Another day, another essay

Blimey,

How hard is it to study now, after almost 10 years of being a lozy sod?!!! Note taking for an hour is a major struggle as is typing up the blessed essay. Mind you, discussing histrorical progress of a woodland based industry is hardly what I would call exciting..but there you go..it's whatI asked for.

It would seem I have gotten over the pain and strain of break ups and so forth...back on the map...but not as pro active as before...job first I think...although I did bump into a lovely lass at the off license in Stonehaven....hmmmmm.

I seem to have a high propensity to fill up time by pottering here and there...xbox doesnt really help or MSN but I feel it necessary (see how I am justifying it....smart fella!) to enjoy the calm times as I am fully aware this will not continue when i get back to work.

In addition to ranger work I am dipping my toe into event security...starting with the Hogmanay celebration here in Aberdeen. See where it goes from there...definitely don't want to do door security or taxi rank directing...no at 3 am on a Saturday morning!!...fitba, concerts and other events are for me..nice wee earner...but will see if i can take the extra hours. Gotta try these things.

It is still cold in the flat but the landlady is getting it sorted...and has made it clear to stick it out and shaddap!!

Thermals for the near future.

Thoughts

I am sitting here on Christmas eve thinking I should be a bit forlorn at being on my own on Christmas eve...but then I think....I got some days off...I just finished my 3rd quarter tax return...I got a cracking job...things are tight financialy..yes....but i got a flat of my own....a home!!!!..and, apart from a sniffly cold...I am ok....actually....pretty good.

Christmas get together for folks that don't see each other for the rest of the year....people feeling financial pressure to make it "special"...pants. Not for me...at this point.

What a year...what a difference since last year...no longer at the Inn...there is no room for me there this time!!....Strathyre..Dominica...Haddington/Gullane...Holburn Street..Gourdon..what a journey...and that's just this year!!!

Sometimes it has seemed hard BUT...you know...many more folks go on a journey and they don't see the things I have seen. Lucky lucky.

Merry Christmas everyone.

SB

Aberdeen Fitba Takes Us Over

Quietly having my lovely black pudding supper from Hornblowers here in Gourdon and there was an article on the Scottish news about re siting the Aberdeen FC football ground...I recognise that field...I recognise that bull in the corner of the field. In fact, it was only when they shot it from a different angle that I was sure where it was...MY BLOOMING OFFICE at Lochinch. I note they never took any shots of the converted stables which is our HQ....then they interviewed the "locals"...the nearest locals are 20 minutes away in Kincorth...good grief..."it might happen"....it's council land...they want the money..it's going to happen...but way after I am gone...unless they extend my contract..one thing though...the land is owned by the Council BUT the loch is owned by the Catholic Church....he he...stick it to em big boys....they'll not sell it just to be obstreperous..hey ho...wait until I see my colleagues tomorrow....a chat will be had.

Tomorrow is the assessment day for our Forest School....parp.....should be alright..after a wee panic on some documentation we are required to submit...I had taken some and used them as separators....doh!!!!...at least I still had them though. Once this has been done we have 2 more sessions but I will miss one of them as I am off to South Lanarkshire via Strathyre...so...I will help Gaeten with the plan but he will deliver on his own. Last session is a week tomorrow where there will be plenty of cooking going on.

SB

What a Day

Up at 6.30 am again on a day off...took the car to Stonehaven..dropped it off...walked around town looking for a bus stop...walked out of town to get one...bus to Brechin at 8.30 am...40 mins wait...ok...bus came...not going that way...down the A90 I assume..finally got a bus at 9.10 am..back to the flat by 10....car came through MOT really well with no repairs...insurance next...same as last year...gone up a bracket but had a no claims discount...tax at the same....so I assumed I wld have some spa4re cash to pay mum back and for the trip I am taking this weekend...BUT...got a bill from factoring agent in Perth......then I remembered the bill from the factoring agent in Glasgow is still to come AND I had asked the fella from the factoring agent if I owed them money...and I do...so....no spare cash and I am not sure how much I have for the trip...looking ahead..June.....the insurance for properties coming up...a fair whack of money as well...hey ho...it seems to be working out.

I just wish sometimes I cld relax and not have to think about these sort of things....it had better pay off in my dotage!!!

If it had not been for the MOT being ok I wldnt have been able to pay the other bills....so...somone is looking out for me!

