Don't seem to be on much...well not regularly anyway...why?...been trying to figure this out....I think things are so busy that, when I get home I cannae be bothered to type...or even...I guess whoever reads this might be tired of me saying how busy I am!!!
Ha ha...never mind...but I am busy...and I am loving it. Starting to work with really challenging groups. Setting up the John Muir Discovery Award with a group who are working through the Criminal Justice System..they are in a kinda half way house in Altens...various probs and all look ok...but I know they have drug probs and such like...best way to do it is to be totally non judgemental (which I am with clients) and work with them...I am looking forward to it....it starts in mid February but I had a meeting with them last night...not too sure how they took to me...as long as they don't think I am a fool. So....these guys have come through the education and fallen off the side of the world...
I am working with 2 groups of young adults still in the education system but are almost off the edge...very challenging behaviour...sessions are high paced and my adrenalin levels are high afterwards...not only do you need to keep things going...in adverse circumstances...you also have to keep an eye open in the back of your head for a smack....some of the guys are unpredictable. What gets me is...and I know the teaching staff see a lot more of what goes on...but they all say..."this is the really bad class"...but these guys know all the answers...and in some depth as well....concepts that are really difficult to grasp..if you catch them off guard and talk TO them...they reflexively answer the question...almost before the challenging behaviour can be engaged..interesting.
I do feel that these guys need lots of stimuli....bit like Forest Schools....I just keep it fresh..if the discussion veers off on a tangent...rather than shout it down..let it roll...give it a min and then pull it back in...it works.....fairly fluid...but it works....you know...even when they don't respond well I think it is down to me not really hitting a high enough level for them...but that is what I have been asked to cover.
The system fails the kids NOT the kids fail the system.
So, I was up at 6 this am to record a show for tomorrow...as I have the Trades Project out..they are working on our bird hide...really excited....big project...1st I have managed from start to finish....Press Office have been involved...Press & Journal should be coming out...the tutors are very happy with what is going on...and so am I...all we need is the weather to keep it together. It is going to be a two day project...so catching up to do afterwards!!!
So...the show went well....never recorded in studio 1...there was a wee panic trying to find the file but we got thee in the end. Had an interview with the Planning Officer...the lovely Rachel....who is involved in the Core Plan consultancy...a chance for people to speak their mind regarding paths they would like to have upgraded...really good interview which should go out tomorrow..yay..will I get a reception out by the hides?...do I want to hear masel out in the wind swept loch...maybes no.
No more ice skating to date but we shall see what happens....I don't think I fancy the lass....I don't think she fancies me...but we do like each other....I guess I need to find an appropriate time to broach the subject...probably when there isn't a drink or an offensive weapon lying around!!!.
Health is good.....always got a bonnet on....insulation being put in the loft...new door on downstairs...windaes are delayed...at least something is happening...I am cold!!!!
Tara for now...listening to my Mixmag cd...Deadmau5...check him out..."tech-trance-electro madness"...it says...I think it is not too hard and heavy...nice.
Tuesday, 22 January 2008
Monday, 14 January 2008
Made it
Hey...ice skating was gid...not too sore and didn't fall on my ass!!! The only aches I have is on my arms from clutching onto the side of the ice rink...there wasn't much banister to hold on to....just perspex...so...when you felt yourself start to drift or fall...your immediate reaction is to head for the perspex and...like a frog...try and stick to it...like on a leaf!. I think I need to use smaller boots coz my ankle is still wobbly..looked like I had a broken one....rubbish.....other than that...I was doing ok.
After the skating we went for tea at Jimmy Cheungs...yum yum......then off for some pool...yay....I lost by one game but there was a bit of cheating going on...only kidding...then we ,mooched around the Beach Boulevard and played some games...which was nice....5 hours...very relaxed and very pleasant....did we snog at the end?.....that would be telling and I am too much of a gentleman for that!!
