Isn't time flying! Mid November already. Bizarre. Well I've got lots of things going on in my life at the moment so this is a bit of a news snippet update!

Firstly there's Anthony's bike project. Think Scrapheap Challenge with more time, less people, and less scrapyard - but just as much improvisation and lateral thinking on getting things to work / fit! And the Enduro's he's planning on doing when it's all done involve lots of mud and stuff. Looks far too much like hard work to me!

Then there's my new little sideline. I am now a newly qualified Ann Summers Party organiser! Oh yes! It's a good laugh, gets me out of the house, earning some cash, and meeting lots of new people. It's all just good fun really.

Work is pretty horrendous politics-wise at the moment. We're going through massive re-structuring so everything's up in the air and people are playing for power and position at the moment. I still enjoy my day job, just not the politics. It makes it all pretty stressful. I'm hoping I still have a job I enjoy doing come 1st April, but watch this space. (I'll have something - I just don't have a lot of control over what that might be due to other people's game playing / power struggles. Sigh.)

The divorce goes to court on Friday this week - all very straightforward and nothing to contest / argue about - so hopefully that will go through. We need to wait another 6 weeks-ish after that to finalise it all, but it's going through quicker than we expected. We're both pretty happy about that though - we've both really moved on and are living new lives now.

The only complicated bit in all of that is the house. A year ago it was going to be easy, but then this crunchy thing happened and sticking the house on the market now seems somewhat... err... suicidal frankly! Not sure how we work that one out but we'll get there.

I think that's it from me. Oh - and if anyone's wondering about christmas, I'm afraid i'm being antisocial and staying in Cornwall this year! Well - not that antisocial - we're going to Anthony's family for a few days. The usual excesses of alcohol and food will of course be observed....

Some more holiday pictures from Linslade.

This goose was stretching his wings after munching bread out of my hand.

And this pair were displaying beautifully - sadly always just before the camera went, but they're still quite pretty.

And this is a picture of the rabble on the last night! Clockwise from the front left are: Anthony, me, Sara, Sue, Clive, Jen & Ray. Tony (my fellow joint master-lock-keeper) is sneakily behind the camera.

I'm back! The holiday was fabulous. A completely chilled out few days in great company. I've actually got loads of pictures now to post, but here's one for now. We spent a day on a narrow boat on the Grand Union canal - not something I'd have thought I'd enjoy but actually it was an amazing day. Joint master lock-keeper extraordinaire here! ;-)

This was the canal as we were heading back to where the boat came from - the colours on the trees were amazing and we were really lucky with the weather. I'm feeling very chilled out and relaxed now - it's amazing how much of a difference just a few days away can make.

Unfortunately we got home to find the rabbit vanished - and a rather telling tunnel leading out of the back corner of the hutch. However just looking out of the back door late this morning, there he was noncholantly sitting there as if nothing had happened. Hey ho!

More pics may follow when I get myself organised.

Woohoo - holiday!

Yay - we're off on holiday tomorrow! I can't wait. We're back on Friday, but it's going to be so nice to actually get away for a week. I've packed the camera already so might actually manage to get some pictures up on here when I get back! (I know I've been rather lax in that regard.)

We've just got to work out what clothes to pack - I have no idea what the weather's going to do for the rest of the week - every time I look at a forecast it changes. Our beautiful british weather and all that! ;-)

Sx

I can't believe it's October already. It's dark when I get up in the mornings, the evenings are getting darker earlier and it's definitely colder. Never mind - think steaming mugs of hot chocolate, sitting by a fire, with a lovely warming casserole... mmmmm!

Happy Birthday Stella & Rik if either of you read this - I hope your respective cards arrived in time - we've had terrible trouble with post down this end of the country - and you both had nice birthdays.

So what's new in my world? I've ditched the braids I had in for the last 7 weeks - they were lovely, but started to go a bit 'fluffy' and definitely getting heavy so I got rid of them. However I've also decided to ditch the blonde - it's autumn now so a change was needed. I'm currently sitting typing with some rather colourful red dye on my hair! Well - it's a long time since I've been red so I thought I'd give it another go.

Knitting. Now there's a thing. Not something I ever thought I'd get into - but actually I bought a book a few days ago and am getting quite into it. It's quite therapeutic just sitting clicking away on the sofa while (not really) watching tv. I certainly wouldn't claim to be an expert after less than a week - but I've got 3 squares now that hopefully will become something interesting...!

Right - time to wash off the hair dye. Then I think it's definitely time for little drinkies...

:-)

So here we are, heading towards the end of September, and what’s in the shops? Blinkin' Christmas stuff. I mean – we’ve barely got over the miniscule bit of summer we’ve had – and they’re foisting mid-winter onto us! Really – is it just me that can’t stand the whole ‘Christmas before December’ lark, or do other people feel the same? I’m quite happy with the idea that we can enjoy Christmas, the build up, the food, the present choosing & wrapping, the decorating and so on – but not while we’re still trying to cling onto the last dregs of summer! I mean honestly. It’s this sort of commercial driven attitude that puts me off the whole event altogether. Lets have December as the month to build up to Christmas and that’ll do nicely. It’s more fun if you cram it into a shorter period of time anyway.

;-)

Oh my big exciting news is… I’m finally back online at home! No I know. It’s not that exciting really. But it was a little weird with no internet access at home for 2 whole months. Apparently the problem is my machine is too old. Or something. I don’t care – it works (OK – so you have to remember to keep pedalling but hey it gets there in the end!) and that’s all that matters. As long as I can do my online stuff and download my photos and music I’m really not bothered. So yes – I can now answer emails again. You have all got my hotmail email address, haven’t you? I’m bored of changing it when I change ISP so I’m sticking to that one now – it’s a lot easier.

On another note – only 3 weeks to go til my holiday! Yay!!! I can’t wait – I’m knackered! It’s been a lonnnnng time since Christmas.

Enough drivel for now. Feel free to get in touch if you want to say anything interesting, random or otherwise! Or any specific questions also welcome – happy to answer them if I can (or make something up if I can’t – it all helps to keep the mind occupied). I never really know what to write on this thing or what information you’re interested in – hence the complete drivel that usually gets spouted out…..

Finally! It appears that I might actually have an internet connection at home again from next week. It's been nearly 2 months - and has been surprisingly hard work. While I can access this site through work, all my normal 'communication' places that I use (facebook, myspace, and email) are blocked. So if anyone has contacted me through any of those methods - my apologies for not responding! I've got the prospect of 2 months-worth to catch up on next week. Of course, that's assuming I can actually get the PC itself to work! (It's probably feeling slightly neglected...)

Apart from that, life is trundling along quite nicely really. Work is pretty tricky at the moment with the re-structuring going on but I'm just keeping my head down and getting on with it for the moment. The house is slowly getting there so it's ready to sell a.s.a.p. next Spring. Anthony and I have lots of ideas and plans about what we're going to do when that's done. Not sure what else there is to report.

Oh yes - for those that knew her, I spent a wonderful afternoon with my lovely friend Claire yesterday (and Paul & children of course!). It's been 4 years since I last saw her, but it was great to catch up again properly and chat. I'm not sure I'd want to face a 29 hour flight home with 3 children personally, so she's a braver woman than me! And I thought Cornwall was a long way away from everyone - at least I'm in the same country! ;-)

Right - time to get back to work now. Watch this space for a home published comment coming up sometime in the next week (I hope!).

Optimistically,
S xx