| (no subject) |
[Dec. 18th, 2008|11:04 am] |
Hey there, thought I'd do an update here, as I am shocked again that I haven't updated since May!!
Plenty has happened as usual, but as I have seen most of you, it will be a summary!
- There was a second 90th Birthday party - this time of of my volunteer friends: Stan.
- There were 5 TREC competitions for Darcy and I (coming 1st, 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th), and overall 6th in the national league - yay :)
- Diving on the South Coast at Swanage, Weymouth and Portland - going through the Durdle Door was the highlight!
- Many trips to Rollerworld - the most amazing cheesy place in Colchester! And several trips Ice-skating along the same theme!
- A few trips to buffet Chinese - mmmmm
- Long weekend at Elvedon Center Parcs - subtropical swimming paradise still amazing!
- Several drunken nights out in Colchester with great friends :) :)
- Extreme fundraising events: Abseiling down the side of a hospital, Bungee jumping off a HUGE crane at the pub and a 5k Fun Run
- Extreme holiday: Cycling London - Paris in 3 days, what an experience!
- Diving on the East Coast in Norfolk, beautiful setting, and excellent scaring of fishermen!
- Saw many live bands (Kaisers, Scouting 4 Girls, Amy Winehouse, Zutons, Wurzels) and of course 'The Feeling' 3 times more (Newmarket, V-Festival, Southend).
- Made lots of celebratory cakes, and received the best in return!
- Again had a brilliant week on Isle of Arran with amazing people :)
- Learnt that I have inherited my mum's ability to face-paint (ladybirds a speciality!)
- Got to 2 Theme Parks - Thorpe Park & Terra Mitica
- Holiday at the villa in Spain - great times despite the rain!
- Many visits to many parts of the country to see friends (York, Bristol, Bournemouth, Maidenhead, Crowthorne to name a few!)
- An amazing Diving holiday in Egypt :) :) :)
- A great weekend in the Peak District meeting other BTCV people from across the country
- Wearing a dress!!!
- And of course lots and lots of time spent working to be able to afford all of the above!!
And that really takes me to where I am today......
A few things happening before the end of the year, including Christmas Parties, more birthdays, more work and moving house in my spare time!
Hope everyone else had such a great year, and is looking forward to the future.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Everybody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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| Happy Leap Day! |
[Feb. 29th, 2008|10:33 am] |
Hello - happy 29th of February, only comes along every 4 years (bit like my journal posts!).
Well, haven't given you an update for a while, since before christmas I think, which seems a long time ago now. Had a different christmas, working in the pub, then went off to see some friends in the evening, but was good :) Then New Year in Kent was great, there was a chocolate fountain - mmmmmmm!
Since then there has been lots of BTCV, including scrub bashing, coppicing, tree felling, pond clearance and tree planting - all the winter usuals, and mostly including big bonfires, my favourite :) Of course there was Alfrick and Annette's fantastic food (some of which warranted thirds!), and catching up with people I haven't seen in years :) There has been bowling, pub, films, and food with friends closer to home. The most notable was pancake day, when I managed to have pancakes for breakfast, lunch and dinner - a new record! There has been scuba training for the upcoming diving season, and land rover fixing, just because it needs doing!
Two weeks ago was farewell to my brother Sam, who is off travelling with two friends around Asia/Philippines/Malaysia/Austrailia - and recent reports back sound fantastic! Last weekend was spent catching up with family in Yorkshire, which was brilliant, as haven't seen them for over a year (note to self, must visit the north more often!). This weekend I intend to spend some time with Darcy and Patch, and of course BTCV! Darcy has been to two shows so far this year, coming 1st, 1st, 2nd and 3rd in her classes, which is pretty good, and I'm very pleased about :)
Things that are planned for the coming year are a visit to Bristol to see the Feeling (yay!), Grandad's 90th birthday, Dive Trips to Swanage, Weymouth and Egypt!!!!, a surprise visit to Ireland, volunteer Stan's 90th birthday, many more horse shows, Arran holiday and Theme Park Holiday - phew! Sounds like its going to be good :) :) |
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| so close, yet so far! |
[Sep. 13th, 2007|08:22 am] |
Ok, I am definitely shamed that I haven't updated for so long (3 months!). Most of you know I haven't died, as I have been busy seeing you all :) So much has happened in the last few months, I won't go through it all.
