Old News - Newsletter July 2003

Work is starting to come back to normal now, and we’re cutting back on the weekend work, so I am more inclined to boot up my PC when I get home and catch up on correspondence. So I’ll be writing back to those sweet souls who have been mailing into the void – and chasing up those who’ve as been as bad as me!

I have also balanced my budget on aforementioned PC for the first time in a month, and remembered why I normally do it more often. Last month got completely out of hand! I will be starting August in the red, and will have to curtail my London visits for a bit – wah! I have the next couple of weekends organised to go away too, which doesn’t help the budget either. Sigh – it’s going to be a long month. If anyone fancies visiting me for a cheap dinner or barbeque, c’mon over! I’ll even throw in a nice country walk for free. Or bring your cozzie and sunbathe in my pretty garden – sound good? You know you want to!

Next weekend I am heading to France with J and T to pick up booze and go to a cheese festival. They have friends near Liseux, with whom we will be staying. I’m really looking forward to it. The weekend after that I am going away with my walking club to the Wye Valley. We’ll be walking on the Saturday, followed by a medieval dinner in an old castle converted to a YHA!

As I mentioned, work is calming down. We missed the deadline, so I don’t know the bonus story. Seeing as I not yet ever received a bonus in my working life (unless you count redundancy payments), this does really affect me much as I wasn’t exactly banking on it. It would probably have only gone into the House fund anyway. Yes, that’s right, I’m thinking of launching into real debt for the first time later this year. I finally feel secure enough in my job, and settled enough in the UK, to think of buying property. Very scarey! Of course I can only afford a tiny place, but at least it will be mine.

What else? I’ve got the diet back on track (with the spectacular exception of this last weekend!), started exercising again, done a little sketching and finished Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I hope to get back into book reading, as I’ve become a little too hooked on TV. My Mom has been gone for just over a week, and I’ve almost remembered how to cook and clean again!

Still nothing on the boyfriend front, but I’m starting to get restless. I think the hermit phase might be drawing to a close, although I’m determined to be ultra-picky with the next one. So don’t hold your breath, as I haven’t seen anything worth perving lately, never mind to take home!

Old News - Newsletter July 2003

The past few weeks have been kinda hectic in a very uninteresting way. We are approaching our live deadline for the project at work, and everyone is working long hours and weekends. I have worked through the last two weekends, which makes it 19 days working without a break now. And some of the guys have missed more weekends than that! I don’t know how they do it. I am very glad I had such a relaxing holiday recently, as I am knackered in spite of it! There was a large bonus riding on us meeting a deadline last Monday, and as far as I can tell we missed it. So now they’ve moved the money incentive to the live date in 3 weeks time. This means we are expected to continue to work unpaid overtime until then… sigh. The worst part is that I really don’t have that much to do – my sections are finished or still untested, so I don’t even have bugfixing to do. I am picking up bugs to fix for other people, which is pretty deadly. In spite of this I am still expected to work late, and there are mutterings if I leave on time. Not a happy bunch at the mo – it’s going to be a long 3 weeks!

We’ve been given this weekend off (big whoop), and I am catching up with as many people as possible. I haven’t seen any of my mates since before Turkey! I’ve decided it doesn’t matter if I’m tired at work at the moment, and I’ll be trying to see people after work during the week as weekends are a bit of a mess. Who’s free?

Mom and B are still with me. They went to Spain for a week recently to give me some space – unfortunately in the week I was working very late – but I still had a breather! As the housekeeper market is proving a bit tough, and will be closing down completely over the summer, they are considering going to SA for a few months to eke out their money while being out of my hair. I don’t have a mother; I have a yoyo.

Well, no other news as I have done nothing but work since my last email. Booooring! My diet is shelved, my exercise doesn’t happen, I haven’t touched a sketchpad in months, and I can’t make the weekend hikes. Make that boring and fat! Whenever we work late we get free takeaways – I have eaten more junk food in the last 3 weeks than I did in the last 3 years!

Old News - Newsletter June 2003

I have just come back after a week in Turkey, sailing along the South West coast. Just me and 6 other single strangers, lolling in the sun, swimming in the sea and generally chilling out. It was lovely, and I strongly recommend it for a break in the sun. I did get a little restless after a couple of days though, and I probably would have preferred just a couple of days on the boat, and some more time spent sightseeing inland… but that’s just me! There are very few beaches, as the coast is extremely mountainous and plunges straight down into the sea, so I was limited to the boat most of the time.

