Holidays are coming....the holidays are com........

Can't believe it! in less than 10 hours I shall be embarking on my long awaited journey to Bristol for the Xmas holiday. The weather is threatening to spoil it but I'm sure I'll get there. As usual I have so much to do and only four days to do it in, still I'll have a go! (Don't mean to sound like Santa there lolol) Hoping 2011 brings a change of fortune as well as a New Year, having said that 2010 is ending well.

10 days to go.........

Well not long to go now, only ten days and I'm off to Bristol for Christmas. I'm really looking forward to it so I hope the weather is okay. This one is special as it will be my first Christmas day in Bristol since moving to Sunderland in 2001 and being with my kids and the grandchildren will be wonderful. There are plenty of presents to be distributed. I'm disappointed Pauline is not coming with me but I do understand her reasons for staying home.

All's well that ends................

I received some good news this morning, my request to transfer my private reg to the Fusion has been given the go ahead by the DVLA, I just have to inform Kwik-fit Insurance now. The Micra is great and I've sorted out what the 'noises' are by adjusting the tyre pressures, it also came with a surprise gift..... a child's booster seat in the boot lolol. The garage that has looked after the Astra since I've had it have decided that they will buy it from me to use as a loan car. All-in-all I'm quite pleased with the way things have worked out as we have had the equivalent of over £800 for the Astra, which I would never have got by selling in privately. After a blog from my son I'm glad to hear he has finally found out what is causing his back problems and that although it is not curable it is treatable and should not cause him too much bother in the future as long as he follows the prescribed treatment. Christmas is almost upon us and I'm getting a little excited about spending it with family in Bristol for the first time since moving to Sunderland in 2001

It's been over two weeks since my last blog and I decided it's about time I did another. A few things have happened, namely I'm a year older and feeling it (lol) Pauline and me have decided to sell the Astra and have bought a V reg Nissan Micra Profile with only 23000 genuine miles on the clock, only problem it's metallic GREEN, like the Astra which failed it's MOT this week (for the first time). It won't take too much to get it through, it's only the front brake balance, it's due new discs and pads anyway (£60ish). I will transfer the number off the Astra onto the Fusion before the end of the month. Someone who will not be named made a comment about driving a 'shoe box', good I thought from someone who has owned several Clios and now has an Audi TT! Work has gone really quiet, too quiet but that's the winter season. Everybody is on edge as there is talk of the shift pattern changing to 6 on (3 early + 3 late) 3 off, which cuts right down on the number of weekends we get off, though it does mean shorter shifts. I don't like the idea of always finishing on late shift and starting on early shift. The first 'rest' day is always spent catching up on your sleep. All the bus drivers at work are a little angry with the company as they are refusing to put us through our driver CPC course so we can keep our licences legal as they are now asking why they employ PCV drivers when it's private land? and why are we paying them extra to 'sit on their backsides all day'? All I can say to that is we are paid extra because we had what the company needed and the insurance costs are lower because we do. There have been a couple of interesting driving jobs advertised but all involved nights away, I don't think I could go back to that, I'm still keeping a look out.

Halloween woes

What a week-end this is going to be! a thirteen hour shift tonight, the first of four. Had the renewal quotes from Swinton for the Astra and the Fusion, the Astra isn't too bad, it's only about twenty quid more. The Fusion? well that has almost doubled to six hundred. Swinton say they have an alternative quote of just over four hundred, I've been on the net and had a quote of three hundred and twenty including protected no claims and excess insurance so if Swinton want to keep both cars they have to come down quite a bit. Still keeping an eye out for another job, most of them are temporary via agencies which I don't really want and the permanent ones are all basic wage. Looking forward to my three days holiday next week, thinking of having a very good drink on my birthday as I've got a FULL fridge of beer LOLOLOLOL. Pauline is very happy with the new system at work as it's given her a 7 am until 2 pm shift today and a few other good shifts. Time to go and get some dinner and think about sandwiches for work.

It's about time!