The new job at the Wildlife Trust is going very well, I'm still enjoying it, and makes me feel very improtant and responsible. Although as I am spending more time at my desk being given biscuits, have noticed my tummy getting bigger, so will have to get into training methinks! Most people at the trust are very lovely and helpful, but there are a few that are resistant to change, like most workplaces.
Darcy is happy, as she is getting an easy life at the moment, as with my other committments, she is being ridden less. However we have been able to get out to a few shows, and been successful. Two weeks ago a few of us from the yard went to Burghley Horse Trials, for the friday & saturday. There was much horse related shopping, much watching of the water jumps (not as good as the badminton ones!), and good company. Was lovley to get away for a couple of days, and introduce some of my friends to the concept of camping (not sure they appreciated it!).
I have now finished my scuba-diving training, and am awaiting my first open water dives in just over a weeks time - scary! Going to an old quarry called Gildenburgh, where apparently they have sunk lots of interesting things to look at: double decker bus, airoplane, cars etc. Am a bit scared, but am sure it will be good, will be nice to be out of the swimming pool at last! Patch (my land rover) is going strong, no breakdowns yet, am very impressed with his performance, and hope to do some more modifications soon (winch, roll cage, rock sliders etc.)
I have got two holidays coming up, the first in 8 days time, with my friend David, we are going on a bit of a road trip/theme park tour! Planning on visiting Alton Towers, Blackpool Pleasure Beach, then on to Thorpe Park with everyone for Ruths birthday weekend. I'm really excited, I hope David can put up with my car singing (He already said i'm not allowed to bring Disney, but I'll find a way to sneak it in!). Then in october I'm leading a BTCV natural break in the Lake District, near Windermere. In charge of volunteers doing usual conservationy stuff: coppicing, fencing, path building etc. I made sure the accommodation had a log burning fire beforehand, so plenty of marshmallows will be packed!
There is lots of other stuff going on in my life, am still working in the pub a few nights a week, and still going out with BTCV whenever I can. This weekend I am co-driving for my land rove mechanic in an off-road challenge in sussex somewhere, so won't get much rest and relaxation - never mind, you have to live life! The only other news is that my family's house in Birch is on the market at the moment, bit sad to see it go, its seen some good times, and it means I won't have a bolt hole if everything goes wrong, but it had to be done. In case you didn't know my parents split up about three months ago, things seem to be getting easier for everyone now, but it was a bit of a shock. I just want both of them to be happy.
Anyway, must get off to work now, hours are quite flexible, so I won't get into trouble, but best not to push the boundaries while I'm still in probabtionary period.
Bye for now :) |
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| much that is good.... |
[Jun. 16th, 2007|01:24 am] |
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| |  happy | ] |
Well, my first week in a new job is good! Have spent lots of time meeting people, and visiting the reserves, which has been great! I know it won't be like this all the time, but the small amount of information I have gained about the actual job sounds very interesting, and quite powerful - ooooh! I have my office all set up now, and my computer is all singing all dancing.
The Land rover has been behaving too - no breakdowns yet! There are a few glitches that hopefully I can fix tomorrow, but nothing major :) Diving was good this week, I was 1 to 1 with an instructor, so got lots of practice, and got more confident. I also went out with people from my old work for leaving drinks, had a great night, and I will be sad to leave all of them behind. But lots of exciting new things are just around the corner :)
I've just got home from working in the pub, and as you can probably gather, can't sleep yet, it always takes a while to wind down. I have a busy weekend ahead, lots of running around to do yesterday for car and horse, then going out with friends for dinner and drinks to celebrate new job! Sunday I am taking Darcy to a horse show, which should be fun.
Anyway, must sleep now - night night. |
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| YAY YAY YAY !!! |
[Jun. 7th, 2007|11:39 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | ecstatic | ] |
Hello - I had to write another entry this week, as I can't contain myself! My Landy passed its MOT today, so now I have a car that works!! I'm picking it up tomorrow :) Also got a letter from Natwest today, with a rather large cheque attached (claiming back penalty charges), so am very excited, as I can pay my bills now!
