Check out the pic...was taken on the "outdoors" day at the Forest School Training course just finished..or should I say...the intensive part of it...isn't it cool?...the group were really cool and we had been working up to shelter building at Crathes Castle...it just turned out we put together 2 shelters on 2 levels and the main fire was down the bottom....everyone just mingled and moved about..cooking different stuff..chilling out...cups of tea..and lots of meat!!!!!!
2 guys on the course are ex game keepers so we had a selection of game to be cooked over our open fires...squirrel....pigeon...rabbit...duck (check Gibby and his whole duck!!) and venison....deer liver....deer ribs....yum yum..had them all...and no bad effect either. A very intensive course where I was out of my comfort zone but felt comfortable all the time...we even had a lady druid on the course as well....so now back to work.....and getting these schools onto Forest School..oh..in addition to learning knots and practising and the practical assessment..and the 6 week forest school we need to prepare...we have to do 32 essays...and I ain't joking!!!
Spent the morning at Woodside..with a sore head....took a group out to a WIAT woodland...woohoo..another tick in the box....I always have this sense of not doing enuff but I know there is a lot of progress in a short space of time..so I should calm down...sounds familiar does it not.
Well...I think less and less about the ex..I don't know why I still do..as someone said..you spent more time apart than together...hey ho..good luck to her...currently in Orkney with the Seaton Community Group..putting up the totem pole cut down just outside Aberdeen...a very good project.
This is going to be the 1st time in about 4 years I will be living in a flat all to myself (at least to begin with..he he)..I must say I am slightly nervous..but in a good way...all seems very permanent..which I hope it will be...still very strange..the ex said I had not had the chance to be me all this time..no place to call mine...which is true..so..it is all good..just gotta get down to Gourdon in 30 mins...if I can finish another group at another WIAT woodland on time..another tick in the box!!!
So...a busy start to the week..studying....classes....meetings...moving in....radio....late night Wednesday with some youth work..anything else...some financial jiggery pokery as well...but hey...keeps me out of mischief..theoretically.
Well....I feel pretty chilled out to be honest..just waiting now....moving is pants but bearable when I know it is not going to happen (touch wood) for a good while.
Take care one and all.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Made it
Hey...450 miles of tarmac all over the place....saw so many folks..had such a good time. Hard to say goodbye but so nice to say hello.
I am fairly tired..still managed to pack up the combo van...check my work e mails...and have tea with my pal and her two kids...and now sitting in front of my laptop chilling..having checked mail sent up from Haddington...including a refund cheque from Glasgow Council (woohoo!!) but a bill from the factors at 4B Kings Court (boohoo)..but all evens out.
So a big thanks and "had a great time" to the following
Richard in Edinburgh for getting rid of my old sofa..you deserve the beer
Skipper...Rhona and Skye....Aberfoyle posse....Irie..good to hear news from Dominica
The Nixons at The Inn & Bistro, Strathyre...that includes granma and granpa...well done to the real ales...nice one...always a sad one to say goodbye to
John at CCP....the old master...hang in there kiddo...ride the storm...good to see Langlands Moss again
Jamesyboy!!!! Strathaven hasn't changed...I still say he wasn't her brother...bring on the vodka big man.
Dad...yep...I am taking stuff out of the house..it is true
Mum...same for you
Lisa, Emilly and Laura...a final dinner afore my week of training....
Now for the training course....5 days at Crathes castle...going to be interesting...good for the job and good for me.
Take care one and all.
I am fairly tired..still managed to pack up the combo van...check my work e mails...and have tea with my pal and her two kids...and now sitting in front of my laptop chilling..having checked mail sent up from Haddington...including a refund cheque from Glasgow Council (woohoo!!) but a bill from the factors at 4B Kings Court (boohoo)..but all evens out.
So a big thanks and "had a great time" to the following
Richard in Edinburgh for getting rid of my old sofa..you deserve the beer
Skipper...Rhona and Skye....Aberfoyle posse....Irie..good to hear news from Dominica
The Nixons at The Inn & Bistro, Strathyre...that includes granma and granpa...well done to the real ales...nice one...always a sad one to say goodbye to
John at CCP....the old master...hang in there kiddo...ride the storm...good to see Langlands Moss again
Jamesyboy!!!! Strathaven hasn't changed...I still say he wasn't her brother...bring on the vodka big man.