It's been three weeks since my last blog and I thought it was about time I did another. I have recently applied unsuccessfully for two new jobs, one for Go North East who plainly do not want me as within days of turning me down(for the third time) they place posts at TWO different depots on the Job Centre web site. The other was for a local dairy but I didn't really expect to get that and they did send a very pleasant e mail letting me know I hadn't got the job within hours of applying. So the mind set now is- I'M NOT GETTING THE JOB BECAUSE A)I'M GOING TO WIN THE LOTTERY SOON or B)THE JOB FOR ME HASN'T COME UP YET SO I'M BETTER OFF STAYING WHERE I AM UNTIL IT DOES! Funny thing is I feel quite cheerful since thinking that, I know I'm mad! you don't have to tell me! I'm now skint, had to pay thirty quid for road tax on the Fusion this week (LOLOLOLOLOLOL) next month will be worse the insurance is due on the Astra and the Fusion. All in all life is pretty settled at the moment while we gear up for Xmas shopping madness

almost over and time to re-join the rat race.....

My holiday finishes tonight, tomorrow it's time to rejoin the rat race once more. Still I only have a few weeks then I have 12 days off again over my birthday, I hope. I say that because I received a call from Go-Ahead tonight just before 6pm asking me in for an interview next Wednesday (6th), I applied on-line for a job at their new Consett depot. This will be my 3rd attempt at getting back onto service work, I hope it works out this time. Although I like the 4 on 4 off shift system as it gives me plenty of chance to get down to Bristol to see family, I'm starting to feel some of the signs that were on MSN the other day about 'When it's time to change your job!' I haven't just started showing these signs, I only read the article to see if I had any, which I did. I'll still have holidays, so will be able to get to Bristol and depending on the shifts I may even get the occasional long week end, we'll have to wait and see how things go. I'd love to be able to hand my notice in to Conehead and see the look on his face when yet another member of staff resigns since he's been in charge lololololol

Not being nasty but!.... I hope I never see you again!

Made another visit to the hospital in Newcastle again today. Traffic was rather busy and I was a little late for my appointment. I only put an hour's parking on the ticket and sure as eggs are eggs everybody is running late. After sitting in the waiting room like a lemon for almost an hour, I decide I need to go and put some more money on the parking ticket. Just as I decide to go out a nurse calls my name, typical! she informs me and two other people that we're going to be taken to the main x-ray department as it will be quicker than waiting for the usual one. I tell her about my parking and she says not to worry about it as I have an appointment, jeez all the times I've put extra money in. Within ten minutes of having the x-ray I'm called in to see Mr Williams, he makes a few comments about how 'nice' and well the break has repaired. Then he asks me to stand up, puts one hand on my right shoulder, grabs my right wrist and starts to lift my arm in the air. He lifts it up so far and says 'goood' then he lifts as far as he can until he gets some resistance, then, he lifts a further couple of inches which almost makes my eyes pop out and says 'you need to push it a little harder and get it moving' I squeak a reply that I'll try and then he tells me he no longer needs to see me again....... THANK GOODNESS!

A good time was ............

The holiday is nearly over, I have just seven days left. Off to Newcastle Royal on Thursday for hopefully my last visit to see the consultant about my arm. I'm not getting any pain from the injury itself but the muscles etc can be a bit sore if I'm not careful, still it's only just over three months since my fall and I was told it could take up to two years to recover from it. The start of my holiday was great, we had a few days in Bristol with my kids and grandchildren but as usual that was over in a flash and it was time to leave. We progressed to East Finchley in London and stayed a couple of days with Pauline's younger daughter. During the journey I managed to get the official mpg figure quoted by Ford of 72.2 mpg out of the car, for the whole trip down south it was an average 63.8 which is great. While in London we went to Camden Market, a very interesting place but a bit 'samey' in all the different sections. We had lunch at an ALL YOU CAN EAT Chinese restaurant, very nice. We also went to Brent Cross Shopping Centre which may have been something special when it first opened but is now quite common. Roll on six weeks time when I get another twelve days off around my birthday, then six weeks after that? yes another twelve days off over Xmas woohoo!

Here we are!..............

