Long week

I really don't do early.  I never have.  I was born late at night and have always been at my best in the afternoon and evening.  Last week saw a number of early starts.  By Friday, I could barely concentrate on the program I was writing and needed some proper sleep.  The changes we were making that required us to be in the office before the users are complete for now, so it should be back to normal next week.   All that made preparing the sermon for the 8am service an interesting prospect.  I was interrupted a number of times, most notably by a guy selling solar power electricity generation. He was talking to me about the 'Feed in Tariffs' (FITs), a scheme we are dealing with at work (for business users, not private) that provides guaranteed minimum pricing for electricity sold to the grid by microgenerators. A solar panel on a roof, or a wind turbine in the garden would qualify.  He's coming to see us tomorrow.
By early evening, the sermon was ready.  I was also ready for bed, but first we had to eat. "Let's go out".  "OK - where?".  "Little Burstead". So off we went to the Dukes Head. How it's changed.  The refurbishment looks very good.  We wandered in.  The style is very different, so we waited to ask for a table.  ... and waited.  "I'll be with you in a minute" one of the staff eventually said.  Then he ignored me and served another (more recent) customer. We left.  The Duke is not good enough, we'll try the King.  So we went to the King's Head at Great Burstead.  They were almost full, but we found a table, ordered our food and drink, and ate a very good meal. 
The 8am went reasonably well, except for the lack of microphones and therefore the hearing aid 'loop', so I hope everyone heard me.  I'm not used to speaking loudly for so long and am a little croaky now, but it's all good practice.  My text is here.
The 10am service followed breakfast, where Margaret was preaching and there were two christenings.  It was very busy, but I was starting to fade out a little by the end because of yet another early morning!

IT Director

From yesterday my job title is IT Director.  I couldn't write about it yesterday - there were too many hoaxes being portrayed as news.  That is what yesterday is about.  I have the letter from a few days ago, so it is not a hoax.  It will change what I do quite a bit.  Members of the family reacted differently to the announcement - as they always do.  First I was told that it was a ‘small victory’.  That is true – there is a small pay rise, and some extra responsibility – so some extra work too.  I’m also aware that the bestowing of the title was not in recognition of what I had done, but in the expectation of what I would do, and how that would affect the roles of others.  I am realistic enough to know that things will not change that much.  I was disappointed and slightly downcast by the response.  With all my realistic assessment of what it really means, and why it occurred I was proud to make the announcement.  I felt I had achieved something, or at least had been given the opportunity to achieve something.
The other responses were more positive and in-line with my own reaction.

Nearly Live

Nearly Live
It has been a busy week.  I've worked more hours this week than any other since I started this job.  Now I'm nowhere near the 70+ that I was once working, but that was many years ago.  The first phase of my project is about to go live, and performance has (suddenly?) become an issue.  It has been overcome, by redesigning some of the code, and the nightly run now completes without time-outs waiting for the database to get nothing.

If you didn't understand that - never mind -, but if you want more detail its here.

Today should have been a welcome break, but there is still one option that doesn't work.

Youth Worker Conference
Both Karen and Liz are away at the Youth worker conference this weekend.  I attended a few year ago and had a really good time.  It's even better if you're a professional, still I'd like to have been going.

Automated Lighting
The motion sensitive switch out side the front door has been playing up for ages.  A few days ago it gave up altogether.  I had already ordered and received a new one.  Today was time to put it up.  Drilling holes in walls and making the nece3ssary electrical connections is not too difficult, but the lack of strength in certain parts of my shoulder made screwing in the screws difficult, and surprisingly keeping the drill straight was harder than it should have been.
I'd read the wiring instructions and wired it up, then came back and read them again.  How come they are different the second time round?  I went back and corrected my connections.  The switch on was fine, and we now have light on our broken steps.

Winter - really?
This miniature rose appeared to have died, and was due to be removed, but here it is flowering at the end of November!

