Old News - Newsletter October 2002

I am off to SA for 3 weeks this Friday night. I really can't wait - I can't remember the last time I saw decent sunshine!

I’ll be spending a week and a half in Pretoria, visiting friends and family, and a week and a half in Cape Town doing the same. Plus plenty of shopping, tanning, sightseeing, sunbathing, walking, basking, boozing and browning. Mmmmm.

Otherwise I’ve been madly busy. My project at work went critical a while ago, and I am desperately trying to finish my portions of it before I leave. I’m working lots of late evenings, and everyone knows how much I enjoy doing that! I’m still not particularly happy in the job, but at least I have one - the job market is still useless, so there is no escape. Living around the corner has made a wonderful difference though – even when I work until 7pm I get home earlier than I would have when I lived in London and left at 5:30!

Things are going swimmingly with Northerner. I don’t see much of him during the week as he works stupid hours, but we spend the weekends together, and he’s lovely. The weekend before last he took me away for the weekend to Cornwall, which was superb! Not only because it is a stunning part of the country, but because I can’t actually remember when last someone took me on holiday. I feel really spoiled! We passed our first Montheversay this week, and he still thinks I’m worth hanging around with, so I must be doing something right!

This last weekend was a wet and stormy one. It made me a bit homesick actually, as it was just like a good Cape Town howler, except it only lasted for a day. Lots of trees came down, and people were killed, and parts of the country are still without electricity… you can tell they don’t have storms often! I had arranged to travel North to Altons Towers rollercoaster park for the day on Sunday, but the weather was so bad I stayed in bed instead for most of the morning, and spent the rest of the day watching videos. I have since heard that the party went all the way there (several hours drive) only to find it closed! Sounds like I made the correct decision!

Anyway, between work and bloke and touching base a couple of times per week with various friends I don’t seem to have enough time to do my ironing let alone anything arty at home! One of these days things will settle down, and I will rig up the easel and find my sketchbook. But I am certainly not bored or lonely! I love living alone in my cosy little townhouse, and I am becoming decidedly selfish in my habits ;-). I had wondered how I would like living alone after 6 years of company, and I adore it!

It’s gone quite wintery here now. The clocks went back by an hour on Sunday, so now it is completely dark by 5pm. I’ve had the central heating on for the last month, and I’ve had to scrape ice off my car a couple of times in the mornings. But my house is warm and cosy, and I have all the bulbs in my garden to look forward to in Spring! And I am REALLY going to appreciate the African sun in just 4 days time.

Old News - Newsletter September 2002

I thought you'd all be fascinated to know that I am no longer single! I always was really crap at staying single, and it is nice to know nothing has changed ;-).

Anyone who has seen me over the last few months will have heard Northerner cropping up more and more often. He's a bloke I used to work with a couple of years ago, and although we had lost contact we met up again at a drinks evening in April. He was thrilled to hear I that was single and began a long and gentle courtship, in spite of no encouragement. It took me a very long time to get over the failure of my last relationship (as you know), and I was not interested in a rebound.

Anyhow, his patience and persistance have finally paid off, and I am having to pinch myself daily as he seems too good to be true!

So, details. He's English, from the North, 33, 6"2 and nicely proportioned ;-P, and an IT support project manager, working in Canary Wharf (London). And he thinks I'm super, which is always very nice! At the moment he lives near me, but is about to move to Docklands. Which means I'll have a London base on weekends - bonus!

Apart from getting to know my new boyfriend, I have been slowly furnishing my house and getting the garden under control. Work is a madhouse, but I seem to be getting the hang of my current tasks at last.

This past weekend was very nice. On Saturday Northerner and I went into London and had a few drinks with Candice and her mob on the Queen Mary for her birthday. Then halfway through the evening we wandered into Covent Garden and met up with R and S for a few drinks for their birthdays. Then staggered off to Chinatown for supper before heading home. On the Sunday we went to Leeds Castle, which is brilliant! I can really recommend it - super restored castle, lovely grounds and gardens, a fun maze, and a nifty grotto which deserves a look. There is a huge aviary, and plenty of picnic areas.

