My Week
Wednesday 4 October 2006
Mum phoned to say that she was back from her holiday. She had had a great time and the excitement of it all was evident in her voice. She had enjoyed all of the stops on the cruise and rattled through half a dozen glamorous cities in less than ten minutes. Bizarrely the highlight of the trip had been a half hour conversation that she had with Colleen Nolan. She took an hour to report the encounter finishing with how embarrassed she was to have to wait for Dad to fetch the camera for a parting photograph before Colleen was allowed to continue on her way. I was pleased that she enjoyed it so much, Mum's hospital appointment is just over a week away and though she doesn't say, I know she's very worried.
Dad didn't talk on the phone, but he sent an email containing a picture of the house in which his father had been born. He is gently prompting me to continue with the family tree that we started last year. I think it's quite important to him and I really must get back to it.
Thursday 5 October 2006
It was quite cold when I got out of bed this morning and contemplating turning the central heating back on. I want to leave it off as long as possible, partly because of the ridiculous levels that gas prices have reached and partly because the plants complain with drooping leaves. Still, it spurred me on to shower and dress quickly.
There were delays on the tube this morning and so it was extremely crowded. There was the usual pushing and shoving and general bad manners resulting from everyones' frustration. It's very tiresome. It's at times like these that the recurrent dream of running a tea shop at the seaside resurfaces in all its romantic glory. But I will be taking the tube tomorrow.
Left work early to ensure I missed the worst of the rush hour coming back. It was just as well since it was raining heavily. I was pleased not to have to be sandwiched between wet commuters. Managed to get a seat too, the most celebrated of my mini victories today.
Friday 6 October 2006
It was the end of National Customer Service Week today, not sure if it was just for my company or if it was truly nationwide. Each department invited internal customers to visit them for mini parties. The idea was to promote positive customer relations but most of my colleagues were quite cynical about it all. I do get angry that every effort that employers make to improve the workplace is met with suspicion. Being new to the job, I found it particularly useful as it gave me the opportunity to meet a number of colleagues for the first time. There is a good mix of both strange and interesting people, not sure which category they put me in.
Jules sent an email today. He has settled into his course though he bemoans being one of only three males in his class. He hasn't taken to Coventry yet though, and from my brief visit earlier in the year, I can understand why. It was nice to hear from him but it's not the same as just being able to call him up to persuade him to go to the pub. Not that I ever had to try too hard.
Saturday 7 October 2006
Stayed in and watched television all night. Not the most exciting of Saturday evenings. Still, the X factor and Ant and Dec were reasonably entertaining. Stayed tuned for Parkinson too, and was I glad I did. Sheila Hancock was one of the guests and she was wonderful to watch. Ostensibly she was there to promote the stage show Cabaret which she will be appearing in, but she also discussed a bit about her life, philosophy, grief and how she lives as a widow. She was open and honest and candid in the way that only a 73 year old can be. With such effortless talent as this, it's hard to see why people are content with the vacuous faux celebrities of modern television such as Jordan and Chantelle.
Sunday 8 October 2006
Met Bernard for lunch and traipsed round Wapping looking for an area where he might like to live. I hadn't realised how nice Wapping is. Bernard found a couple of areas that he liked very quickly. Have not seen him for a while so it was good to be able to catch up. He is very busy at work and he needs to be careful he doesn't burn out.
Started the project brief this evening. Going away next week doesn't leave me much time to get the first draft completed. Not terribly motivated though, perhaps that is down to one glass of wine too many at lunch. Still I got the outline set up so that I should be able to complete it on Monday.
Monday 9 October 2006
There is a Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery opening on Thursday. I would like to see that. I can't go for a couple of weeks but it will be something to look forward to.
First big meeting at work tomorrow. I need to make sure I am prepared. Its difficult enough persuading people to adopt your priorities when you know and understand their agendas, but I expect it to be much harder as I don't really know any of them at the moment. This should make me feel nervous or anxious, but I find I am looking forward to the challenge. I hope its not a case of fools rushing in.
