Old News - Newsletter June 2001

I see it’s been a few weeks since I last wrote – things have been very busy over here. I am pretty much settled in to my new job. I’ve been moved on to a brand new project, with incredibly stupid deadlines – but that seems to be the norm in the IT market. It’s rather nice to be working from scratch after a couple of years of inherited code though! So I’m very busy and the days fly by.

Mountain Man and I are being reasonably good about going to gym a couple of times per week too, which makes the evenings very late. On the nights we don’t gym we usually seem to end up meeting friends for drinks or dinner – I can’t remember the last time I had a cooked meal at home! Real yuppie lifestyle at the moment… We’re feeling quite perky with it though – maybe because of the gyming. Not much weight loss happening unfortunately, but I’m hoping it’s because the flab is converting straight to muscle (wishful thinking). Desperately trying to get bikini-ready before we go to Provence in 3 weeks. A very long awaited summer holiday at last – I can’t wait for a week in the sun!

Last weekend was another long one, and we took the Tuesday off too and went away to Wales with J and T. In typical fashion it rained for 3 days out of 4, but the Tuesday was stunning although chilly, and I got a bit sunburnt. We got a lot of reading and videos done, and J took us on a few misty drives around the coast. We managed to have a couple of braais on the patio overlooking the bay, and otherwise patronised the local pubs and restaurants. It was a lovely restful weekend, although we didn’t get much sleep and got home feeling a bit weary – might catch up next weekend!

My Mom is arriving in 2 weeks, and I’m really looking forward to seeing her. She and A are coming over for about a year, looking for a housekeeper/handyman post on an estate somewhere. I hope they find one in England so that I can easily visit!

A nice quiet weekend planned now, and I hope to catch up on some rest!

Old News - Newsletter May 2001

Well, I am starting to settle in at my new job. It is really nice being a permanent employee again, with an entitled lunch hour and set working hours! Plus I don't have people breathing down my neck all the time to make sure I'm 'earning' my rate. I'm not doing much yet, just trying to learn their system. Myself and another new (also SA) chap are taking over from 2 contractors who are leaving at the end of the month - so I spend most of day scrolling through reams of code. The people are very nice - quite a young team and rather laid back. I think I'm going to like it here.

My office is really close to the Thames, behind the London Eye, and we can see it through most of the windows! Today is stunning, and if Mountain Man can't join me for lunch I am going to have a walk along the riverside at lunchtime.

Summer seems to be peeping around the corner at last. The last couple of days have been warm, and the odd lovely sunny spell. Having said that I got caught in a downpour yesterday lunchtime! Had to nip into a coffee shop for hot chocolate until it stopped!

Last weekend was pleasant - we spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at J and T's. Saturday Mountain Man played golf and I vegged around nursing my job-celebration hangover. On Sunday Mountain Man went to The Church (rough club only open between 12 and 3 on Sundays) and came rolling home pissed at 4. I went to the gym instead, and felt quite smug as his hangover kicked in in the evening! Monday was a public holiday and we took it easy.

Old News - Newsletter April 2001

Today it is my turn to be the sick person coughing and sneezing in the internet cafe. I caught another cold the other day which is taking ages to go (I'm sure I got it from this place to begin with!).

I am still unemployed - it's been a month now and the charm has worn off. I am also out of money and am spending my tax savings. And no, I don't have any other savings apart from some Unit Trusts doing really badly! I've spent most of the last 2 years out of work and done some serious international travelling, which has used up my money as I made it. I am currently 2 months in salary arrears, and I can't afford to pay myself. Nice. I am starting to look at permanent roles now, as the contract market in London is really bad. I went for an interview on Wednesday for the shift-work job, and they rejected me - wah! Been feeling a bit flat about that, as I'd thought the interview (1 and a half hours thereof) went well, and got all excited about it, only to be turned down. I think my last workplace is trying to get hold of me, but I'm not that desperate!