Old News - Newsletter September 2002

Well, I am finally moving into my new home today. It took me a lot longer than I wanted, as the landlord and letting agents took their time getting things ready, but it actually works out financially better as I am not paying overlapping rent on two places!

Enormous thanks to Northerner, Mom and A, who helped me move 99% of my worldly goods into the garage of the property last weekend, driving in and out of London all day long! Not much fun, and I was completely shattered by the end! Since then I have managed with 4 plates, 2 mugs, a wok and a pyrex dish – it is amazing what you can get by with, especially as Mom and A were staying with me for a while too. Mom and A actually broke up a few days ago, but have managed to stay friends – although having them both stay with me was a little fraught ;-). A has gone to Norway to do some handyman work for a while, and then he is going back to SA.

Mom is going to be staying with me until Tuesday when she is off to SA for a few weeks for a holiday, and will be knocking my garden into shape in the meantime! I bought my first lawnmower yesterday – very exciting. The start-up costs are going to be huge for a while, as I am renting unfurnished for the first time in this country. I am picking up a nice mattress on Saturday, and that will have to do for the furniture budget for a month or two! So visitors had better be able to sit on the floor… Anyone keen to get out of London for a weekend is welcome if they don’t mind roughing it a bit! I’m about an hour out of Waterloo or Paddington, so London is easy for me – please don’t stop inviting me round ;-).

I am very much looking forward to living so close to work. The commute from London is becoming more and more irritating, especially as the days start drawing in and more people seem to be using their cars. The area I’ve picked to live in is almost rural, with lots of woods and fields nearby, and I am extremely close to a rambling route. But the shops, pub, library and video store are all within walking distance, so that’s nice. And I’m a short drive from Henley and all those lovely Thames villages… I can’t wait to dig out my hiking boots and get walking! There must be loads of walking clubs in the area, and I’ll be looking into them very soon. And I’ll be rigging my easel in my study as soon as I get settled… all the things I’ve been talking of for so long!

Old News - Newsletter August 2002

I have done yet another absolutely impulsive renting decision and found a new place to live. Within 2 days of starting to look. And it is utterly unlike what I started off looking for!

I began by looking for a little studio (batchelor) flat in Central Reading. After taking a look at what was on offer, and what sort of area I could afford (not good) I had a change of heart.

I have now taken a 2 bedroom terraced housie, with garden and garage, miles from the nearest station! But it is 15 min from work, and in a very quiet area (Binfield, for those who know). I should be able to move in next weekend! Ooooooo SO EXCITING!

I've already started planning what bulbs to plant, and which bits of furniture to save up for (lawnmower first I guess)! It is unfurnished apart from the kitchen, so I will be camping on the floor for a while. Not the first time.

Oh yeah, I have decided to hang on at my place of work as you might have gathered! They have told us we are moving to .net next year, which is a great incentive! And the job market is dead, so the grown-up thing to do is to lie low. Gotta act my age from time to time, if only to be unpredictable!

Cool bananas! I want to move now now now! Except for the packing bit - guess what I'm doing this weekend! And anyone with muscles and a car - doing anything on the 7th ;-)? yee hee hee! Just think - I'll be able to sleep late and still get to work on time!

Old News - Newsletter August 2002

This is a public apology to Mountain Man for all the nasty things I've been saying about him!

We had our first chat in months last night, and it turns out that he has had a serious girlfriend for a while, and didn't know how to tell me. So he just disappeared, spending every available moment at her place, and only coming home to change after I had left for work each day! In the meantime I was thinking he was being a revolting slapper, out all night every night!

Oddly enough, this was more upsetting than the fact that he has a girlfriend: I couldn't believe that someone I used to love was behaving so out of character! It is a huge relief to discover he is still a nice bloke, and that I can still trust my instincts.

This is going to sound wierd, but I am not bothered by him having a new girlfriend, although I am not ready to see them together, and living in the same place is still hard (2 days to go)! Our relationship was over a long time ago, and although I am of course jealous, it doesn't hurt.

