No internet. Phone crap. Post just about honoured.

Sorry!

I'm too tired tonight.
Sorry.
Good thing... good thing... good thing...
I have tea.

Yeah - that will do.

Another day at work and another day of oddness...

Breakdowns in the machinery mean I wasn't actually producing, but instead had a good cleaning session and removed some redundant plant from an area we no longer use that was attracting vermin.
Then, as I am owed a load of hours, I went and asked the boss if I could leave early - I couldn't produce anything, and... why not??
He agreed. I was almost floored with surprise.
I legged it at the earliest opportunity.

Sadly, Ginger Ninja called me to say that he has a problem with his eye and is having an operation tomorrow morning. He will be off for 4-6 weeks and unable to work normal duties for some time after that.
Great.

Ah well. I didn't let it spoil my evening. I dozed off during the Archers, had plenty to eat, and am in bed, with the Internet restored, and planning to sleep shortly!

Posting from my phone, fingers crossed it doesn't put my number up on the page.
Bad day. Boy was distracted by the joys of Uni life, and couldn't talk because of it, work is likely to try to hit me with even more work, and I don't want to go home whilst at the same time being desperate to run home to hide...
Good? Billy Bragg on the radio, playing live. Polari jokes with a friend on Facebook... Bona!

Its morning. I'm really cold, as the duvet thief struck in the night and I was left with about 2ft of duvet covering my 6'3 frame.
Time to get them out of bed and moving...

Bye for now!

Wifey's in tears.
We've had champagne, lasagne, salad.
We watched a film, it Kicked Ass... It was "Kick Ass", in fact.
Its suddenly hit her that he's not going on holiday, he's leaving.
I'm trying hard not to cry.
Strangely disconnected day.
I've only just realised it's Saturday.
No internet at the digs. I probably wont be able to update this blog for a few days. Sorry about that, I'm dissapointed to say the least.
We watched a film, it Kicked Ass... It was "Kick Ass", in fact.

I might not make it...

I'm trying to post every day until the end of October, but I realise that I might not make it this weekend.
I've got 6 long drives to do over two and a half days, work, a son to pack off to university, a wife to calm down after she freaks out that she's all alone, and... that's just the stuff I know about!
So I guess that I might just miss a day, or two, or even three.
Apologies are proffered in advance, and I hope you don't mind too much if it comes to pass. Sometimes life gets in the way.

I'm a bit antsy, truth be told. Not only is him leaving home affecting me more than I ever thought it would, I am getting more nervous every time I leave here, and I get worse every time I come back.

Oh, and last night I upset Wifey. We were eating dinner and I realised that not only does her jaw crack and click in a horrible grinding way (something that has been happening for several months but she insists there is nothing wrong and wont consider seeing the doctor) but she has started eating with her mouth open.
Really open.
Last night I couldn't take it and spoke out. She looked shocked, but closed her mouth.
"Does your jaw hurt? Is that why you are chewing so loudly?" I asked
She said not, in a somewhat hurt way - almost as if to say I shouldn't have mentioned it if I loved her.

Love has a limit and eating with your mouth wide open and so loudly I can't hear the telly is definitely on the other side of that limit.

The power has been out all day. So I've been mooching around trying to figure out what I can do. I ended up in a layby in the wilds reading a book.
I enjoyed it immensely!

Another day of little sleep, and long drives...

And another eveing where everyone has gone out and left me alone at the keyboard.
Only one thing for it! Online gambling!

See you when I'm broke.

Bad - long night and got woken up at noon by the landlady's new cleaner.
Good - There's a new cleaner!

Today I have a vast amount to do before work at 6pm tonight.
Hence, there is a post on my blog, this is it, and that is(almost) it.

Good - slept later than usual.
Bad - not feeling too well, but can't give in to it today.

Sunday has been a slow day.
Number One went out last night so I was left all on my lonesome. Wasn't the best evening I've ever had. Spent time just dully running through stuff on my game, and feeling a bit crap.
He made me dinner before he went out, as he was going for a pizza with a friend who is at college already and going to study in Italy for 18 months. Pasta, broccoli, cheese and chili wouldn't have been my ideal choice - but fair play to him, it wasn't half bad! At least I know he wont starve at uni.

Apparently the boss was making 'those who didn't turn up are in the firing line' noises yesterday. Ah well, if it happens, it happens. I'm trying not to worry about it. By which I mean I'm screwing myself up into a ball of psychotic tension...

