| Quick Update |
[May. 25th, 2005|09:04 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  confused | ] |
Not posted anything for ages. Anyway, I thought I would just post a quick update.
Since last posting, we have been to Ibiza for a couple of weeks. Had a brilliant time. Constance seemed to really enjoy it. We did lots of walking, swimming sightseeing etc. It was great to get away.
Following the holiday we have decided to progress with the building work on the house. I don't think I have posted about it previously but we are having an extension put on the back of the house to give us an extra bedroom and extra space downstairs. Doesn't look much on the plans but the costs are scary. We have decided to push ahead and get the work done over the summer if possible.
Part of the uncertainty regarding the buiolding work was that Sharon resigned from her job last month. Her company would not let her return to work part time following maternity leave. Left her with no option really other than to resign. She is looking for something else now but needs to be based more local to home.
Things have been a bit quite at work but I am just about to start on a new project at BAA. This will take me away to Heathrow again but should only be for a couple of days each week. |
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| Resignations |
[Mar. 29th, 2005|03:08 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  annoyed | ] |
Seems to be happening a lot lately. There are 2 worth a mention:
Last week one of my colleagues resigned and will leave in a few weeks. Better job, more money, better prospects - gets you thinking about things. Sorry to see him go though as he has made a great contribution to how we do things.
On a more personal note, Sharon sent her letter of resignation in yesterday. She had requested to return to work part time. Her company went through the motions of assessing her request and turned it down for a variety of reasons. All looks a bit tenuous to me and they do have other people working part time in the same role. We considered taking it to appeal but you have to ask yourself why bother? It would only cause a lot of grief and upset for Sharon and they have made it very clear what their policy is on working mothers (both to Sharon and several of her colleagues). It is a shame really though because although I am biased I know she is very good at what she does. It is about time her company drags itself out of the dark ages and realise that family friendly policies can actually be a good thing.
It was a shame really because the letter informing us of her company's decision arrived last Thursday so it cast a bit of a shadow over the Easter weekend. Coupled with the crap weather it made for a bit of a gloomy time. Having said that, it was still nice being off for the extra days. Managed to get to the pub a couple of times and do mundane things like the cut the grass and wash the cars. This was quite therapeutic.
Well that’s the rant over - I feel better for that. Better go now. |
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| Getting out of the habit again |
[Mar. 8th, 2005|04:04 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  bored | ] |
I seem to be getting out of the habit of posting. Must try harder.
Constance has been unwell now for a couple of weeks. It must be a bit of a shock for her as she has been so heathly since she was born. Although she is not desparately unwell she has had recurring boughts of diarrhea and sickness. She had her 3rd visit to the doctors yesterday and some samples have been despatched for analysis. Every time she seems to be getting over it she seems to start again. Its a bit hard on Sharon because she has to deal with it all while I am away. Home tomorrow which will be good.
Looks like my work in London will be finshing next week. I am hoping to spend a bit of time in the office so I can get home every night. Not holding out too much hope though because it looks like all the stuff in the pipeline is in London or Edinburgh.
Went for a top Indian meal last night. The place was called Durbarr on Hereford Road W2. Great food and amazing value. Worth trying if you are ever in London. Other great places I have eaten while I have been working here are:
- Fontana de Trevi - excellent Italian on Craven Terrace
- Halepi - greek place on Lienster Terrace
- Mandarin Kitchen - chinese on Queensway
I think I have eaten in virtually every restaurant in the Paddington Bayswater area but those above stand out for me.
Anyway, better go now. I will try and post more frequently. |
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| Top Weekend |
[Feb. 21st, 2005|02:34 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  apathetic | ] |
We went to Alton Towers for the weekend. There were 15 of us all together. It was great fun. We were in the theme park on Saturday and then went in the water park. Stopped overnight at the hotel and then went in the water park again on Sunday morning.
On Friday we picked up the new car. It was nice to have it for the weekend away. I am really pleased with it. The extra space was great. The garage messed up a bit as they managed to lose the extras we had ordered so Sharon had to go back today to get thenm fitted. It was a bit annoying as they had 3 weeks to sort it out and didn't do anything until the last minute. Also had to get the garage to order an instruction manual for us as the one that should be in the car is missing. Had problems yesterday as I couldn't work out how to open the flap over the fuel cap. Sorted it eventually but felt a bit stupid.
Anyway, better go now as I am on-site at Heathrow. I can't wait to be gpoing home on Wednesday. Things are a bit slow today. I seem to be waiting on other people before I can get going with things. |
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| Heathrow blues |
[Feb. 15th, 2005|09:41 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | apathetic | ] |
| [ | music |
| | Rod Stewart - The Great American Songbook | ] |
Well here I am again at Heathrow today.
