Southampton

I am off to Southampton today to catch up with my lovely friends down there.  I sleep well then decide to snooze for a further 20 minutes, so indulgent of me.  I finally rise and kick off the day with door stop toast with butter and Manuka honey and several vats of decaff.  I jog for 20 minutes then hit the shower, manage to do something with the head, then head out to Starbucks and some me time.  I write a little, but it's not for publication, I just need to mull over the past couple of weeks and try to get some perspective on recent events.

I don't get home until 11.30ish and realise that J is picking me up for the airport at 12.45ish, I still have to have lunch, iron and pack.  Luckily it's soup and bread for lunch, I don't have much to iron or to pack, I have my weekend packing down to a fine art and can pretty much do it on auto pilot.

J is a little late, which is good today.  We head for the airport around 1pm and the traffic is kind and free flowing.  After a slight parking trauma, we park up and J insists on joining me for a coffee inside the airport.  It's lovely but I'm always a little antsy when I know the next thing I need to do is head for security.

I kiss J goodbye and make her promise to text me when she gets home.  There is a massive queue for security and it's hot, and slow moving.  The Polish man behind me is anxious to get to his flight and keeps knocking into me which is annoying and making me more hot.  After 30 minutes, I'm about 6 from the front of the queue when the Polish people behind explain that their gate closes in 10 minutes and could they jump the queue.  We all of course let them go, and at least I'm not being constantly bumped into for the remaining few minutes in the queue.  I look around the queue, the lady behind me until the queue splits in two, has been separated from her two friends who are about 12 people ahead, we chat a little, the man in front of me has an enormous rucksack on his back and I spot an old lady on her own and wonder where she's headed for.

After 35 minutes I get through security, I pick up a US Elle magazine as it has one of my hero's SJP on the cover and I purchase my traditional, pre-flight wine.  No sooner have I flipped through the mag and hurried my wine, than my flight is called. 

I make my way to gate 51 and sit for 15 minutes waiting for the call to board.  After 10, the old lady I saw in the queue for security arrives in a wheelchair, I think that it's odd but maybe she can't manage the steps?

I'm safely ensconced in my seat, my usual 3C.  I don't know what it is about the flight down but 3D is rarely taken and today it's free so that means I have sole occupation of the middle arm rest.  4E and F behind me are free also, bliss, I am so antisocial, but I don't care.

I've brought my journal to write, love to write on the plane but can't do that until we're safely in the air and I can pull down my miniature table.  Until that time, I have a book to read.  When the cabin crew lady comes by with the trolley to ask me if I'd like anything, (silly question,) she tells me that she needs a new book, saw me laughing and asked what it was that I was reading?  'It's Danny Wallace, Awkward Situations for Men,' I say excitedly, 'it's very funny, you have to get it,' I say showing her the cover as if to convince.  Have to say, she doesn't look convinced but trust me, it's very funny. 

I first came across Danny Wallace columns in the free 'Shortlist' mag for men which I used to pick up for my buddy Paul.  It's a man's 'mag' and Paul would pick up 'Stylist' for me, we'd exchange every Wednesday, but not before I'd read the Danny Wallace article.  He often had me in stitches, crying with laughter... they both did, and so when I saw DW on the book shelf in my supermarket, I couldn't resist.

We'd only been in the air for a few minutes, just about levelled off when we dropped out of the sky, my stomach lurched, do you remember that feeling when you were little and the car you were in drove over a humped back bridge and you left you stomach somewhere behind?  The pilot has already warned of turbulence, it's a very windy day both in the North West and in Southampton, so it's to be expected.

I'm on one of those tiny planes with propellers, we've taken off 15 minutes late but arrive 5 minutes early, such is the strength of the wind.  The neon sticky tape is still on the floor, still ready to guide us all in case of emergency... crash landing, that sort of thing, you can't beat a bit of neon sticky tape in an emergency.

I have a packed weekend waiting for me but I'm really excited, it's like heading for family, that you like.  So excited.

It's 4.10 and the light is fading.  It's about 15 minutes to touch down, we're above the clouds and this always looks like heaven to me.  So lovely.  So peaceful.