Drugs
This week has also been the week to replenish the drug supply.  I had given all the details to the Chemists as they offer a free service to collect and make up prescriptions.  I had completed and signed all the forms.  So on Wednesday evening the cynic in me was not at all surprised they had never heard of me!  They got me the drugs I need though, so it is not all bad. I picked them up on Thursday. The NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) have changed suppliers for some of the drugs, and the headline description is different, so it was back on Friday to check that they really were the correct ones.  "It all makes work for the working man to do"

At work, but not at work

Today we had an out of office day.  We met early and were taken to Brightlingsea for a days sailing.  We met at Brighgtlingsea Boat Park and Ride, where we were given some brief instruction and introduced to our skippers.  There were four boats - Brightlingsea class dinghys, with the skipper and two of us on each boat.
We had been told to bring warm cloths, and a complete spare set - which I had done because I was fairly convinced that I would get the prize for first in the water.  After the initial briefing we were provided with 'water proofs' and life jackets. Then it was off to the river side, and the 12 man motor boat that would take us to our dinghy and would be the safety boat for the day.  Our Skipper was Keith, who immediately informed us that he was deaf in one ear and hard of hearing - with a hearing aid in the other.  We were left at our boat while the others were taken to theirs.  Keith began looking at the boat and seemed confused.  He explained this by telling us that the boats are built to the same specification but are fitted out differently. He was having some trouble raising the sail, the mechanism was jammed.  We were quickly found another boat, and towed out of the creek.  I was paired with the only person in our group who had any sort of sailing experience.  We practised turns and the various manoeuvres we would need for the afternoon race.  Almost immediately we had our first brush with the water as my colleague reacted to a situation by pulling the rudder instead of pushing it.  Suddenly, instead of looking at the horizon, I was looking at the other side of the boat!  Keith righted the situation very quickly.  Too soon it was time to head back to the Colne Yacht Club for lunch.

Despite Keith's concerns about the potential speed of the boat - which had lead us to get our excuses in at lunch - we set off for the race.  Backwards and forwards trying to hit the start line at the right time.  Class flag at  minus five minutes accompanied by a hooter, 'Blue Peter' at minus four minutes and another hooter, Blue Peter down at minus one minute, class flag down and the race is on - we were second.  It turned out that our skipper was a former champion racer, and had won eight years in a row.  He knows a lot about racing yachts. His fears though were soon shown to hold water (bad expression) as we were passed by another boat.  Still third is GOOD when you're expecting fourth.

After the race we sailed up another creek, and practised some of our not yet acquired sailing 'skills'.  It was here I dropped the jib ropes at a bad time leaving us still in the water as the other boats caught and passed us.  ( No, it wasn't part of the race, but we were in front for the first time.)  We also ran aground once.  Then back to the moorings as the temperature dipped and I was glad of all the layers of cloths I was wearing. 

Tea and cake rounded of the day nicely.

My shoulder had not been stretched beyond its capabilities, and is still improving.

Our Christmas Event was over for another year.

A very enjoyable day

Not watching Eurovision

The blue roll is a hospital sized role of paper towel. Its nicely wrapped in polythene, and rolls really well. It caused you to stretch certain muscled in the back of the neck / top of the shoulder. Its the only exercise that I cannot do effectively at home. The Isometric resisted exercise is the one that consistently causes me least problem and little pain. I give you these last two, as I'm promised some new ones, although I'm not expecting line drawings.

Tonight is the evening of the year when all the countries in the Eurovision area - including Israel, among other non-European countries, gather together for their annual song contest. It used to be mandatory viewing when I was young, now it is to be avoided. Avoidance is essential if you are to miss the unedifying sound of a commentator pretending that its all fair and only the songs are being judged, or maybe you will hear the commentator being too flippant about the whole show and ruining their career. Also I don't enjoy listening to songs in other languages that I have no hope of understanding. When there were only western European countries it was bearable (because there aren't that many of them).

The week has been dedicated to work and sermon preparation, and I've been in a world of my own while I concentrate on these two important aspects of my life. In work I was asked if I would return the holiday that had been mistakenly carried over. I was happy to. Even more so when I was told that it was not required that I was paid while off because of my accident.

Office Christmas Party with a difference

Our office Christmas party was at a casino, and though I'm no gambler, it was a very enjoyable night. Read more here.

More on on-line shopping

Yesterday two orders arrived. A package of paper and envelopes, partly because we're running out, but mainly because I have to produce some CV's - resumes for our American(ised) audience. I have now written one, although I'm likely to need more, at least it's a start. As this is supposed to be about on-line shopping, I'll comment on this delivery from PaperPunch.com. In a large box, which is mainly space the box of photocopier paper is loose and bouncing around. Thankfully nothing is damaged.

The other package is nowhere near as good. This is 100 blank CD's and 100 blank DVD's. I use these to backup my home PC's, and transfer software to the church, so I don't have to wait for the downloads. Yes, a memory stick would work, but I can't leave that in the cupboard if I run out of time doing the installs can I?
This delivery came from Tesco Direct.

