thought why, but he put in a strong performance and scored a strikers goal. Maybe it was worth turning £500k down

Got home at a reasonable time, with gum ache, which kept me awake most of the night.

Taken from the World of Bionic Yoghurt

1. My uncle once: Showed humility (no not really)

2. Never in my life: I have never swam with a Dolphin

3. When I was five: I was world Dolphin catching champion

4. High school was: a poor musical

5. I will never forget: The day my wife asked me to marry her

6. Once I met: Patrick Kisnorbo, well actually I sat a couple of seats away from him and didn’t say hello

7. There’s this girl I know: Who blogs for a living

8. Once, at a bar: I drank lots of wine, whilst listing to yanks witter

9. By noon, I’m usually: Thinking about breakfast, or remembering I poured the milk out and it now warm

10. Last night: I did a Cindy Lauper

11. If only I had: Two hearts and a blue box that could take me backwards and forwards in time and reality

12. Next time I go to church: I will be an unhappy tourist

13. What worries me most: is the amount of poo a seagull can generate

14. When I turn my head left I see: my wife

15. When I turn my head right I see: a book case, with biographies on it

16. You know I’m lying when: I say I don’t mind losing

17. What I miss most about the Eighties is: That night of fireworks, they were the best fireworks ever, no really, you will never see anything that good

18. If I were a character in Shakespeare I’d be: The merchant of Venice, cos I like the place

19. By this time next year: I will almost be middle aged

20. A better name for me would be: God, Mr God or your Godness

21. I have a hard time understanding: why the other god lets things happen

22. If I ever go back to school, I’ll: I will not have to install SIMS

23. You know I like you if: I answer your text messages

24. If I ever won an award, the first person I would thank would be: my wife, my mum, my sister, my dad, my granny and all those small people I walked over to get there

25. Take my advice, never: Believe a word RKC says

26. My ideal breakfast is: Water, and poached eggs on buttered toast, that’s buttered toast you stupid Pole!

27. A song I love but do not have is: Nothing, if I like it, I itune it, like Happiness

28. If you visit my hometown, I suggest you: don’t go no the pier with anything flammable

29. Why won’t people: do what I tell them, when I tell them, I did not give them free will to make stupid decisions!

30. If you spend a night at my house: You will get colour co-ordinated towels

31. I’d stop my wedding for: a tissue, as unless someone says ‘chicken song’ to me cos Ill be crying

32. The world could do without: America

33. I’d rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: lick the belly of two cockroaches

34. My favourite blonde(s) is/are: my wife

35. Paper clips are more useful than: most Microsoft help files

36. If I do anything well it’s: everything, especially modesty

37. I can’t help but: thinking there is more than Ikea

38. I usually cry: at the drop of a dramatic hat

39. My advice to my child/nephew/niece: is enjoy life early the planet will be dead before you are 50!

40. And by the way: In a galaxy far, far away there is a money grabbing beardy bloke, who decided that 3 films were not enough to trash a franchise, so he made a cartoon!

That was the weekend that was………….

So after more driving that you can shake a cone at, it was Monday again, and the weekend was over. If I felt tired today, I am sure it was better than Lizsara who got home at 2:46 and got up for the gym at 6:15, now that is commitment. So was it all worth it, well yes. It was nice to spend time with Mum and Drip, and see both my teams win.

Player Review:

Hendo – Not much to do, but what he did generally he did well, the only disappointment was the number of times his goal kick reached their goalie – 6
Gilbert – Different game, different player, looked assured at the back and good going forward – 7
Tunchev – Solid performance, never in trouble – 6
Morrison - Solid performance, never in trouble – 6
Hobbs – (Sub 5 mins) – Better again than pre-season, although didn’t really get time to do much – 5
Mattock – Like Gilbert, an assured game, beat people and was not often out of position – 6
Gradel – Man of the match, pace, step overs, beat players, crossed for the second, what a find – 8
Oakley – Strong in the tackle, good on the ball – 6
King – Never really got into the game, although never really did anything wrong – 5
Dyer – Another one, who was much better than pre-season, showed go tenacity – 6
Fryatt – He is still to selfish, and has no pace, but scored the two goals – 7
Howard – RUBBISH – 3
Dickov – (Sub 25 mins) Got a fantastic welcome, and showed he can still argue with the ref with the best of them, more to come – 6

In truth other than 20 minutes in the second half we looked more assured that I have ever seen us, yes the crowd go nervous, but then we have seen 1-0 leads disappear before, but the atmosphere drove the players on, and it was great to clap the team off, rather than booing! So 2-0 the first, first game win since I have had a season ticket! Bring on Stockport!

Then down through the driving rain to the west country for cricket, it didn’t look very likely on the journey down, but Sunday dawned dry and windy, and so off to Taunton, we did go.