Bitch Slapped

So today, I got a slap in the face.  Not literally you understand but I still felt it.  Actually, I've had a few slaps the past few days.  It's like the Universe is saying, "for heaven's sake, wake up will you?"

My friend told me that all she wanted to do on Sunday was cuddle with.... her significant other.  Sunday, a friend who is kind of together with someone but seems to be single, told me that they were heading off to choose blinds and curtains.  Slap.  Huge reminder that said friend is well and truly part of a couple.  Have I been in a coma and slept through a few months and it's now either Christmas or New Year?  You know... those well known holidays in which you are damned if you are single.

I sit next to Mark (name changed to protect the not so innocent,)  in work.  He is also a Leo, he is a little older than me, happily married with two gorgeous boys.  He is the worst gossip, knows everything that's happening in the office and if you don't tell him what's going on with you... he'll make it up and repeat it until it sticks, for instance, I apparently have a pen chant for short and powerful men.  No, I have no idea where that came from either, but he's repeated it for over a year now, and the gullible in work sometimes actually believe him, until I put them straight.

Since declaring myself single to Mark a few weeks ago, (I had to, I wasn't up to Mark's jibes the day after the break up so I confessed and he was sweet.)  We have now left sweet, well enough alone and he's decided he should make me a list of all eligible males.  Let me see, there is Lester, with the stacked heels and the restraining order, a reminder of his last relationship, neanderthal man and... I can't go on, at this point anyway, it's too cruel.

I was of course in work on Sunday, it was very quiet and it was actually nice, and peaceful.  Monday and Tuesday, we had torrential rain, more than a months rain fell in the first 24 hours.  I managed somehow to not get too saturated on my walk to and from the car, so that was a blessing.  It's now Tuesday evening and the rain is still battering down, it's supposed to break tomorrow... fingers crossed.

The last two days have been long and busy.  On one hand, they've actually passed quite quickly, on the other, I feel like I've crammed in at least three days work in already.

Wednesday, another long day with more torrential rain, I was pretty soaked before I even arrived at work this morning.  The day wasn't too bad, I worked as fast as I could, got my stats pretty quickly then started to prep other work I had waiting for me and looking at me.  On the way home, I had to queue to get onto the bridge, queue to get into the supermarket, queue for fuel, then queue to get out of the supermarket, oh then I queued in the road works, got home 12 hours after I left.

Thursday is the first day that I park up and walk to work without, without being rained on.  No rain, no force 10 gale, nothing, it's dark, but I actually enjoy the walk today.

Work passes by really quickly... again, at this rate I'll be finished before I know it.  Word is spreading and people from other parts of the building are starting to stop me and ask me about my new job, one thing I can say about the job is, the people are lovely and I will miss them.  Anyway, it's J's birthday today.  She isn't up to going out for a meal so I'm invited to have dinner with them, it's a take-away meal and I head to J's after work and we wait for G, J's hubby and CJ... my nephew.  It was a lovely night but we didn't eat until after 7pm, which is not unusual for normal people, for me, when I had my breakfast at 4.15am, no lunch and I'm usually just about ready for bed by 7.30pm... it was a tad late.  It was lovely though, there is something special about sharing food and chatting with loved ones isn't there?  I excuse myself as I know I won't last much longer, I still have to drive home, shower and dry the head before I aim for bed, I get home at 7.45pm.  I shower, watch an episode of "Friends," (the one where Chandler goes AWOL just before the wedding,) update here, then head for bed by 8.45pm.  So tired.

It's Friday and I wake at 3am with a million things zinging through my brain, I'm up at 3.20, I realise that this is not normal.

Exhausted

So my car exhaust is hanging on by a thread and it makes THE most dreadful rattle as I drive.  I am of course driving along, permanently looking in my rear view mirror to see if it's dropped off.

After spending the early afternoon with B in Ness, wandering around the beautiful and tranquil gardens, we arrive back at hers and I set off in my rattle-some car and head for dear nephews.  I arrive, after a mere few minutes traumatic journey and he greets me at the door.

