Report
The Boy got an excellent report from school. His reading and writing are coming along really well, although he needs to work on making his letters smaller and remembering to put a space between words.
It was also remarked upon that he has a lot to say a lot of the time, and whilst this is nice, he needs to work on realising that it isn't always appropriate to say exactly what you think! But the report goes on to say that he is a friendly and lively boy and a pleasure to have in the classroom.
He may be a pleasure in the classroom, but in the swimming pool with his friend, he was anything but a pleasure. I've just returned from swimming with him, his friend (who is a girl, but not a girlfriend) and his mum. I'm knackered. They were asked not to splash us in the face as we wear contact lens, but did that stop them?
Guess who lost a lens?
Hurricane
There has been a terrible hurricane. Most buildings were damaged, and the majority of the roofs were completely blown away. Many many people died. The hospital can't cope with the injured and there are rumours that a helicopter was brought down by the wind. It was awful.
And the Boy is now banned from playing with the Lego Village. It took me hours to repair the damage he wrought.
Lonely
I'm lonely.
The Baron's new job means that he works late, and tonight he won't be home until gone midnight. I have sorted him out some dinner but because I have to get up for an early meeting I don't think I will stay up for him. I want to - I haven't seen him all day, but I am tired already.
I think I will doze on the couch until he gets home. That way I know he has come home ok and I will see him, even if it is through bleary eyes.
His shift pattern means this will be a regular occurrence until he can transfer. I thought it would be good; I could watch what I wanted, practise the guitar, have the neighbour in for a drink, go visit my sister, have candlelit baths in peace, but in all honesty, I am bored and I am lonely.
I don't think I could live alone.
Mobile madness
I forgot to charge my work mobile over the weekend.
I didn't actually realise that it had run out of battery and had gone to sleep. I should have - the silence was rather unusual, but in between one cat deleting my entire and might I add completed report (not backed up, of course), another cat fighting another cat, the strange cat from next door wandering and starting a fight and stupid estate agents, I didn't have time to ponder the golden silence.
So at 7pm I discover this fact. Off I toddle to charge it up. Power on, lights on, phone is back. And there is the little tape. A message.
Someone loves me! Or do they?
"Please can you call the office as soon as possible".
Words to strike fear into the heart of the person who hasn't called the office all day. Because she didn't know they wanted her. Because she forgot......I'm sure you get the picture.
I know what it is about - no panic is necessary, as far as I know! I requested a work programme be sent to me to start my review tomorrow, and they weren't sure if they had the one I needed. Since it isn't in my inbox I guess that they don't have it.
So I have to wait until 9AM to clarify this (assuming I am right and it isn't something else) and then I have to get hold of someting so I can at least make a start. Bugger bollocks. Not helpful at all, but pretty much my own fault.
Or is it? They knew I was at home and they have my home phone number, so if they wanted me, they could easily get me. Hmmm. I don't feel so silly now, and that niggly little worry worm has gone away.
The last place I worked has really screwed with my mind. Lets just call them ABC.....that sounds suitably made up, don't you think?
It was impossible for me to please my manager - she found fault with me for everything except my work. It started as soon as I qualified and then technically was more qualified than my manager, her manager and his manager as well. It made things very difficult - I would get a bollocking for leaving at 5pm instead of 5.30 when doing returns processing, but everyone else was allowed to and it was standard to leave at that time. Or I would receive phonecalls at 5.28 just to check I was still working, even when away on audit alone.
I was so relieved to leave. I used to dread getting up every morning, because I knew she would try to find something to complain about, however petty. But even now, every time I see the office on my phone, I automatically think "what have I done now?"
I'm not perfect - no-one is. I have been known to bend the rules a little, but it got to the stage that even if I followed the rules to the letter, they would be interpreted differently just for me. I was given some leave for my exams, but when I passed, the leave was retrospectively changed to unpaid and it counted against my bonus, which, surprise surprise, I didn't get.
My manager out and out lied in my appraisal - she told me that a colleague had had a problem working with me. I spoke to him immediately after - I am fairly sure she didn't realise that we were friends - and he told me he had said no such thing. He made a formal complaint against her, based not only on the lie that she told but that she had no right to repeat such things if true, but her manager blew it off.
Several complaints were made against her on my behalf - I didn't know at the time, but all were blown off. She has had many complaints made in the past, but her manager, nice though he was, was there for an easy ride to retirement and had no wish to make any waves.
