Friday, March 08, 2002

Had another one of those lousy feeling crap moments today. Trouble was I was in the middle of Mildenhall doing roadside publicity when it happened so didn't have the same turn round option. A bit of fresh air got me on the way again, but I still feel pretty grotty. Still, got the job finished so all the complaining punters will at least have timetables to look at while they wait for the revised buses on Monday. No doubt some bugger will miss one tomorrow as they haven't got the old version to look at, but that's just tough. I ain't going out doing them at the weekend for nobody. Oh, and we actually had a thank you email from one of the managers, which is rather unusual...

Nearly finished HP now and looking forward to book 2, but I thin kI will make myself wait by cramming in some non-fiction first. Probably one of the old Buses Yearbooks I got cheap and haven't read yet.

Off home now for a relaxing weekend I hope.

Thursday, March 07, 2002

What a waste of a day that was. And worse, the train from Ispwich to London had not been given it's seat reservations so I had to find my own and on the way back from Bedford to London we sat outside King's Cross for nearly an hour as someone on the train ahead of us had died. So I didn't get back to Ipswich until 5pm after leaving at 0730 for a 1½ hour meeting!

Still, it did give me time to finish all current magazines and I'm now on to the first Harry Potter book. Enjoyed the film loads and am now enjoying picking up on the bits they left out.

Very nearly didn't make it in to work today. Got about half way here when I came over all peculiar - light headed and nauseous etc. Did actually turn the car around but after sitting for a minute at the side of the road, taking my coat off and opening the roof I began to feel a bit more human again. So here I am. Fool!

OK, time to do some work-related tidying up!

Tuesday, March 05, 2002

Tum, tum, tumty, tum. Why is it that so much of this job involves waiting for other people to do stuff? Currently sitting here waiting for some files from the printers, and tomorrow will no doubt be waiting for other counties to make their minds up on the Sunday issue. So what can I do but wait? OK, I could get on with my newsletter but will no doubt get into full flow only for the files I'm waiting for to arrive thus making me lose the plot.

Yeah, I know many would argue I lost it years ago...

Haven't heard any more on the legal front so perhaps they laughed at the chap when he got to the court. General opinion here is heading that way certainly.

As well as Tuesday meaning Holby City tonight, we are also looking forward to part two of the NCS: Manhunt crime double. My colleagues couldn't get into at all, but Joan and I thought it was just as good as last year's pilot. And from looking at next week's Radio Times it appears that one of the subplots will be ongoing from this week. Could this finally be a series with a proper arc being made by the BBC again?
All that catching up yesterday and I completely forgot about the Grand Prix. Not quite the start to the season I was hoping for but well done to Mark Webber scoring at home on his debut. The accident with Ralph was fairly spectacular but I was very surprised that they didn't stop the race. Better luck next time to the half of the field wiped out before the first corner. Also looking forward to seeing what happens with the Prost entry - have heard that it has been bought by both Tom Walkinshaw of Arrows and VW to use as a Skoda team. Either option could be interesting, but will need a lot of money pumping in.

Bit quiet in the office so far today. Most of the team is off sick or on holiday with meetings eating up those who are left. I'm trying to write my latest Park & Ride newsletter but can't quite get motivated on it yet. Off to Bedford tomorrow to talk about Sunday ticketing. Not sure my contribution will really be worth all the effort involved in travel and time, but at least I will have the opportunity to get on with some reading. We are also having a strange bloke on the phone trying to get an injunction out to stop a bus service changing next week. Most peculiar.

Didn't do any painting in the end last night as the carpet is not coming until next week, so I can finish off at the weekend instead. I did print out a couple of photos to frame for the walls so it will be nice to look at something I've created rather than the usual "art". Not that I don't like art, you understand.

That'll do for now.

Monday, March 04, 2002

Unk, busy busy four days.

Thursday was good - in London again, this time for an ATCO meeting. It was hosted by the main rival to the printers we use for publicity and timetables so it was very informative to see what they do differently. Not actually all that much in terms of final output, but quite a different approach to getting there. Might just have to give them a bit more serious consideration when it comes to tender renewal time. We also got a ride on a preserved bus (RT 1720, trivia fans) a nice meal in a pub and a 10% discount at the national map centre out of them. Oh, and a free mug! Didn't buy any maps but did get Peter Ackroyd's biography of London. Which looks very interesting and is on the list to get read soon.

Friday I was in Colchester for a Transport Visions Network workshop. Again, very intersting and informative. Managed to resist the temptations of Red Lion books though, despite it being next door.

Then we had the weekend. With a bit of help I got the old wardrobes moved from our bedroom into the spare, and then did the main paintwork. Just the glossing to do this afternoon/evening. As I write my good lady wife should be choosing the new carpet, and as soon as that arrives I can start assembling the new furniture and we can begin to move back in! Hope there is not a delay. Have also ordered our new bed and wardrobes which are on 3 week delivery...

Finished The Martians - overall I enjoyed it as a nice wrap-up to the trilogy and can recommend the whole lot to anyone prepared to wade through it. Now catching up on this month's magazines before deciding what to read next.