The trip down was a lot better with it being half term week. It always makes difference with the roads a little quieter. Had a great weekend. Didn’t really do much but had some quality family time. Watched a couple of films – Ocean’s 12 and Million Dollar Baby. Both quite good and worth watching.
New car on Friday – quite excited about that. Bit sad though when I am looking forward to collecting an MPV. Must be an age thing I suppose. It could be because it will be the first car I have owned for a while after 5 years of driving a company car.
Anyway - better go now and do some work.
A colleague leaves work today - sorry to see him go. He has been treated quite badly and I wish him well for the future. I think a new start will be good for him. I think there will be a few more people leaving over coming months. |
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| Another day another dollar |
[Feb. 8th, 2005|04:35 pm] |
On-site at Heathrow again this week. Although it looks like my involvement in the the project might be coming to an end.
Had a busy weekend - seemed to have lots of things to do. Constance has not been too well recently. This is quite unusual as she has been really healthy since she was born. We think it is her teeth that are bothering her as she seems to have a lot coming through all at once.
We nearly didn't go to my cousins 40th birthday party on Saturday because Constance had been unwell but we decided to go at the last minute. I am glad we did because it was really great to see all the family and we had a good time - I think we needed the break.
Anyway, must go now.... |
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| Would you buy a used car from this man ... |
[Feb. 1st, 2005|04:07 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  recumbent | ] |
We seem to be having a busy time at the moment. Had some problems with the central heating boiler and Sharon's car at the back end of last week. All sorted now but caused a bit of messing around.
On Saturday we bought a new car. Didn't really mean to. We went to look at the differences between 2 types - small MPV (VW Touran) and larger MPV (VW Sharan). We ended up buying an ex-demonstrator Sharan. I keep trying to convince myself it was a bargain (it was definiatly a good price) rather than the salesman.
You might ask why as a 3 person family we need someting as big as that. This is something we gave a lot of thought I think in came down to the fact we were fed up of struggling to get all the stuff you need for a growing family in the back of the current car. Also, if we have any more kids the space would definatley be needed. I think it will be great for trips out and just generally for knocking around with all the baby stuff we carry around. I was a bit concerned about the environmental impact but the model we have chosen is a diesel so the fuel economy is far better than our current car. Apart from taking up a bit more space it will be using less fuel so my environmental conscience is clear. We have arranged to collect it on 18 Feb. I am quite looking forward to it.
I am working at Heathrow again this week. Looks like this will continue into March. It is a bit of a pain being away but luckily it is only for 3 days each week. This week I managed to get booked into the Hilton at Paddington. Previously, I have not been able to get a rate within our expenses guidlelines but there is a special offer at the moment. The hotel I was staying in previously was pretty good but this Hilton is really luxurious. Particulary as I used Sharon's Hilton Honors card and got a room upgrade which includes access to the executive lounge (free drinks etc.). It will soon be time to head back there and partake of the excellent hospitality.
A colleague who has become quite a good friend resigned last week. He was treated pretty badly by the current place so it is no surprise he is leaving. I will be sad to see him go but I think the new start will be good for him. I think I might start looking properly for another job.
Anyway, I should go now and do the work I am paid to do. |
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| Best laid plans and all that... |
[Jan. 25th, 2005|09:23 am] |
Well, I didn't do very weel with my plan to update the journal everyday. I have no excuse really. I have a great little client application which sits on the desktop and I can access the journal remotely (so I can't use the excuse of being out of the office).
Anyway, I thought I should post an update. Today I am at Heathrow airport. Sat in a rather dingy office, looking out of the window at a very grey day. Yesterday was supposed to be the most depressing day of the year but I was surprisingly jolly. Unusually for me recently, I did a ridiculous amount of work yesterday. I was getting a bit behind with a few things and it can be really hard to concentrate here so I put my headphones on and managed to get a lot of things sorted.
I had a really great weekend. Constance went to stay at Grandma's for the night on Saturday. This is the first time she has been away from home. It was strange without her but Sharon and I had a really good night. We went out for a meal and then went to the pub at the top of the village. It was nice to have some time to ourselves.
Will try harder to update the journal more often. |
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| Could this get me fired? |
[Jan. 13th, 2005|11:08 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | okay | ] |
Someone circulated a report from the BBC yesterday about a bloke who got fired for keeping an online journal.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4167629.stm
I read the report and he had been quite critical of his employers (and his boss Waterstones) so they sacked him. I suppose I could be quite critical about mine if I wanted and I do have lots to say on the subject but I wouldn't really want to share those thoughts here. I don't really wnat to get sacked. Therefore, to make it very clear, I have never mentioned my employer on the journal and will ensure that I don't.