Dad...yep...I am taking stuff out of the house..it is true
Mum...same for you
Lisa, Emilly and Laura...a final dinner afore my week of training....
Now for the training course....5 days at Crathes castle...going to be interesting...good for the job and good for me.
Take care one and all.
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
Hey hey...I made it 35!!!
Yes indeed...a milestone for me...35 and in good health (cept my man flu)...about to move back into a residence with more than one room for my stuff...and in a good job (for now)..nice one...thanks to one and all that got me here...and the Big Man upstairs of course.
Yesterday was a major event....a P4-P6 class in my WIAT woods...hussah!!!...1st educational session planned and delivered by me...and the 1st group in that particular wood as well...hurrah all round...well done me.
An easy day for me I think..off to Edinburgh tomorrow at 5am...get there nice and early to pick up some crockery from the flat...it was Granma's and mum wants to have look..then maybe a full cooked breakfast (well...I made it this far...no?)...then off to Strathyre for a proper booze up..after the kids have gone to bed of course!!!
I have to buy some beer today as I am giving them to the property management fella....he was the one that saved me £100.00 odd by taking the sofa's down the stairs with his mates...nice one big fella.
Happy birthday to me...hurrah...sniffle sniffle...cough cough.
SB
Yesterday was a major event....a P4-P6 class in my WIAT woods...hussah!!!...1st educational session planned and delivered by me...and the 1st group in that particular wood as well...hurrah all round...well done me.
An easy day for me I think..off to Edinburgh tomorrow at 5am...get there nice and early to pick up some crockery from the flat...it was Granma's and mum wants to have look..then maybe a full cooked breakfast (well...I made it this far...no?)...then off to Strathyre for a proper booze up..after the kids have gone to bed of course!!!
I have to buy some beer today as I am giving them to the property management fella....he was the one that saved me £100.00 odd by taking the sofa's down the stairs with his mates...nice one big fella.
Happy birthday to me...hurrah...sniffle sniffle...cough cough.
SB
Sunday, 16 September 2007
Raining on my Parade
Well...I feel a bit chirpier than the last entry...that was a very difficult weekend indeed. I made a point of hitting Seaton (Ex Missus place of work) first with the portfolio I put together...these needed to be out amongst the community groups for them to have look at...so...all day on the road...Seaton 1st....chatted to the boss...by the time that was finished I was shaking and couldn't stop on the way out...even when one of them said cheerio...didn't know if they were being funny or really meant it...but I had done what needed to be done....made a statement...work 1st...the rest..2nd.
Took the lovely lady from NHS health walks out to recce some possible routes for the "Health Walks" being run for diabetics...went well...invited to one of the group's walks....that was on Thursday evening...really good to get back on the horse again...been since Calderglen in South Lanarkshire since I did one of them...nice and easy for the second walk...but just enough to qualify for a cup of tea!!!...Partnership working ahoy!!!
1st time I have been to a Neighbourhood Community Network Meeting...don't get me wrong when I say this as they do a crucial job for the community BUT.....I can't help thinking of Life of Brian and the Judea People's front....."splitters"...I have to stop snickering....especially as they work very hard..I left at point 5 (out of 11) of the agenda after 2 hours!!!...they let me squeeze in and say a bit about where I coming from...which was very good of them...it went well and I made a few connections...one of which I had a meeting with later in the week..and that was good.
Techfest has been on all week....schools during the week..open to the public at the weekend..I was on two days on "the wonderful world of wood"...I hate making flat pack furniture....what did we have as an activity?...making a bloody table from flat packed sections....bbbahhhhh!!!! A slick operation (techfest...not me) which pulls together 16 or so organisations to do hands on stuff for the schools.....had a look round to pilfer some ideas but they are all canny to that and hide stuff when I approached or asked questions....cheeky!!!