The packaging consisted of a single plastic bag, that was delivered torn.
The CD's were at least in a padded bag and survived batter.

Customer service is the key to repeat customers.

... while waiting to go back to work

I have been waiting. Some weeks ago I missed the first meeting with my spiritual advisor, I agreed to email him with available dates. Well, I could, but the chances are I'd have to cancel again. Just as today - I've missed my first tutor group meeting due to a conflict - I was still in the crisis meeting when my friend arrived to take me. I'll be back in the meeting soon. Then we will prepare to put the changes in that will hopefully give us a day without our system crashing.

As I get nearer to the end of the course, I begin to see a certain pressure build up - more work, more time off due to illness, and things beginning to be delivered late. Well, by the grace of God, I will make the deadline this time round.

In praise of a daughter ..

Yesterday I had to go to Luton for my appraisal. Our company has an office there, and it saves my boss from driving all the way into the big city. She's also recently completed her first appraisal. She's been working more than six months, and can now join the pension scheme! So I took the opportunity to buy lunch for my daughter. This was intended to be about one and a half hours, but was cut short by a conference call. That's how things often happen. We met outside my office, she surprised me and I nearly dropped my mobile. That's not what I'm on about, though. The conversation we had over a sandwich and coffee was enlightening and intriguing. If you've read her Blog, you'll know that she has been helping with the weekend away that her sister was organising, for the youth group in Stoke Gifford. She talked to me in some detail, and as I know some of the people involved, it all made sense. Her analysis of the situations and the weekend as a whole were summed up nicely. Short, realistic, and to the point. I hope she gets the chance to provide them with some feedback. I'm a big fan of feedback, both getting it, and giving it. So thanks Karen, I enjoyed chatting with you over lunch, and your insights into what was good, and what could have been better. Just a shame we didn't have longer. Look forward to seeing you again, when you can get back to Billericay. Congratulations on completing your first six months of paid work.

Comes and Goes

Today I was working from home. Well I tried to. This morning broadband would not sign-in. Dial-up would not connect. My company fixed the sign-in very quickly and told me why it hadn't worked. For my broadband I had to wait hours for a response, and then part of the way through what they asked me to do, it just started working again. It happens like that a lot, the pattern seems to be:

• Have a problem
• Do all the obvious things to fix it - nothing works.
• Report it to PlusNet
• Its fixed sometime later. No explanation, it just works.

Now returning the service is good, but I want to know what happened, and how they're going to stop it happening again.

OK, its been a frustrating day, so rant over.

Nothing to do

There's a right sort of nothing to do - when you have made the time in which to do, or not do whatever you like. There are lots of wrong sorts of nothing to do. Some are serious - such as being redundant or incapacitated. Mine is trivial (in reality), but sometimes the trivial is frustrating. On Monday, working at home my laptop was playing up - suddenly ceasing to do anything. No warning - just nothing. At home its annoying, but there are other computers and other, though less effective, ways to work. Today I returned from lunch to a black screen. I had a colleague check that my machine was off the network, and it was. I phoned the help desk and reported the problem. I dialled into the conference call, one of the numbers I remember. Then what? I'm used to helping others when this happens to them, not being the victim. What can I do? I must DO something! I found an old laptop, but couldn't get logged in - it was too old for our network. I must DO something.

The thought that I'm still being paid even if I can't work was strangely disturbing.

Eventually the Laptop started again.

Sitting here writing this I remember "Be still, and know that I am God;" and wonder if I should have remembered at work? Ps 46:10 goes on to say "I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Now that's a better reality. Can I swap now?

Tomorrow is our training session on "God and Evil". The preparatory notes have seriously strained my intellect, my powers of reasoning, and left me wondering what 'orthodox' might mean now. - more tomorrow, if I can unscramble it. Otherwise I'll have to fall back on the alternative reality.

Unsafe building

1) Today we had a fire alarm in the building. We duly left our desks and walked slowly down the stairs to the fire exit. No-one could open the door, we turned around went down another floor and out the main entrance. 40 minutes later we were back at our desks. The building is poorly managed. If there is a serious fire people will die in this building - more than need to. There is lots of building work going on, as the alarm started the man with the radio turned to one of the workers and asked if he had a permit for the work he was doing - thought he should have checked that first.
A tragedy waiting to happen.

2) As I went out for a sandwich I walked past one of the buildings that is clad in scaffoldings. A crane was hauling a large structure to the top of the building. The structure was pre-welded I-beams, and I estimate it was about three storeys tall. It was resting on the scaffolding. There were men at various levels trying to push it away. I would not have wanted to be up there for anything.
An accident waiting to happen.