Down to studying tomorrow and I guess I have to plan my Forest School for Thursday assessment as well..poo!!

Hey Hey

Changed the main pic...started to take pics in the morning when I change over from car to works van at Doonies Rare Breeds farm out on the coast road. Looks good but a bit big...hey....whatever...nice view.

Also changed the Goldfrapp pic...think A&E is the new single out soon...new album out in February...ha ha...amone the Frapp.

Main priorities of the week was...lots of admin...Wednesday...had a breakfast club at 7.30 am (up at 5.30 am)...then the radio...then a free afternoon until a meeting in Tillydrone at 6 pm...got back to Gourdon at 8.30pm...what a day...then up again at 6.30 am for Forest Schools at Cults...fairly tired by the end of that I tell thee. Saturday saw the Northfield Christmas Gala....clay, glitter and mayhem...went well though...worth the second six day week in a row.

I now have annual leave days here and there until January 2008...plenty of studying to do...but tomorrow sees the 7.30 am MOT for the car...hopefully it won't be too expensive...got the insurance and tax to pay as well..we shall see....there is no real spare cash in case things go wrong in any of the properties...I was hoping to raise some cash when changing my mortgage in May 2008 but that plan may have to be amended!!!

I am only going in on days where the radio is due and the forest school as well...a few important meetings are coming off as well...and assessment on our forest school...oh...and planning with Gaeten...phew.

Feeling fairly relaxed now having pigged out, watched TV and played games. I want to go to the pub but they are a nosey bunch and I cannae be bothered.

Let you know what happens after tomorrow.

Tara for now

Back on the map

Hey...finally got my tinternet sorted...the poor BT fella was up the pole in a howling gale (as is the norm here) for an hour...woohoo....back on the map and getting into the swing of doing my blog. I think I find it easier to communicate by typing rather than speech..as I am sure some of you will be more than aware.

Well...in the time it took to get tinternet back up I have been through another relationship...just doesn't seem to be my strong point. I won't go into details as it is all very raw and unpleasant. Coming to the conclusion that perhaps I would be better spending time in my new home and new village...and maybe meeting someone this way...rather than running up and down and round and about and all that poo.

Thing is...work is getting very hectic BUT brilliant at the same time. Been through the 2nd Forest School practical...this time..an assessment...and now looking to complete 13 essays (I kid ye not)..if it wasn't for the fact I have to take annual leave AND the council public holidays I would be stuffed...and I made that clear to the fella running the course..so that's my Christmas.

Went to a seminar a few weeks ago...noised up someone pretty important and got myself a wee bit roasted BUT the guy was really keen to come and see what I do u here in Aberdeen..so...result...another seminar yesterday...a WIAT one...but I was not scheduled to do a presentation..however...the arboriculturist fella asked if I could say a few words..so..up I went..in front of the geezer from Landward...and gave it my best shot..very good it was too. It was good to see the whole picture....I came to realise how pivotal my role is in this whole escapade..a lot of responsibility but very exciting at the same time.

Get this...the lass who was a seasonal at east Lothian...who comes from Inch...got a job with Aberdeen City Council as an access officer...and she ended up at the seminar as well...it was great to see her again...but who would have thought she would have ended up in the council in a department linked with what I do?!!!

So..there have been ups and downs and downs and ups over the past few weeks and I feel a bt bruised..sound familiar?...but looking ahead to next year...already getting booked for April and May...still to put together a schedule for School University..pah and poo...always looking ahead..and the radio show as well...check it out on SHMU dot org dot uk..Around With A Ranger is my show...you can listen on tinternet as well...and we all have the most recent show on file for listening to...my show is 11am GMT on a Wednesday..it is good...as are the other shows.

From what I can gather there are 4 major players in the Forest Education Initiative..WIAT...Forestry...call it what you will...and they are looking to me to be the main forest school contact....the man, as it were...plus they are looking for forest school manager for the north east in the future...I feel they may look to me for that....which is nice that they think that way about me...we shall see. Our Forest School at Cults Primary is moving along...I am finding it interesting to work with Mr Gnu...a totally free thinking fella with a wee bit less experience in environmental education with council schools than me....it is a relationship with benefits but also communication issues...coming along though..but another early start for me...fighting through traffic pretty much all the way...in the white vauxhall I am fearless....diesel power indeed.

And my Godmother is off to see her son in Vietnam...bless her.

Later.

SB