"I'm having car trauma," I tell him as the front door opens.  "I know, I went to Chester this morning for the part."  How lucky am I?  Something that could easily render me car-less and therefore housebound, is taken care of because of darling nephew, dear brother-in-law and the glue.... my sister J.

So darling nephew makes me close my eyes, he covers them with one hand anyway then puts his other arm around me and guides me while I baby step through the hall.  He's decorated, well actually, that's an understatement.  His place has been transformed, I helped choose the new sofa and okay'd the colour scheme, but of course I've been working overtime for weeks and this is the first time I've seen the transformation.  It's wonderful, it's hi-tech, minimalistic, stylish, you can tell it's a modern bachelor pad but it's not so overly masculine that a very lucky young lady would not feel comfortable in the surroundings.  Job well done, I'm very proud of him.  So, two coffee's later, a demonstration of HD/3D television and it's time to drop my car off at my sister's ready for dear brother-in-law when he finishes work.  J drops me at home so that I can begin the ironing before I'm back in work tomorrow.

8.45pm and dear brother-in-law brings my car back home to me, took him 2 hours to get the old exhaust off and 20 minutes to get the new one one, bless him.  I appreciate his efforts so much and I hope he realises how much, I'm so lucky.

He drives the car into the garage, tells me one of the tyres has a wobble, (I know...) and that a side light is out... (I know, I was waiting to break the news to him.)

So pretty soon, I can head to bed with the hope of rising at 5am ready to go to work... to pay for the exhaust.

Training Day

It's Thursday and I have had a busy week in work plus, all week I've been trying to fend off some kind of lurgy, the kind that has you sweaty but chilly at the same time and overly tired, so I've attempted to keep my days as short as possible and go to bed ridiculously early, as in... around 6pm.  The worrying thing is, I have actually slept.

Thursday in work was a training day.  Training day's, despite how animated the trainers are, can be pretty dry days.  So much information to absorb, so few brain cells.  The day ended with us being shown the interview rooms in which we are to work from.  As usual, there are two panic buttons.   One is silent, one sounded.  No one knows which is which, but if you think you need to press any, then press both as chances are, one or the other won't work anyway.

Having worked previously, as you know, were you may wish to discreetly press the panic alarm, this revelation, did not calm my nerves.  Work sucks.

Speaking of work.  I have an interview on Wednesday... the one near home.  I don't need to tell you that getting that job would turn my life around.  The extra sleep alone, would turn my life around.  I wasn't nervous when I read I had an interview.  Then I realised the letter was dated on my birthday, do we believe in fate?  As the interview day grows nearer, I am becoming more nervous.  Especially after Thursday, so much depends on my performance at the interview.  Still, I know that a lot depends on the day, how you click with the panel, how your fellow interviewees perform.  You may as well flip a coin.  What will be, will be.

Life has a habit of not finding the easiest road for me.  This would be such an easy road, with regards to time alone.  Usually, I would be thinking, "not a chance in hell," but I'm actually wondering, have I payed my dues?  Am I due a break, for a change?

You know what?  If I get the job, it would transform my life.  If I don't, and I start my interviewing role, after I get over the safety issues, I know I'd be good at it.  I am skilled, (if I say so myself,) at spotting, what I would be interviewing for.   So, it's a win, win, right?

I sleep pretty well Thursday night, and Friday, is my day off.  I wake a few times in the night but manage to toss and turn and drift back to nod.  I finally wake at 5.50am, I feel like I've had a great amount of sleep, makes so much difference.

I laze for 20 minutes then I'm up.  Breakfast and several coffee's, then jog, quite briskly for 20 minutes.  It's not easy but my back has been bad during the week and I know that I need a good brisk jog and stretch afterwards.

J and I had planned to visit the latest M&S Mega store today, the most Eco friendly store the world has seen so far.  J has not been feeling good of late and if I could be put in a room with Lupus, I would shout and scream and punch the living daylights out of it.

Anyway, I pick her up and we head out for breakfast, which was lovely, (I had scrambled, J had poached eggs on toast,) then we head to the store.