Woooooooooo....I am so rubbish at ordering wood....I haven't got a clue....took measurements (as instructed by Ian) in metres and mm but went to all these timber suppliers and they asked for different units....I felt stupid....but I had to fess up and come clean...hey ho....tomorrow we will pick the best quotes and get the materials in for next week. They guys from the project are coming in tomorrow as well to see what I have in store...very exciting...1st major project I have done...or will be doing...from start to finish....only the weather will cock this up...and, being Aberdeen...it is more than likely to happen.
We shall see.
Had a meeting for an event in March with a new school. Very good....before I had thought about it I made a comment that the teachers were talking while I was...the Head heard me and agreed....doh..black marked.
Children's university is being set up now for May and June.... and John Muir Trust should be finalised by the end of the week.
All go and loving it.
Tara
After the skating we went for tea at Jimmy Cheungs...yum yum......then off for some pool...yay....I lost by one game but there was a bit of cheating going on...only kidding...then we ,mooched around the Beach Boulevard and played some games...which was nice....5 hours...very relaxed and very pleasant....did we snog at the end?.....that would be telling and I am too much of a gentleman for that!!
Woooooooooo....I am so rubbish at ordering wood....I haven't got a clue....took measurements (as instructed by Ian) in metres and mm but went to all these timber suppliers and they asked for different units....I felt stupid....but I had to fess up and come clean...hey ho....tomorrow we will pick the best quotes and get the materials in for next week. They guys from the project are coming in tomorrow as well to see what I have in store...very exciting...1st major project I have done...or will be doing...from start to finish....only the weather will cock this up...and, being Aberdeen...it is more than likely to happen.
We shall see.
Had a meeting for an event in March with a new school. Very good....before I had thought about it I made a comment that the teachers were talking while I was...the Head heard me and agreed....doh..black marked.
Children's university is being set up now for May and June.... and John Muir Trust should be finalised by the end of the week.
All go and loving it.
Tara
Saturday, 12 January 2008
Get Down
Yay...listening to some cd's I borrowed from the library...1st up was oasis...Definitely Maybe...what a belter!!!....reminds me of a time long ago but it still stands alone as a classic as well...good music. Now I am listening to Groove Armada...Soundboy Rock...always a good indicator when I am "seat moshing"...yeah!
Well...things are piling up at work already...booking are coming in and long term projects lining up. It is all a bit of a shock...as Simon, my colleague, says...it is the change from only having 6 months to do stuff in that is the shocker. Also, these aren't just the stock work of drop in sessions that the other guys do...these are long term stuff and the groups look to me to sort it all out...hey ho...I get a lot of support from the guys though..just need to ask them.
I have to stop myself trying to book things into a small period of time...I need to remember that there is more than the 6 months..space it out and relax!! If I don't...the service i provide is going to be poor and that would be counterproductive. Made inroads into Cove....an area left behind...I don't think the guys want to work there....so we shall see...booked up for a nursery in March and May..forward planning. I sent e mails to all the community projects asking if they wanted my services and that I was working 2 months in advance...I even sent one to Seaton...hey...gotta cover my back!...they can't say I never asked and, if they are governed by the ex's attitude and don't work with me then they are letting their clients and themselves down...harrumph.
So...work is coming on...more security work perhaps?.....we shall see....good to get the fitba work before the end of the season....then some gig work..coz money is tight the noo....Street party wages came in and was hot by emergency tax. For me it is not a problem as I will get it back after my tax claim BUT these other guys won't know they can claim it back...and if course..no one will tell them. I hope I can do my financial stuff in June...give me the cushion I need...just a wee bit of space...less stress to balance the books.
Well...the flat still remains to be cold and no word from the landlady...I overestimated her responsibility...private landlords for you..I suspect the windows will be in by summer..in the meantime it is clothes on for bed time...boooooooo. Looking around, it is still a bit cheaper than other flats...but will be keeping my eye out for Stonehaven....move at the end of the tenancy...depending on how I feel through the summer...when i say summer...I mean the 2 days of sun they have here around mid July....might stay.
I got a date as well...will I ever learn or give up..nay, nay and thrice nay. Just a bit of ice skating...haven't done that since high school...so I expect a sore ass.....and elbow...and face..as long as I don't break anything.....then on to a Chinese at the boulevard...should be good..let you know.