The first aid course had been going well, lots to remember for the assessment tomorrow, but apparently the pass rate is 99.9%, so unles I do something completely random, I should get my shiny certificate.
Just come home from the pub shift, it was good tonight to see everyone (I've had 2 weeks off!), and they're all looking forward to seeing my new form of transport tomorrow! Diving on tuesday night was excellent to, I joined a different group, with a different instructor, who was much better, and made everything fun, not so serious as the last one, so I enjoyed it more :)
Anyway must go and get some sleep now, to get up for the early train tomorrow. |
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| Its all coming together....... |
[Jun. 4th, 2007|10:41 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Hello,
Busy as usual lately, but I'll try and update you on the happenings!
I was very disappointed and sad to have to miss Fawlty Towers in Grantham, I had to stay in the workshop on the saturday to continue fixing my land rover, as it becomes ever closer to the deadline, then I went on a cross-country riding clinic (water jump very exciting!). Then sunday I had to drive the conservation bus. We were putting in some waymarker posts, the weather was awful, and it was very difficult to get people motivated to go back out into the rain to finish after lunch! So even if I had made it to Grantham I would probably have been late to the show, then have to leave early to make it home again. So I sent my stand-ins (mum and her sister), who very much enjoyed the performance!!
Bank holiday monday was spent in the workshop again, this time Dad was helping me, and we managed to sort out the brakes, some of the interior, and get the vehicle out of the workshop and onto a trailer ready to take to the garage the next day. So it was delivered to the 4x4 garage (run by an off-roading friend of mine), where it still resides. It was the best decision to get it finished off properly, I don't have the time or expertise to complete the project, and I desperately need a vehicle asap for the impending new job! I have been up there to help with it almost every day since it went, so I'm not completely out of the loop, but it gives me confidence to know that a professional eye is being cast, and it will work, and be safe!
Tuesday evening I was given a trade ticket to the Colchester Beer Festival, and not one to turn down something for free, I went with a friend. I had 1.5 pints of various Ciders and Perries, which were surprisingly yummy! Although they made me a bit drunk, me not being used to alcohol!
Then wednesday last week I went on a conservation residential leadership course, so now I can officially lead BTCV holidays all over the country, and therefore go on them for free! yay! Then thursday was the big wedding day of my best friend Christine, and David. It was a fantastic day and night, and I wore a dress for most of it! Highlights were playing 'my little ponies' with the other bridesmaid (5 years old), Pimms on arrival at the reception, being stuffed with delicious food and dancing to many favourites such as 'build me up buttercup' and 'footloose' !!
Saturday I woke early to get Darcy ready for a show, we got a 1st, 4th and 6th in various classes, and had a lovely photo (see new userpic!). Then saturday night I drove up to Corby, to meet with off-roading peoples, camped out on a hotel room floor, then sunday watched a challenge event that some friends were competing in. (I had 5 things booked in to do at home on sunday, so decided to escape for once, and relax!). My friends came 11th, bout halfway up the points table, not too bad, but they had fun, and I managed to get covered in mub just spectating!
Today I have been sorting Darcy out, going up to the garage to help with the car, washing up (2 weeks worth was piled high!), washing clothes and buying food. All things that have been forgotten lately, so now my life is in slightly more order. Now I must get to sleep (I would say bed, but I'm already in it!), as for the next 4 days I am joining the commuters to London, as I'm going on a first aid course at BTCV in Kings Cross, so I have the sweaty busy underground to look forward to - joy :)
p.s. Starting new job a week today - yipee!! Also landy should be going for its MOT on wednesday - double yipee!! |
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| (no subject) |
[May. 20th, 2007|06:17 pm] |
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| | happy | ] |
Well, I've been a busy bee lately (no surprise there then!), but am very happy with my new job to look forward to! I even signed the contract on friday :) so no going back! I have been frantically working on my land rover, as my new job doesn't come with a car, so the option of least money (which is the most preferable) is to finish my project, which has been going for about a year now. It's almost there, just the fiddly little things to finish off, like electrics, I was very happy when the engine went brum on wednesday :) and can't wait to ride in my pride and joy, although it won't be much to look at for a while, as paint job is not top of the priority list! (there are patches of blue, yellow, black and white so far!)