I am going swimming at lunchtime. First exercise in about 18 months. I am looking forward to it. Hope the chap I am going with knows first aid in case I get into any difficulties. Should be good though as I need to start getting some form of exercise. |
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| Bad head day |
[Jan. 12th, 2005|09:12 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | listless | ] |
Went out last night with some of the chaps from work. Had a really good time but drank a bit too much (unusual for me).
We met up on the Strand and went to Hamburger union near Covent Garden. Excellent burgers. Just had a bacon sandwich on the Heathrow express and feel much better now. Apologies that this all seems to be about food. Believe it or not, I am trying to loose a but of weight.
Had a real scare yesterday afternoon. I received an email from the client and forwarded it to my project manager with some pretty strong langauge about tne actions we should take. As I hit send, I realised I had done a reply instead of forward. Luckily the spell checker came on and the email didn't go but it was a close call.
Anyway, got to go now. |
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| I've been bad ... |
[Jan. 11th, 2005|12:46 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  bouncy | ] |
... at updating this journal.
It is not a New Year's resolution (I don't make those) but I really do intend to make a very concerted effort to post updates more frequently.
Anyway, a lot has happened since I last submitted a post here. We went to Center Parcs at the beginning of December, then Christmas and the New Year stuff and then Center Parcs again last week. Constance is changing so fast it is incredible. She is really alert now, sitting up on her own, rolling over and even starting to say a few words (Dada). I have some great photos from Christmas and the last few weeks. I will sort them out and post some on the website.
I started back at work yesterday after 2 weeks off. It was a bit of a struggle dragging myself out of bed yesterday morning. I am working in London today and tomorrow and back in the office at the end of the week.
Anyway, must go now. If you are reading this please come back soon and hopefully you will see more regular updates. If not please feel free to send me abusive emails. |
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| TFI Friday |
[Oct. 22nd, 2004|08:31 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | bouncy | ] |
I am looking forward to the weekend. Nothing in particular planned so should be restful. We are going to see some friends for dinner on Sunday which I am really looking forward to.
This week I have been working for a client based in London. This meant I was there for a couple of days but that was not so bad. The work is quite interesting the clients are friendly. I also got chance to have a meal and a drink with a colleague I really like on Tuesday evening. We had a great Italian meal and put the world to rights over a few drinks.
I am feeling pretty good today. I have put recent problems and disappointments at work behind me and feel better now my outlook is a bit more positive. |
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| It's been awhile again ... |
[Oct. 14th, 2004|02:19 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | depressed | ] |
... since I last posted and I promised I would do it more frequently. Anyway we have just got back from holiday - 2 weeks in Ibiza. Had a great time. Constance seemed to enjoy it. She was fine on the plane and loved all the attention she got on holiday.
Came back to work on Monday but was poorly on Tuesday and Wednesday. Unusual for me as I have not been off ill for years. Didn't know what to do when I came back today about the sick forms and stuff.
I'm a bit fed up because my pay rise and bonus was sorted out while I was away. Found out on Monday. It was not really what I expected - disappointing really and given me the impression that the company is not to keen to keep me around. I have requested a meeting with my boss to find out what is going on. I know it won't have any effect on my pay rise or bonus but at least I can have a chat about it and register my dissatisfaction. Might have to start pursuing other opportunities a bit more seriously. |
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| It's been awhile |
[Sep. 22nd, 2004|08:56 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | cheerful | ] |
It's been a long time since I last posted anything to the journal. I set out with the best of intentions to update it daily but that only lasted about 2 weeks. Anyway it's now about 2 weeks since I last posted anything.
Since then I have been to Vienna on business. That was a 3 day trip. Nice thing was I actually had a bit of time while I was there to have a look round - really nice place. Lots of old buildings, some nice bars.
Things are going great at home. Constance is really coming on. She has started making at lot of noise recently. I didn't realise babies could be so noisy. She's not really crying or anything, just shouts a lot (I think she must get this from her mother). Seriously though, it is incredible how quickly they develop and change. It is lovely to see. On Saturday we are off to Ibiza for a couple of weeks (can't wait).
I am on a training course this week. A developers course for Vignette content management and portal. I am enjoying doing some technical stuff.
Anyway got to go now. Hopefully, I will get back intro the habit of updating the journal a bit more frequently. |
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| Epic Journey |
[Aug. 20th, 2004|09:39 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Went to Reigate yesterday - took ages to get there and to get back. Consequently, I am knackered today.