I feel happier today than I have in a long time!
Aren't I peculiar?!

Old News - Newsletter August 2002

Another month slinks past...

10 days until Mountain Man is out of my life forever! And counting - I actually have my entire office counting with me at the moment! It feels remarkably like the end-of-school-year countdown to the summer holidays. The last few weeks have been completely unbearable, as he has now begun sleeping around in addition to simply destroying his liver, and it is doing my head in! 10 days to go...

J and D are back with me after a quick trip home for a wedding. They have found a flat at last, and should be moving in next week. They've chosen one about 10 miles outside Reading, in a lovely rural area. I am looking forward to seeing it.

My Mom is housekeeping in London for August, filling in for a housekeeper on holiday, and it is great to have her nearby! I spent most of last weekend there. The place is just off Hyde Park, and I had forgotten how much I like that park. We walked the dogs all over it and around the Serpentine, and had a picnic in the long grass. I got my arms sunburnt again! I have a proper farmer's tan now - just my arms and neck! Very sexy.

Work is not great. Last week my company sent myself, another senior programmer and two project managers to our German office for 2 intense days of meetings. We worked 13 hours a day specifying a major project, and determining how long it would take us to write it properly. Then our bosses threw our calculations in the bin and told us to meet some completely arbitrary deadline. This means working plenty of unpaid overtime, to deliver an inferior product.

Which is why I will be giving notice on this job at the end of September - if I can last that long! I have been dissatisfied for a long time, but this is unacceptable. No benefits, no training, no overtime pay, bad location, and bad treatment - I'd rather be unemployed. I am job hunting at the moment, but I will be leaving regardless at the end of October. Then a holiday in SA - perhaps a very long one! And maybe another computer course while I am there to extend my skills, or a short contract, or maybe I'll go to Australia, or maybe I'll work with my Mom as a housekeeper for a bit, or perhaps I will have found a good job... The more I think about it, the more options open!

There has never been a better time to stop and reconsider my direction. I have no ties: no lease, no mortgage, no dependants, no debts, no boyfriend. And a very healthy savings account. So, why not? Quite exciting really!

So, I will not be moving to Reading any more when my lease expires. I'm not entirely sure what I WILL be doing - I'm looking around for a short let bedsit until the end of October, and looking into storage for my stuff.

This is not definite of course - I am VERY good at changing my mind! But I'll keep you posted.

Old News - Newsletter July 2002

I am madly busy at work, and I have had my cousin J and her husband D staying for the last month, so things are a bit busy at home too.

J and D are immigrating for a few years, and have shipped over everything including the kitchen sink and the cat (!). They are having a little trouble organising their lease references as D is employed from SA, which involves a lot more paperwork, but hope to move into their own place this weekend. It has been pretty cool having them staying though, as they have taken over cooking and washing-up duties, and they provide a nice buffer between Mountain Man and myself! Seriously, they’ve been a pleasure to live with!

Mountain Man has found work at last! He is back at the first company he ever worked for in the UK – having stayed in touch with people there and so getting the role through his contacts. The job market is so bad here that he would not have landed anything via normal channels. He was out of work for 4 months in the end, and is very chuffed to be back at work! (If you are thinking of coming over to do IT, be prepared to do barwork for a long time before you get a break!)

Mountain Man and I are getting along ok, but I cannot wait to get out of our flat-share. It is like living with a wayward and annoying little brother, as I still care about him but now have no control over his actions! And I’d prefer not to know what he gets up to! He has booked a place in P’s digs from September, so has somewhere fun to go to. He spends most weekends either with P or B (both complete animals), and I am happy for him that he has found somewhere with friends.

Mountain Man is being sent to Angola (!) for a month from mid-August, getting back the very day we have to move out of our flat! So he’ll probably move his stuff out before he goes, otherwise I can’t see it working! I am looking forward to him being gone for a while ;-) hee hee.