The new flat is nice. It's very quiet, and I have painted the bedroom a warm yellow and got new bed linen in the same colour so it's warm and cosy. The lounge I have painted a warm peach, and it has changed the whole atmosphere. The whole flat was painted a pale cream, which is OK, but dull and boring and in this climate you need warm bright colours. We're not meant to change anything as the place is rented, but I don't care any more. If they object when I move out I am happy to paint it back to cream. I have also put up a couple of heavy duty shelves in an alcove in the lounge. It's kind of in a dead space behind the door, and I have moved all our boxes of hiking, skiing, camping etc gear out of the bedroom and into the shelves, which has also made the bedroom feel a lot more welcoming. Mountain Man keeps his bike below the shelves too, and it is a very handy space. I have got an extendable shower rail set up in front of the shelves, and now I just need to get some material for a curtain to close off the storage area.

I am going to put up a heavy duty shelf in the bedroom next week to act as a desk, and then I can move our free standing shelves onto it and set up my printer etc, which at the moment is in the lounge. I found a stack of abandoned chipboard cupboard doors outside against the building, and have been salvaging them as my shelves. I guess they're not wanted as they are out in the rain and starting to go rotten. It's a lot easier than trying to get a proper desk, and will be way easier to move. Now I just have to find a wall unit for the TV and books!

The flat has a little flower bed in front of the lounge windows where I have planted out all my geraniums and they are looking very happy. I am growing all kinds of patio and hanging basket plants from seed, which I will plant into the flower bed and into window boxes when they are big enough. It's been fun watching them germinate and slooowly get bigger. Funny - everyone thinks a 'basement flat' is below ground with no windows, and I keep having to explain that we're just sunken by a foot or so, and get plenty of light in the lounge. The bedroom's a bit gloomy as it faces an alleyway, and that's why I've painted it bright yellow! We haven't used the garden yet as it's still quite wet and cold, but I am really looking forward to summer and having a private place to lie in the sun, and to have braais and sundowners!

I am going to dig out my drawing things next week too I think - it suddenly occurred to me that I could be doing drawing in all this spare time rather than moping! I also joined a gym on Monday, and started a diet (all this hanging around at home has piled on the pounds!) so I am taking advantage of my free time while I still have it. Now all I need is some hot weather so I can tan, and I'll have the housewife thing down pat!

Old News - Newsletter April 2001

Hi all

Sorry I've been so quiet, but I have to use an internet cafe at the moment, and I always seem to have someone with a streaming cold next to me, so I get out as fast as possible. Today the bird next to me is sneezing and coughing up a storm - lovely!

Our Easter weekend was great - we arranged at the last moment to join friends on a trip to Ireland. We had a superb time - wierd ferry crossing times notwithstanding, and saw a lot of Southern Ireland. It was stunning, and we had a balmy days followed by wet and chilly ones - so we had all seasons in one weekend. We're all very keen on going again sometime.

I started job hunting yesterday, and have a couple of possibilities lined up. Not perfect, but we shall see. One involves shiftwork - 8 hour shifts rotating - which I am not convinced about - but it's close and is offering a LOT of money. The other is in Bracknell, and takes about as long to get to as my last job... they also want to pay little money so I'm not terribly interested. Will keep you posted if I get to the interview stage.

Hmmm, what else? I have run out of money, so can't do any more decorating at the moment. I had fun moving seedlings around this morning though.

Old News - Newsletter March 2001

Hi Everyone

We have found a place to stay, in Kilburn, and will be moving on Thursday! What a relief. Now I just have to pack, move, unpack and find a new job. No worries!

Anyway, let me tell you about Switzerland before I forget. My Aunt‘s boyfriend has an apartment in a tiny resort in the Swiss Alps called Alpes de Chaux. My Mom had arranged to go there with Aunt for 6 weeks from the beginning of March, and invited me to join them for a bit. So on Monday the 5th March I caught a plane to Geneva and then made my way by train, tram and taxi to their place. An interesting trip, and the first solo navigation I done in years. I got there with no problems, despite having forgotten £700 worth of currency at home.