I have been spending so much time on the car, that I'm afraid Darcy has had a bit of a holiday. She got moved onto her new summer field on saturday, and is now knee high in grass - mmmmmmm! Must give her some work this week, as I'm going to a cross-country training lesson on saturday pre-fawlty towers! Last sunday at BTCV was wet! Got absolutely soaked whilst building a boardwalk, but was fun anyway! Then today we planted lots of wildflowers in the sunshine :) I'm starving hungry right now, (not eating since yesterday tea not a good idea), so am looking forward to dinner at mum's house, which is home-made pizza (dough by me!(well - my breadmaker!)). Then I think I shall collapse into bed for a well deserved sleep.
Last night was my friend Christine's hen night. We went to danbury outdoor centre for the afternoon, (assault course, high ropes and mountain biking), then a take-away picnic at her house, and onto Escape nightclub afterwards. I'm not usually one for clubs, too loud to talk, but there were some male pole dancers, which made things more acceptable! Although I could have done without the 3.30am bedtime. Never mind, I wasn't drinking (well - only red bull!) as I offered to be taxi, so didn't have too much trouble getting up this morning. But I wasn't helped as my discovery decided to get a flat tyre on the way to Colchester this morning, so I had to change the tyre at the side of the road, which made me late picking up the minibus and volunteers, but they didn't notice too much!
Anyway, I must go and see to the dough, and try and find Charlie, as he seems to have gone on his own adventure somewhere, and isn't back for his tea yet! |
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| New Job !!! |
[May. 9th, 2007|01:19 pm] |
| [ | mood |
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Hiya,
I have a new job!!! yay!!! Had the interview yesterday morning, which seemed to go well, then I was rewarded and was offered it today!!! Its with Essex Wildlife Trust, the title is Haven Gateway / M11 officer. It involves maintaining green spaces in the area, consulting with planners, developers and councillors about any new wildlife areas that could be created, and basically campaigning for the environment! There is a fair amount of travelling involved, so am going to have to get my arse in gear to get my defender finished so I have transport! I'm soooooooo excited (as Ruth would say!), its sounds like a really interesting challenge, and I get a pay rise :)
Other than that news, have been pretty busy with newt survey work, and pub work. Had a brilliant time at Badminton Horse Trials on saturday, a lovely day on conservation sunday, then an early morning monday to listen to the dawn chorus at 4am! Then onto a horseshow, where we got a 5th rosette, then working in the pub. Spent most of tuesday sleeping, as I was severely lacking!
Anyway, I must go in to work now, some newts need counting tonight, and I have to sort out giving in my notice etc. YAY!! |
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| Great Crested Newts are evil........ |
[Apr. 23rd, 2007|10:31 pm] |
Hiya,
Yet again I've been too busy to eat and sleep, let alone update journal! Well never mind, this is my first night in for two weeks, and it was meant to be an early one, but things never turn out how you intend! I am now part of the ecology department at work so I am deployed to carry out surveys, which is more interesting than landfill sites, but the hours are a lot worse! Nasty newts have decided to be nocturnal, so surveys/trapping has to take place last thing at night (4pm-11pm) and first thing in the morning (6am-9am), which doesn't leave much time for eating or sleeping, or having a life! And of course we are working nice and close to home (not), in Sussex near Tunbridge Wells, so that involves staying away from tuesday to thursday - doh! The pub has also been very busy lately, so nothing is very restful!
Never mind, I have lots of lovely things to look forward to - have booked tickets for fawlty towers, badminton horse trials and the feeling gig in westonbirt arboretum! Also got some horse shows planned for Darcy to look forward to. I am doing a cross-country competition on sunday, although we're not quite up to badminton standard :) I will be happy if we get around clear. I have also written to my bank asking for my money back from nasty charges, and I have done some work on my land rover project (all brake pipes finished and rear tub on!) so its closer to completion - yay! However I haven't been on on task with BTCV since before easter, so feeling a bit guilty about that, but think I just need some time to do the things I want for a bit. I have 2 job applications to fill in tomorrow morning with essex wildlife trust, not sure if I'll have a chance, but its worth a try!