After the Edinburgh fiasco, that was it. Time to go. They had no idea that I had already been attending interviews and that my letter of resignation was on my laptop ready to print off the next time she pissed me off. I had saved sufficient to leave without another job - proof of just how much I loathed the place. I knew it was only going to be days.........
I was called in to see the department head who asked me to leave, based on the Edinburgh incident. Having already made my decision to leave I wasn't in the slightest bit bothered, just cross that they had got there first. However, because I didn't make the anticipated fuss (did they really think I was going to beg to stay?!) I was paid for a month's notice.
I had grounds for unfair dismissal if I wanted to pursue it. I chose not to. My contact with the place had been severd, and that was worth far more than any money I might have won. A friend resigned a few days later. She had planned to anyway, but what happened precipitated her exit.
So there you have it. I have worked for a successive line of lunatics - one manager at a temp assignment didn't permit talking in the office at all. Not even to discuss clients. Not even to offer to make tea. Most definitely not the place for me. Then when I was training, there was the partner who liked to pinch the secretaries bottoms. And the one with the glass eye. And the Welsh one.
Where did I go wrong? Is this the lot of an accountant?
Stay tuned. I might figure it out one day.
(And if not, I am meeting an old colleague for a drink next week. Maybe he will have some insights)
Nothing much to report
I had another guitar lesson. I am definitely improving - tunes are recognisable. Much to the Boy's delight, I could pick out the tune to Harry Potter for him, as well as the Teddy Bears Picnic and Twinkle Twinkle.
I had lunch with my parents, as the Baron's new job requires him to work on a Sunday.
Our Sold board blew away in the gales this weekend. I found it under our car.
And I did all the washing.
Today's news
The author has made an offer on the house that was accepted (on Tuesday, so not really today's news at all. I'm just a little behind). So now we wait for the chain to move. Boring!
The Boy announced today that he could run backwards without looking. Before the author had even time to open her mouth, he proceeded to demonstrate. By running backwards into a door.
He is now nursing a big purple bump on the back of his head. Author still has the giggles.
In other news........
Baron is enjoying his new job, but is tired. He is currently snoring on the sofa.
The authors arm has been lacerated by a demented white tabby fleeing from the rain. The injury was caused by his back leg and extends from elbow to shoulder. The cat has faced trial by a jury of his peers and was let off on the grounds that "it was really rainy and cold outside". Community service in the form of cuddling the victim has been agreed.
The authors tummy is rumbling. Dinner may be postponed due to a sleeping Baron.
It has finally stopped raining.
In breaking news.....
The Baron is showing signs of stirring. As a result, dinner can go ahead as scheduled.
And finally.....
Charlie has played with a toy today. For the first time ever. Woohoo!
Scary stuff
I've been followed before. When I lived in London, there was a strange man who lived on the next road who would follow me everytime I walked the dog. If I crossed the road to escape him, he would cross and carry on. He would wait at the end of the road for me, so no matter what time I came out he was there. But he would be in the shadow of the tree so if someone came out with me, he could go and no-one would notice he was there.
It turned out that he was a care in the community guy. Which means a local metally disturbed individual who couldn't be committed and so was "cared" (in the loosest sense of the word) for by social services in his own home. One of these individuals, if memory serves me correctly, stabbed a teacher in the eye on a tube platform.
It was scary.
Sleep deprived
Can't talk, must sleep.
Zzzzzzzz..........
Enjoying things more
I'm really enjoying the househunting now I don't have to worry as much about the selling of ours side of things. I love nosing round houses, and especially kitchen cupboards.
So far we have one contender that we can both agree on. Location is bang on but the bedrooms are a little on the small side. However, another house we looked at that cost more and had the same great location didn't have rooms that were any bigger.
So for the fun of it, I worked out how much we could save from our equity (house is below budget) and thus how much we could spend if we wanted to on making it our dream home. Then I went fantasy shopping:
1 new dishwasher (ours will stay here as taking it out will damage the wall too much)
1 condensor tumble dryer for those typical British summertime days
1 new hoover. Just because.
1 new hifi system. We currently use the computer but that will go in the office.
1 espresso machine. Always wanted one.
1 iron. I am embarrassed to admit I don't have one.
1 ironing board.
1 whirly gig. I am hopeful that we might see the sun one day.
1 compost bin.
