Friday feeling

 

Another working week is coming to a close, and its been a busy one, just what I like.

Plans for the weekend include cocktail hour, a whole day to myself and then taking my sister furniture and carpet shopping.

Cricket fixtures came out yesterday and for the first time in years I haven' even looked at them. I am not planning my summer around cricket, I will be fitting cricket into my summer plans. I do know one game that I will be going to but at the moment that is about it 

How times have changed, but then I think the last two years have changed many of us. I know I need to devote more time to me, not exhaust myself racing around the country.

I wont be attending any T20's that is something that I decided a while ago. It will be interesting to support from afar.

I am also starting to plan out my birthday trip in November, after the huge success of Iceland I am considering heading off to another Northern country, there is also a sun filled trip in the mix, I have plenty of time to think about it though,

And off I go across the landing , before I know it, it will be cocktail hour.

Have a great Friday and a cracking weekend.

Thursday already

 

I'm not sure where the week has gone, its Thursday and nearly the end of the week. 

My weeks have changed considerably and as such my mornings are totally different to how they used to be. No more rushing around  to get out of the door at 7am, now I have a more sedate type of morning and that's half the reason I won't be blogging every day ( that and the fact there is not much to blog about).

I am taking time back for me and loving it.

I've set myself up with a whole  new routine, which includes a lovely walk at lunchtime.

Over in Yorkshire they have set up a new routine and regime as they appointed ( as expected) Ottis Gibson as coach, I wish him well and hope that he can pull the team together in time for the start of the season.

Someone who I have never been struck on as I thought he was a touch too smarmy, is Jonathon Agnew. He now appears to be public enemy number one over comments in the press. I am totally against his views. Having watched, 'The Man who bought cricket' and his views on there I was a tad surprised. as I said though, a touch too smarmy for me and  any publicity and all that !!!!

right I'm off across the landing for the day.

Have a good one.

On we go

 

Tuesday and another cold and frosty start here in the north east of blighty. I imagine that we will be having another beautiful day with clear blue skies and sunshine, Its lovely to look out from the office window but I can assure you that on my lunchtime walk it is bitterly cold.

Not much to report here at Maison des Guichets, work is still busy and gaining 1.5 hours in the evening is a revelation, not to mention the mornings.

I see that Otis Gibson is being touted as the keeper of the poison chalice, I am not knocking the club I love, but I am sure that any coach is going to enter the club and instantly be put into restraints. I actually hope that he does come as I have a lot of time for him.

I see that some of the England team were caught mid shenanigans with some of the Australian team.

Good to see some camaraderie between the two teams, but sad that it was seen to be broken up by the police. Now the ECB are going to get involved, my guess that they will fine the players and put the money back into their coffers.

My thoughts on this, if they fine the lads then donate the money to an Alcohol abuse charity, just a thought.

And of course this brings up the  'drinks culture' debate.

I'm one to talk!

have a great day, stay safe.

week 3 begins

 

I'm back again at the start of week 3 in my new job.

I am enjoying my work and very busy, lots to learn and pick up, but I am getting there.

I have a great team and really enjoy afternoons with the American side of the team. 

I actually am also enjoying no rush hour drive, and particularly enjoying sleep.

I will continue to write the blog for the time being, but maybe not everyday.

So what else has been going on ?

Well apart from work I met up with TLML on Saturday we shopped, had a long lunch and also went through our forthcoming trip to Iceland. Its getting so close. A grand day out.

Micky came to stay yesterday and is fast asleep at my side as I am typing this, his Dad is collecting  him shortly.

England lost to Australia ending the series 4-0 down.

I wonder how long it will take for the ECB to realise that by strangling the County Championship they had managed to make out test team look wholly ineffectual. 

Having watched the documentary on Sky ''The Man who bought cricket' it is obvious that money is all that matters to them.

Scrap The Hundred now and give us back proper cricket.

Well time to cross the landing and switch on the laptop.

Have a great day, stay safe and be careful out there it is foggy and icy here.

 

thoughts for Tuesday

 As I was lying in bed this morning listening to the news and realising when most of us were sitting at home on our own, in 2020, the government were allegedly, having BYOB parties.

As my garden now is'nt big enough to hold 100 people, and I was scared half to death by the doom and gloom that was on every news item, there was no way that I was mixing with anyone apart from the three people that I worked with.

I brought my own bottle ever Friday and stayed home tying to keep myself safe.

I have no confidence in any of the political parties at this moment in time, as I said at the time, instead of fighting against each other at the start of the pandemic and since, why didn't they try to work together?

To be honest, I've begun to think that it is all a very poorly performed production, the goodies and the baddies, although which is which I am yet to figure out.

Over in the cricket world, Tom Curran is out for 4 months with a stress fracture in his lower back, at 26 years old I would say that this is not great. 

Yorkshire are being pushed by the ECB to regain their test status by the summer, ah much as love my county I can see that Colin is worried he wont be getting any money!

well I am late posting this as I forgot to push the button at 6am!