Here we are, too many days since my last blog!  I really don't have that much happening in my life at the moment.  The return to work has been pretty uneventful though it is quite nice being back driving the bus.  I've had a letter from the Union's solicitors telling me I do not have a very good chance of getting any payout for what happened as it's very difficult to prove negligence on the part of the company.
I'm still looking for another job and have phone Arriva's Blyth Depot as they are advertising for experienced drivers and are offering a reasonable salary. It is slightly further away than the airport and an extra day a week but shorter hours and an extra £40 a week which is always welcome.
Pauline had a surprise on Monday morning, she went to the car to drive to work and .............. nothing! the battery was flat, we tried our 'jump pack' but no go.  We managed to get it going with a jump off my little diesel but she didn't take it to work, which was just as well because even after a half hour run around it would not restart off the key.  So it's looking like a new battery or looking for something that's draining the power, still I can't complain it's the first time in over 8 1/2 years the car has given up on us.  

I can't wait........

It's now 22:55, I should really be in bed as I have to be up at 04:00 to do my exercises and get ready for work, a drive that usually takes around 25 minutes at 5 in the morning.  I've decided to do my exercises first thing on a morning, at lunch time and then when I get home on the evening about 7ish.  I started doing one that I was previously having problems with, mainly due to the lack of strength in my right arm, which is lying on my back on the floor and bringing my arm up over and behind my head as far as I can whilst keeping it straight.  It seems to have helped quite a bit with the general mobility of my arm.  I have noticed that I can now lift my elbow away from my side when using my right arm where previously it was as though my waist and elbow were glued together.

I can't wait to get into work and get back driving the bus, being in the office last week was aggravating my lower back and causing a problem I hadn't had since going back bus driving in January.  I don't know who will be in the office as the team leader is still on holiday, I just know it won't be me!

Back to 'Normality'

That's my first set of duties for seven and a half weeks finished, it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.  I tried a partial shift on the bus last night and after 5 1/2 hours I felt like I'd just started, the 'new' buses are so easy to drive and very comfortable I could drive for a whole 12 hour shift.  I've had a couple of disagreements with other members of staff, they all presumed because I was in the office that I was in charge, I told them I was just covering the office side of things.  My supervisor will be getting an e mail to tell him I'm going back on the bus from my next set of shifts as working in the office again has brought back my lower back problem that I haven't had since moving out.  My arm has stood up well to the time on the bus in fact it feels quite good today.


On another note! I'm upset that it's 'that time of year' again, yes the start of the bloody football season, the tv is full of adverts for the matches and Sky Sports in HD, why can't they just do their adverts on the sports channels? the majority of viewers aren't interested in football. 

Almost time..............

Almost time to go back to work, 24 hours in fact!  Went to see the physio this morning, I now have a young lady called Lisa, she has given me some more strengthening exercises to do along with the mobility ones that Jed gave me.  I was also given a stronger exercise band, the only problem being it's condom pink.  I've also had a call from the UNITE union solicitor about a possible claim being put in, after answering all her questions she said she would write to me in a week or so.
We went to one of my friends house for a meal on Saturday evening, he lives in South Gosforth, Newcastle.  He made a beef lasagne, which although was nice did not really have as much taste to it as the one Pauline makes.  All in all it was a very pleasant evening, Pauline and Jacquie seemed to get along very well, they spent quite a while discussing some 'autobiographies' they've read written by adults who were abused by their parents when they were young. 
I think my next blog will probably be after this set of night shifts I will be starting tomorrow.

All good things must come to an end!

Well that's the end of my extended holiday, went and saw the doctor this morning and she's given me a 'sick' note that says I'm unfit for work but maybe fit if I have a phased return with modified duties, so I'm starting back next Wednesday, a week earlier than planned but I was getting my arm 'twisted', not my bad one I must say.  Going back on nights, to see how it goes, the new boss is being really good about it and has said if I have any concerns regarding my fitness to carry on then please let him know and he'll try and help if he can, with hours and days worked.  The arm twisting bit was they have a few on holiday next shift pattern and I feel a bit guilty as I feel I could quite easily cope with the office up to my hols in September and then when I return I should be okay to go back on the bus, anyway we'll see how it goes as it's still a week away.