Anyway, enough for now :) |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 11th, 2007|10:46 pm] |
Well, I;m back, and I'm burned!! Skiing was great, there was snow blizzards on the first day, which made trying to relearn how not to fall over more difficult, but the next 4 days were all beautiful sunshine :) Therefore my face burned, and is only just feeling more human again! There was much snow, pizza, crepes, chocolat chaud and baguettes. But I'm very glad to be home again, and so was Darcy :)
Mum cooked a roast dinner tonight, my first one since christmas, and it went down very well. Followed by apple and strawberry crumble and custard - mmmmmmmm! It went some way to make up for the presentation I had to endure at work, about the company who has just bought up the one I work for. I am really not interested in how many billions of pounds they intend to make, and how many far flung countries we could work in, all I know for sure at the moment is that they are stopping the use of company cars for private mileage, and they gave us a fleece jacket. I'd say that was a pretty poor swap, considering how much the car means to me - living in the middle of nowhere! So needless to say I was pretty annoyed when they kept stating how much they value their employees. I really dislike the anonymity and profit-driven motivations of large multinationals, give me a small local company to work for any day (except now I have no choice). Maybe it will get better, but I will still be scouring the job market for other opportunities.
Anyway, I've got work in the pub on thursday and friday nights, then working on my land rover project saturday, then out with friends saturday night, dressage at the stables on sunday, then maybe meeting with some BTCVers sunday night, to apologise for not volunteering during the day! Then back to work monday - at least no car means I have to get on my bike, so pray there will be no rain! |
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| that was the weekend that was....... |
[Mar. 27th, 2007|10:56 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Well, most of my movements this weekend have been documented already! It was busy busy, but worth it, seeing lots of people, especially ones theat I haven't seen for a long time :)
On friday I had a day off work, which was supposed to be 'my' day to sort out those little jobs that really need doing every so often like washing, cleaning, washing-up, tack cleaning, dog walking etc. but as usual, all plans went out the window! As I was quietly catching up with some paperwork, an incident at the stables was unfolding. A rider from the next-door neighbour stables fell off his horse as they were on our track, so there was slight panic as he remained unconscious. So I was required to run back and forth with blankets/people/horses until the air ambulance arrived, and the situation dealt with (The rider has since had the OK). So I had litte time to prepare Darcy and myself for the One Day Event on saturday morning. The evening was spent working in the pub, then it was up early saturday to finish getting ready and go off to the show. Unfortunately we were eliminated in the Cross-Country phase, as there was a particularly nasty skinny fence, which Darcy took exception to, but it was all good experience! Then it was a quick change and off up to Bristol.
There was much cake, theatre, friends and Wii, and then up early sunday (well felt early due to nasty BST!!) to meet with housemate Joe, and then to Allys games (Yay for Jungle Speed and Pitch Car :). And back home for another quick change, and off to work at the pub. Luckily the landlord Mark took pity on me, and ordered us both a takeaway dinner, which was greatfully received after all the drinkers had been chucked out! Monday morning I packed my bags, for two days of newt and reptile surveys in Sussex. Not much sleep was had due to the nocturnal activities of amphibians, then it was back home this afternoon, fix the car, see the mum, and off to Scuba lectures this evening.Am now very sleepy, and about to set my alarm ridculously early tomorrow for a day trip to lovely Dorset (well - as lovely as a landfill site can get!!), but at least I get to say hello to Ruth, and I don't have to rush back for anything!
Looking forward to another packed weekend this time round, who needs sleep and regular meals anyway! |
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| busy.... |
[Mar. 17th, 2007|12:47 pm] |
Hello!
Well, my newt work has not gone to plan this week - it was cancelled because the night temperatures were too cold for them to come out and play! Never mind, have been busy with normal work in their absence.
It has been a hectic week, monday night I went to a talk by the wildlife trust about our local heathland - interesting, but I knew most of it anyway! Then tuesday night I went to scuba diving club, and we took off all equipment underwater, and back on again - v. difficult! And practised what would happen if you ran out of air (signal hand across throat, and swim extremely quickly to your buddy!!). Wednesday I took Charlie to Dog Training Class, and he was a star pupil, apart from peeing up the practice pole and ripping the instructor's tennis ball apart! Then thursday and friday nights I was working in the pub, which was busy both nights! We are starting to do food on thursday evenings now (surf n turf), so is busy, but I did get to taste some of the offerings after everyone else had gone (staff specials!).