My job has gone from months of standstill to flat-out ballistic. The deadlines are stupid as ever, and I am certainly not noticing the days go by! They still won’t pay overtime though, so I am not killing myself! With the market the way it is I will be staying on here for a while longer, even though they don’t offer any perks to really make being permanent worthwhile. I suppose a steady salary is seen as a perk these days! Ho hum.

I have decided to move to Reading in September when we get out of our lease in Putney. Reading is close to work (20 min), yet only half an hour out of Central London, so I can still pop in for dinner and shows (don’t stop inviting me)! It is quite a big town, and has a university, so there is a good vibe. It is also an old town, so has some character. I need to live somewhere lively, otherwise I might as well get a cat and turn into an old woman right now – so little villages are out! I am looking for a little place on my own, and perhaps I will buy a little flat late next year when I have the deposit and know the area. It is about time I hoisted myself onto the property ladder! Once I am settled in Reading I will be looking into evening classes in painting and cookery etc as the weekend thing really isn’t working out! And there are loads of walking clubs around that area – I am so looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to living alone for a while too, and being totally selfish! My music, my TV, my mess, my diet and my hair in the bath – ah sweet singledom.

My gyming is going well, but I am doing something wrong as my fitness level has risen but my weight has not changed :-(. Drat. I have noticed clothes getting slightly looser, but perhaps I need to change my diet too to see a result. A little difficult with a full house! It is definitely the plan for when I move out though – a week or two of chicken salad and Tuna steak. Mmmm! I have bought myself a heart monitor and I am trying to exercise to a plan now, so maybe it just takes time. *Sigh*

My little old car is really not handling 60 miles a day. Its gearbox was a bit dodgy to begin with, but has been deteriorating badly lately! I have now lost fifth gear completely, and am nursing it along with the remaining four. I never could drive above 60mph (90kph) so there is not much difference really! But it is really irritating, and as I was quoted at least £600 to get it fixed (the car only cost £350) I am getting rid of it while I still can. I have found a pristine little red Citroen, 1997, 44000 miles, £2700, and pick it up on Wednesday! They are taking the old one as a trade-in for £200 (luckily they didn’t test-drive it) and I can’t wait! I might even be able to travel at the speed limit for a change!

That’s about it. No travel plans until November when I go to SA for a few weeks to see long-lost friends and family and their babies! I will be contacting you all there closer to the time to persuade you to take a day off to come to the beach, go wine-routing, or simply braai next to the pool with me! I am really looking forward to it!

Old News - Newsletter May 2002

I’ve been very quiet lately, but then I haven’t been up to much. I am still in my selfish pampering post-break-up hibernation state, which is how I deal with this kind of stuff. It seems to be working for me anyway, as each week is better then the last, and I’ve actually been kind of happy lately! I also got tired of people telling me to ‘get over it already’, so I just avoided everyone for a bit! I guess I take a little longer than most to bounce back.

Other than that things are going ok. Mountain Man and I are making friends again, which is nice. Having been great mates with someone for over 10 years it was very sad to stop talking. We went for a lovely long walk along the Thames from Putney to Barnes yesterday (absolutely stunning), and had a good heart-to-heart about stuff. We are both still very relieved to be out of our relationship, and it looks like we will be able to save the friendship too.

As you may know, Mountain Man has had a job offer, which has cheered both of us up. They are still working out the visa red tape, but he hopes to get the go ahead this week. It will be a huge weight off my shoulders too, as I was panicking about getting stuck with the whole rent!

My job is less than brilliant still. I am waiting for my new projects to come up to speed, as they are still in the planning phase, which I am not involved in. This new company does things by the book, which means you need half a forest of documentation before touching a keyboard. The same goes for maintenance of old projects. So I have practically nothing to do, and that which I do have I am eking out as long as possible! Ah well, at least I have a job. ;-)

I haven't quite got myself back into society, but I have great plans! Painting workshops, cookery weekends, rambling clubs... all quite exciting. I want to meet a whole new sphere of people, whose idea of a great time involves more than drinking themselves silly and then going raving. Grown-ups, I think they are called!

I've joined a gym in Bracknell, and so I am starting to shed the kilos I piled on after our break-up. Far too much comfort eating (and drinking!) has been going on, and my clothes are way too tight! It is nice to be getting back into an exercise routine.