The apartment in Alpes de Chaux is very nice. One bedroom, open-plan kitchen / lounge and a bathroom. Mom and I slept on sleeper couches in the lounge, with sweeping views of the valley and the mountains opposite. Unfortunately you really need a car to get around, as it is an hours walk from the nearest station – so we did a lot of walking! Mom had been taking skiing lessons with the object of being able to ski with me, and the next morning we got up early to hit the slopes. Here we encountered a couple of snags:
1. Mom had learned on 1m skis, and the shortest they hire locally is 1.5m.
2. Mom had never been up the local slopes, which make her nursery slopes look flat.
3. Mom had a horrible cold.

So we get to the top of the draglift and Mom is terrified, can’t turn, and is feeling weak as a kitten. After half an hour of picking her out of the snow she and I took off our skis and walked down. She went to lie down, and Aunt and I skied a bit. Aunt’s a pretty good skier, and we did the run a few times, then met up with my Mom again. Mom’s nerve was a bit shattered, so we hired blades (v. short light skis) and went to play on a flattish bit of slope for the afternoon to get her nerve back.

The rest of the week we took it very easy, as a thaw set in and the slopes nearby were nasty. Plus Mom was ill, Aunt not keen to ski, and I was lazy. So we went to Montreux and looked around a castle, did some hiking and read a lot.

Mountin Man arrived late on Sat 10th, my birthday. We all had a lovely fondue, and turned in. (I’d hired another studio apartment nearby to have some privacy, and after he left on Monday Mom shared it with me for the rest of the week, as Uncle was arriving and we wanted to give Aunt some space.) On the Sunday Mountin Man and I skied to a village called Bretaye, and Mom and Aunt came via foot and tram. As this village is a bit higher the slopes were good, and Mountin Man and I did every run in the area – most of which were red – while Mom practised on the nursery slope! The light was horrid, and it rained most of the afternoon, so I think we must be pretty good skiers now. Mountin Man is much better than I am though, as not being to see doesn’t upset him. We skied back to our resort at the end of the day, and I spent most of the time on my face. The runs back were all South facing, and very melted, so you had to skim from patch to patch and turn on a penny between grass and gravel. Not my strong point and I haven’t fallen that much since I learned to ski!

On Monday the weather was still bad, and I was exhausted. Mountin Man whizzed up the slopes while I had a late morning, and then he joined the rest of us for lunch before heading home. As he left it began to snow, and didn’t stop until the next afternoon!

On the Tuesday afternoon I dragged Mom kicking and screaming back up the run. We’d managed to find short skis at the local shop, and the snow was perfect. There is a section of the run that is wide and easy, with a draglift coming back up it, and we practised there. I got her to follow me down about 6 times, then we walked back home for a G&T. The next day we came down about 10 times, and got a bit faster. The day after that she was overtaking me and later I got her down a steep narrow section of the run, and the next day we did the entire blue run! She did really well, only wiping out a couple of times (and discovering what it is like to dive face first into the off-piste. ‘Face-plant’ as we call it). I was very impressed, as it is not an easy run for a beginner!

We spent my last day hiking across the valley, and I navigated back last Monday. It was wonderful to spend so much time with my Mom!

Since then I have been back at ABB. They go live today or tomorrow, so I am trouble-shooting 3 days a week. Luckily they have finally found someone to take over my section, so I will not be coming back after Wednesday. Mountin Man and I spent last week flat-hunting, and I spent most of Friday looking at flats. The one I chose is very close to Kilburn tube, and a basement flat. For those back home – this means the flat is sort of sunk down a few steps below street level. I think this is a good thing, as every other place I looked at involved 3 flights of winding stairs! It is a one-bedroom, with a big lounge, decent kitchen and nice bathroom. And main selling point is – it has access to the garden! Behind the building is a huge garden – nothing fancy, but a place we can sit in the sun and braai. I have really missed having a place to get outside.