All appears to be going well

It's been a week of fairly good news, which makes a change.  Firstly our new fridge arrived, we've put the old one out in the garage and it's being used to store drinks (lager, beer, pop etc) My latest visit to the physio went well, I arrived about 20 mins early and was told by the receptionist to go straight in, which I did and as everybody seemed to be busy I decided to do my second lot of exercises for that day.  I ended up doing a full days amount of repetitions before Jed was ready to see me.  I was given a couple of new exercises to try and although they were painful at first seem to be having the desired affect.  That afternoon I had to see my GP about the results of my blood test, cholesterol levels are fine but my liver function was showing signs of a 'fatty' liver.  She explained it was not too high a reading and reeled off a short list of things that could give this result.  One of which was pain killers, well with the amount of them I had taken in the five weeks prior to the test we decide to re-do the test in six months and check my thyroid at the same time.  Thursday's visit to the consultant went well, my next visit is in eight weeks, he's very pleased with the progress so far, the bone has healed so well you can hardly see the fracture line on the x-ray.  The metal work was mentioned in as far as it normally stays put once in place but there are a few odd occasions when it has to be removed and we'll worry about that IF it happens.  I called into work for a chat on the way home, the 'new' boss was there and met him again, it's the same guy that was running the place when I first started.  Our replacement buses are finally on-site, basically they're identical to the old ones just updated and working properly.  They're MANs which are a good machine, lets hope our drivers look after them.  Peter was once again pushing for a date for me to return to work, he was basically saying I could do what I want hours wise but he wants me back even if it's 5 x 8 hour shifts on light duties.  After sitting in the driver's seat on the bus the only thing that's stopping me from driving now is the fact I can't operate the handbrake, it's set behind the drivers seat to the right and although I can reach it no problem I'm unable to 'lift' the handle to release it, so I think I'm going to step up the strength exercises.

Nothing in particular

After a few long phone calls and arguments we have finally managed to come to some agreement with D & G, the NEW fridge is arriving Monday.  We have decided to get a Hotpoint this time, it's slightly bigger than our present one but does not have the door mounted drink dispenser, there is a five bottle wine rack which I think will not get much use (nudge-nudge, wink-wink!!) 
The on going saga of my broken arm took a surprising turn for me this morning after doing my first set of repetitions I didn't have the usual aching pain at the top of my bicep.  I have up'ed the number of repetitions of each exercise I do, the consultant wanted me to go through the exercises six times a day, my physio said four, so I decided to compromise and added 50% more to each of the four times which equates to sixty of each exercise per day.  I have another appointment with Mr Williams on the 29th and hoping I'll be discharged, I looking to go back to work around mid August on light duties. I'll be back for three sets of duties then on holiday for twenty days, so by the end of September I hope to be back driving the bus.

Apologies to DSG

My apologies to DSG the company name id DaG (Domestic and General)

I will never buy a DSG extended warranty again!........