This morning I had a lovely lie in, to catch up on all the sleep I have missed out on this week, Darcy is out in the field, and I'm going bowling tonight, then conservation tomorrow (litter picking), and work in the pub tomorrow night too. I need money to go skiing, so doing as many sifts extra as possible! Monday evening I am also starting another job, tutoring biology A-level, so I need to have a bit of a revision session before then! Looking forward to Chitty next week, then seeing my old housemate Joe in Bath, and maybe popping into Ally's game weekend - yay!
Bye for now :)
(p.s. Ally - hope Jungle Speed is on the menu!) |
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| This week I will mostly be looking for newts...... |
[Mar. 11th, 2007|06:29 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Hiya!
Well Ireland was excellent - lots of horses and dogs - lots of rain (locally known as liquid sunshine!). Although some activities did not go to plan, It was a good break. I have been at a million miles an hour since I got back, starting work on wednesday (only got back tuesday night), to find out that AERC (the company I work for) has been taken over/sold to a large multinational, no more details yet, but hopefully I'll keep my job! So wednesday night I went to see a play - The Barber of Seville, in a small theatre in Colchester, as a friend of mine was in it. It was interesting, being a modern adaptation of an Italian Opera, not sure the acting talent was too great, but everyone enjoyed themselves - so thats all that matters :) Thursday and Friday nights I was working in the pub, and was busy both nights - tired Gemma! Saturday I spent trying to sort out little jobs at home, and spending some time with Darcy and Charlie :) Saturday night I went to a house party. It was great, lots of old 80's/90's music, cheesy dancing and some nice alcohol, and of course good company :) I stayed overnight in a sleeping bag on the floor (when I got there at 3am!), then up early this morning for conservation. We were clearing trees and scrub from an ancient burial mound, so lots of throwing trees downhill, trying to avoid volunteers! A very nice local lady donated a pack of chocolate digestives to our cause - mmmmmm! Have just taken Darcy for a spin round the block, and am looking forward to an early night :) This week, and for the next couple of months I am helping out the ecology department, as they are very busy. So I will be up to my thighs in ponds looking for newts, and chasing after lizards for the foreseable future - yay!! (much better than smelly landfill sites :)) |
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| I'm off !! |
[Feb. 28th, 2007|10:38 am] |
Well, I am going to Ireland for a week - I fly at 3pm today stansted - knock, and staying with one of my best friends - Danielle who has lots of horses!! There is so much stuff left to do before I go, sorting out various animals/clothes/vehicles etc. Hannah the hamster is having a holiday at my mum's house, and will get to meet Fluffy the tortoise, Darcy is being loved by my friend Sophie, and Chralie is under my neighbour Nikki's care - phew! I still haven't packed my bag yet - owing to having two 12 hour working days mon and tues, including driving over 750miles to Dorset and back twice! (Sorry Ruth, had no time to say hello :( ) Monday night we went out for ny brother Ben's 21st birthday to frankie & bennys italian restaurant, which was ok, and he was suitably embarrassed when the lights were dimmed and everyone sang happy birthday to him - which was followed by Cliff Richards Celebrations! Last night I got back just in time to go to dive club, and we got to put all the equipment together and use it in the pool this week! It's so cool being able to breathe underwater - and its also very quiet! We took our regulators out and masks off, then had to replace them underwater, which is actually not that difficult :)
anyway, must go and pack now, or I'll never go!!
(ooh - in other exciting news, I might be going to the alps in april to ski with brother Sam!) |
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| doh! |
[Feb. 24th, 2007|12:49 am] |
Well, I didn't get the job - no surprise there, but at least I had a good interview experience, and now I get to stay at home with Darcy and all my friends :) But I am still looking for another conservation based job in the area!!
Just finished a nights work in the pub, and am winding down to go to bed. It was very busy, and my eyes felt like they were closing towards the end! Have to get up early tomorrow, some other horses from my yard are going to a dressage show, and I am on the cheering/grooming section, so must get some sleep now.
Bye :) |
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| aarrgghh...... |
[Feb. 21st, 2007|01:25 pm] |
Still haven't heard about the job yet - don't know if thats a good or bad sign, I'm sure I'll find out soon!