On Friday night I was celebrating, and got through nearly 2 bottles of wine. S came down from Aberdeen for the weekend, and he and Mountin Man went out to meet B etc. I woke up with a horrible hangover, and Mountin Man and S got home in the afternoon feeling the same, so we lay around and watched videos. That night we went to dinner with T and A, and Mountin Man and S went out clubbing with B and J etc afterwards. Then on Sunday we all went for a pub lunch… A weekend of excess and for once I admit it. L got home from Nepal last night – sounds like she had a great time!

This coming week is going to be a blur of packing and moving.

Wish me luck!

Old News - Newsletter March 2001

Hi all

Spring is springing over here at last. Trees are starting to blossom, bulbs are coming up and I have begun getting hayfever already. It is still light when I leave work in the evening, and the sun is actually up when I arrive in the morning. In spite of this we are in the middle of the usual February cold snap – snow has swept most the country and is forecast here later today. It is going well below freezing at night, and we are all moaning about it in the traditional fashion.

I have 3 days left at work, and am going flat out trying and finish bits and pieces. The project is very close to deadline now, and all the developers are extremely stressed. I did a demo this morning that went well, so I am slacking off a little this afternoon. I am going to spend the next couple of days documenting, as the person who takes over from me is going to have a nightmare. My section has been worked on by 5 people, all with different styles. And nothing has ever been written down, so trying to take over is not much fun! They did ask me to extend my contract, but they only asked last week, which is rather short notice. I had already booked my Switzerland trip, and there is the house-hunting problem too. I have offered to come in part-time after Switzerland, but haven’t had any feedback on that. If they take me up on it I am going to boost my rate through the ceiling!

I haven’t been up to much as I’m working very hard in Farnham in the week, and on the weekends I am very tired and don’t feel doing anything! The weekend before last all my housemates were away, and I spent it sleeping and watching videos.

This past weekend I got home at 8 just as my housemates were going out to dinner, and I decided to skip that and relax at home instead. On the Saturday I started touching up the paintwork in the flat – we are taking no chances on not getting our deposit back! I was running around removing posters and picture-hooks, then filling holes and painting them. Then because we can’t quite match the existing paint colour I have to roller the whole wall with a thinned layer of the new paint to camouflage the patched bits! I’ve done the walls in my bedroom that don’t have heavy furniture against them, and I’ll do the others when Mountain Man is here to help. On Saturday night we went to T’s brother's housewarming. It was very pleasant, and at midnight we were standing outside braaing in the snow! Different. We got home at 2am, and then on Sunday got up early and went out for a pub lunch with James, Budge and Whale, and a lot of people I didn’t quite get introduced to. I left the pub at 3:30 to run errands and do my ironing and packing for the week, and was asleep by 7 – I was completely knackered! The rest of the house got home at 11 – a very long (and mostly liquid by the sound of it) lunch! They then proceeded to play classical music at thunderous volume, and I blessed the soul that invented earplugs as I shut out the racket and drifted back into dreamland.

Some of my workmates have a really grungy digs in Farnham, and they have started having me over for dinner once a week. It reminds me a lot of when I was a student, and most of my friends lived in dodgey digs! Anyway, it’s a pleasant change from sitting alone in the B&B, and after the third glass of wine I don’t notice how bad the place is. Last week I could barely walk home, so with any luck I will take it easy tonight! I joined a mob of work people at the pub after work last night, and when I got to my B&B at about midnight I found they’d turned off all the lights, including the ones outside. It took me ages to get the door unlocked (I’d only had 3 pints, so shush) as I had to feel for the keyhole and then try and get the key in the right way up. Then I groped my way through the hallway and up the stairs, terrified of knocking over one of the many knick-knacks the place is filled with. I couldn’t find any light switches, and gingerly made my way to my room, praying it was the right one! I shall have to keep my wits about me tonight in case they do it again!

