6 May 2012 (Sunday) - Flying Foxes, Simon Pegg

The weekly weigh-in. Another pound lost. My weight loss has really slowed down, but I feel that I'm actually getting a lot thinner at the moment. I feel that I'm getting bonier by the day. And thinner too. The pair of trousers I bought on 28 March is now rather baggy. And I've had to add notches to a couple of my belts. A few years ago I gave a belt to "My Boy ^TM" as it was too small. He's given it back. It fits me now. My BMI is now 28.6. It was knocking 35 not so long ago.

I then fiddled about with my ongoing novel. For all that have a plan, the bits that I've done so far have all been written in isolation, and there was quite a lot of contradiction between the various bits. I've (hopefully) got it all to be consistent now, and got something of a time-line together. Things are now happening in some sort of order, and in a timed order too. There's still a way to go with the thing, but it's now over twenty thousand words long. And it's quite depressing in parts. I need to write some lighter bits. I'll do that next.

We then popped out for a bit. Catalogue collecting, and then round to Dobbies garden centre. We have a problem with the fish tank with stringy algae. We'd heard that the solution would be algae-eating fish. Either American Flagfish or Flying Foxes. We didn't like the look of the American Flagfish, and they'd sold out of Flying Foxes. So we went round to the old favourite: Bybrook Barn. Where they had Flying Foxes over a pound cheaper. It pays to shop about. Whilst there we had a look for charcoal biscuits for the grand-dogs's flatulence. Or more specifically to cure the grand-dogs's flatulence. They didn't have any, which was a shame for Sid's local environment.

We came back home. I mucked about with on-line scrabble. As did a lot of people. I suppose that it was some consolation that as everyone else was mucking about on-line I wasn't missing anything. But I did spend most of the afternoon in a sulk. Yesterday was a great day. Today was something of an anticlimax, and I spent a lot of it sulking about having to work tomorrow when I will be missing one of the year's highlights.

We spent some time clearing more stuff from the Sky-Plus box. Several episodes of Time Team, and the last episode of the ITV's Titanic drama series. I must admit I didn't like it much. It was the same story from several different viewpoints, and as such was rather repetitive. Which was a shame. And a film - "How to lose Friends and Alienate People". Simon Pegg was in it. He was in the Mission Impossible film we watched last night, and I've seen him in lots recently. He's certainly the actor of the moment. When I was younger I wanted to be an actor. I could do what he does..... I expect.....

5 May 2012 (Saturday) - Stone cum Ebony

I fell asleep in front of the telly last night and woke at 1am with a stiff neck. I took myself off to bed and was hoping for a good night's kip. The phone rang at silly o'clock: was today's walk going ahead? I glanced out of the window. The rain didn't look that bad, so I said yes. We would carry on. And after a spot of brekkie that's what we did. Into the Bat-mobile and round to the Fudgery to take Fudge for a walk. His entourage had other plans, but we said we could take our grand-dog for an outing. During this last week Fudge has lost his coat. I think he may have eaten it. But his nice coat is but a memory. Instead he was wearing what I could only describe as a dress. An amazing technicolour dreamcoat of a dress. But a dress nonetheless. We loaded Fudge into the car and took his dress off. All the other dogs would laugh at him if he turned up in that.

My mobile bleeped - a text - where were we? We weren't the first to get to the meeting point in Appledore. We weren't the last either. And eventually twelve of us (and four dogs) were together. Our start off was delayed by a few minutes whilst we relocated some of the cars. The plan was to park up near the Black Lion, walk and come back for a pint later. Some grouch from inside the pub came out and had a whinge that we couldn't park in the pub's car park. Their loss.

As we set off walking the rain started. I was a bit miffed about that, but fortunately the rain stopped after a few minutes. The day wasn't really bright, but (in all honesty) it was ideal for a walk. We followed the Military canal for a couple of miles, then took the lanes and footpaths into Stone cum Ebony. Which made my nephew snigger.

We were soon at the Ferry Inn. We first went there three years ago when we watched a Chinese Neil Diamond tribute act in the rain, and we went there last summer whilst on a walk. The place had four ales on the hand pumps, and were happy for us to eat our picnic in their garden. I washed my sarnies down with a half of Oxney ale and a half of Ferry top. Both of which were beers brewed especially for that pub. And suitably fed and watered we pushed on back to the cars. A good walk - about five miles. A walk we shall do again at some point. There are piccies of the day here.

