Journal Entries
Well, here we go again.
Posted Nov 27, 2005
I'm on the move again, so it looks like I'll be offline for at least a couple of weeks.
Frankly, I wouldn't even be considering this move if it wasn't for a particularly badly thought-out company reorganisation during the summer. I'm heading back to my old territory in South Devon, so at least I know I'll feel at home, and I'll be working with people I know, respect and like. I'll really miss Sidmouth, though - I hope that A6092480 will act as my tribute to somewhere that's become very special to me, although I had little idea when I wrote it that it would also be my farewell. I've spent much of the last couple of days revisiting favourite walks, looking on favourite views, even having a last cuppa in my favourite caff! Of course, I can always visit again in the future, but it's somehow not the same once you don't belong to a place any more.
Anyway, see you all soon, once my new pad is sorted out.
The road goes ever on and on...
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Latest reply: Nov 27, 2005
Bunny story
Posted Oct 9, 2005
My favourite news story of the week: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/dorset/4318710.stm
They're strange people over there.
Not only an amusing story in itself, but it gave me the chance to see some young meejya graduate on our local TV news totally misjudge the strength of some people's feeling towards his 'light-hearted' story.
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Latest reply: Oct 9, 2005
Got the builders in
Posted Mar 6, 2005
Yet again, I've been offline a fair bit the past few weeks. This is mainly because we're in the middle of a major refit at work. Normally this tends to mean shutting up shop for about three days whilst some cowboys slot in a few new fixtures and slap about a few gallons of cream or grey paint. This time, though, we're being put at the cutting edge of the forefront of the state of the art of the industry, so it's more of a matter of gutting, extending, partially rebuilding and refitting the building. All the staff, meanwhile, undertake lots of training, retraining and teambuilding, as well as going out to be used as slave labour in neighbouring branches. If, like me, they're lucky, they get to use up a bit of holiday entitlement too.
Now, as you may know, I actually live (quite literally) above the shop. This has meant that I have had to put up with all kinds of contractors hammering, drilling, sawing, concreting, demolishing, bricklaying and generally being noisy at all hours of the day and - increasingly as they get further behind schedule - the night. In fact, almost all their energy seems to be expended in making noise, and very little on making any visible progress. As a result, I've spent as much time as possible away from home.
Ed, the project manager, is looking increasingly glum each time I see him wandering about the site. I'd feel sorry for him, but I can't help wondering if he has brought some of his problems on himself; little misfortunes such as discovering a structure that needed to be demolished was built of reinforced concrete and not rendered blockwork, not noticing that the floor levels varied in different parts of the building, and having the new fridges and freezers delivered before the new floor had been laid.
There have been a couple of other, less predictable, misfortunes along the way. Earlier this week, a pipe carrying concrete for laying the new floor suddenly burst and liberally coated half of Sidmouth high street in ready mix, and last night somebody managed to set the building alight with a bit of over-enthusiastic welding, I gather(luckily for me it was pretty minor and all sorted out before the Fire Brigade arrived).
All being well, the building should be handed back to us on Poets, when the hard work will begin for us getting ready to re-open on the sixteenth. Despite the pressure that will bring, I can't wait. Until then, I'll just have to keep using the earplugs and hope the whole place doesn't collapse.
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Latest reply: Mar 6, 2005
Compliments of the Season
Posted Dec 24, 2004
Resisting my usual urge to say 'bah, humbug' in a snarly and thoroughly unseasonal manner, I'd just like to wish all you wonderful people a very
Merry Christmas
Here's hoping you all have a peaceful / jolly / riotous time (delete according to personal preference). 
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Latest reply: Dec 24, 2004
Boscastle
Posted Aug 17, 2004
The TV in my current temporary accomodation takes a few seconds to warm up, and always starts off in black-and-white. When I turned it on yesterday evening I thought the aerial pictures it was showing were archive footage of the Lynmouth disaster, exactly 52 years ago. I was horrified when the commentary revealed that these were minutes-old images of one of my favourite places in the world.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3571844.stm
At different times I have stayed in the buildings both on the left and the right of the picture currently at the top of the above article. I've always thought of Boscastle as one of the loveliest places on earth.
As I write, the good news is that - miraculously - there have been no deaths reported, though there are still people not accounted for, and police divers are searching cars under the waters of the harbour.
Please spare a thought or a prayer for the locals and visitors involved.
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Latest reply: Aug 17, 2004
parrferris
Researcher U168284
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