Mountain Man gets home on Sunday, and I am really looking forward to having him back. It’s been a long 3 weeks without him! Then I fly out first thing on Monday. I am really looking forward to it! My Mom called me last Sunday, and she is getting the hang of skiing, and having a great time. My last skiing trip was very intense, with the whole group determined to ski as far and as long as possible every day, with just a quick break for a teetotal lunch. I’m pretty sure that this trip will far more laid back, with plenty of gluwein at lunch, and leisurely runs afterward! We will probably do other stuff too, as the others are there for at least 6 weeks and so can focus on more than just skiing. It should be good fun!

That’s about it from me!

Old News - Skiing in France Feb 2001

Hullo everyone

Well, back home after 2 weeks skiing, and no broken bones in our group. Lots of bruises and aches, but that seems to go with the territory.

We went to La Tania, between Courcheval and Meribel in the French Alps. It is a tiny resort, with 2 pubs, 5 restaurants and one shop! However, by taking 2 lifts you have 200km of piste at your command (Piste – wide runs where they have compacted the snow to form a firm even surface for you to ski on). 8 of us had booked for 2 weeks and another 6 for one week. As the chalet holds 16, we pretty much had it to ourselves. Another Aussie/Danish couple was with us on week 1, and 8 poms on week 2. All really super people – we were very lucky. The chalet is run by 2 English girls who cook and clean, and we were spoiled rotten. The more adventurous among us got the hang of skiing from the run right to the chalet, although it was a little hair-raising!

In week one 6 of us took lessons to try and sort out our technique. The instructor had us skiing on one leg, using the poles, and trying to look decent, as well as taking us down some rather difficult slopes. Also lots of different terrain – ramps, moguls (evil humps) and off-piste (that’s a couple of feet of soft snow which swallows your skis and throws nasty surprises at awkward moments for those who don’t know). Jolly hard work, but only in the mornings, so we had the afternoons to play around and catch up with the others. Then in week two we did a bit of exploring. There’s a nasty bug going around – Tara got it the first week, and I got it the second. Spent 3 days in bed, and was a bit feeble afterwards – great way to spend a skiing holiday! Sounds like the other valleys are good for skiing though!

Hmmm, what else. I had a go at snowboarding one afternoon, but I don’t really like being in contact with the surface quite so much (Mountain Man of course was boarding down blue runs after 2 hours)! Most of our group switched to snow-blades in the second week (very short skis), and they are great fun. Very easy to turn, and you don’t go as fast as skis. The guys were jumping things and skiing backwards on the first day! One afternoon a few of us took a walk along a cross-country track / road, and got bored so struck off into the woods on a path. A very icy, slippery, sheer path! Lots of clutching at trees and shrieking! Then Mountain Man decided it would be fun to bum-board (bit of plastic you sit on and slide out of control) down the blue run. Fun to watch anyway and he made it quite far before bailing out!

Apart from that, lots of wine in front of the log fire, board games, cards and conversation. A superb holiday!

Funny how warm London feels after the Alps! It is nice to be back, with so many shops and restaurants to choose from – and what a pleasure to be understood. My French is VERY basic – just tourist phrases, and most French people do not speak English.

Mountain Man is in South Africa for the next few weeks. I wish I could be there too – I am craving some hot sun! As he flew out last night, we had Valentines on Sunday. It actually worked rather well, as the restaurants are not too busy and no one was stressed. Then on Monday I was meant to be back at work, but couldn’t face it so bunked. My ‘tummy bug’ had a relapse! Actually I’m almost fine now, but I have an intolerance to some foods (meat, dairy, fruit, alcohol and coffee so far – what does that leave!) so I’m not quite 100%! It seems to be the same bug I had in Nepal… thought we’d be safe in France!

2 weeks of work left! Then I am going skiing AGAIN in Switzerland with my Mom and Aunt! Mom’s got one week to learn how before I get there. Heh heh heh.

When I get back I have 2 weeks to find us a new home, as we are all moving out at the end of March. I can see some floor-squatting happening again! Mountain Man and I are looking for a place on our own for a change, L is globetrotting, and T is moving in with J. Everyone else seems to have found places to stay now, so the Bayswater doss-house is closing down!

Let me go back to pretending to work!