My discovery went in for its MOT on friday and failed (quel suprise!) unfortunately that meant I was without engine for the weekend, but it has worked out ok :)
Friday I spent in the workshop with the boiler suit crew (of which I am now a member!) consisting of Aled, his brother Arran, and friend Dylan. Had much fun with car related jobs, I did some work to my project finally! There was much winding up of Arran, as he thought his car gearbox had gone boom, but in fact was only the CV joiunt on the front offside! There was yummy pub lunch, then I had to go to work at the pub, wich was very very busy, so my legs and feet were extremely tired by midnight! Luckily as I had no car, my neighbour Gary organised and paid for a taxi to get me to and from pub, as a thank-you for giving him lifts! I was adamant on cycling there and back, but I wasn't going to complain if he insisted!
Saturday morning I awoke to find the yard flooded, so duly phoned farmer, and spent the next few hours up to my shoulders in black smelly mud trying to unblock the drains - unsuccessfully! And they still aren't clear! So I gave up and rode Darcy, who was surprisingly responsive - yay! Then had a go on another horse - Mabel, who was just a bit fast and strong, but still fun, as I had an audience, as the last person who tried to get on her was run away with! But I managed to get into her mind, and had some slight essence of control! Saturday night I managed to get a lift into town and back to meet up with friends, and enjoyed a live band and I even had a few alcoholic drinks - very rare occurrence!
Sunday I was leading BTCV, doing some plantation thinning, but how to get there? \i was up early, with good intentions to cycle the 8miles there and back, but was persuaded to go for a morning ride before I left, in return for a lift for my bike and myself to Colchester. We had lots of usual volunteers out, and a group of young offenders too, who seemed to struggle using a bowsaw. But when they finally mastered it, insisted on attacking the largest tree they could see! And to their credit, they persevered until it was no more :)
Monday and tuesday this week, I still had no vehicle, and no replacement, so some extra unexpected days off - yay! Monday I didn't do much, except go on a long ride over the reservoir (very scary geese!), and tuesday I had to cycle into Tiptree to buy food and pancake supplies. My neighbour Nikki came over and we had cheese/carrot/sausage savoury pancakes to start then combinations of lemon juice/sugar/marshmallow/chocolate/biscuit/ice-cream/syrup in special chocolate pancakes (my last one had all of these ingredients in!) for afters. There was even some batter left for my lunch today - mmmmmmm! Although I am now totally pancaked out for a while :) But I did get my car back about an hour ago, all healthy and fixed!! However it is too late to do any work, so I have another day off - what a shame!! Might go showjumping again later - wish me luck - I need it!!! |
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| update..... |
[Feb. 15th, 2007|02:35 pm] |
Hello!
Well, I've just ahd my interview for the wind farm job, and it went really well! I was very nervous to start, but as time went on I relaxed more and gave some good answers - I think! Hopefully I'll get some good news in the near future :)
In other news, I came down with some lurgi last week, and spent most of thursday and friday in bed suffering (apart from working in pub thursday night much drugged up!). On saturday my friend Danielle from Ireland was in the area, so she came over for some horsiness! Then saturday night was working in the pub again, then up early for conservation sunday. We were coppicing in colchester and we had a huge bonfire, and 3 new volunteers which was good! Monday night I went with my friend Christine to her first wedding dress fitting - which brought a whole new world to me (how was I supposed to know what a hoop was??!!). Tuesday night I attended a meeting of the layer breton heath management commitee, lots of tea, biscuits, and chat about the village! Then last night in the absence of any offers, I took Darcy showjumping - which was a bit of a disaster as she seemed to enjoy knocking everything down, but we had fun!
Anyway, off to go on a ride now, then off to work tonight.
bye for now :) |
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| Yay snow!! |
[Feb. 8th, 2007|11:28 am] |
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Look at my snowman - complete with riding hat and carrot nose! However my interview was cancelled today, so will have to prepare all over again some other time - doh! Never mind, a day off in the snow is good! |
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| wimping out....... |
[Jan. 28th, 2007|09:09 pm] |
Well, its been a good week - yay! Monday I headed off early down to Dorset to start some site work. I managed to finish one site that day, and went over to Ruth's house afterwards to stay. There was delicious food thanks to Mrs Ruth, including a fresh batch of the famous flapjacks - possibly the best ones I have ever tasted! (very gooey!!) There was much chat and catching-up to do whilst walking by the sea, then a new game: skip-bo, which was complicated at first, but very good in the end (although I lost - possibly predictably). Tuesday I managed to finish the other two sites I was doing, so I drove like a lunatic home, to be back in time to get changed and go to scuba-dive training. We learned how to test all the equipment, put it all together and put it on - important but scary stuff! Then a quick drink in the pub afterwards, and home to collapse into bed! needless to say I slept extremely well that night, and wasn't too happy about getting up again - but Darcy lured me out!
