Family Times

Well well....up at a reasonable time..ready for Christmas day...but with a difference....not only am I going to be spending it with Milady and child...but at her folks as well...so perhaps an intense time but one I am looking forward to....the first family Christmas in 15 odd years...we shall see how it goes. Merry Christmas to one and all!!

Week off?!!!

As usual..on a week off...I have a cold...thanks to the family!!...ah well...it happens...more than likely just a way of my body saying to slow down..which of course I have not...fool!! Never mind. Interesting visit down to Fife on Monday...a long day I tell thee...up at 5..on the road at 6...not the best drive as sued to lit streets and max speed of 40...there I was haring it down the road at 70 in the dark..yes with lights on....strong winds and muck coming off the road..oooft....but I made it in good time. I lay prostrate before the dental hygienist....excellent she says!!...big smiles all round...great improvement....especially after the dentist's comments from the last appointment....nothing has changed I said...except the change in working situation....explained I had tried to say to the dentist...changing my working life to stop the grinding of teeth and jaw clenching...but it never came out right...the hygienist confirmed I had made the right choice....your mouth tells you a lot about your physical and mental state...last time I was there was the really bad time when things were being discussed and my mouth was sore..makes sense really...if you have your teeth under pressure all the time then there will be bleeds...anyhoo....it was reassuring to me that after putting it all on the line and standing my ground...I had assessed the situation correctly and made the right decision. Nice one...keep up the good work. Then a trip to dad and Kenneth's grave...all in good order although I think I will go back and sort the turf...bit scruffy.....then to Perth to buy my road tax....then back here for a rest...then up to the Town House to attend SHMUTrain 16's graduation...emotional for me....good bunch of kids....and their presentations and personal journeys were awesome....inspiring...well done. Tuesday saw me walk into town to the DVLA..only to find they had shut down....harrumph....off to the cop shop with my documents....even though you are innocent you always feel like you are about to get nicked when around the coppers!!!...anyhoo...after a period of time the desk duty officer came back and said the van was in my name and it must have been a delay in records being updated...over a year and a half?...I neglected to divulge the Santa story....well says he...I cannot comment. Fine says I and leg it out of the cop shop...phew. Wednesday saw me snuffle through the show....then Christmas cards all round!! Nothing happening today but this evening I must go to the Torry Community Council...not been for the last 3....snuffle sniffle cough cough...bet they ask me to leave the meeting!! Done and done.

Been A While

Just checked and it has been over a month since my last post...how embarrassing..but...things have been busy indeed!!! Seems time is spent between working and the life of a part time parent sort of thing. I had taken on a gardening job which took up one day a week....basic labouring...to be honest..it was the tipper truck that was the lure for the client..not really myself...he he..especially as I cut through the wire of the hedge trimmer almost straight away!!...but at least I finished one part of the job...but a decision had to be made...is the money worth the grief AND being away from family AND the impact on health....after a short rumination...the answer was and is no.....the client was not impressed at all...especially as part of the reason was their attitude when helping....i.e....not really helping but it is done...the look on his face as he could not quite believe someone would walk away from that money..the money was good actually...bout £80 per day but not enough...priorities and all that. Work during the week has been intense enough although not as bad as it was with the CSO/UPW....trouble is now that with the volunteers there is no requirement to stop and start...they WANT to keep going....he he...so no excuses for me...but we are getting things done....signing off old outstanding early years work and some other big projects hanging over me. But yes...out in the weather...all weathers!!...can be taxing...muscle weary and knackered..and this has an effect on the energy levels...but I would still rather be doing that than anything else....the volunteer team are really good although they all seem to have issues which surface from time to time..some more than others..so it is a bit like CSO/UPW but without the violence and threat of violence..good team though...a key method of engagement with all the organisations out there. The flat here remains the same...thank goodness it is not as cold as last year...still waiting for the windaes to be replaced...more to the point...waiting to find out if they have been made along with the door....seems like they are being hand crafted by monks living on the highest mountain peak!! Anyway..once they are in then I can think about painting and decorating and the electrics..had a few quotes and will review properly this coming week as I am off on annual leave.....back for 2 days before Christmas which will be taken up with paperwork outstanding for the whole year!! Trouble is you can never really tell how a tradesman is going to be until after the event..but this is a one shot chance for me so it has to work the first time....not really something I am enjoying but I will have to as this money needs to be reinvested.....with some left behind just in case. I have been thinking of ways and means to move stuff around each room while others are worked on...but I think I will just have to knuckle down and hump everything into storage down the road....at least that way I can throw stuff out...thinking of the dark wardrobes that I received for free when I moved in....of course this means a cost but if the tradesmen are in for a solid few months then it will only be for then....will continue to ruminate!! Christmas is coming and it seems family life is upon me....and it will be very unreal as well...for the first time in 14 years I will be a participant in a big family meal...oh be still my heart....just hope I do not freak out!! Tomorrow sees me drive at a very early time down to Fife for a dental hygienist appointment...early enough to check out dad and Kenneth's grave...then up here for a rest...then off to the graduation for SHMUTrain 16...a fine bunch of young people who have taken on a course provided for by SHMU...and I am part of that...with just one (at the moment) session...love to do 2 so they can see the progress....great experience for me and a great bunch of youts!!...better smarten up for the ceremony. That's it...done and done.