I was very lucky with my boatload. The average age was 50, and there was no one I really clicked with, but they were very nice people. 3 other women and 3 men - all very independent, but not too pushy. No romances on board, although the other women seemed to be setting a pulling record with the locals and tourists. Not my scene, but fun to watch! The Brits deserve their reputation!

My day generally consisted of breakfast (fresh bread and honey, olives, cheese and salad), then an hour or two of sunbathing, a swim in the sea, then reading my book in the shade of an awning and a snooze before lunch (yummy traditional fare with lots of rice, bread, couscous and salad). More swimming and snorkelling and snoozing in the shade before having a shower before dinner (freshly caught fish, or barbequed kebabs, and more rice and salad). Several beers and a few games of backgammon, then stretching out in a sleeping bag on deck for some philosophical chat and falling asleep under the most amazing sky. Very sweet.

We were also in harbour for three nights, and then we’d go bar-hopping after dinner. I wasn’t wearing a watch and was startled to realise one night that I’d been dancing until 4am! I sure haven’t done that in a while! The next day I was not very well, but seeing that things were not demanding it was ok ;-). I found the Turkish to be very friendly and polite, and I felt perfectly safe wandering around town alone at the crack of dawn. I would not choose to stay in a resort town, but it’s very lively if you’re in the mood!

On two days I had the opportunity to head inland for a bit of sightseeing. I went to see a stunning deep gorge with meltwater gushing below a precarious walkway suspended from the cliff wall. On another day I went to see some famous mudbaths, where you immerse yourself in glutinous mud, let it dry, shower and then soak in a revolting sulphur bath. I’m pretty sure it is a conspiracy to see what tourists will do if you tell them it’s traditional!

That is the first holiday I have ever taken on my own. I quite enjoyed it, although it was a little lonely at times. It would have been nice to have someone to gossip about the others with! On the other hand I was completely free to do what I wanted to do, in my own time. Pretty cool. Now I’m itching to see Istanbul!

At home things are a little unsettled. My Mom has quit her job in the Dales and moved in with me, bringing her boyfriend B. It’s a longish story, but effectively he’d sold his house and was going to move in with her in the housekeepers flat, when the owners suddenly decided the staff have to be single! Seeing as the butler has had his girlfriend and their children living with him for the last six months this was a bit rich! Mom and B are now looking for work as a couple, and hopefully will be back on their feet soon. There is a rumour of a post in the Lake District, which would be nice! Luckily B and I get on OK, but it is still a little trying to have others in my little home. Although the cooking, washing, ironing, mowing etc is all getting done!

My routine has been suspended for the time being. I’m in Buffy withdrawal! Mom and B are going to be away for a week soon, and I plan to watch as many episodes as possible while they’re gone! And maybe do some more sketching – I actually sat down and did a bit a couple of weeks ago. One was stunning, and the next not great, but I am gaining confidence.

I went along to a club walk a few weeks ago, bit it was a bit of a disaster! I’d given blood the day before, and it was just like trying to hike at high altitude. Except that at high altitude everyone else is also struggling! After the first hill I was seeing spots with my lungs were on fire, so I gave up and turned back. I actually had a fair walk, as we had taken a lift to the start, and the cars were about 4 miles away. At least it was flat. I also met a lost chap who’d been at an open-air all-night rave nearby and had missed his lift home. He was walking to the nearest train station 10 miles away, so I gave him a lift once we reached my car. It was nice to have someone to walk with anyway!

Old News - Newsletter April 2003

I've had a rather nice month or so since I last wrote. Every weekend except the last one was spent visiting someone! This past weekend I was looking forward to a quiet weekend at home catching up on chores and sleep, and then got completely flattened by a cold... I managed the sleep part anyway! I really did want to go for a walk with my walking club too, as I have only been once and that was 6 weeks ago now. Ah well, maybe next time.

Lets see... about 4 weeks ago I drove through to N and N's in East Croydon on the Friday, and had a lovely evening of far too much food and wine. After a lazy start on Saturday we beetled off for a gentle walk along bridal paths and then a pub lunch, and then went back home for more wine and DVD's. On the Sunday I wended my way home to catch up on some gardening and so on.

