Hells Bells, (Helen) has made JR and I leek and potato soup, Mark is out and we don't eat until about 8pm which is really late for me, I've been up since 6 and had quite a stressful day, (stressed out anyway with work and then my lift to the airport was running super late then the flight etc. etc.) and so I'm rapidly falling asleep. I have however been freezing cold for most of the day but the soup is warming and delicious.
JR and I are home by 10pm. I wash my face, brush teeth and dive into my bed. I'm unconscious before I know it.
Friday morning and I wake after having slept like a log. It's freezing cold but it's a bright morning. After a leisurely breakfast followed by a power shower, God I love JR's guest shower, JR and I head out to Stansted House for lunch. We're early so we wander around the plant sale before taking a table in the Orangery. I order a pot of tea for JR and a coffee for me and the snow begins to fall. I take out my phone to take a picture and I have a missed call from my ex manager at work. Probably a pocket dial but unlikely so I text; "Hi, did you mean to call me or was it a mistake? Call me if you need me."
Message comes back to me immediately; "You've won half of the work charity lottery." I've won £527, can you believe it Col? Was already planning new kitchen, hopefully Summer time and so this is going to my kitchen fund. I have to keep stopping myself from saying "I can't believe it!" Because apparently that sends all the wrong signals into the Universe. (I know what you're thinking but I, well, I've been reading a lot about this stuff and I'm willing to keep an open mind... just in cases ;) And, this next bit is going to sound a bit odd as I'm pre disposed to thinking, "that's not going to happen" or leaning towards the negative when it involves me, but I actually thought I was going to win it the week before, had a really strong feeling but then there were no winners and then I had the worst week in work and then I was I was on holiday and didn't give that Friday a second thought. What do you make of that?
Saturday, 24 February 2018
Wednesday, 14 February 2018
Flight of Fancy
Bee getting pneumonia and being hospitalised was a shock, it's amazing how quickly these events happen, one minute everything is fine and the next, you're using SatNav to find a hospital. I visited most nights straight from work, leaving home at 5.05am and returning at 7.50pm, I was exhausted but not visiting wasn't an option that I would choose.
Thank God, after just over a week, Bee was allowed to return home, she has a good few weeks of taking it easy ahead of her but at least she's over the worst.
A few days later and I'm flying down to Southampton, there was a flight sale on which Jan alerted me to and so having leave to use up before March, I booked to go away for the weekend and visit my friends down there.
I'm lucky with the weather, it's been bitterly cold for a good week now and I've been fogged in before now at the airport waiting to fly down but everything is fine today and I'm on board and we depart on schedule.
As I board and make my way to 20D, I approach my row and politely say to 20C, Hello, excuse me but I'm there, (and point to highlight my window seat.) My flying partner for today is a very statuesque elderly lady. She gets up out of her seat and stands aside, by about 2 inches. Thank you, but I'm not that thin. Co-passenger shuffles a little further into the aisle to allow me to slide in to my seat. From there, I have to belt myself up and then belt up my co-passenger as she was sitting on her belt initially.
Lovely lady barely drawers breath for the entire flight. Well travelled, no children, widow, husband was Tom, one step-child, doesn't live near-by. Step daughter-in-law dresses inappropriately for age. Has three trips planned so far this year, the next being The Little Trains of the Pyrenees. She will be 86 on Sunday, same day as eldest Sister and her Mother, who she talked extensively about, was named Dorothy, the same as mine.
Having cried through most of yesterday evening over work, to now find myself next to this lady who, for the entire flight I am unable to think of anything that is worrying me because I'm engaged in conversation, and now to find that her Mum's name is Dorothy. Do we think this is a coincidence?
Elderly lady is a VIP in that she needs assistance, the thing with this is that people needing assistance are first on, brilliant, but last off. And so I am trapped on the plane after landing, until everyone, bar my lady next to me moves. (I'm marooned next to the window.) "Are you in a hurry?"
"No, I'm not in any hurry," I lied.
What seemed like an eternity later, my co-passenger stood up and made her way to the door and I swiftly followed.
Air steward at the door piped up; "Well that was an interesting flight for you!" It absolutely was and I wouldn't swap it for a boring one if you paid me, thanks very much.
JR meets me at the airport and Helen meets us at Wagamama's, this is becoming tradition since I started landing at lunch time. I spill my guts about work and the odd salty tear escapes but Helen is as positive as always and decides new manager is in some way threatened. How, God only knows but my Mum always used to say if someone was being a bitch or a bully, it's because they were jealous or threatened in some way. I never understood what anyone would have to be jealous of me about but I've doled this advice out myself to youngsters and in the absence of any other excuse, maybe she is? God only knows why.
Thank God, after just over a week, Bee was allowed to return home, she has a good few weeks of taking it easy ahead of her but at least she's over the worst.
A few days later and I'm flying down to Southampton, there was a flight sale on which Jan alerted me to and so having leave to use up before March, I booked to go away for the weekend and visit my friends down there.