Back in November 2004 we decide to get rid of our upright fridge freezer and replace it with a larder fridge. We decided we wanted one with a chilled drinks dispenser built into it.  We ended up at Comet as Currys weren't selling one at a reasonable price at the time.  Having decided on a particular model (Hoover) because it had the best designed interior we were really pleased to find that there was a £100 part-exchange deal on it, we still spent almost £300 on it and decided to have the 3 year extended warranty as it was priced quite reasonably.  No problems have occurred until recently when it started making some very loud 'cracking noises'  On further investigation we found a large split across the back of the liner/chill plate and below the crack was solid ice.  Now this is a frost free fridge so we knew something was wrong.  I called the breakdown number on the warranty and after going through a multitude of  'press 1 for... press 2 for......' I finally got to talk to a human being after about 20 mins.  After explaining the problem he gave me a 'job number' and the Comet Care telephone number and told me to ring them to arrange for an engineer to call.  I duly rang the number and again the 'press 1 for.. press 2 for..' started, I eventually got through to a guy and again explained the problem and told him I had a job number to quote from DSG.  With a very sarcastic 'thank you for that information Mr Rogers' he tells me he will need to put me through to one of his colleagues.  This took so long that the battery on the cordless phone went flat.  So I had to do it all again using my mobile, this time I chose a different selection and got straight through and made arrangements for an engineer to call in 2 days time.  At 8 am on Weds I get a call from the engineer to tell me he will be with me in 15 mins.  Ten mins later he turns up, takes one look at the fridge liner and tells me what I already know and also that it's a very common fault on larder fridges.  DSG do not start work until 9 am so he would have to call me later when he had spoken to them.  The phone rings at 09:10, it's the guy from Comet, as he thought the liner is not covered by the warranty and if we were not happy we needed to get back to DSG.  Pauline was furious! how can the liner not be covered? without the liner you do not have a fridge, just a metal box.  She was straight back on the phone to DSG, expecting an argument she EXPLAINED!  THE FRIDGE IS ONLY JUST OVER 5 YEARS OLD! THE SALESMAN TOLD US THIS WAS ONE OF THE BETTER MODELS AND NOW THE ENGINEER TELLS ME THIS PROBLEM WE HAVE IS VERY COMMON AND YOU SAY IT'S NOT COVERED? I WOULD NEVER HAVE PAID THE MONEY TO EXTEND THE COVER IF I'D KNOWN THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN! I think she was rather taken aback when the customer service guy agreed with her and said he would take this matter further and would call back later that afternoon.  I took the call and the guy said unfortunately the liner definitely is not covered but also that he personally was not happy with the situation and would pass the matter 'up the line' so we should expect a further call within 48 hours which we have not had! So now we wait, until Pauline gets home from work at 3 pm and gives DSG what for over the phone and then it's Comet's and Hoover's turn.  Did I mention that Pauline told him she has never had this sort of problem with Currys' Mastercare and would only use them from now on?

Road to recovery....................

I'm very pleased with the progress I'm making with the physio and how much easier it's getting.  I'm hoping to be back at work around mid August, I have been offered light duties for a while which will mean running the front desk (the job I did for 7 years up to January this year)  Hopefully it won't be too much longer before I have enough strength back to drive the buses again.  Had blood taken and an ECG on Tuesday as part of the Wellness Programme I'm now involved in at the Health Centre, just have to wait now for the call about the cholesterol result, blood pressure was a bit up but nothing excessive averaged out at 148/88 which is about 8 points above the 'norm' but quite good given my size.  Got an appointment on 27th to discuss results with the doctor and visit to see the Consultant at Newcastle General on 29th.

physio 2 ...the pain continues!

Today I go and see Jed my physiotherapist for the 2nd time, he's going to be a bit upset with me, mainly because some of the exercises he gave me to do last time I've found impossible to do.  I'm getting quite a bit of movement back as time goes on, just not got any strength behind it.  Hurting my arm has opened up a right can of worms, the local health centre practise nurse has conned me into entering the Wellness Programme which is an NHS initiative aimed at men of 'a certain age' to check on their health and well being  and to try to avoid heart attacks etc.  I get to have a personal trainer for 15 sessions and 8 visits to Weight Watchers.  The PT starts by giving me the once over and working out a fitness plan for me, rather looking forward to that.  Last Thursday the nurse tried to take a blood sample to check my cholesterol level, she used one of those finger pricking things.  At first all went well, the blood flowed freely, she exclaimed "you're a right little bleeder!" , that was it! my body took exception to that remark and the blood stopped.  She tried twice more on different fingers but I wasn't going to play ball.  I now have to fast from 9 pm on Wednesday evening and drink plenty of water/tea/coffee, no sugar or milk and she's going to TRY and take blood from the back of my hand on Thursday morning.....GOOD LUCK LIZ!  The last time they tried this I ended up feeling like a pin cushion, no veins would play ball lol.

What a year so far!

Today is the first time since my accident on 18th June I've felt like writing anything in my blog. What a year this has been so far! At the ripe old age of 55 I've been suspended at work, been demoted, broken my arm, had an operation and had stitches, quite a lot of firsts I think. My daughter her boyfriend and grandson came visiting last weekend for the first time, a milestone for them too as I live 300 miles away. Got to see the fracture specialist on 8th July and attend my first physiotherapy session on 6th. Was told by the doc that I could be off work for 6-14 weeks, I'll go crazy if it's any longer than about 8 weeks. Having time off like this is totally different to being on hols or out of work, hopefully I'll survive as long as Pauline can put up with me.