We said our goodbyes, and came home. Fudge's entourage were out so he came home with us. Since he'd got a bit grubby I thought I'd be brave and give him a bath. He was as good as gold - he just stood and didn't struggle or fight whilst I hosed him down. And he then dozed for half an hour or so. Perhaps the walk had tired him. Whilst he dozed I did some on-line surveys.

We then took Fudge home, collected catalogues, and after a decent bit of tea we wandered round to the Chrisery for the Saturday night film show. We started off with the latest Mission Impossible film. Very good. And then "Decoy Bride" wih pretty much every British actor known to science. Again another good film. I do like the Saturday night film show....

4 May 2012 (Friday) - Stuff

I noticed yesterday that one of my car tyres hasn't been holding its pressure. So today before work I went to Road Runners to sort the problem. I called up their web site. They hadn't got one (!), so I guessed that they would open at 8.30am. There were people behind the counter in there at 8.30am, and they smiled as I entered, took my details and sat me down. As they did all the other customers. Was it my imagination? Were they doing other sorts of work I didn't notice? Or did they really wait until the stroke of 9am before leaping into action and actually doing anything?

But I really can't complain - they took a screw out of my iffy tyre, fixed the damage and only charged me a tenner. As I stumped up I commented on the place's lack of a web site. "Yes" they agreed "We don't have one". They seemed rather indifferent to the lack of a website. Personally I feel that a lack of web presence for a business these days is lamentable. Such contempt for the realities of our digital age is surely somewhat akin to boasting that you can't read or write? But what do I know?

The journey to Canterbury was then rather problematical. Having got used to driving before 7am and after 8pm I've got used to the roads being relatively quiet. Does everyone drive at 25mph in a national speed limit zone during daylight hours?

And when I got where I was going my mobile rang. The employment agency with news of Tuesday's interview. The good news was that I got down to the final two. The bad news.... yes - you've guessed it. The other bloke was pretty much the same as me in terms of experience except that he had had a year of selling to hospital laboratories already. I must admit that I hadn't expected to have got the job. But I can't pretend that having been turned down didn't come as a blow.

So, loyal readers, if ever you are going to buy binoculars or cameras or anything optical think of my sulk before you hand over your cash, and give me a call instead. I'll tell you which company we don't buy from....

A super-late finish; from now on I'll be doing 10pm finishes from time to time. On the way home I got some petrol. I's come down in price. Not much, but it's two pence a litre cheaper than the last time I filled up. I am grateful for every little bit that I can get these days. And getting it in Morrisons gave me more points on my Morrisons card. I often wonder exactly what good this Morrisons card is, but I keep collecting the points.

3 May 2012 (Thursday) - Dull...

 

Yesterday I had a good wander round Kings Wood. And when I came home I had a look on their web site and found one or two events coming up that I might like to go on later in the year. I've added them to my calendar (which is accessible from the link above). Because if I don't, I'll forget all about them.

Last night (for want of anything better to do) I weighed myself. I did it three times to be sure. Every time I got a result of fourteen stone and one pound. Nice! Still a way to go, but a lot better than it once was. This morning I again weighed myself. I again did it three time to be sure. Overnight I'd put on three pounds. How is that possible?

And I pumped up one of the tyres on my car. I had to borrow a pump. Last summer I bought a little pump that fits into the cigarette lighter socket in my car. Useful for pumping up car tyres as well as all sorts of things when camping. And now it's gone. I was sure it was in the compartment under the driver seat in my car. it's not. I wonder where it's gone.

Yesterday loads happened in my life. Today was dull.

2 May 2012 (Wednesday) - Deer

Thermoregulation may well be a cause of my insomnia; at night I am often either swelteringly hot or icy cold. Both of which wake me. This was certainly a problem for me last night. Perhaps I need to look into this a bit?

A quick bite of brekkie, and then as the fruits of my loin came home (for various reasons of their own) I set off delivering catalogues to the lucky punters. I covered three roads in an hour. Let’s hope these punters are grateful for my efforts. The last bunch could have been more effusive in their appreciation. Not that I’m complaining or anything.

And having offered wonderful bargains to the masses I came home and did the monthly accounts. Which (it has to be said) could be healthier. And then having again revamped my C.V. I spent a couple of hours applying for jobs. It’s interesting that most of the jobs that come up on the websites I’ve been perusing seem to have been being advertised for months. Perhaps they can’t get the right candidates. Perhaps they need to actually read my C.V. rather than just bin it. I don’t just apply for any old job – I only apply for jobs I honestly think I can do well. Perhaps my C.V. needs sexing up so people won’t bin it. I’ve sent it off for a once-over from “The Man with No Alias (patent pending)”. Let’s see what he makes of it.