Head too full of other things

Have a great day 

Another week begins

 Its been  busy weekend here as there has been more moving around of furniture, trips to the tip and generally sorting out.

I bumped into Mr Funky the Chauffeur on Saturday so we went and had a coffee and a catch up. 

I finished one of the cricket teddies and with one left to do, I am spurred on to get this out of the way.

The garden is looking very wintery and sad, I have a new bench coming soon , so hopefully this might brighten it up a bit. Its just that time of year really, everything looks a little bit jaded.

In cricket, England drew the 4th teste which  halted a possible 5-0 whitewash which I really thought was on the cards.

Moving into the new week, I really don;;t know what it will entail, its a surprise everyday at the moment.

On Friday I do know that I have a virtual tour of  the UK facilities in th morning and the US in the afternoon.

All interesting.

and with that I am off, the blogs seem to be getting shorter everyday.

have a good day whatever you are doing

First week of January where did it go

 Its Friday and the first week of January is nearly done, how quickly its flew by. 

It was also first week of new job, which is always a daunting time.

 Mornings have been spent in training with my colleagues in the UK and afternoons with my colleague and draughtsman in the USA. Its a small team, but we all have our strengths which compliment each other.

I have some work to do over the weekend, (only about an hour) just to get on top of some regulations.

Ah the weekend, not a lot planned so just play it by ear.

Cricket news, JB has just got his century, and at stumps they were 258-7.

Good knock by Stokes and Wood too, but seriously, too late. 

Its a short one this morning as I have a lot to do before heading to the office.

Slow cooker is on as is the washing machine, now to put the recycling out and make a coffee.

Have a great day and enjoy the weekend.

Concorde, cable knits and charity

 

Planning the next couple of the months is very much at the forefront of my mind at the moment, so I am currently sorting out another visit to 'Alpha Charlie'. I will today be hoping to book a technical tour on AC and on a Nimrod. Might as well have double the fun ( if this is your idea of fun).

This may be end of Feb as I hate the drive over the barren wastes of Saddleworth Moor.

I have been asked to do 2 more teddies in cricket sweaters, I said before Xmas that I had done my last one, however if I take it slowly hopefully no flare up of carpel tunnel.

These will be the last as I really need to cut down on a lot of 'extra' things this year ( my resolution).

I am also making a monthly donation to the RNLI. This will the place of my annual charity drive, which over the years has seen me raising funds for Refuge ( Domestic Violence charity) and  last year hosting afternoon teas to raise money for Breast Cancer now.

Most of these have taken a lot of preparation and commitment ( not to mention the 'party bags'), and this year I really need to pull back time for me. Not as selfish as it sounds, but after running myself into the ground over the last year, I just want to catch my breath. I've been seeing a lot over the last few months  about the great work done by  the volunteers of  the RNLI, this is my chosen charity  to donate to.

I will also be making donations to the local charity who helped my garage man Frank. I will never forget seeing his feet disappearing under the plank of wood  nailed to the  old garage!!

 I took some bedding round after I finished work last night, the local shelter is short so the ladies said they would pass these on. Tomorrow its , towels and some spare kitchen things.

its a win/win. they get some much needed things and I get some extra space.

There will also be a one off donation to the Dogs Trust.

So Concorde, cable knits and charity sorted lets look at the cricket news.

Australia batted nearly all day and declared on 416.

England have just had a close shave nearly being 10-1, but got away with it.

Ben Stokes was injured  and it seems he won't be bowling in the remainder of this game.

and with that I am off.

Its midweek in the blink of an eye

 

Well the first day in the new job was over in the blink if an eye, very busy, very full on and lots to learn, you tend to forget what first days/weeks are like.

My work colleagues are all in the realms of 'Teams' and we all communicate that way, I'm used to this from the first lockdown, however this is the new normal for me from now on .

On we go.

Yorkshire announced yesterday that Ryan Sidebottom and Steve Harmison would be  taking up the roles as interim coaches. I have no problem with Ryan, but Harmison, well I hope the interim period is short for him. At least all the Yorkshire players will be told regularly what a great player he is and how good he was. Let's hope he fulfills his role.

Is he really the best for the job?, Is it the right time for Ryan to come back? Are we just trying to plug holes? Can this get us through the season? Are we at rock bottom?

We will see.

I am currently listening to the 60000th test match ( well it sort of feels like that) and there is much excitement by the commentators that England have taken 3 wickets. to be honest lads its a little bit too late.

Well time to head across the landing, the upside of this job is that I get to go home for lunch! 

Ohhh, cricket may be rained off again and score is 126-3

Have a good day.

Lets do this

 

So its the big day and time to get settled in the new home office ( pic above is the first version, we are now on the 3rd version, its a long and very boring story).

Time to step up to the mark and take on my role as 'Change Analyst ' as I am to be known in America! Here in the UK I am part of a team of Doc Controllers all with our own little section!

Hair washed, slap on an ready to go.

Now about my man in the garage.