Which just goes to prove that human beings are often careless, incompetent, or negligent. We all are at some point in our lives. Mostly there will not be serious consequences, sometimes there will be. We live in that sort of world, it the sort of world that we should all be used to, but to some of us it never quite makes sense - especially when its me making the mistakes.

By God's grace we can be forgiven for all time for our 'mistakes', even if we can never forgive ourselves fully.

New Year, New Day, New Office ...

Up to the fourth floor to find my new desk location. There it is with the ten cardboard boxes piled around it. I unpack slowly. There are no phones, so the first thing is to cancel my Tuesday morning conference call. There are no refreshments, just tap water, which is slightly too warm to be really refreshing. There are no printers - there is a list of snags as long as your arm. Fortunately those are the only three that affect me. Later they bring in coffee from the shop downstairs, but they don't TELL anyone. You just find it when you go for water. I tell a few people on my way back to my bench. The phone connection is supposed to start at 4pm. No sign of it is visible as I leave at 5:20. Must remember to take my hands free kit for the mobile tomorrow.

Still the exercise - walking to the fourth floor twice a day - will be good for me.

Uncertainties

The office where I work has been getting emptier and emptier. We have been speculating about the likely outcomes for a while. That's a polite way of saying that there are rumours of closure. Well the speculation is now official, and we should hear something next week. Maybe a permanent move to work from home, or just off to another floor. Is it worth renewing the season ticket at the end of December? Well at least I'm likely to have some information to work on now. If it means I will no longer work in the basement it will be a good thing. Arriving in our building and going down stairs always takes the edge off the day. On conference calls they talk about the weather (its not JUST a British trait you know!), I say its 72 degrees Fahrenheit, 21 degrees centigrade, the orange wall is orange, and the blue wall is blue. This is mans world, the environment is outside. The temperature is 'ideal', the air is circulated, there is electricity, food (not much) and water, and a gym if you're brave enough. Here man can believe just for a while that he has all he needs. Its a deception! We are the morelocks.

At last the weekend ...

Well almost, as I write (@21:51) I'm still on a conference call with the Americans, trying to get the daily status meeting for our project sorted out. My mind is more on tomorrow than today. If you don't know what's happening, you'll have to wait until tomorrow's entry.

Today is the last weekday of 'summer time', the last time until late March that I can travel home in the sun-light - what little is left. The benefit is an extra hours sleep on Saturday night, perhaps I'll go to the 8am Sunday morning. It's a service I will need to get to at some stage. The parish project outline is due this weekend as well, so it is going to have to be sunday, nothing is going to happen for Reader training after this call.

Long long day ...

I've been to a European HQ today doing Graduate assessments. As usual some very good candidates, but this year some not so good ones as well - shame about that, but apparently there just aren't so many good candidates this year. Why am I blogging? I started out on the 5:30am train, and arrived home with the sun at a similar angle of elevation, but going the other way. Remember, it's close to mid-summer's day still. I'm blogging because that's what I have to do - be seen, be heard, but who by? And am I seen and heard? 

Good discussion with Karen last night, made me think too -thanks Karen. We are all unique - completely and totally different, and yet in so many ways we are the same. Had a bit of the Nature / Nurture debate with one of the Graduates, but somehow that doesn't quite get there either. Maybe it's something to do with our unique spirit, or soul, that we are created differently - even those that were created at the same time.

If you thought last week was busy.......

Then this week there is lots more to do. I'm covering for a colleague who is on holiday, I found out last Friday! His job is one that requires active participation, a lot of the time. My nice regular week is in tatters. To top that, my job has also been busier than usual. All good fun, and I'm on a Reader training weekend from Friday to Sunday.

No sleep, No race, No free time, No dry weather

So the clocks going forward is a cause of grumpiness, they said on a Radio 4 item. That shouldn't surprise anyone. Having lost 2 hours sleep waiting for a boy to arrive home (1:30 am BST equivalent), then in the real BST (Sunday night, Monday morning, if you're lost already) to lose another two hours when someone arrives home about 1:30AM with 5 friends who watch telly and chat! One of them said I was cool apparently - if I'd had an ice pick, he'd found out how cool! So not a good weekend, and no F1 race. Got to see some of Bahrain, but couldn't stay interested - just as well as the tape finished 20 mins from the chequered flag. So Monday starts late, and my first free time is NOW. The day is too long, and I missed all the sunshine. The only chance I had to sneak out (at lunchtime) it bucketed down for 20 minutes - after that it was too late. Am I turning into a grumpy old man a couple of months early - YES! Just practising! P.S. I'm getting two copies of all my e-mails too! P.P.S Mothering Sunday went well.

