Lazy Sunday

Got up at 10 am today..although after a rough nights sleep...and woke to think...I have another essay to do...wait a minute...no I don't!!!!! That's right, I finished my last essay of 35 yesterday....what a relief...although I am fully prepared for the rework that will come back at least it is all done and dusted. All I have to do is access a pc at the main office and print it all off, slot into a folder and send off. I had discussed with dad the fact that my colleague was doing the least he had to..and simply lifting from tinternet, changing the wording, and submitting as his own...but that wasn't for me...I wanted to put as much into it as I could and see what happens from there. As with my time at University, I always have had to put more effort into it than those around me to achieve a lower score...or equal...if they come back to me and say I have been plagiarizing then I will be well unimpressed. Anyway, it is done now and we shall see what happens...with a month to spare as well!!!

Work is continuing pretty well...although I have gaps in my diary for the forthcoming months..but I remember it was like this last year..it will soon book up as teachers get back into the swing of things..I hope!!!! It might not be such a bad thing as I can get on with the NHS Health walk planning during work time..plus some networking events...plus (hopefully) visiting my Forestry colleagues down in Glasgae toon!!..so the space is good. I am now branching into some "cutting edge" work..as far as being a countryside ranger is concerned...working with the secure unit at Royal Cornhill...the psychiatric hospital in Aberdeen...I am to start working with a patient there next week...walks on WIAT sites..possibly followed by survey work...practical work...he important thing here is that the staff are all on board..possibly doing a one day forest School with them as well..and interested to see where it goes with this fellla...he like "intellectual sparring" which I enjoyed during our short meeting..I like him....he obviously has had some serious issues/problems in his life..but i am looking forward to it.

I have also started to do...ahem...consultation work..with an oil company in Aberdeen..hopefully that will move forward where I am working with them to achieve the "Healthy Working Lives" award..we shall see.

With these 2 pieces of work AND my NHS work..it all comes at a good time as the funding tale goes on. I have had the nod that forestry will pay the 50% for the next few years..this will be confirmed in the next few weeks...BUT..what of the other?..well the Fairer Scotland Fund is bringing together a number of funds..and addresses poverty in all its forms..such as health (mental/physical)...life skills..work skills..community work...all of which I am ticking off one after one..we shall see. It is only now that I have become aware of the pressure...or sense of intensity with all this hanging over me...and the effect it has had on me...see last entry..I am not sure how I will feel if it comes through..imagine being able to stay in one place for 3 years!!! If it doesn't then I am not sure what will happen...don't want to move...I think..if it came to it....I could get work with some of the groups I work with now..to tide me over...but the one thing about working with Forestry Commission Scotland..if they like you and your work...they won't let you go....so..all in all...I am pretty ok bout everything.....but I would rather know what is going on..same old same old.....have faith and it will all be alright

The main thing is....enjoy the quiet period...I am sure it won't last long.

I think i will definitely be waiting until the end of September to move...no takers on this flat. The lady who I will be staying with in Northfield (a nice part) is very relaxed...has agreed for me to take over the line rental of the phone...which means I will be able to transfer the broadband..which is really important to me.

I think I will also try a bit of Tae Kwon Do when i get into town. I like the aspect of the exercise and the ethos behind it..control...discipline..I do not, however, like all the Bruce Lee noises you have to make!!! We shall see. And it has also occurred to me I would like to do my French again..but I will have to find a French Institute in Aberdeen...not sure where that might be.

Anyhoo...all is going to plan...just keep the heid.

SB

Tired

Saturday am...watching the Brits destroy the rowing competition..yay....tired from meetings and all the usual jiggery pokery..just want a rest...but so much to do..so much to do.

A walk at Stoney should set me right for tomorrow. 2nd last essay to do...get it done and out of the way.

Tara

State Of Play

Here, I thought ide put this pic in...from a session at the breakfast club in Middlefield...7.40 am and some serious cutting going on...oh...and afore I shaved me chops off!!!