The next Saturday I travelled to Hertford to stay with R and S. They took me for a super long walk in the surrounding countryside, and then a drink at their local. And then we had an evening of wine and DVD's. I'm seeing a theme here... And on the Sunday I shot home to catch up on more gardening and some sleep!

The following Friday I went into London and stayed with J and T. We went out for Vietnamese, which could be my latest food passion, and were joined by R and N. The end of the evening is very fuzzy... The following morning we had a slow start, and then T and I went into Bayswater and had a superb shopping spree. I hadn't actually meant to buy anything, but retail therapy is contagious! We had a great day, including Dim Sum for lunch and popping into most shops in Bayswater and Whiteleys. A lovely girly day - I haven't had one of those in a very long time! I caught the train home in the afternoon to - you guessed it - have some sleep and do housey stuff.

Then there was Easter, and I travelled to my Mom's in North Yorkshire. It is either 5 hours driving or 5 hours on the train, and as I hate long-distance driving I took the train. That was pretty much ok, except I had to go via London which is a bit of a pain. Anyway, I had a great 5 days with my Mom, involving lots of food and wine, a little walking, some sightseeing and non-stop chatter. A really nice break. Next time I might drive though, as I'd rather go direct from door to door than lift-train-tube-train-lift at each end!

As you might have noticed I am having fun with my garden. All the bulbs I planted last year came up - I currently have tulips and bluebells up! I've been growing things from seed and seedlings on my windowsills for the past few months, and gradually planting them out into pots, troughs and beds. I planted out linaria (sp?), geraniums and impatiens the week before last, and have now just planted out sweetpeas to grow on the fence. Luckily my garden is actually quite tiny by SA standards (about 4m by 10m I guess) so it's not too much of a bother. And not too bad to mow the lawn either! I'm having loads of fun, as this is really my first garden ever. I think when I buy a place it is going to have to have a garden or huge patio to play with ;-).

Hmm, what else. The weeks are pretty quiet, and I have settled into a routine in the evenings which is quite full. I'm addicted to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", which I am borrowing from a work mate, so I get home, change into gym togs and do a 40min workout on my cross-trainer in front of the TV watching an episode. Then shower, prepare dinner, and while it is cooking I do some jigsaw or email with a G&T. Then eat, while watching another episode. Then it is usually after 9pm, so I retire to bed with my book and read until about 10. I have never been so unstressed, rested and healthy! It probably sounds pretty dull to most of you (especially the ones with social lives), but at the moment it suits me! I'm hoping to get into a bit of sketching in place of the jigsaw now that the evenings are so light, but to be honest I'm scared! I just know that the first few attempts will be depressingly bad, so I'm avoiding it!

I met up with my neighbour the other day for a pub meal. She's a 50 something single-mum teacher, so we don't have very much in common! It was a pleasant evening though, and we have tentative plans to grab a movie sometime. I'm a little short of girlfriends in this neck of the woods, so it would be nice to make a new friend. Another reason to go for another walk with my club too!

Work is going really well. Now that I am happy in my job I realise that I have been unhappy for years! I can't actually get used to looking forward to going to work! It is amazing ;-). They seem to like me too, and I have hit my first deadline so far (and got a little bonus for it - woohoo!). I think this could be the start of a beautiful relationship!

That's about it. The weather is warmish, wettish and sunnyish - perfect April and good for the garden.

Old News - Newsletter March 2003

Well, I am about a week into my new job. It’s not very exciting so far, as I am just reading documentation and manuals – really stupefying stuff.

I’m working with a slightly odd bunch of people, although they’re quite fun. Have you ever wondered what happened to the pale soft-bodied nerds in class who spent all their spare time playing computer games and watching Buffy? Well, they’ve grown up into balding pale soft-bodied blokes, who spend all their free time playing computer games online and watching Buffy DVDs, and work with me during the day. (And my line manager has worn a purple shirt every day since I started – I’m not sure what that means, but no-one else has mentioned it so I don’t know if I should!) The first hour of each day seems to be devoted to rehashing gaming strategy and last night’s kills, and the rest of the day involves a lot of non-pc banter. I’m not sure when work gets done, but anyway. At least everyone seems happy, which is a huge change from the last place I worked! My work is in one of those soulless business parks, but the pretty little village of Theale is very close by, and the Kennet and Avon Canal is 10 min away. I had a lovely walk along it yesterday at lunchtime.