1 sofa bed. So people can stay over.
2 wardrobes. For the master bedroom.
1 bed frame. It is time to leave the dizzy heights of the loft bed behind.
Laminate flooring downstairs. Four cats, enough said.
Spot lights downstairs.
A conservatory.
New paint throughout - I have taste after all!
Shelves.
Wooden blinds.
Cat safe plants for the house and the garden.
Some garden furniture.
And that is it. Not much!
However, my initial figures (and bear in mind I am a sad accountant, so they are quite detailed) suggest that we can do this and still have enough to pay most of our debts off as well. Doubly good! Fantasy shopping it might be, but the frugal habits still prevail. Just pretend I didn't buy a bass guitar on a whim.
Saying that, I did play for a couple of hours last night, so it does get used. I'm not a real threat to the Chilli Peppers yet, but I am having fun. Especially because Frankie goes bonkers when I play. He chases his tail whilst balanced on the ladder.
The Baron is singing in the bath at the moment. I don't think he will be snapped up anytime soon either.
Woohoo!
Sold the house today. Made a stonking profit on it too - £4000 short of double what we paid. Got to love the booming housing market; at least until you realise how much your next house will cost you. We still haven't found a house, but we are going to look at more next week so hopefully we will find something we both like.
So I don't need to obsessively tidy each day. I can cook with garlic again. I don't have to struggle to dry the washing before viewings. I can relax!
And if you are interested, this is my little house: My house
The Baron left his job of eight years today and is out drinking himself to oblivion - but he deserves it. His new job starts on Monday and he is very excited. (I have to go to London; Chalk Farm to be exact on Monday. After Madrid, I can't say that I am ecstatic about train and tube travel, but you just have to live with it)
My contribution to the Baron's impending liver failure was to drive him to the pub. All the stretch limo's were out, the rude boys were gathering on the corner to go to the local meat market, and the heifers were on their way, in their white fuck me boots and tits hanging out of their tops. Charming scene.
Now I needed to blend in. What to do? Not being dressed like a slag (although probably the cleavage to get away with it) I was limited. Anyone seen the Peugeot ad? The one where he transforms his crapmobile into a Peugeot 306 with the help of an elephant and a sledgehammer and then drives through the town nodding along to his music?
That was me. Except it was London, not India, and a Corsa instead of a Peugeot. And I am cool anyway
How long this time?
Lets see how long I have before my laptop boots me out again......
The house remains unsold. We have our fifth viewing tomorrow, and it has only been five days, so I don't think I need worry yet.
I have found a house I like, but the Baron remains unconvinced.
It is snowing still. I don't know what is up with the weather.
The furballs are as furry as ever. They don't like the snow much.
The Baron shaved his head last night so he isn't particularly furry. At least this time he did it in the bathroom. He did take all the hot water though, so my shower this morning was on the chilly side.
And there goes the terminal system error.......bye!
House saga
Changed to the desktop so hopefully should have time to continue.
We went to look at another house this evening, and it was really lovely. Sadly the Baron took an aversion to it due to the industrial chimneys visible in the distance. He completely disregarded the space, the lovely garden, the huge potential (it has a living room diner with an intergral garage that has permission for conversion) the river at the bottom of the garden and the gorgeous kitchen to focus on something in the distance that isn't even in the house.
He is pissing me off. He has a dream house in his head that is simply not affordable on the money we have to spend. We aren't going to get a large house with a large garden in a nice area - something will have to be compromised on, and he simply isn't willing to. I want a garden, but with enough room to sit out and have a BBQ. That's it. I want the space inside and I don't want to live in a council estate (one beautiful house actually was!), but I know what we can expect on our budget in this area.
The Baron, on the other hand, objects if he sees communal playing areas in a five mile radius (maybe that is a slight exaggeration!) and judges the area on the hapless people walking down the road. So the above house was ruled out because we passed some grubby looking kids skateboarding down a road we needed to access.
This house isn't perfect. It doesn't have the same easy access to the main road nearby, but it doesn't face another house either. Swings and rounabouts. Something has to be compromised on.
I have this evening to prepare for the first viewings of this house. And where is the Baron? Asleep on the sofa. He decided to stay up watching some stupid fundamentalists slate those who believe in evolution (althought their argument was hysterical - they tried to disprove evolution using an example of evolution!). So he is tired and won't help. Bastard.