So what has been happening?...ile try and summarise for you...missing out the rage, disappointment, stress and general jiggery pokery involved.

The flat in Edinburgh is off the rental market and under refurbishment at the moment. At the end of it all, the value will be higher and so will the rental income...it had bloody better!!! Due to some fairly exorbitant estimates, I had to make the choice of doing the kitchen only and the bathroom at a later date or doing both together. Considering the rest of the flat looks pretty good, to leave one room letting the rest of the flat down did not seem a good idea to me...why spend money on one room when the other brings it all down? However, finances are restricted as, after the sale of Perth and clearance of an overdraft, the amount left equaled the total cost!!

Well, we went with the joiner who coordinates other tradesmen for the kitchen (tiler, joiner, electrician, plumber) at an exorbitant price (I have raised this with the letting agent who agrees with me) and another tiler and plumber for the bathroom (their estimates are far lower). I am taking the hit for the kitchen as there are a number of tradesmen to co ordinate and it will be far easier for him to get his team in and working. However, I will not pay the full bill until I have seen an itemised invoice and seen the work itself. \by doing things this way, I should have some cash left over and, once back in Aberdeen, I will be saving roughly £400.00 a month which can go to saving (might buy some new socks as well!!)

I have secured a nice room in town in a mixed area...one of my communities...which has some nice and not so nice pockets...I am going to be in a nice one...with a nice big room in a house with front and back garden and a drive...the lady has a partner in Turkey and is going over on holiday when I am due to move in AND she may even go over the winter...so..for the price of a room I am getting a house to myself...all I need to do is sort out the broadband.

Perth Kings Court seems to have settled...no more word of the "leak" and no word of the intercom system ALTHOUGH I am not going to totally relax until October....give it time!

Viewfield continues to roll on...the bathroom ventilation is sorted but I expect another bill for painting the ceiling in order to remove mould from the steam of previous years.

Glasgow is fine..as far as I know.

I have purchased a new phone after losing my old one. I had thought of buying an Ipod and all the paraphernalia but saw the Sony Walkman phone...after much reassurance by the lass at the shop (used to work at SHMU) that I cld master the black art of transferring tracks from lap top to phone..I went and bought it...I was due an upgrade so had a discount of £45.00...£100.00 phone for £55.00 and then I bought a big case so I wouldn't lose it!!! When I put my replacement SIM in...it still had all the credit when I lost the previous phone...hussah!!! I am now listening to music on my phone...it takes pics and vids and...I hear tell...it also makes phone calls!!!

So, the job. Well..everything has changed...Forestry Commission are definitely on board and applying for 505 funding...the guy in charge of that..and possibly my new boss..has been on my show and spent all Friday pm being shown round my projects by me (after a bloody flat tyre!!)..I am meeting the top guy this Wednesday for a chat..I am told he can be quite snappy so need to be on top form..and I am to meet the chap in charge of social policy..as he is also in charge of another source of funding that can be applied for by my clients....AND...I am to receive an invite to a buffet in the garden of the Scottish Parliament...hob nobbing with MSP's!!!...craziness and all through the FC's interest in my work....I also think I am going to be visiting my FC colleagues on their WIAT sites in Glasgow

For the Council's part, we are applying for the remaining funds through the Fairer Scotland Fund..not too sure about that but it is all good...and I think I will finally be meeting boss gadgie from our department in a weeks time as well...will be asking, if the FSF doesn't come through, would they be putting up the cash..it's not something I am overly confident about though.

I am feeling the pressure I must say and am trying to juggle everything at once....I needed to just chill..although i still feel under the cosh...there is so much to do when I get back tomorrow...one presentation meeting...one planning..the big one on Wednesday...one consultation meeting on Friday..blimey...oh...and only 2 essays left for the Forest School certificate...and then the changes I expect getting back for them..almost there!!

My personal life is still up in the air I guess...single but looking...but then...I do seem to be quite busy do I not? Already spotted my local..I have a choice of 2 but I know 1 is definitely off the list due to my awareness of the area....oh dear me...no way!!!!

Tara for now.