Mum phoned to say that she was back from her holiday. She had had a great time and the excitement of it all was evident in her voice. She had enjoyed all of the stops on the cruise and rattled through half a dozen glamorous cities in less than ten minutes. Bizarrely the highlight of the trip had been a half hour conversation that she had with Colleen Nolan. She took an hour to report the encounter finishing with how embarrassed she was to have to wait for Dad to fetch the camera for a parting photograph before Colleen was allowed to continue on her way. I was pleased that she enjoyed it so much, Mum's hospital appointment is just over a week away and though she doesn't say, I know she's very worried.
Dad didn't talk on the phone, but he sent an email containing a picture of the house in which his father had been born. He is gently prompting me to continue with the family tree that we started last year. I think it's quite important to him and I really must get back to it.
Thursday 5 October 2006
It was quite cold when I got out of bed this morning and contemplating turning the central heating back on. I want to leave it off as long as possible, partly because of the ridiculous levels that gas prices have reached and partly because the plants complain with drooping leaves. Still, it spurred me on to shower and dress quickly.
There were delays on the tube this morning and so it was extremely crowded. There was the usual pushing and shoving and general bad manners resulting from everyones' frustration. It's very tiresome. It's at times like these that the recurrent dream of running a tea shop at the seaside resurfaces in all its romantic glory. But I will be taking the tube tomorrow.
Left work early to ensure I missed the worst of the rush hour coming back. It was just as well since it was raining heavily. I was pleased not to have to be sandwiched between wet commuters. Managed to get a seat too, the most celebrated of my mini victories today.
Friday 6 October 2006
It was the end of National Customer Service Week today, not sure if it was just for my company or if it was truly nationwide. Each department invited internal customers to visit them for mini parties. The idea was to promote positive customer relations but most of my colleagues were quite cynical about it all. I do get angry that every effort that employers make to improve the workplace is met with suspicion. Being new to the job, I found it particularly useful as it gave me the opportunity to meet a number of colleagues for the first time. There is a good mix of both strange and interesting people, not sure which category they put me in.
Jules sent an email today. He has settled into his course though he bemoans being one of only three males in his class. He hasn't taken to Coventry yet though, and from my brief visit earlier in the year, I can understand why. It was nice to hear from him but it's not the same as just being able to call him up to persuade him to go to the pub. Not that I ever had to try too hard.
Saturday 7 October 2006
Stayed in and watched television all night. Not the most exciting of Saturday evenings. Still, the X factor and Ant and Dec were reasonably entertaining. Stayed tuned for Parkinson too, and was I glad I did. Sheila Hancock was one of the guests and she was wonderful to watch. Ostensibly she was there to promote the stage show Cabaret which she will be appearing in, but she also discussed a bit about her life, philosophy, grief and how she lives as a widow. She was open and honest and candid in the way that only a 73 year old can be. With such effortless talent as this, it's hard to see why people are content with the vacuous faux celebrities of modern television such as Jordan and Chantelle.
Sunday 8 October 2006
Met Bernard for lunch and traipsed round Wapping looking for an area where he might like to live. I hadn't realised how nice Wapping is. Bernard found a couple of areas that he liked very quickly. Have not seen him for a while so it was good to be able to catch up. He is very busy at work and he needs to be careful he doesn't burn out.
Started the project brief this evening. Going away next week doesn't leave me much time to get the first draft completed. Not terribly motivated though, perhaps that is down to one glass of wine too many at lunch. Still I got the outline set up so that I should be able to complete it on Monday.
Monday 9 October 2006
There is a Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery opening on Thursday. I would like to see that. I can't go for a couple of weeks but it will be something to look forward to.
First big meeting at work tomorrow. I need to make sure I am prepared. Its difficult enough persuading people to adopt your priorities when you know and understand their agendas, but I expect it to be much harder as I don't really know any of them at the moment. This should make me feel nervous or anxious, but I find I am looking forward to the challenge. I hope its not a case of fools rushing in.