Man At Work

Just to prove that I HAVE been working while I've been away! (If you call this work - ed)

Having a slow Working At Home day today.

No speeches.


( Photo: Courtesy: Trevor Smith)

Homeward Bound..

..although it's going to take a while. My train left Southampton about an hour ago and is due into Durham in another five! Ah well - at least I'm on my way.

That was the last of the series of regional events that have taken me all over the country for the last three weeks and I can't say I'm sorry! Particularly this week I've found it physically draining with the hernia really feeling quite sore. The op in three weeks will be very welcome.

I'm working at home for the rest of the week and then to Edinburgh with J for the weekend. Oh - and a massage tomorrow night!
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Sunday Night

Gosh! A busy week and a busier weekend! But happy.

A lovely evening in with J last night watching the new Leonard Cohen Video and then a rush on Sunday morning (because we forgot that the clocks had gone forward...) to Hexham to see her get awarded a bursary from New Writing North.

Healthwise, things have been pretty much OK - not much soreness at all.

And I've now got the date confirmed for my hernia op - April 16th. Three weeks tomorrow.

But before that, a lot more travelling. London tomorrow night and then Southampton. Back on Wednesday night. Then it all goes tiny bit slower.

I can't say I'm sorry...

Emails

Just a note to those dear friends (you know who you are...) who've emailed recently and not got much of a response.

Sorry. It's hard enough to even blog occasionally at the moment - but I'll be in touch soon.

I promise.
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Wolverhampton...

... And a long week draws to a close. I'm finally home tomorrow night and I really can't wait. I'm tired and sore and feel like I could sleep for England.
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London Bound

London...

I left the bitter cold and snow of Durham a couple of hours ago on the start of a four-city, four-day jaunt around the country with work. London tonight, Coventry tomorrow and then Bristol and Wolverhampton.

But it seems to be a fine sunny afternoon as I head south on the train.

In a way it's good to be away from my desk for a few days - everybody, whether clients or colleagues are stressed and overstretched (that's March in the public sector for you) and so there's a lot of tetchiness about.

Bound...

I think that the increase in my medication might be working - it's certainly slowed things down. And yes, maybe slightly less soreness. But extra strain on the hernia in return.

Who said that this was about winning...?
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Self Portrait

Self Portrait
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Quite pleased with this one. Taken in the Projection Room at my Film Documentary Course this afternoon.

Medication

I talked to my Colorectal Nurse this morning about the problems I've been having. She still thinks it's basically because I've got in to a vicious cycle of going to the loo and getting sore. So I'm doubling up my medication to see if that works. ( From 4 a day to 8 a day - for those in the know...)

And so to my weekend. Alfie came home this morning - lovely to have him around again. ( Dogs are so forgiving!)

As those of you who monitor my Twittering will know, I'm currently developing a new obsession. Expect more of that this weekend.

But tonight it was my favourite film on the telly. As I've said before - almost a motif for this whole d*mn thing.

Battered Hero...

A successful week at work - I won more money for the firm and so I am the Hero Of The Hour - but it's also exhausting. I've just embarked on a series of regional consultation events with teenagers on the educational reforms that will soon affect them big time.

It's very hard work - apart from the travelling (Newcastle today and Sheffield tomorrow. Newcastle was easy anyway...) there's also the fronting events for 70 teenagers and their teachers, supporting my team, problem solving, schmoozing. And still seven more to go...

Not easy with a hernia - and Other Soreness. Yes - that's back again. I've tried everything this week - careful diet and no alcohol for five days. Hasn't made any difference. I'm going to have to go back to the doctor.

And as I'm really not at home much for the next fortnight, Alfie is in the kennels. He's with me at the weekend, but in again next week. I knew it would be like this month but that doesn't make it any easier.

It's Life, Gym....

I've just been to the gym for the first time in seventeen months! Because of the hernia I had to be ...er well-supported, but I managed 20 minutes on the running machine and felt pretty good after it. I was in two minds whether to go as I've been particularly sore recently but I decided that I had to give it a go. And I must admit that I feel pretty good now - a bit achy but that's to be expected. It hasn't made much differerence to the soreness really - and the hernia's fine. I'm going to make it a regular thing from now on.

A nice evening at home with J last night after a visit to see my former parents-in-law R and C in Doncaster on Friday. Somewhere in between I managed the second session of my Documentary Course (editing) and of course, Alfie. ( He had to go back to the kennels for a few days this afternoon as I'm away a lot with work next week.)