He won't look at anything unless forcibly dragged out, he wouldn't come to the mortgage advisor, nor would he talk to them on the phone (claiming I would be better) and he has barely helped to get the house in order. I know I have had holiday, but this is a joint effort. It just seems to be me and my split personality.
Off to clean.
MIA
The offer on the house was not accepted (not a surprise) on the basis that we haven't sold ours yet.
I have two viewings tomorrow, and another has been booked in for Saturday. We have our fingers crossed, as our house in in good condition.
Computer is about to shutdown. To be continued........
Bang!
I opened a cupboard. Big mistake.
Now I have a bruise on my head from a falling bottle of orange and passionfruit J20. I've drunk it anyway - helps with the hangover.
So. We just viewed a property. Built in 1996, so a little soulless for me. I like Victorian and Edwardian period features like fireplaces and stained glass motifs. It gives it a sense of history. I like to day dream about the lives of the previous occupiers. But it was nice........as new builds go.
It had a conservatory - my secret lusting, and a beautiful fitted kitchen. It was nicely decorated, with a cute nursery. The current owners are artistic and have hand painted Disney characters on the walls. It has a garden and garage, and is a cat friendly neighbourhood, with fab transport links.
We are waiting anxiously to see if our offer has been accepted. I'm so nervous!
Quicky
Right. I have one minute.
The house is on the market and we are househunting in earnest. I saw five yesterday, and have two today.
The Baron hated the one I really liked yesterday....typical. Finding a house that we both like is provign very difficult.
And the pictures are being taken today at 3.30pm. I daren't open any cupboards for fear of concussion by unidentified falling objects.
Argghhhhhhhh!
Holiday
Hooray, hooray, I'm on holi-holi day!
Off work until Tuesday. Yippee!
Why do I live with a nightowl?
The Baron has never been one to keep normal hours. He likes to stay up until 3AM. Which is fine at the weekend.
But in the week it means he has trouble waking in time for work. He never hears the alarm go off. I spend a good twenty minutes trying to get him up - I feel like his mother sometimes, but not as mean. I used to just leave him, but he could easily stay in bed until 4pm if I didn't wake him. In fact, once I left for work at 7AM, and when I got home at around 4pm he was still in bed. He was supposed to have started work at 10AM.
So if I leave him asleep, then he will most likely miss work. As an adult he should face the consequences of his actions, yes, but I don't want him to lose his job so I would rather spend the time waking him up. Even if he is a miserable bastard in the mornings that I want to garrotte with my laptop cable.
Anyway......so staying up late and getting up early makes him tired every now and again. In fairness, he is used to the routine so most of the time he is ok. But other times, like tonight, he is dozing on the sofa.
Which means he won't be tired until much much later. So he will stay up later. And be worse tomorrow. Ad infinitum (or something like that - I didn't take Latin).
For me, a peaceful night, bar the snoring through CSI. Kitchen is clean and tidy, washing is all done, guitar practise is done and dusted (I can play my scales now. I never ever thought I'd have to learn those again, after playing the piano and clarinet for most of my life), kitties are fed and I am in my pyjama's.
Kitties are very well fed, as it happens. The Beef Thief made a brief reappearance this evening. You'd think I would have learnt by now. I just don't like to cover the beef whilst it is cooling - it sweats too much. But then I would prefer not to have the beef dragged upstairs by a food crazed feline, so something has to give.
Shame the Baron has slept away his evening. It has been fun.
Ill, but still criminal
I've got the lurgy. I'm exhausted, yet am having trouble sleeping and I have felt queasy a for a couple of days.
Plus I nearly passed out in my scarily hot bath last night and I am used to death defying temperatures, which was really odd because it wasn't as hot as normal anyway (ran out of water).
Dad has got not one, but two speeding tickets. The mobile unit was out at the weekend. He and Mum were out shopping and they found some huge plants that they wanted. So Dad volunteered to go home and get the bigger car so they could bring them home. Unfortunately he got zapped on the way home, and on the way back again in the other car!!!!
So that is two £60 fines, and two lots of 3 points on his license, which means that he needs to retest (I think). He was fuming! I was not allowed to make any comments at dinner, but I really really had trouble resisting!
On the subject of cars..........the insurance ran out today so yours truly has accidently been driving illegally this evening. Whoops. Better sort that tomorrow.
Hehe. At least I have never had a speeding ticket. Although I suspect that it is just a matter of time......