This afternoon I went to the dentist. I’ve been trying to get an appointment for weeks, and have had to cancel due to the vagaries of my shifts. So I phoned them on the spur of the moment to see if they’d had any cancellations. They had; and my fang is now fixed.

Home again, and I got beer out of the bucket and into the barrel ready for camp. Camp is six weeks away, but preparation is everything. And talking of preparing, loyal readers might like to make a note in their diaries for Sunday July 15^th for a day out at the Dover Western Heights: they are having an open day. We went last year and it was quite a good outing. So, loyal readers, make yourself a picnic and I’ll see you there for a race down the Grand Shaft. And even a race back up again.

With an hour to spare I could have watched drivel from the Sky-Plus box. I could have played “Angry Birds”. Instead I wrote more of my novel. Another one thousand five hundred words in a scene I hadn’t planned, but just seemed to pop into my head. Two of the protagonists have had their first meeting. It went as well as I could expect it to. And if it had gone any differently I would have erased it from existence and re-written it. An author has quite serious power over his creations you know.

And then off to Kings Wood. The weather wasn't good, but the Tree Huggers were having a bluebell walk. Last year's was a good evening's walk, and "er indoors ^TM" had offered to give the walk leader a lift. Despite the drizzle eleven of us set off for a stroll round Kings Wood. We saw bluebells; which was an improvement on last year. And we say deer. Loads of them. If you look very closely at today's photo, the white splodge in the middle is one of the deer...

1 May 2012 (Tuesday) - Hoping...

 

After a relatively good night’s sleep I was raring to go to today’s interview. On with the shirt, and on with the tie. It’s odd – I miss wearing a tie to work. I left earlier than I needed to (to be sure I wouldn’t be late) and was soon at the Holiday Inn in Sevenoaks. It seemed an odd venue for an interview for a company which was actually based fifty miles elsewhere; but what do I know.

I got there with time to spare, and sat in my car and planned what I would say – all about me, why I want to sell their products, why I am the man for the job. And I got fed up with waiting and went into the hotel, introduced myself at reception, got taken to a waiting area, and spent more time planning what answers I might give to questions.

I got in ten minutes later than expected; there was only one chap interviewing; he was very friendly and welcoming. I got to give my practised spiel all about me; and my practised spiel all about how I’ve been trying to sell things. And for much of the rest of the interview I listened to what the job would entail. It sounds good. I can only hope that I sounded as good. At the end of the interview the chap gave me his card, and I’ve sent an email confirming my interest. I hope that was the right thing to do.

And then more hope. Over a spot of lunch the phone rang. It was an agency with a possible job opening. And then another agency with another potential opening. To think that a week or so ago I was on the point of giving up the job hunting as a waste of time.

I had an email – requesting the use of my writing talents. I wrote the flier below for a firm called “BuzzHosting”, and immediately after I published it my blog crashed. It’s been doing that from time to time just lately; I wish it wouldn’t. I now have three days to see if I get paid for the advert I’ve just done. I wonder if it will come up with anything? On reflection I could have done a better job - it was a bit of a rush job. Perhaps if I'd spent more than five minutes doing it and less than two hours playing "Angry Birds"?

Being Tuesday the clans gathered - this time at Somerset Road. Insults were exchanged, and we watched the last episode of season two of "Being Human". Inbetween times some of us played "Draw Something". Shart...?

30 April 2012 (Monday) - Stuff

There was something interesting on the radio this morning: lunch hours. I don't have a lunch hour. I have a lunch quarter of an hour. Apparently less than one in one hundred working people have a whole hour for lunch these days. I had no idea the figure was so low.

There was also something about showers. Apparently many people spend up to half an hour in the shower, sometimes two or three times a day. What's that all about?

Today my mind was elsewhere for much of the day. Having been seriously and actively job hunting for eight months, tomorrow I have my second interview. I kept wondering if I shouldn't have spent yesterday mucking about with the first fruit of my loin; perhaps I should have spent the day worrying about the interview (like I have spent today).

Two interviews in eight months. Some might find that depressing. I am trying to think that two is better than none. Sometimes I succeed quite well in thinking that; other times not so well.

And so home where I wrote more novel. Two scenes in a cemetery. I'm now up to just under fifteen thousand words. I still have half a dozen major bits to write, and no end of link bits; but it's getting there...