The game falls into that bracket I described a few weeks ago, we won with one ball to spare. So in the end a fantastic high, but very nervous getting there. What was good was it was the young home grown talent that won it for us, rather than the imports, so 2 games, 2 wins, what more could you want (more sleep!)

I would like to thank the planner that thought that making the M1 one lane on a Sunday evening was a good idea, it added almost 45 minutes onto the journey, and only then because I got off and went cross country (no not literately!). Planners are short insignificant people, who should be shot!

So Monday arrived and brought more games of chase the penny, I think the plans are ok, but wont know until tomorrow, so fingers crossed. Defo up for an early night tonight, as off the field of dreams again tomorrow night!

So watch out on Wednesday for another game review, and the answer to the ultimate question, do my numbers balance!

WFH, I love WFH

So a day of budgets, forecasts, staff reduction and pre start induction. All in all a good day and nice not to have to drive to the office. I also got another Birthday present, go me. There is only person with the ego to get me cuff links with his initials on them, no not KP, put PASH, what a sweetie!

Yet again its going to require working this weekend, but as I have football and cricket, it is likely to be just Saturday evening with a bottle of wine. Just the way to try and find £750k!

We also had a new gardener visit today, well actually it was the return of an old gardener, and she went mad with clippers and fork. My front garden now looks like a mud patch. I know it was hard work, and I do appreciate the effort, I just don’t like the time it takes for a garden to mature. Our back garden looks great, it has a real feeling of being there for ever, the greens soften the buildings, but the front garden looks a bit bare.

So, its Friday night, and the like the night before Christmas, it’s the night before our first game of the season, I feel so apprehensive, this is a must win season, we must start to turn our form around, could this be the year???????????

Given the required travel, it maybe Monday before I am able to review the form of LCFC and the Super Sabres, so you will have to control your excitement!

Find the penny!

So its numbers time again, and guess what they are rubbish! Only 40% to find in three days, what fun!

We have at least revised the business forecasting process, it now all sits with me! So that means instead of just trying to find 70k in 3 days, I have to try and balance 1/12 of £19m! It what I like doing.

We have at least made some progress with the problem site, in fact so much so, that my trouble shooter was bought some flowers, as a thank-you. Progress!

Tomorrow is the killer drive, and some key finance meetings and a 121, so all good stuff!

The big challenge is with no free time this weekend how am I going to get it all done before Monday lunchtime?

On the sporting front we have just loaned a new goalkeeper, why I rate both our current keepers, so it will be interesting to see what we do. Personally I would rate we signed a striker on loan, as with something to prove they should be hungry!

And then the cricket team, what rubbish, I am just hoping that the Lizsara luck streak carries through until the end of Sundays one dayer!

Tick Tock, Achievement and Friends I have got!

Tuesday and I have now completed 27 ½ hours for the week, go me! Only 10 hours left and I can stop working, oh if that was only true.

That being said, ultimately today was a good day. A very frustrating morning, I have a killer client problem, which I just cant fix myself. We have been working so hard, and it is so frustrating when you know how they feel and just cant fix it. Its not me, no one can fix it quicker than we are currently working. I have had to ask one of my team to cancel her personal arrangements (again) to be on-site tomorrow, and we still may not get it sorted.

The afternoon was more focused, and I managed to clear most of my emails. I have sent over 100 emails in 2 days (and was in a 6 hours meeting yesterday, and as a general rule my create to reply ratio is 2:4. I do believe we are heading in the right direction (I know you have read this before), but I am more confident we can get there.

Next couple of days are in the office, although Thursday also includes 400 miles travel as well. Makes you wonder why sometimes!

Also had a good evening, had a call from an old friend and he always makes me smile, add that to the 2 friends from Uni that e-mailed me last week, and the other emails I got from school and work friends, it makes you feel warm inside. Ask me if I have any friends, and I would say not many, then when they contact you, you realise there are actual a lot that care, which is great.

The top point however was that baby sister past her OU exams, go baby sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In true 24 style, 3 ½ days count down……………….

ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Left home at 6:50, arrived back @ 21:40, I am knackered!

And to top it all off Somerset got tonked!

Night.......................

When Sunday feels like a Friday

More work, and I end the week exhausted with a 7am leave tomorrow morning.

No cricket, we threw that away yesterday, a GP with only one over taking move, boring. So lots of work, a 20 point list completed, but a very tired me.

Off to Belfast in the morning, so hopefully I can doze on the plan.

This work thing is very tiring!

And on the 6th day he did more work

Saturdays are meant to be days of rest, but yesterday was like a full working day. I managed to get most of the tings on my list done, but still have two chuck pieces of work to do on Sunday.

The evening was better however as we had dinner with friends, which was very nice and relaxing.