I'm lucky with the weather, it's been bitterly cold for a good week now and I've been fogged in before now at the airport waiting to fly down but everything is fine today and I'm on board and we depart on schedule.
As I board and make my way to 20D, I approach my row and politely say to 20C, Hello, excuse me but I'm there, (and point to highlight my window seat.) My flying partner for today is a very statuesque elderly lady. She gets up out of her seat and stands aside, by about 2 inches. Thank you, but I'm not that thin. Co-passenger shuffles a little further into the aisle to allow me to slide in to my seat. From there, I have to belt myself up and then belt up my co-passenger as she was sitting on her belt initially.
Lovely lady barely drawers breath for the entire flight. Well travelled, no children, widow, husband was Tom, one step-child, doesn't live near-by. Step daughter-in-law dresses inappropriately for age. Has three trips planned so far this year, the next being The Little Trains of the Pyrenees. She will be 86 on Sunday, same day as eldest Sister and her Mother, who she talked extensively about, was named Dorothy, the same as mine.
Having cried through most of yesterday evening over work, to now find myself next to this lady who, for the entire flight I am unable to think of anything that is worrying me because I'm engaged in conversation, and now to find that her Mum's name is Dorothy. Do we think this is a coincidence?
Elderly lady is a VIP in that she needs assistance, the thing with this is that people needing assistance are first on, brilliant, but last off. And so I am trapped on the plane after landing, until everyone, bar my lady next to me moves. (I'm marooned next to the window.) "Are you in a hurry?"
"No, I'm not in any hurry," I lied.
What seemed like an eternity later, my co-passenger stood up and made her way to the door and I swiftly followed.
Air steward at the door piped up; "Well that was an interesting flight for you!" It absolutely was and I wouldn't swap it for a boring one if you paid me, thanks very much.
JR meets me at the airport and Helen meets us at Wagamama's, this is becoming tradition since I started landing at lunch time. I spill my guts about work and the odd salty tear escapes but Helen is as positive as always and decides new manager is in some way threatened. How, God only knows but my Mum always used to say if someone was being a bitch or a bully, it's because they were jealous or threatened in some way. I never understood what anyone would have to be jealous of me about but I've doled this advice out myself to youngsters and in the absence of any other excuse, maybe she is? God only knows why.
Tuesday, 13 February 2018
January
Col we're now at the opposite end of January from when we last caught up.
I'm going to give you a potted history of the year so far.
Let's start with the positives shall we?
I feel at home on my new team, at my new desk, on my new floor.
I absolutely LOVE my yoga course. Week one, I roll up 30 minutes early, park up, not sure I've parked in an OK spot. It's pitch dark. I wait in car for 15 minutes then see other people begin to arrive and walk through the door. I get out of the car and walk towards the door, as I do so, two women turn the corner and head for the door but turn around and begin staring at me. I look behind and car isn't sticking out. Check my legs, yes, I am wearing pants. Maybe they're looking at something behind me. Another couple of feet later, (I'm as blind as a bat especially in the dark,) and the two women staring at me are no longer in silhouette, they are Tracy and her Mum. What are the odds eh? Tracy and I hadn't even mentioned the course to each other and here we are, signed up for the duration.
Our teacher Ali, is amazing, it's all very relaxed, you just go where your body lets you. Ali demonstrates, explains, tells you which bits of your body is being worked if you couldn't tell and may throw the odd legend in there too. The room is beautifully lit and there are candles burning. I think I can smell incense.
At one point, Tracy and I are next to each other on mats, flat on our backs in a, I think, happy pigeon pose and Tracy pipes up; "I bet 20 years ago you didn't imagine we'd be here did you?" She's absolutely right and when I got home and did the maths, it's actually 25 years can you believe?
Anyway, the lesson I learnt in that first class is that I am impatient, no, actually I knew that, just didn't realise how in a rush I am. (It's not the same, I know what I mean.) We had to learn how to breath properly, in through the nose, chest expands, collar bones rise slightly. At one point, we were lying on our backs, arms on the floor, slightly away from our bodies, palms up, fingers gently curling. We had to stay there for five breaths and my thoughts went something like this;
In through the nose, chest expands, collar bones raise slightly
In through the nose, chest expands, collar bones raise slightly
In through the, I think we're on four now, yes this must be four by now
In through the, this must be the last one
This is a long time, this must be five by now
Are we done?
Thank God
Needless to say, I need to practice this.
I like my new desk, new floor, team are lovely
I've starting doing the stairs twice a day to my floor, that's 300 steps up each time, (8 floors.)
Food is getting back on track, less crisps more broccoli
Burpees! Yes, my VERY modified burpees are still going strong, I haven't missed a single day and it's actually become a big of a habit, an automatic reflex, I put on my mascara in the morning and hit the floor in my bedroom while it dries then carry on with my eyeliner. Getting easier and arms are looking more toned.
I think I had a bit of a virus but by the end of January, I felt less tired all the time and a bit more hopeful.
Back on the healthy food bandwagon, pretty happy about how I'm fuelling my body.