Dry run of the 1 hour show (what have I done??!!!!!) went well so we are all set for some more on internet and then we goo FM on 20th October....pppppppppppprrrrrrrrrrrpppppppp..."Around with a Ranger" is the title so we shall see what happens...here's hoping.
I am supposed to have 2 groups ou on one of the WIAT woodlands tomorrow and Tuesday but the weather is horrendous and the site will be soaking...as these chappies are P1 to P3 it may be dangerous to have them out on the hil....their wee bodies get awfy coald like...ken?...so we shall see what we can do to bring the wood to them!!!
BY THE WAY...what has happened to France...1st they get gubbed by Argentina in the rugby then by Scotland in the footy....amone Pat....what's the script?.....mange tou Rodney, mange tou.
Got soaked out and about yesterday and today..been to Stonehaven to look at the sports centre...and it has Boxercise...woohoo...not had that since South Lanarkshire....chamon.....it is all looking very positive from here I tell thee.....3 day week next week..then off on the grand trip to Edinburgh....Strathyre....South Lanarkshire....Fife....then back here for a week's worth of shelter building, knot messing and general woody jiggery pokery.....then the big move and we are into October...woohoo!!!!!
THEN....TO GET ME A WOMAN...yay!!!!!
Busy busy...but good.
Take care and ta ta.
SB
Took the lovely lady from NHS health walks out to recce some possible routes for the "Health Walks" being run for diabetics...went well...invited to one of the group's walks....that was on Thursday evening...really good to get back on the horse again...been since Calderglen in South Lanarkshire since I did one of them...nice and easy for the second walk...but just enough to qualify for a cup of tea!!!...Partnership working ahoy!!!
1st time I have been to a Neighbourhood Community Network Meeting...don't get me wrong when I say this as they do a crucial job for the community BUT.....I can't help thinking of Life of Brian and the Judea People's front....."splitters"...I have to stop snickering....especially as they work very hard..I left at point 5 (out of 11) of the agenda after 2 hours!!!...they let me squeeze in and say a bit about where I coming from...which was very good of them...it went well and I made a few connections...one of which I had a meeting with later in the week..and that was good.
Techfest has been on all week....schools during the week..open to the public at the weekend..I was on two days on "the wonderful world of wood"...I hate making flat pack furniture....what did we have as an activity?...making a bloody table from flat packed sections....bbbahhhhh!!!! A slick operation (techfest...not me) which pulls together 16 or so organisations to do hands on stuff for the schools.....had a look round to pilfer some ideas but they are all canny to that and hide stuff when I approached or asked questions....cheeky!!!
Dry run of the 1 hour show (what have I done??!!!!!) went well so we are all set for some more on internet and then we goo FM on 20th October....pppppppppppprrrrrrrrrrrpppppppp..."Around with a Ranger" is the title so we shall see what happens...here's hoping.
I am supposed to have 2 groups ou on one of the WIAT woodlands tomorrow and Tuesday but the weather is horrendous and the site will be soaking...as these chappies are P1 to P3 it may be dangerous to have them out on the hil....their wee bodies get awfy coald like...ken?...so we shall see what we can do to bring the wood to them!!!
BY THE WAY...what has happened to France...1st they get gubbed by Argentina in the rugby then by Scotland in the footy....amone Pat....what's the script?.....mange tou Rodney, mange tou.
Got soaked out and about yesterday and today..been to Stonehaven to look at the sports centre...and it has Boxercise...woohoo...not had that since South Lanarkshire....chamon.....it is all looking very positive from here I tell thee.....3 day week next week..then off on the grand trip to Edinburgh....Strathyre....South Lanarkshire....Fife....then back here for a week's worth of shelter building, knot messing and general woody jiggery pokery.....then the big move and we are into October...woohoo!!!!!
THEN....TO GET ME A WOMAN...yay!!!!!
Busy busy...but good.
Take care and ta ta.