Looks like there is some business as a result of the trip. Only problem is, we are so short of people that I think we might have to turn it down. |
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| Money saving tip |
[Aug. 17th, 2004|03:23 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | chipper | ] |
Yesterday I went to London for a meeting. I was just going round the M25 and I got a text message from Sharon asking if I knew where her house keys were. When I got to where I was going I found the keys in my bag. It wouldn't have been so bad but I had locked her in when I left that morning so she couldn't get out of the house. Sharon's and my mum and dad both have keys but they are all on holiday so they couldn't help either.
I have been a bit busy lately - both at home and at work
Seemed to have lots going on over the weekend. The project to update the Vicar's website seems to be going well. I went to see him on Friday evening and gave him the first draft of the new site. He has been updating the pages and I will pop round later this week to help him upload the website.
On Saturday morning, I was round at Mum and Dad's helping them take down some wardrobes and then in the afternoon we went to Meadowhall. Luckily, we didn't have to stay long. Sunday was a bit more relaxed. Went for a walk through the woods and fields at the back of our house. Took Constance in a baby carrier thing so she was strapped to my chest. She seemed to really enjoy it. After that we went for a long lunch with Sharon's mum and dad at their house. All in all it was a very pleasant weekend.
Well, that's it for now. |
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| Lunch date |
[Aug. 11th, 2004|12:32 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Sharon and Constance are coming to meet me for lunch - that will be nice. Going to take them to the pub, sit in the garden, drink beer and eat chips - excellent! |
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| Update |
[Aug. 10th, 2004|11:09 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | grumpy | ] |
Went to Heathrow yesterday. Drove all the way there and all the way back in the pouring rain. I was knackered when I got in. Meeting went well though which was a bonus because I was expecting a lot of hassle.
One of my colleagues resigned on Friday. I am not surprised because I know he was fed up. It will be a shame though because he is a good bloke and we have been having quite a laugh recently at work.
There have been a lot of resignations over recent weeks and some really good people are leaving. One chap who I have worked with a lot over the last few years is going because he is fed up with the way we run projects. He doesn't have another job but just can't face another project like the nightmare one he has just finished. The demands that this type of work places on people are terrible. We have projects that are undersold, poorly managed and badly delivered. Then we sit around and wonder why we aren't making any money. The flipside is we have some really bright, capable and motivated people. I don't think there is an easy solution apart from learning from things that go wrong and continually strive to improve the way we do things. I think things are getting better here but slowly. In the meantime, more and more good people are leaving.
I keep looking around at other opportunities but here is the dilemma. Do I stop in consultancy but find a job that pays very well for all the hassle of being away from home and missing my daughter grow up? OR Do I find a lower paid job that will cover the bills but offer a much better quality of life?
It's a no brainer really. The problem is though, there aren't many jobs round here that offer the combination of a decent wage, interesting role and close to home.
I guess I will have to start having a serious think about things. |
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| Just another manic Monday |
[Aug. 9th, 2004|08:55 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | crappy | ] |
Had a great weekend. Didn't do a great deal apart from straighten things up at home. Just about back to normal now following the christening last weekend.
I am in the office at the moment but I will be leaving to go to Heathrow for a meeting. It's going to be a long day today.
Finished the first attempt at the vicars website:
http://www.andypoulter.com/andy.poulter@btinternet.com/tonybell/mysite3/index.htm
Its a bit basic but I think it does the job. I sent him the details last Thursday but I haven't heard anything back yet. He was getting complaints about the slowness of the existing site:
www.tonybell.co.uk
This was created in MS Publisher and some of the pages are huge. Hopefully the new site should be a bit quicker.
Anyway, better go now and get myself ready for the trip to London. It is a bit annoying really. I will spend around six hours in the car for a one hour meeting. Weather's a bit crap too so it won't be a pleasant drive. I suggested a conference call but the client wanted to meet face to face. I should have suggested he came here.
Constance was good over the weekend. When she is in the right mood, she lays on her playmat and dances (well waves her arms and legs about) and smiles when we put some music on. Looks really cute. I think she was finding the heat a bit much yesterday but she seemed to cope OK.
That's it for now. |
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| Quiz Question Answer |
[Aug. 6th, 2004|08:14 am] |
| [ | mood |
| | bouncy | ] |
Answer to the question in the previous post was FALSE.
Watched Starsky and Hutch last night. I thought is was excellent. I think you need to be old enough to remember the original series or you would not understand a lot of the jokes and parody. Watch it if you get the chance and look out for the 2 dragons bit. Made me laugh so much.
That's it for now. |
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apoulter's journal