Hmm what else? I have just worked out my budget taking into account my drop in income, and realised with horror that I’ll be netting £300 less per month, and now my rent is more than a third of that amount. So my recreation is going to involve low-cost pursuits if possible from now on. I have just joined the local Rambling association and intend to go along on one of their Sunday walks very soon. Hopefully this will help me meet some locals (who actually step away from the computer sometimes). The days are getting longer, and the clocks change at the end of the month and then I will have enough daylight after work to do some walking or cycling or gardening or sketching (I struggle to draw by artificial light). I was thinking of signing up for lessons in something, but now I am broke!

There is a direct train from where I work in Theale to Paddington and it takes an hour, so if any Londoners are planning stuff during the week give me a shout. I may not be able to afford to come every time, but I will try! And if anyone fancies a breath of country air you have a standing invite – bring your walking shoes!

Old News - Newsletter February 2003

I start work on the 3rd March. That suits me, and gives me a whole month 'off' before hitting the treadmill again! Very very nice, especially as my Mom is staying with me at the moment. She's just landed a job in the Yorkshire Dales, and starts in a couple of weeks, so we're having fun spending money we *will* have!

Florence was an interesting trip. The town is lovely, and the artwork stunning, but unfortunately 5 days living solidly with Northerner brought an abrupt end to a fading relationship. He's a lovely guy, but not for me perhaps... A great pity, but I hope he finds someone more suited.

That's about it really. I'm free now at weekends if anyone is doing anything interesting! And my new job location is more convenient for travelling into London easily I think, so please start inviting me for pub-quizzes and dinners again - I am back in society again!

Old News - Newsletter February 2003

After nearly two months of searching I have finally landed a job!

It's just West of Reading, and takes about half an hour to get to from where I live, so I don't have to move, which is brilliant. I'll get to see my bulbs come up in the garden!

It's a Delphi developer position, in a tight-knit and friendly company, who seem to work flat-out in a structured way - just what I was looking for. They're using the latest versions of everything, and have already told me I'll be starting off with loads of training to come up to speed. If you know anything about IT you'll know this is rather unusual!

The money is a bit less than I was getting at my last job, but still well within market rates. I start in two weeks, and I'm quite excited! I'll be their fifth South African too, so we're slowly taking over the civilised world.

I haven't been up to much else, as I was battening down the hatches in anticipation of a long homeless job search. My Dad has gone home to SA and now my Mom is staying with me while she looks for housekeeper work. We've always enjoyed living together, so it's rather cool to be unemployed together! We've done plenty of walking around the area, which is quite rural and lovely if you haven't been to see me yet.

It was T and J's wedding two weeks ago, at which I had the honour of being bridesmaid with H and L. It was absolutely glorious and went like clockwork, and the reception was a jol. Definitely the wedding to measure others by ;-). T and J get back from Honeymoon in Thailand and Singapore tomorrow, and I'm sure their photos will make me green with envy!

I've had a most annoying cold for two weeks now (caught at the wedding I think!), which was completely debilitating for the first week and has had me coughing like a seal for the second. It is finally on the way out though, and I hope to get back into the gym on Monday. My interview suits were decidedly tight!

I'm being taken to Florence for Valentine's weekend by Northerner, and I'm really looking forward to it! Eat your hearts out girls! I'll post my own envy-making photo's when I get back :-p.

Hmm what else? I'm about to make up for the last two month's frugality with a terrific shopping spree... whee!

Old News - Newsletter January 2003

Happy New Year!

I had a lovely festive season. For Christmas Eve and Day Northerner and I went to my cousin’s in Reading, and it was extremely pleasant. On Boxing Day we drove north to spend a few days with his family, which was remarkably painless. For New Years Eve we met up with a bunch of friends in a Turkish restaurant in London, and had a very good time. Possibly the best New Years Eve I’ve had for years! The hangover the next day was a corker too…

There is not too much going on with me, otherwise. My Dad is visiting at the moment, which is very nice. I haven't had him to myself for such a long stretch in years, and he's keeping himself busy sorting out my car and furniture! I have cut right back on unnecessary spending in the expectation of being unemployed, so I’m not doing anything exciting! Long walks in the country followed by a beer while defrosting in front of a pub fire seems to be the extent of our extravagance at this time! My home is right on the edge of a 15-mile ramblers route, and I’ve worked out a 2-hour circular bit of it that ends up at my local pub… superb!