SB
Sunday, 9 September 2007
Single Again
Yes...back on the heap again and feeling fairly sorry for myself...boo hoo. What a cock up I tell thee...I feel drained..pretty gurny...and generally not impressed with how things have turned out...as someone at work put it (thank you very much)..."you guys spent more time apart or making up than you did together"...I think that says it all real...so that is that.
Not long now...but long enough...until the final move to Gourdon. I am looking forward to it and really feel living and working in an urban environment has definitely had a negative effect on me. I spent the last few years moving further and further away from the concrete jungle...never realised how much of a bumpkin I was!!! So....soon to be in quiet Gourdon...although I see there are 2 pubs on the harbour..so probably not that quiet really....but it will hopefully have a calming effect and sort some things out.
Homeopathy seems to be working and, in a way, I am a bit miffed. I still have a doze now and again but have all this extra time to fill now.....bbbbbbbbooooooooooooooo...seriously...it is good....a long way to go but the signs are positive..so..here's hoping. Can't see if I am losing any more weight but that will probably be down to the beer..hey ho.
I had an office based week this week....working on the portfolio to hand out to groups...which has been viewed as positive by all the team..which was a surprise...also had meeting with my two bosses and that went really well..really trying to take stock as to where we want this project to go and look at timescales...touting myself to the schools soon although that may be tricky this week...2 days at techfest...personal review with the line manager..SHMU FM...meetings and distributing the portfolio pack..they can wait though..my boss made a crucial contact at a meeting this week...this guy has contacts with ALL schools and youth groups so should blow it wide open.
Also had a meeting with my counterpart (who has a personal organiser lady!!!) to suss what we might do to each other's benefit...it was a very good meeting and plans were made but he has been called away as his father is critically ill...my thoughts are with him and the family.
I hope this log isn't too depressing but it is the way I feel right now. Having said that I know deep down that things didn't turn out because it couldn't be....I have my health...my career...and soon my very own place. Lucky indeed!!!
Later
Not long now...but long enough...until the final move to Gourdon. I am looking forward to it and really feel living and working in an urban environment has definitely had a negative effect on me. I spent the last few years moving further and further away from the concrete jungle...never realised how much of a bumpkin I was!!! So....soon to be in quiet Gourdon...although I see there are 2 pubs on the harbour..so probably not that quiet really....but it will hopefully have a calming effect and sort some things out.
Homeopathy seems to be working and, in a way, I am a bit miffed. I still have a doze now and again but have all this extra time to fill now.....bbbbbbbbooooooooooooooo...seriously...it is good....a long way to go but the signs are positive..so..here's hoping. Can't see if I am losing any more weight but that will probably be down to the beer..hey ho.
I had an office based week this week....working on the portfolio to hand out to groups...which has been viewed as positive by all the team..which was a surprise...also had meeting with my two bosses and that went really well..really trying to take stock as to where we want this project to go and look at timescales...touting myself to the schools soon although that may be tricky this week...2 days at techfest...personal review with the line manager..SHMU FM...meetings and distributing the portfolio pack..they can wait though..my boss made a crucial contact at a meeting this week...this guy has contacts with ALL schools and youth groups so should blow it wide open.
Also had a meeting with my counterpart (who has a personal organiser lady!!!) to suss what we might do to each other's benefit...it was a very good meeting and plans were made but he has been called away as his father is critically ill...my thoughts are with him and the family.
I hope this log isn't too depressing but it is the way I feel right now. Having said that I know deep down that things didn't turn out because it couldn't be....I have my health...my career...and soon my very own place. Lucky indeed!!!
Later
Sunday, 2 September 2007
3 days off!!
That's right..had been working a 12 day stretch but, having accrued some flex, I took Friday off...woohoo!!
What a week (I say that a lot do I not?)..Sat..teepee deadline..clay...clay and more clay...Sunday....Horty show..badges..games and a LOT of standing around..blimey...not sttod that long since the great days of shampooing!!!!. But it was ghood...noticed by the MSP who was there on Sat and turned up on Sunday...all good...business card thank you...e mail...presentation to Labour MSP's in the future...we shall see.