So, my Bridget Jones ratio is in balance: out of lovelife, job and weight, only 2 (sometimes fewer) of the 3 can ever be under control at any one time!

My little rustbucket is in for repairs to the radiator, and I have realised just how much I have come to rely on it already! Getting to the gym, doing a decent grocery shop, and popping out to visit people has become so difficult! Just getting to work takes half an hour longer, stuck in a carriage with germ-factories sniffing and coughing. Eeeeuuuuw. On the up side, all the walking again has to help my weight-loss!

That’s about it. I am off to see star wars tonight, which I have been looking forward to! So, may the force be with you!

Old News - Newsletter April 2002

I am loving being car-mobile again after 3 years! It's old, red, rusty, rattley, can get to 70mph (120kph) if I REALLY have to overtake a lorry, otherwise rumbles along quite happily at 60mph.

But it cost practically nothing, and even after adding on insurance and breakdown cover comes to less than £1000. So, very cheap! Starts every time, and handles London traffic without overheating - what more can I ask for! I'm getting 9 miles to the litre... not sure if that's good or not.

My new office is going OK. We are doing lots of documentation, which is why I am writing a letter instead! I really need the car though, as we are miles from anything, in a business park type area. I'll be joining a nearby gym next month, which I am looking forward to! All this driving instead of walking is starting to show!

Mountain Man and I went to Holland on Saturday for a daytrip to see the tulips. It was something we'd booked ages ago, so decided to go through with in spite of being broken up. Personally I found it a bit of a strain!

We got up at 3am and drove to Gatwick, landed in Amsterdam at 8:00, and spent until 10am trying to get info about where to go. Then we caught a train to the tulip fields and looked into hiring bicycles. Mountain Man had a brainwave that we would train it into the heart of tulipland and then get bikes, meaning we wouldn't need to cycle as much. So we did, only to find ourselves in the thick of an annual flower float parade! It was fantastic, and we were so lucky to see it!

After that we discovered that they don't hire bikes there, and so set off on foot to tour the tulip fields. This proved to be exhausting, and I got really ratty after a couple of hours! We finally found a spectacular field to picnic beside, and a friendly householder to let me use his loo, and then I felt much better! Then hiked back to town and did a scenic train ride, then headed back to the airport and landed at 9pm. Drove home and collapsed - what a day!

Mountain Man went to friends for a braai on Sunday, and I begged off as I really needed time away from him for a bit! We don't fight, but I find being with him a lot stressful. He keeps talking about heading to SA for 6 weeks to save pounds while unemployed if he doesn't find a job soon, and I wish he would push off for a bit to let me start getting over him!

Having said that, I talked him into coming to a pub quiz near T's on Monday night as I wanted him to navigate! We drove right through the West End, around Picadilly, up Shaftsbury and past Chinatown... quite exciting. I would not have managed without him, and the way back was even worse! I shall need a lot more town driving to get the hang of the streets!

Mountain Man and I are still getting on OK anyway. He is enjoying being able to smoke, drink to excess, go clubbing, and stay out all night with mates without being whinged at. He is planning boys trips to Amsterdam and Ibiza... gah. Glad he's not my boyfriend! I am slowly starting to put feelers out into new groups of people, although at the moment all I want to do is stay in quietly and let the baggage fade away. A little hard to do with the Baggage itself sitting in front of the TV! It's going to be a very long 6 months.

Old News - Newsletter April 2002

Well, it has now been over a week of 'being single'! I was very sad, now I'm kind of numb. Still not angry which is great! It was definitely the right decision.

Mountain Man is having a ball being a bloke - doing mad hikes (60km in one day last weekend!), golfing, clubbing, and all the things I don't like. And turning his room into a disaster zone - I have to stop myself going in to tidy!

I've been a bit busy to do much, but I have been spending time with my Mom, who is loving it! I promise to catch up with everyone soon, once my office move is over - that is dominating things at the moment. I have begun researching cookery weekends, painting weekends and rambling weekends - which I have always fancied doing!