My week - at a glance

Tutor Group – Monday

I got my Hermeneutics essay (on Revelation) back, as you already know, I had “Pass” on the end. There were of course one or two other comments, mostly OK, and one comment about a piece which I remember not finishing!! I'm really very pleased with this, because it means I have an idea of the level I have to work at for future essays, and other submissions. 2 down, and loads to go.

Cancelled – Thursday I received a phone call from the Argos activity line. Our racing event has been cancelled (not enough participants), after six months of trying to book it we're back to square one!.

Manager leaves – Friday Last Wednesday I heard a rumour that my manager might be moving on. On Thursday, I was told unofficially by a colleague that he was leaving the company. On Friday I received an e-mail, which, heavily paraphrased, said “I'm leaving the company. Thanks for your commitment and support in the past, you have some difficult challenges ahead this year – good luck!” Shock was not the word, as you can imagine. Anyway, the guy who has taken over is someone I've worked with before, and is UK based, rather than being based in America. So that's probably a good thing, but we don't yet know who will get his job. The speculation has started.

Hawthorn – Saturday I was asked to put up the new washing line. No problem, it's a nice day for it, but I'll have to give the tree a trim, so that I can get to the branch, to tie on the line on. Well, I started, and there always seemed a bit more to cut off. That tree has needed a trim for a good few years. Some 'tree surgeon' came round, and said £400 to trim it down to say 1/3^rd the size. After my “Hmm, that's rather a lot” he came down a couple of times to £250 – still too much in my opinion. Mike was a great help, and I think enjoyed himself, hanging off branches, doing lots of sawing, and a little running away as he was almost smothered by a falling branch. There are two branches cut through, but still firmly attached to the tree. That's going to be a challenge for later. As Andy said, “It's more a 'Number 1' than a trim.” Yes, if you've guessed, you're right, the washing line isn't up yet!

GRID – Sunday Not F1, that hasn't started yet, but the church rota for the next quarter. I find I'm preaching twice, after being told that I probably wouldn't get any slots. Also, they're both at 10am, which is better than expected. Let's just hope the training doesn't take off in a big way.

Carvery - Sunday Andy had a day off, and as promised we went to the Stockbrook Carvery. It's very nice, the food is excellent, and the service is good. The place to go for Sunday Lunch, if you don't want to travel far. Looking forward to doing it again sometime. I'm now very full, and very tired, and very satisfied. I've also just watched Corpse Bride, so I've had a very good weekend.

Started!

Saturday, So we have finally started. It's been a long wait from the end of CCS, through selection until now. Last Saturday was kick-off day, and we have picked up six books. They are relatively slim, not the doorstops we had to look at when I tried this last time, 12 or 13 years ago. So we're off, but what to do? Well, that has to wait for the opening tutor group meeting, which is currently scheduled for next Monday, but not confirmed yet. I'm still impatient and want to get going, but before then I have other things to think about. Preparing the talk for Alpha, "How does God guide?", is going to keep me occupied, as is preparing the notes for Advent for the preachers.  

Sunday, What an early start, I was tired all day. It was worth it to see Räikkönen pass Fisichella on the last lap to take the race and save his team 4 points. Well worth a whole day of tiredness. The afternoon was uncle Albert's 90th, and a good time was had by all. Now I've met the relatives on my father-in-law's side of the family again, worked out who they all are, and somehow invited them to my 50th party (considering we weren't drunk, how DID that happen?). Still, I had a good time playing with Jude, who, like all tiny boys, just loves pretending to be on a fairground ride. Also met Mark's grandad at this event, and had a nice little chat about our youth worker. It's a small world.  

Tuesday As both the girls would say "God is good". I've been praying for help with the reader training and the problems I have with evening meetings. Just how am I going to find a couple of hours of peace and quiet to study, prepare, write, re-write, or just reflect? Not easy when there are evening meetings 3 out of 5 days. Never mind, there are discussions about possible reorganization at work, and I'm in line for a UK based role, if it happens. Sounds like an answer to prayer - not the one I was expecting, certainly, but it delivers what's required.  

Things to look forward to Next week I'm on holiday. No great plans, just a rest, and some catching up. Hopefully I'll get to see Forgotten Empire: The World Of Ancient Persia and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.