Before Christmas he was found a place in a shelter  and was given some money and clothes etc. Before he left the garage for his new home, I gave him a bag of toiletries and towels, hoping that they would be useful.

Yesterday afternoon as I was walking past the food bank/charity, who did a huge amount to help him get off the street ( or out of the garage), someone shouted me, I turned to see a man smiling and waving. He was clean shaven, short cut hair and I had no idea who he was..............well yes obviously it was the garage man ( Frank).

I went over to chat and ended up having a cup of tea. It turns out he is doing really well. He has  been helped to get a room in a house share and so very soon will have a permanent  address, at the moment he is doing some driving and helping with the charity who feed him for his efforts, and he has an interview for a job next week, so the ladies at the charity were sorting out some smart clothes for him.

I have to say that their help has nearly got him right  back on his feet and he is starting the new year with renewed hope.

Baby steps but he is getting his life slowly back together.

I need to get myself together and head off across the landing to work!

Have a great day.

A quick look back.

 I would normally do a month by month review of my year, but to be honest I think that 2021, like 2020, is better off skimmed over.

That's not to say that its been all doom and gloom, I've been at rock bottom most of the year, both physically and mentally exhausted, but have been able to spend a lot of time, once we were allowed,  mingling with friends.

So lets start.

Like everyone here in the UK, the early part of the year was spent in lockdown. My sister was released from hospital and I set about being meals on wheels, well it kept me out of mischief!!

I set aside an hour every Friday evening for cocktail hour and have continued this right through the year.

By May we were out of lockdown and I was in full entertaining mode and using all my treasured china, I had my oldest friends round for afternoon tea, it was wonderful, we've been friends since infant school and with over 200 years combined ages we had a glorious afternoon.

I also had my friends little brown dog, Micky to stay, and he came to stay a lot this year, keeping me company and getting me out and about on our walks, which in the evening usually ended at the local brewery or gin factory!

June saw me getting very excited as I was heading to HQ to watch cricket, well T20. It was Yorkshire v Durham, I was staying at The Lodge and it was great to see Helen and Jess, things seemed a little bit normal, yes very normal, it flipping well started raining in the afternoon and the game was called off without a ball being bowled. The disappointment, the hangover ( I over did cocktail hour), the expense!

However, a message came through and the following day I stopped off in Wetherby and had lunch and a wander around with TLML and TLMLM. This has led to monthly meet up for TLML which is something that I very much  look forward to.

July saw me heading off to stay with my lovely friends Carole and Philip, what a fabulous weekend, including a visit to Wentworth Woodhouse..

The weekend was over in the blink of an eye, but it was so good to see Yorkshire looking so wonderful.

August came and I got to see Yorkshire take on Sussex at Chester le Street  (due to the made up game being played at Headingley).

Sussex won and were off to finals day along with Kent and TLJL. He had been having a brilliant season.

September was on us quickly and, Kent were T20 champs.

I headed off to Scarborough to see all three of my lads playing.  Silly prices for apartments and hotels nearly finished this trip before it started but thanks to the  lovely Martin, Alison and Lily ( and the girls), I stayed in a beautiful house, in an idyllic village just outside Scarborough. Peace and quiet and fresh eggs for brekkie thanks to the girls, what more could you ask for?

I had lunch with TLML and TLMLM, seeing the lads and also everyone's favourite umpire. being recognised by some of  The Victoria Cricket Club. Meeting Mr and Mrs Revis too. What a few days.

One the last day I was totally surprised when TLML turned up with Afternoon tea, just the most amazing time.

September  saw my curls finally disappear, where they have gone is anyone's guess, so it was time to rock the straight hair !   

I booked to go on holiday for my birthday and was massively excited!

October was just another month struggling through work, I secured a job but they were unable to give me a start date.

Yorkshire contacted me to say that I couldn't sponsor my 3 lads again ( which was a shame as I was hoping to add another to Team Lainey )

The shit hit the fan at Yorkshire big style and then it was November.

I headed off to spend my birthday in Reykjavik, all organised by the lovely Dale, who sorted it all out for me.

I had such a wonderful time that I knew I would go back  (and I am). It was one of the most amazing countries that I have ever been to. Stunningly, starkly, beautiful with the friendliest people.

I cannot wait to go back in March.

Best birthday ever.

I was still interviewing  for jobs as I have no date to start for the original job. I had not received a contract or any information.

I was offered 2 other job in this time and chose to go to work for an American company. I start tomorrow.

Had  our 'Christmas do' in Northallerton with TLML

Finished work in 17th and had a massive tour to catch up with friends.

York with the Leanings

Matfen with the Jones's and Eric

Ponteland with James Bond 

home and Christmas.

New Years Eve was lovely, as in a totally grown up and mature moment I had lunch with Martin and Alison and Lily, check me out!!!! trying to be all grown up, instead of partying the night away and ended up sleeping on the toilet floor!!!

And now its  nearly  the start of my new job.

I'm excited and looking forward to it.

And with that I am signing off 2021.

Its 2022  and its going to be an absolute cracker.

Happy New Year to you all.