All in all, a pretty busy weekend! But fun.

Mobile Blog

I thought I'd have a go at doing this again. I'm on the train home from a day working in Leeds. Out tonight for a lovely Greek meal with J's daughter D.

Already it's feeling like a long week and there's still quite a bit more of it to go. The soreness is back again today too - I think it may have been triggered by something I ate yesterday but I'm not sure what. I'm glad I'm working from home for the rest of the week though!
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Eclipsed

Eclipse
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Someone texted me that this was about to happen this last night - and I'm glad they did! It was really good - even though this photo wasn't. (Particularly compared to this - also taken in the North East of England... )

A nice Saturday - a walk with Alfie in the morning and then up to the Tyneside Cinema for the first session of the "Introduction to Documentary Film Making" course that I enrolled for. I'm always a bit funny about going on courses ( arrogance - you think you can't be taught anything - ed) but this was great fun. The tutor had us using cameras straight away - my group got to go up and film the guy in the Projection Room. Next week - editing...

A long week at work but successful. Some big contract wins which mean that we can all pay the rent for the next few months and I have shown that they didn't employ a fraud... (Always a concern)

Today, just relaxing at home. Watching the day get greyer and greyer as I caught up with emails to friends and family. Almost like sleet out there now.

Next week is pretty much OK travelwise - just one day trip to Leeds. But after that it's awful for the next three weeks - I'm on the road for 4 days each week speaking at conferences. I think I'm going to have to learn how to mobile blog again!

Back Home

Just a brief note for anyone who might be concerned.

I got home last night after three long days away.

I'm fine - very tired and looking forward to my weekend.

More later.

Quivr @ Bykr

making a point
Originally uploaded by Pickersgill Reef.

Well - here we all are! One of those curious occasions when a Virtual community Actually meets.

A nice afternoon. More of my photos here

Avatars

Talking of avatars.

Of course it's only right that Alfie should have his own.

And he does - it appears on my computer every day. ( When I have to use a PC that is...)

Limecat

As you know, I've used this avatar for the last couple of years - I was originally pointed to it by a friend.

It's brilliant to learn that it has an active fanbase! and to have been invited to join it.

Diligence

A long day in Coventry yesterday pitching for more work - we'll hear on Tuesday. As I got back home at about 9.00 pm on Friday evening, there was a salutary reminder that some travellers didn't....

This morning I picked up Alfie from the kennels. He was pleased to see me and after a mad half hour, he settled like he hadn't been away! The rest of the day has been spent quietly and diligently tidying the house up - I suddenly decided that it looked like a tip this morning. It looks slightly less like one now.

Am slowly getting used to the Blackberry but was surprised that it seemed harder than I thought it should be to get set up with email and web-browsing - I just couldn't get a data connection. Several calls to the Vodafone Helpline later and some Googling myself led me to discover that I have to buy a seperate data plan to go on the internet! The plan I've just upgraded to ( that comes with the Blackberry) er... doesn't include data transfer... I'm annoyed, as I specifically asked about this when I ordered it. And of course, no-one is around on a Saturday afternoon to sort this. I pity the poor s*d who gets my call on Monday morning!

The hernia is still uncomfortable - lying down is such a relief! But the other soreness has been fine for three days now so, apart from the bloated feeling that I was told to expect from the Fybogel, ( swings and roundabouts eh?) I think that that may be sorted.

Evening Chronicle Thursday February 22

Evening Chronicle Thursday February 22
Originally uploaded by grewlike.

Look - I'm Famous!

I'm going to the official launch of this on Sunday - that's my shot of the beer glasses to the right of the photo.

virb

I got sent an invite for the beta testing of virb today. Think of a less-cluttered MySpace.

This is what I did with mine. I've got a few invites if anyone would like one.

Seaham Beach

Alfie at Seaham Beach
Originally uploaded by Menage a Moi.

Finally made it to the beach with Alfie this afternoon! I'd tried yesterday but er.. got lost. No mistake ( and a map) this time. We had a great time - and I even risked taking him off his lead.

Back to work tomorrow - working from home - but loads to prepare for a trip to Coventry on Friday :(


It's been nice to be off - but I don't feel I've taken full advantage of it. Too much mooching about. My hernia is still quite uncomfortable - I'm beginning to wonder if I'm going to need to ask for the op to be brought forward if possible. Soreness much better though.

But I managed to treat myself - it should arrive tomorrow.