Well...things are piling up at work already...booking are coming in and long term projects lining up. It is all a bit of a shock...as Simon, my colleague, says...it is the change from only having 6 months to do stuff in that is the shocker. Also, these aren't just the stock work of drop in sessions that the other guys do...these are long term stuff and the groups look to me to sort it all out...hey ho...I get a lot of support from the guys though..just need to ask them.
I have to stop myself trying to book things into a small period of time...I need to remember that there is more than the 6 months..space it out and relax!! If I don't...the service i provide is going to be poor and that would be counterproductive. Made inroads into Cove....an area left behind...I don't think the guys want to work there....so we shall see...booked up for a nursery in March and May..forward planning. I sent e mails to all the community projects asking if they wanted my services and that I was working 2 months in advance...I even sent one to Seaton...hey...gotta cover my back!...they can't say I never asked and, if they are governed by the ex's attitude and don't work with me then they are letting their clients and themselves down...harrumph.
So...work is coming on...more security work perhaps?.....we shall see....good to get the fitba work before the end of the season....then some gig work..coz money is tight the noo....Street party wages came in and was hot by emergency tax. For me it is not a problem as I will get it back after my tax claim BUT these other guys won't know they can claim it back...and if course..no one will tell them. I hope I can do my financial stuff in June...give me the cushion I need...just a wee bit of space...less stress to balance the books.
Well...the flat still remains to be cold and no word from the landlady...I overestimated her responsibility...private landlords for you..I suspect the windows will be in by summer..in the meantime it is clothes on for bed time...boooooooo. Looking around, it is still a bit cheaper than other flats...but will be keeping my eye out for Stonehaven....move at the end of the tenancy...depending on how I feel through the summer...when i say summer...I mean the 2 days of sun they have here around mid July....might stay.
I got a date as well...will I ever learn or give up..nay, nay and thrice nay. Just a bit of ice skating...haven't done that since high school...so I expect a sore ass.....and elbow...and face..as long as I don't break anything.....then on to a Chinese at the boulevard...should be good..let you know.
Monday, 7 January 2008
Back on the map
Hey hey..back two days last week and a day done of the 1st full week of 2008!!
Progress at various meetings on site and with NHS Health Walks..all looking good. Gotta do some serious coursework tomorrow...hopefully start and finish one essay...as long as I don't allow myself to be distracted.
It is really cold here. We don't really get the snow on the coast..very strange though..when you drive inland there is snow coming in hard...difficult to drive..then you get on the A90 going North and it gets all patchy..then...by the time you get to Aberdeen city...it is blooming sunny...craziness.
It has been so stormy here...I went to the car and thought someone was reliving their Ibiza days....foam was coming down from the skies....there was foam all over the road...the sea was getting mashed up so much the foam was being picked up from the surface of the seas...transported by the wind over the houses....then drifting down like snow...crazy again.
Tara
Progress at various meetings on site and with NHS Health Walks..all looking good. Gotta do some serious coursework tomorrow...hopefully start and finish one essay...as long as I don't allow myself to be distracted.
It is really cold here. We don't really get the snow on the coast..very strange though..when you drive inland there is snow coming in hard...difficult to drive..then you get on the A90 going North and it gets all patchy..then...by the time you get to Aberdeen city...it is blooming sunny...craziness.
It has been so stormy here...I went to the car and thought someone was reliving their Ibiza days....foam was coming down from the skies....there was foam all over the road...the sea was getting mashed up so much the foam was being picked up from the surface of the seas...transported by the wind over the houses....then drifting down like snow...crazy again.
Tara
Wednesday, 2 January 2008
What a wayto end the year
Hey hey!
What a year this has been...sorry...what a year it was....what a life...I am blessed I think. From Strathyre to Dominica to Strathyre to Haddington to Aberdeen!! All the people I have met and the places I have worked..fantastic...must say, I still remember Gullane and the beach..lovely...although I am sure it won't be that nice at this time of year!
