Burned

Quick post afore I am off to work. Yesterday was a burning day for Forest School...luckily we had based ourselves in amongst the trees. Damn, hot and sweaty..and I was stinking from trying to put out a smouldering fire in a huge log/tree trunk..sweaty..burned and stinking...a total catch for any lady!!! Was good though....physically challenging but I managed...up and down to school...up and down a bloody hill for rope clambering...yes rope clambering!!!...crazy stuff with a few scrapes here and there....and a med kit the likes of a WWII field kit!!! On the one hand I come home sore and tired and thinking I can't keep up this pace...fast for me...on the other I have to acknowledge I am pushing myself as well....to prove to myself the ME doesn't control me?....to test my limits?....or just because I like it?...hmmmmmm...ponder ponder. Another Saturday working this weekend....harrumph...not to onerous....stand and chat this one is...for me anyway...I am just manning the stall and chatting away about the health walks...which have taken off in a way I never expected...proud of that....but still....after working last Saturday...having difficulty spending time with the good lady....well...we are both busy I guess...when she is free I am doing something...and when I am free she is busy. Makes the time we spend together nice though....and I also acknowledge that "around each other all the time" doesn't work for me....tiring and wearing....so it is fine....although a wee bit more time would be nice. June is quiet for me on the weekend work front so should be able to get back in the garden and bring that up to standard. While that is going on I need to do my tax return for last year and put together a complaints case against the solicitor who bungled up my the tax duty for this property. No responses to any of my e mails....total incompetence and lack of proffessionalism...so need to rpioritise that in order to bring the money in. Once that money is in...and I expect that to be late in the year...along with compensation from the firm....I can focus on booking in the tradesmen for inside the house,,,and that will be that...the target being a year after moving in....blimey...think about that!!...a year...hey ho. Was at a workshop 2 days ago and chatted to a tree surgeon...leave the tree he says...hurrah!!!!...and he explained why the insurance company had asked about trees near the building....not about the potential for falling over....apparently..in Englandshire they have clay substrate and the trees grow and sook the water out of the clay...which then shrinks and causes subsidence.....then the gap betyween dry clay and earth crust fills up with water and floods the place....shame eh?!!!...anyhoo...our soil is not like that so not to worry. Done and doine.

1st Chance

Well..this is the first chance I have had to post....another 6 day week....and now the sun is out...I am home...and dongle free!! Another step in the right direction to settling down it seems. Dongle out (still to be cancelled mind you) and SKY TV in with internet..hurrah!!!!! Having worked yesterday on a litter pick I had the pick up today and...having had to leave the good lady's flat early as she was working....used it to empty bits from the garden and spare room...and bring in some kit for future garden work....and still had time to move some kit to a guy at CSO who had asked for some plastic boxes...back before 10.30 am...kip and now back up....what to do with my afternoon...was going to go down town..beer and back...but things have changed....the good lady is coming over this evening and being a bit dozy is not on the cards....think we might go to ASDA and buy me some work troos and some trainers...rock and roll...but nice enough for an old timer like me! My contract has indeed been extended to 30 June 2012 with a view for it all to be sorted ASAP. Apparently the business case has gone for final comments by 30 May 2012..so he has got the message..I am not too happy bout situation...after that to the Convener (not elected yet) for final authorisation and then...on we go!!! Vehicle still a serious issue....but instruction is to sort it....tied into post but require interim vehicle as that will take some time after authorisation...need to keep on top of it really but will do. Finished off one big project...guess need to post some pics...at a Nursery....not sure exactly how I managed it to be honest but it all worked out in the end..and they have won an award to which I am invited to be there at a grand opening...will need to bunk off CSO but I think it will be worth it..raise profile and...more importantly...raise the profile for the boys...damn fine job if I may say so. A general sense that life is changing...and I do not just mean hitting 40 this year...perception..expectation...health....love...life...where will it all lead...who knows...but I know it is all opportunities now...all positive..although I do need to get on top of work...running away from me....take a breath and sort it out I think...roll on September when I escape to the hill and get back to what I am really good at..practical...and engagement work. Just went through 5 cds given to me...4 are mince....Howlin Wolf is on the now...nice one...bit grim but that is what the blues is about is it not? Of course...on dad's hi fi...clear as day and loud like he used to play when painting. The garden is looking very verden right now...I dug out a huge planting bed where the bushes had been...my goodness it was hard work....still got to tidy that up as the compos bin was full pretty much straight away...but it will happen...then the bvorder needs redefined....then a good 2 days strimming...1st to take the weight off...then the other to make it shorter..but for that we need at least a week of dry sunny weather...and we definitley have not had that this this...which is just rubbish..but it can wait as it may help the bit where we burned and I transplanted some of the turf to replace...not very "grassy" but fine enough. A long term project I think. Done

Doh!!!

Almost forgot...tomorrow is the release of Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp!!!! Have to wait until next weekend..boooooooooooooooooo.

Free Time

Damnation...this is the first time I have managed to get onto a PC that works....my dongle is not dongling so I have ordered SKY...woop wooop...and that won't start until mid next week at the earliest.SKY TV..imagine!!..all those channels and no time to look at them....looking forward to the internet though...apparently really high speeds as close to the exchange. Bank holiday has passed....managed to put up a few of dad's paintings but the flat seems to have some really strong walls...the pins were bending and I was getting exasperated!!! More stuff removed from the spare room so things moving on there. I spent the whole day on Sunday out in the garden...hacking up the mess at the bottom of the garden that the previous owner left...and found out she padlocked the bin!!!..anyway...it looks better and I did take some pics but haven't down loaded them yet. Next time I will be edging...well...turfing out...the edges of the grassed area..to define the lawn as opposed to the wild area..so that will be fun. Taking shape inside and out. Still waiting for my Tax refund cheque and an explanation from the solicitor as to why they made the mistake and then blamed it on me....swine!!! Not really very good and I am out of pocket by £1,400.00. Work...well...things have come to a head contract wise and vehicle wise. I receoved a letter last week...in May...telling me my contract had been extended from 31 March 2012 to 30 April 2012...nice...out of contract but still work to do....I had to move and put down some turf at a church nursery garden BEFORE a wedding started...none of my boys turned up so what to do?....I went out there and "volunteered" with the manager to get the job done/ We left the site with 10 mins to spare...phew...covered in filth I tell thee. So, I have had confirmation the contract has been extrended until 30 June 2012 at which point the top guy has said all should be sorted and the post in place. We shall see though...and the vehicle..took the opportunity to ask him as I really don't trust my boss...suddenly it is all sorted and in due course I will have a "fit for purpose" vehicle...yeah yeah...whatever..I can't do my job with a Ford Fiesta...I certainy can't do it with my CSO fellas over the next few months where we are to be off site from Lochinch as Family Learning are taking over....well...how do I facilitate full kit removal and personnel?...have to be strong...satand my ground...for too long this has been going on..you want the glory of awards and cache as the word spreads?...you want the ground work your staff deem unworthy to be done?...well stump up the money and sort it out!!! This weekend coming...off to Louise's in Gala with Annie...and a stop over in Musselburgh and dad's grave...hurrah!! Done and done.