We're not actually masochists - Mountain Man and I are not really expecting living together to work once we start dating - we just don't have many options right now! We can't give notice for 6 months, Mountain Man has nowhere to go, and I can't afford the place on my own. So we are staying together by default really... seems to be working. No fights, just a strange feeling when we wish each other goodnight and go to our separate rooms.

So anyway, let me tell you of the last couple of weeks. As you know we moved to Putney 3 weeks ago - sorry there has been no housewarming, but things have been a bit wierd! The move went well, and we are loving our new flat - it is about 15 mins from Putney rail, and a little further from East Putney tube (although 4 busses come very close). It's really big and airy, and has a garage too. And 2 bedrooms - thank goodness!

For Easter we went to Barcelona. We got there late Thursday night, slept and got up the next morning to find it pouring with rain! We scuttled in and out of museums, had a walk along the seafront in horizontal rain (glad I have short hair), found a place for a lovely seafood lunch, and got back to our hotel around 4. Then a siesta, and out for dinner at 8 - we drank many litres of beer and wine with dinner, and made friends with a couple of ladies from Newcastle who were a hoot.

Then we found a tiny funky bar for a nightcap. Around this point Mountain Man bumped the table and knocked a beer across me, so I tipped one over him (thinking it was funny). We had a little spat about it, went back to the hotel, sorted things out, and broke up. No, I don't remember why, and neither does he. But it has been coming a long time, and was perfectly mutual. We'd each been waiting for the right time to bring it up, and apparently the first day of a 4 day holiday in Barcelona was it!

We chatted until 4 in the morning, then passed out. The next morning (Saturday) we agreed that we still felt the same in the cold light of day, and dragged our hangovers out into the city. We followed a walking tour for most of the morning, had a lie down, and then walked down to the harbour. We took an awesome cable car ride from a huge tower in the harbour to a hill and back - superb views! Then back to the hotel for a bath and change.

I started feeling really ill, but figured I was just still hungover, and at 9 we went restaurant hunting. We got into a very super one at 9:45, and ordered. I was feeling horrid, but nibbled a little bread hoping my stomach would settle. When my main course came I took one sniff and bolted for the door! Poor Mountain Man finished his meal in solitary splendour, paid and left with staff sniggering at him, and got back to the hotel to find me still crouched over the Big White Telephone.

This continued violently from both ends (yes, too much detail I know) until about 3am, when I merely felt dreadful. Mountain Man woke at 8 feeling grim, and began Driving the Great White Bus by midday. We reckon I caught a tummy bug, and gave it to him. So a joint miserable 36 hours proceeded... we didn't leave the hotel at all on Sunday!

On Monday morning we shot out to do some frantic sightseeing - and crammed in as much Gaudi as possible, before turning weak as day-old lambs at midday and grabbing a taxi to the airport. And so home, where we moved Mountain Man's things into the spare room, and began this strange living arrangement.

Last weekend Mountain Man went off with C to do an organised 37 mile hike, involving navigation and so on. There was a 13 hour cutoff, and they made it in 12! Then drove back to London! Madness...

I went to my Mom's on Friday night, and stayed until Sunday night. We had a lovely time - A is away so we hardly drew breath for chatting for 2 days! I got back Sunday night, and Mountain Man's feet were still very swollen from his hike, and he could hardly walk!

My office moves over this coming weekend, and things are a bit fraught. Every project except my baby have been migrated over just fine - mine fails. It has taken the IT team 6 days to get things working, and we still don't understand the problem. Luckily they let me go at 8:30pm Friday night, as everyone else hung on all weekend trying different configurations. I really hate computers sometimes.

I will be at work on Saturday making sure things go alright. *sigh*

My Mom is picking me up from work on Saturday, and I'll stay there until Monday, when I am going to Drive to work. Yes - I have a CAR! Mom found it at a farm auction for £350! The insurance for it costs £465! I haven't driven in two years, and so I am a bit nervous... and getting home is going to be very interesting! Think of me on Monday evening!