Panic attack in Tesco again. Really have to get a grip on that. Its going to get embarrassing soon...

Still - steak, baked taters, mushrooms and cauliflower cheese for dinner. Better see if the kitchen is fit for cooking in...

Despite several pints of cider last night after we got in, I was fine and dandy this morning. More than can be said for Number One Son. He didn't find it amusing that I found it amusing.
I'm wasting today just chilling... playing on the net, bit of writing, bimbling around, waffling, and generally enjoying it.

Bad stuff? Yeah, its there, I'm just ignoring it for now, and I'm enjoying that too.

The Law is an ass.

Two pints of bitter please
Has he got any ID?
He's going to university next week...
I can't serve him.
Are you kidding?
No.
I'm not drinking that pint then, and you've lost the price of 2 meals, which mean he's legally allowed to drink wine or beer at 14.
I'll get the manager.
Too late, bye.

We left and went to another pub that was glad of our business and didn't piss about with asking for ID.

We've had a visit from Bottom Inspectors at work. (reference to Viz comic, not actual proctologists or anything. That would be weird.)

A few chickens have come home to roost. In fact, the audit was so bad there may be job losses as a result of contracts being cancelled. Best of all the bosses have nowhere to hide. True, some errors were due to us, but the massive structural problems are down to them to fix. I'm not a builder, so I can't repair the massive cracks in the floor.

Anyway - I got home after my night work of the last few days, a pleasant drive down one motorway and up another. I got in, put the kettle on and realised there was a message from the Ginger Ninja on my phone. Wifey had said "I bet Ginger is on the phone before you get home." when I called to let her know I was leaving.
The message went "Hello Big Boy!" (No, really it did... He's a sad, strange little man!) "Pointy Haired Boss is on the rampage, everyone has to do extra hours. Gimme a call before he does!"
I thought two things. 1 - Nope, I've done way more hours than everyone else for the last few months, I'm not doing any more. And 2 - Nope! I've done way more hours than everyone else for the last few months, I'm not doing any more.

Barely had this crossed my mind than the house phone started ringing. I saw the number and recognised work's number. It could be Ginger I thought, or Pointy Haired Boss. Despite not wishing to talk to either, I answered and it was PHB.
"The fallout from the audit has got worse. I need as many as possible to work over this weekend. Even guys on holiday are coming in. What can you do over the weekend?" He said.
"Nothing. We're going away in the morning. I had this discussion with you a few days ago when The Raja was sick. I could work a few hours on Thursday, but we are away from Friday morning until Monday morning."
"Ah" he said, succinctly.

Ah well, I don't believe in the Seven Deadly Sins, so a lie or two isn't going to bother me. Wifey is going away, but I'm not. I just don't want to drive over 100miles to do work for no extra pay. I want to spend a weekend with Number One Son before he goes to College.

And I fully intend to do just that.

Bad - Screwed up at work.
Good - Might have fixed it enough to avoid getting into too much trouble.
Bad - Have to lie about my weekend away.
Good - Not going on a weekend away!
Bad - errr, that's it for now...
Good - Sick staff member coming back so no stupid shifts to work.
Bad - Nope still nothing...
Good - Oh, that's it there too.

I'm off to bed.

That was a long, difficult night.
I'm hoping tonight is going to be a little easier... Probably not, but one has to hope.
But to quote from the film Clockwise - "It's not the despair. I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand."

Bad things? Its never proper sleep, and the trip to work looms
Good things - Made the cute girl in the bookshop "proper laugh", and the woman in the bakery offered me "A couple of big ones" when I asked for two scones... Couldn't help myself!

Gah - driving to do, keyed up again, long night ahead!

Good - I fixed a tap. Not exactly manly, but better than usual, going to get some money back.
Bad - have to return a set of spanners before I leave.

In an attempt to break Blogger's Block I'm going to try to post every day until the end of October.
Most of the posts will be short, and not very informative, but I'm hoping that the process of writing something will cause more inspiration to come. You never know unless you try.

I've decided that every day must contain a "good thing" and most will contain a " bad thing" - which will probably be more in evidence, but again, You never know unless you try.

So... Bad thing - Everyone is still in bed, people I want to chat with are busy with their lives and I can't annoy people too much (or enough!) I'm feeling sorry for myself and fed up.
Good thing. Proper coffee. A lie in. Its Sunday and I'm not working.