Thursday was horse day, the physiotherapist and saddler both visited the yard, so I was told Darcy had a sore back, and a dodgy saddle at the same time, but on the plus side, both were fixed that day too! So Darcy now has a healthy back and muscles, and I have a fixed saddle to use on it - yay! Then it was off to work in the pub in the evening - found out my landlord's old pub will be on TV next week on the new Jamie Oliver programme, as it was bought by them to turn into a restaurant (The Cock at Beazley End, near Braintree if you're interested). Friday I was employed to transport a friend's horse from one yard to another with my lovely trailer, then it was off to work in the pub again - and even managed to earn some more dosh taking a few people into Colchester after my shift finished!
Friday night, saturday and sunday was supposed to be spent co-leading a natural break hedgelaying in Billericay, but I was really not in the mood, so I wimped out saturday. Instead I did some work around the farm, clearing some trees off the paths in the woods that had come down in the strong winds of last thursday. Then I went into town shopping with my next-door neighbour Nikki and got some more conservation army trousers, and a new top with a horse on! Came back in the afternoon and took Darcy for a good ride around the fields and woods, then settled down for a night in to recover from the pub! Today I was up early to head off to Billericay (feeling guilty), and joined the hedgelayers. There were 8 people on the natural break, 3 leaders, and 7 local volunteers, so many hands made light work! I was also introduced to the art of storm kettle craft - look like small hollow milk churns. The water is in the outer of the kettles, then you light a fire in the middle and the water boils! Ingenious! (but a bit fiddly and smoky!) I came home to muck out Darcy and entertain Charlie for a bit, then had dinner (vegetable stir-fry!) and am now ready for bed and sleep :) Will just have a little read of new book (From Aintree to York - Racing Around Britain) before it will be impossible to keep my eyes open any longer!
night night!
p.s. anyone see top gear - yay its back!! But that crash was seriously scary :( |
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| (no subject) |
[Jan. 21st, 2007|08:03 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| | happy | ] |
Hello!
Hope everyone is well and happy - there seems to be some nasty lurgi going around at the moment, even I fell victim for a few days! Well, this week has actually been very quiet for a change! last saturday i went out for a belated christmas meal with some old school friends, except we happened to pick the pub's karaoke night to do it! The awful singing, and the 1.5hr wait for mediocre food didn't make it the most impressive evening ever, so we found a nicer pub later for drinks and chat - which was much more civilised!
Then sunday was spent coppicing, so I provided chocolate biscuits and marshmallows for the obligatory bonfire! A fantastic day outdoors really beats anything else! Then I spent the next 4 nights in, yes, I didn't go out! I had some much needed time out, and sorted out some little jobs that I had been meaning to do for ages like clean all my tack, horse, dog, hamster, flat and cook meals too! I worked in the pub thursday, friday and saturday nights, and I was happy to get out really! Friday night a friend from BTCV came in to see me, and saturday night mum & dad came in too, so it was good to see them! Dad ended up doinga a recital of 'Albert and the Lion' to everyone in th pub - a yorkshire story with some fantastic language!!
Yesterday I went for a short hack with Sophie, to try and build her confidence in riding again. Then later I collected 50 bales of straw for Darcy from a neighbouring farm - good excercise! Today I had a break from conservation, and had ariding lesson this morning - which was good, so hopefully Darcy and I can improve our Dressage percentages. This afternoon I took charlie for a walk, and did actually go and see everyone out on task, so I didn't completely let go! I just love my sunday tasks so much, I find it hard to miss even a single one - it is the best day of the week!
Anyway must go now, dinner could be overcooking! Working in Dorset this week, so am hoping the Chubb Hotel will be abailable?!
Bye!! |
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