It is so stormy here at the moment, the sea is being thrashed into a foam..the foam is coming over the houses and landing on all the cars...looks like snow coming down...very strange.
As the year was coming to an end I decided to do something out of the ordinary...I thought it was time for a change from drinking in the house...didn't want to go to the pub...but did want to get out for the coming of 2008. I signed up for security work at the Union Street Party...expecting to just be handing out wristbands for entry to the street.
I turned up and felt like I was back in Dominica...I wasn't the only white person there (there was only a few of us) but I was definitely the only UK person there...can see how the recent scandal of security workers not having license to work here. Anyway, they were all very nice and friendly. I was asked if I had any "pit experience"...I almost answered yes in reference to my time stage diving all those years ago...when I had hair!!
I ended up in the put team...as in...the guys who stand at the front of the stage and pull people out of the crowd or deal with any trouble...woohoo!!!! I got easy money standing looking at an empty Union Street for a few hours and then the gates opened. What an experience...standing looking at folk standing looking at the bands behind me. Trouble did happen now and again...some folks were in a right state..but, in the main, it was all good and everyone was so happy and in the spirit of things..the bands were really good as well....Travis were brilliant.....I sneaked few peeks over my shoulder but could still hear the music through ear plugs and ear piece...I got a walkie talkie....ha ha...what a blast.
I couldn't help smiling all the time....after such a crazy year what a better (and totally unexpected) way of ending one year and welcoming another..in front of thousands of people with bands to my back...in a fluorescent jacket...hussah!!!..would never have thought it.
Back to work tomorrow...although I think I might be the only one on for the next few days...plenty to do and lots coming up...the Christmas break kept me going...as a definite break after starting...but now...none coming up....I guess I need to schedule them in...things can get out of hand and work piles up if you don't manage it well...I have to bear that in mind.
Especially as I am pondering doing more security work in concerts/fitba matches.
Bring it on.
Tara.
What a year this has been...sorry...what a year it was....what a life...I am blessed I think. From Strathyre to Dominica to Strathyre to Haddington to Aberdeen!! All the people I have met and the places I have worked..fantastic...must say, I still remember Gullane and the beach..lovely...although I am sure it won't be that nice at this time of year!
It is so stormy here at the moment, the sea is being thrashed into a foam..the foam is coming over the houses and landing on all the cars...looks like snow coming down...very strange.
As the year was coming to an end I decided to do something out of the ordinary...I thought it was time for a change from drinking in the house...didn't want to go to the pub...but did want to get out for the coming of 2008. I signed up for security work at the Union Street Party...expecting to just be handing out wristbands for entry to the street.
I turned up and felt like I was back in Dominica...I wasn't the only white person there (there was only a few of us) but I was definitely the only UK person there...can see how the recent scandal of security workers not having license to work here. Anyway, they were all very nice and friendly. I was asked if I had any "pit experience"...I almost answered yes in reference to my time stage diving all those years ago...when I had hair!!
I ended up in the put team...as in...the guys who stand at the front of the stage and pull people out of the crowd or deal with any trouble...woohoo!!!! I got easy money standing looking at an empty Union Street for a few hours and then the gates opened. What an experience...standing looking at folk standing looking at the bands behind me. Trouble did happen now and again...some folks were in a right state..but, in the main, it was all good and everyone was so happy and in the spirit of things..the bands were really good as well....Travis were brilliant.....I sneaked few peeks over my shoulder but could still hear the music through ear plugs and ear piece...I got a walkie talkie....ha ha...what a blast.
I couldn't help smiling all the time....after such a crazy year what a better (and totally unexpected) way of ending one year and welcoming another..in front of thousands of people with bands to my back...in a fluorescent jacket...hussah!!!..would never have thought it.
Back to work tomorrow...although I think I might be the only one on for the next few days...plenty to do and lots coming up...the Christmas break kept me going...as a definite break after starting...but now...none coming up....I guess I need to schedule them in...things can get out of hand and work piles up if you don't manage it well...I have to bear that in mind.
Especially as I am pondering doing more security work in concerts/fitba matches.
Bring it on.
Tara.
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