We had a bit of snow last week, which hung about for several days before finally melting. Very pretty – just like all the movies you see of American winters. It does make driving rather hair-raising though, and I was happy to see it melt off the roads! It was also really cold, with highs of freezing! It has warmed up again now though, and the high today is 8 degrees. Nice and mild…

I have no new job yet, but I am still at the fussy stage. If I get desperate there is work out there, but for now I'm holding on waiting for the dream job! I am going for a second interview this week for a job I really want, so hold thumbs! There is not much else out there right now, but I’m hoping jobs will start appearing as the year gets properly underway.

My present job is winding down, with us simply handing over all our work to the poor sod that’ll be maintaining it. Most of us are working half days, as there isn’t much to do.

Old News - Newsletter December 2002

I can't believe xmas is nearly apon us! Remember how long it used to take when you were little? Now December flashes past!

Apart from being told that I won't have a job next year, this has been a rather nice month ;-). Lots of people have made the trip out to see me and my new home, bulbs are coming up in my garden, and the birds have found the feeders hanging outside the lounge window! I have a robin, a couple of blackbirds and a tit or two so far. A kestrel too, but I think he was after the birdies rather than the seeds! The birds don't like it when I am in the lounge, but I hope they'll get used to me.

It certainly has been a good month for dinner parties, and my liver is taking a beating - ah well, that's what the festive season is for!

My plans for Christmas involve going to my cousin J's in Reading. Northerner and I are visiting them on xmas eve for snacks, then returning again for xmas lunch. It'll be a very family Christmas this year, as my Aunt and cousin are also visiting J and D at the moment. On Boxing Day I travel North with Northerner to see his family, returning via a remote pub on the moors and a stop at his brother's on the North East coast. I hope to pop in at J and K's on the way home on Sunday.

For New Years I am going for dinner in London with friends. Northerner is on call that night, so has to stay soberish! Shame.

My Dad is arriving in Newcastle today, having spent a month sailing a diamond mining vessel up from Cape Town (for ship building work). He's going to be coming to visit me in a week or two, which is great! Northerner's a little jumpy about it though... heh heh heh. And towards the end of Jan my Mom arrives back after a 3 month summer holiday in SA. I'm hoping they don't overlap - can you imagine!

Jobwise it is a rather slow time to be looking for work! Recruitment agencies are closed this week, so I am not even getting nuisance calls. I did go for two interviews last week, so there is a bit of work out there. It seems my skillset is reasonably marketable at the moment, and my willingness to be flexible about where I work is opening up the market a lot. Both interviews were ok. The one, which I WANT, I don't think I got. The other I think I did get, but I DON'T want it! They are both going to get back to me next year anyway.

Have a wonderful Christmas, and an excellent New Year!

Old News - Newsletter December 2002

My company informed my department yesterday that we are going to be made redundant on the 31st of Jan 2003. Since they acquired us at the beginning of the year we have failed to make a profit, and so they are disbanding as much as possible. It's not really a surprise, but it is a shock! I was expecting to get no bonus or increase, but to lose my job is a bit much!

I'm still a bit stunned and it almost doesn't seem real...

The job market is terrible, and the Dec/Jan period is the worst time of the year to be looking for work (if anyone knows of a job going, please let me know), so I don't expect to find anything soon. So I am cutting back expenditure as far as possible, as I'm sure you can imagine, so you won't be seeing much of me!

I will be getting some kind of redundancy package, which I hope will keep me in my home until mid-March when my lease ends (there's a couple of nasty clauses which make breaking it undesirable). After that I am going to be looking for floors to crash on, but I'll be picking on people closer to the time!

I'm glad I had the chance to go to SA and spoil everyone, and I'm glad I've already bought all my xmas presents! Luckily I hadn't actually booked any of the planned holidays for next year yet!

This is probably for the best, as I was hating my job and only holding on until the market improved. Now I have no excuse not to get out there and sell myself!