Store is fabulous, I love the curved and environmentally friendly ceiling.  The one thing it's lacking, is signage.  No signage in the car park, I noticed we'd parked opposite the David Lloyd Fitness sign so that we could make our way back there.  Once you're inside the store, you need a floor plan.   But it's lovely and the staff are all smiles and obviously proud, and so they should be.  J and I had a coffee and an Eccles Cake before we left, just a brief respite before we head to the food hall.  We just miss one of the head chefs creating something with duck and raspberries!  Sounds delicious and I'm sure it tasted the same.

I've decided I should also write a "b" side to my posts, where applicable to do so.   Sometimes there is another side to the story or, more of the story to tell, but at this time, I have no one to tell, or cannot tell, maybe one day, for now, they may have to remain unpublished.

I drop J off at home and head out to buy new hair straighteners, I know, as if life wasn't bad enough, my hair straighteners died on Wednesday, thankfully, God made it so that I was only three days away from pay day, overtime pay and still having a little birthday money to play with, and he let me get to work with minutes to spare before the heavens deluged their rain sodden clouds.  Everything worked out perfectly... and £10 cheaper than I anticipated.

My darling nephew CJ texts me on Friday afternoon, what am I up to on Saturday?  Yes, I am working.  I'm going to fast forward the conversation to the point where I have declined an invitation to accompany him to a singles party as he'd feel more protective over me and we'd never get anywhere, and to where I am now clothes shopping with him on Saturday after work, ready for his singles night.  Ah yes, the joys and perils of being a loving Aunt.  Would not swap it for the world.

The Torch

I have had a dreadful week at work.  I won't even bore you with the details, suffice to say that no one in authority takes ownership of their own mistakes and that no one in authority, at my place of work anyway, cares about the staff.  I'm done now, thank you for listening.

So, in light of the farce in work that has gone on for the past two weeks, I decided to take extra leave.  J is going on holiday the early hours of Thursday, so I won't have much contact and I won't see her for about three weeks.  So I offered to take her shopping for last minute holiday stuff, and we could spend some time together.

Despite going to bed late on Wednesday night, I woke at 3.45am this Thursday morning, my usual time.  I tried to get back to sleep for a good while, then got up at 5am.  I had breakfast then jogged for an hour.  It's cloudy and raining today, the first we've had for two weeks, and I don't care, I'm off work.

J and I avoided the Bridge like the plague as it was being closed while the Olympic torch was run across it.  The Bridge was being closed for an hour, can you imagine the backlog of traffic?  J and I headed for a neighbouring town, far, far away, where the traffic was free flowing. 

We parked up and headed, in the horizontal rain, for Starbucks.  A coffee and half a fruit toast later, plus a substantial conversational catch up, and we hit the shops.  They are filled with holiday items, but as I'm not going anywhere and J is only going in this country, with the dogs, we passed on everything.

After mooching around the shops, with no purchases, J and I headed for Starbucks again, mainly for the sit down before we hit M&S for a food shop, they have special offers on for the weekend, and as it's "Dine for Two,"  I get two meals, or one meal twice, lucky me.

So, it's still raining when I get home.  I start the ironing then head out to get my hair cut, it's desperate, I haven't been able to coax the barnet into anything for weeks now. After spending all day avoiding the torch, I see one!  It's obviously a torch bearer, holding extinguished torch and having photo taken outside the Ferry Boat, remember we had coffee there?  I park up and head for my hairdressers.  Louise, my hairdresser asks me if I've had a stab at it myself and I confess all.  She laughs and tells me that at least I own up, it's the customers who have clearly had a go themselves that don't own up that makes her scratch her head.  As usual, I take multiple pictures to attempt to illustrate how I want it, better that than try to explain, but I always add that Louise can do what she wants, she has a great understanding of my weird hair, so I trust her.  I ponder that I even saw a short hairstyle that I liked and that I considered it.  Suffice to say that Louise put me straight, and with my weird, curly, fine, bald in places hair, there is no way on earth that I should consider going short, at least I know now.  I really like Louise, she brings me to my senses.  Absolutely no nonsense.

So I leave the hairdressers, do a little food shopping, (it's dead, think everyone is avoiding the torch,) and head home to make a few phone calls then continue with the ironing, life is so exciting.