Meeting with Blue Horizons...a new organisation who take a bus...deposit in trouble areas and let the youff come on board...we need to address Kincorth and they don't have a parking space..bingo bongo.....we manage the place....ave it!!!! Boxes ticked all round..well done Ruth and I. Steak dinner at the missus' hoose...after driving all the way to Middlefield to have a meeting cancelled..all the way back..in my car no less!!!!
Tuesday saw me in meetings with the team..separately of course...Lesley in the am..Simon in the pm....putting together portfolio of what we do as (I have found) these groups never have the time to meet together)..so give them a menu and they can choose...so I have a lot of stuff to do to pull it together but the team seem to get where I am coming from..which is tops.
Radio training goes on..one to one now as the others have dropped out..which is good as it was about planning the show...which was worrying me..but it went well...apart from getting upgraded to a full hour..ppprrrrrrrrrrppppppppp..but it should be ok. Getting the hang of the desk as it is more compact than that at heartland...easy once you get around it.
I had such a nice time on Thursday..out with the Seaton Community Group..watching a tree being felled..these guys are going to follow it to Orkney where it will be carved and erected..looks good in Seaton so it should be good up there. The main thing is that none of us had ever seen a tree being felled. The missus got some mid cut pics that are crackers but I got some before and after..will post them soon..what a support for the forestry Commission Scotland..loads of staff out there for the group...made them feel special..which they are...Seaton Special!!!!
So next week will see me putting the portfolio together plus putting together a schedule for CSNG and thinking about PAMIS who have also come back happyn with my work and wanting a sensory set of activities for the October break..so all go..more training for the radio and the techfest which will be kicking off the week after.
Oh...and dinner with the missus' parents next Saturday AND a wedding..no...not mine...the week after..got the 3 piece for that one but need suit shoes and a belt...the high life I tell thee.
Ok..wiill try and post mid week.
Take care one and all.
SB
What a week (I say that a lot do I not?)..Sat..teepee deadline..clay...clay and more clay...Sunday....Horty show..badges..games and a LOT of standing around..blimey...not sttod that long since the great days of shampooing!!!!. But it was ghood...noticed by the MSP who was there on Sat and turned up on Sunday...all good...business card thank you...e mail...presentation to Labour MSP's in the future...we shall see.
Meeting with Blue Horizons...a new organisation who take a bus...deposit in trouble areas and let the youff come on board...we need to address Kincorth and they don't have a parking space..bingo bongo.....we manage the place....ave it!!!! Boxes ticked all round..well done Ruth and I. Steak dinner at the missus' hoose...after driving all the way to Middlefield to have a meeting cancelled..all the way back..in my car no less!!!!
Tuesday saw me in meetings with the team..separately of course...Lesley in the am..Simon in the pm....putting together portfolio of what we do as (I have found) these groups never have the time to meet together)..so give them a menu and they can choose...so I have a lot of stuff to do to pull it together but the team seem to get where I am coming from..which is tops.
Radio training goes on..one to one now as the others have dropped out..which is good as it was about planning the show...which was worrying me..but it went well...apart from getting upgraded to a full hour..ppprrrrrrrrrrppppppppp..but it should be ok. Getting the hang of the desk as it is more compact than that at heartland...easy once you get around it.
I had such a nice time on Thursday..out with the Seaton Community Group..watching a tree being felled..these guys are going to follow it to Orkney where it will be carved and erected..looks good in Seaton so it should be good up there. The main thing is that none of us had ever seen a tree being felled. The missus got some mid cut pics that are crackers but I got some before and after..will post them soon..what a support for the forestry Commission Scotland..loads of staff out there for the group...made them feel special..which they are...Seaton Special!!!!
So next week will see me putting the portfolio together plus putting together a schedule for CSNG and thinking about PAMIS who have also come back happyn with my work and wanting a sensory set of activities for the October break..so all go..more training for the radio and the techfest which will be kicking off the week after.
Oh...and dinner with the missus' parents next Saturday AND a wedding..no...not mine...the week after..got the 3 piece for that one but need suit shoes and a belt...the high life I tell thee.
Ok..wiill try and post mid week.
Take care one and all.
SB
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