And now, the negatives;
My new manager seems to have taken an immediate dislike to me. Do you remember that God awful manager we had at the bank? She made my life miserable and used to throw things at me when no one else was around? Well, this one is no where near that bad but she's a bit of a bitch. The woman who started on the same day as me... she loves, me... not so much. No training to speak of just an overview of the team. She was on leave for one week of this month and the other three weeks, she just keeps asking me have I done this or done that. She hasn't taken the time to explain what this and that are or told me that these are tasks that my new role require, I'm just supposed to know, through osmosis I believe. And so, I am a constant disappointment. My last day in work, four weeks into job and three weeks with new manager and my first review goes like this;
How do you think it's gone?
Me.. not very well, you keep asking me if I've done things I didn't even know I was supposed to be doing.
Manager.. well you've been with the department for a few years
Me.. Yes and I can do my old role for you with my eyes closed, I've never done this role
Manger... Well I'll need to take this to my manager.
And then... on the 30th Jan, I get home to see a message on my phone from eldest sister which reads; "call me when you can." You know that we're not in touch regularly so this can only mean one thing, that something is wrong.
Bee is, as we speak, in an ambulance on the way to hospital with pneumonia.
I'm going to give you a potted history of the year so far.
Let's start with the positives shall we?
I feel at home on my new team, at my new desk, on my new floor.
I absolutely LOVE my yoga course. Week one, I roll up 30 minutes early, park up, not sure I've parked in an OK spot. It's pitch dark. I wait in car for 15 minutes then see other people begin to arrive and walk through the door. I get out of the car and walk towards the door, as I do so, two women turn the corner and head for the door but turn around and begin staring at me. I look behind and car isn't sticking out. Check my legs, yes, I am wearing pants. Maybe they're looking at something behind me. Another couple of feet later, (I'm as blind as a bat especially in the dark,) and the two women staring at me are no longer in silhouette, they are Tracy and her Mum. What are the odds eh? Tracy and I hadn't even mentioned the course to each other and here we are, signed up for the duration.
Our teacher Ali, is amazing, it's all very relaxed, you just go where your body lets you. Ali demonstrates, explains, tells you which bits of your body is being worked if you couldn't tell and may throw the odd legend in there too. The room is beautifully lit and there are candles burning. I think I can smell incense.
At one point, Tracy and I are next to each other on mats, flat on our backs in a, I think, happy pigeon pose and Tracy pipes up; "I bet 20 years ago you didn't imagine we'd be here did you?" She's absolutely right and when I got home and did the maths, it's actually 25 years can you believe?
Anyway, the lesson I learnt in that first class is that I am impatient, no, actually I knew that, just didn't realise how in a rush I am. (It's not the same, I know what I mean.) We had to learn how to breath properly, in through the nose, chest expands, collar bones rise slightly. At one point, we were lying on our backs, arms on the floor, slightly away from our bodies, palms up, fingers gently curling. We had to stay there for five breaths and my thoughts went something like this;
In through the nose, chest expands, collar bones raise slightly
In through the nose, chest expands, collar bones raise slightly
In through the, I think we're on four now, yes this must be four by now
In through the, this must be the last one
This is a long time, this must be five by now
Are we done?
Thank God
Needless to say, I need to practice this.
I like my new desk, new floor, team are lovely
I've starting doing the stairs twice a day to my floor, that's 300 steps up each time, (8 floors.)
Food is getting back on track, less crisps more broccoli
Burpees! Yes, my VERY modified burpees are still going strong, I haven't missed a single day and it's actually become a big of a habit, an automatic reflex, I put on my mascara in the morning and hit the floor in my bedroom while it dries then carry on with my eyeliner. Getting easier and arms are looking more toned.
I think I had a bit of a virus but by the end of January, I felt less tired all the time and a bit more hopeful.
Back on the healthy food bandwagon, pretty happy about how I'm fuelling my body.
And now, the negatives;
My new manager seems to have taken an immediate dislike to me. Do you remember that God awful manager we had at the bank? She made my life miserable and used to throw things at me when no one else was around? Well, this one is no where near that bad but she's a bit of a bitch. The woman who started on the same day as me... she loves, me... not so much. No training to speak of just an overview of the team. She was on leave for one week of this month and the other three weeks, she just keeps asking me have I done this or done that. She hasn't taken the time to explain what this and that are or told me that these are tasks that my new role require, I'm just supposed to know, through osmosis I believe. And so, I am a constant disappointment. My last day in work, four weeks into job and three weeks with new manager and my first review goes like this;
How do you think it's gone?
Me.. not very well, you keep asking me if I've done things I didn't even know I was supposed to be doing.
Manager.. well you've been with the department for a few years
Me.. Yes and I can do my old role for you with my eyes closed, I've never done this role
Manger... Well I'll need to take this to my manager.
And then... on the 30th Jan, I get home to see a message on my phone from eldest sister which reads; "call me when you can." You know that we're not in touch regularly so this can only mean one thing, that something is wrong.
Bee is, as we speak, in an ambulance on the way to hospital with pneumonia.
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