Lots of long days at work culminated in an email at about noon yesterday with the guy who was coming in for the night take over from me which read "I have a sore foot and is not abel to come for duty."
He's Indian, and while he's intelligent and hard working, his English is dreadful. Odd consonants get added to words - but only sometimes. He often spells mixer as mikxer, but not always... Its weird.
Anyway - that throws my day in the air. If he isn't coming in I need to get everything done by 6pm. Well, of course, nothing goes to plan. The tank is pumping out much slower than it should. I consider showering and changing while it finishes before going back to finish off in my civvies. I realise, however, that I will just get covered in the crap from the tank and will have to drive home with my jeans stuck to me leg in a nasty way. When I empty the tank I get covered, both legs, knee to ankle. About the only good call I make all day. I eventually stagger out of the door at 7:30 and head onto the road home.
The road home is paved with nutters. Its a stressful drive, but it passes, eventually.

I keep trying to find the time, energy, and the words to write how I feel at the moment.
But I can't.

Sorry.

I feel better today. Very tired after a long work day, but mostly in a good way.

The moods are really swinging... Which is not something I like.
The drive up to the digs gave me something to take my mind off the situation and I felt calmer.
But even with that I'm still feeling butterflies in my stomach, skittish and nervous.

Still, I need a shave, a shower and an early night to stand a chance of getting up for work.

I'm a failure as per usual.
The toolbox is completely empty.
Looked for an hour, couldn't even find a screwdriver.
They've gone out, I've got to get ready to go to my digs.
I feel as bad as I ever have at this moment.

Dammit. Why doesn't it get better instead of just coming back all the time?

Visits, tantrums and more.

So... the day began predictably enough. Promises to be out of the door at a certain time are reneged upon and we leave for a 90minute drive with 55minutes to spare.
Predictably, again, the motorway system is crap and we arrive 25minutes late.
Its a model village near London and we meet up with Yankee Boy and American Mom and the offspring as they haven't seen Number1 Son or Wifey this visit.
I'm stressed because of the drive and because I hate being late, but we are there, eventually.
We chat, have an ice cream, wander round look at the exhibits, explain some to the American offspring, and Number 1 Son. So far so good.
I get a message from LBJ, but don't pass it on immediately, for reasons that will become clear later... And the kids play on the slides, climbing frames, etc. This is when it begins.
Stroppy Boy becomes very stroppy. He's moaning about everything and starting to get mean. I give him a couple of quid to play on a boat thing that costs £1. He goes of with American Mom. The girls play on, happily.
Its decided we should head back to the home base and regroup.
Stroppy Boy returns and demands more money from me and Wifey. No chance, pal. He kicks off with YB and AM. They threaten sanctions and the girls are collected. YB avoids the gift shop, but AM goes in with Stroppy Boy. He is demanding a car. AM says no, he freezes in the shop, folds his arms like a genie and refuses to move until her gets a car. I move through and ignore him.
Outside YB has Oldest Girl and New Arrival. I tell him about the text from LBJ, he makes all the right 'ahhh' noises. AM arrives with Stroppy Boy "He wants a car". Soon after, he gets a car.
We get back to the home base and park up, wander in a park. Stroppy Boy and Oldest girl want to go on everything they see... inflatables, trampolines, crazy golf. Stroppy Boy is fuming every time he is told no.
We find a Nando's and order food. New Arrival is baling and tired so AM walks her in the pram. Stroppy Boy is a pain, but food is ordered, paid for and we wait.
Finally it arrives, and nothing is right. Meals have the wrong sides, or none at all, the wrong dressings, unordered food is offered... The manager comps the lot to us. Except that it has to be at that branch. So we give vouchers to the Older Brother's family. Damn.
On the walk back I decide to try something. "Hey, American Mom, LBJ said 'Hi' to everyone..." I say. She doesn't react. Not a flicker. Nothing.
I ask Wifey a little later if she noticed. Maybe YB said something earlier? But she'd have said 'yeah - YB told me...' right? All agree. She heard and blanked it.

'Even I can't spin that to a positive.'

We return to the place they are staying. They have baby sitters and we deposit the kids, make a minor running repair on my car new and alarming rattle, and head to the pub where a jolly if, in my case, sober evening is had.
Near the end of the night AM says 'we know so few happily married couples like you' - I almost bit my tongue in two...

Oh, and Oldest Girl was a little stroppy, but she's 9, jet-lagged and was barely any trouble at all. Hard to believe, but its true!
Similar for New Arrival.
But Stroppy Boy.... damn he lived up to the nickname. What a pain he was... which is a shame because I know he can be great.