Typical!

Well here it is the 16th of June 2010, I'm back at work tomorrow after a short break in Bristol (for my youngest grandson's baptism) and another for five days at Primrose Valley Holiday Park.  The weather? well it's been pretty rotten actually UNTIL today and here we are at 08:24 hrs and the sun is 'cracking the pavement'.  Had a very nice surprise when I saw Noah (said grandson) as he was walking and took one look at me, held out his arms and came toddling over, he normally turns to his mother and starts screaming the place down.  On the Sunday at his baptism he was very well behaved, not a murmur out of him.  I also went to RAF Nether Avon to see my son use his birthday present, a tandem parachute jump consisting of a 40 sec free-fall and 5 mins gentle glide to the ground, they reached speeds of up to 149 m.p.h  He enjoyed it and started working out how much it would cost as a hobby...........HOW MUCH??????  So after a drive up from Bristol Sunday evening it's up early Monday for a drive to Filey, North Yorkshire.  Only 80+ miles away across the moors.  It was a very pleasant drive along some very winding and undulating roads but it only took a couple of hours.  The caravan was very nice, though the lay out slightly awkward with 2 bedroom doors and the loo door opening into the same space.  If the weather had been a lot nicer it would've been a very good stay as it was a Haven site and had the usual facilities.  I was disappointed with Scarborough though, the place was just 'dead' maybe it was the weather I don't know.  In general I wouldn't mind going back there for a 7 night stay with better weather just to give it a fair shot.  No news so far from Arriva, so I think I can probably kick that into touch, it's been a fortnight now.  Need to look about and see what's going on.

New job on the horizon?

Called into Arriva's Jesmond bus depot in Newcastle today and collected a job application form.  I decided it's for the best after sitting down and having a chat with Pauline about working at the airport and our financial situation, it's basically because I'm earning less now than I did four years ago and the situation is only going to get worse.  Before we even get a pay rise next year inflation to September has to reach an annual rate of 3%, then they will take 2.5% away, as last year's rate was a minus figure, five years on the same wage is no good.  I'm a bit nervous of learning new routes but I'm sure it won't take me too long.  Another good thing it's only half the distance I travel now, though being a five day week I'll travel 100miles instead of 160 and only 8 hour shifts, no more working all night but will still have early mornings which are no problem.  So here's to something going right for a change and a new job!

It's made my day........................

Walking through town after getting my glasses fixed at Specsavers (the bridge piece came off) and my mobile rings. I nudge Pauline "It's Peter from work!" Now I'm thinking do I let her answer or should I do it? but quickly decide that letting her answer could be dangerous. "Hello!"........"It's Peter!"  Then follows one of the most grovelling apologetic speeches I have ever heard, Pauline can hear him from five foot away and laughs.  Boy did it cheer me up! So much so we went to Pizza Hut to celebrate.  A couple of hours later when we get home, there stuck in the letter box is a letter from work telling me that everything has been cancelled and nothing will show on my employee record.  My grievance is being kept on record and the situation monitored.  Heard that Arriva buses are recruiting drivers for their Jesmond depot in Newcastle, money is about 200 a month more than I'm on now and it's a 40 hr week but I'd lose the 4 on 4 off.  That's the one thing that makes the job I have so appealing.  Plus if I leave Peter has gotten what he's after.

Why didn't he do it in the first place?

Had my meeting with the HR and Business Development Managers yesterday.  My disciplinary has been 100 % thrown out the window, there have been further investigations made following my request for certain documents and my grievance letter and they are now 100% sure it was not me involved. Had apologies off both of them for what has happened and the stress it has caused.  Will have to wait and see if I get one off Peter.  Should have a letter to confirm things tomorrow in the post.  Had a 1-2-1 chat off the record with the HR Manager, told him straight they need to sort Peter out and get him some proper training if he is to stay in the job so as to stop these incidents happening.  He all but admitted Peter only got the job because he was cheaper than anyone else to employ.  Also I told him he should get a formal management qualification then he may learn that he cannot treat people the way he does and that there is legislation to stop him if he does.
Another good note I had an e mail from someone whom I care a lot about and not heard from for a few weeks, all is well, which has put my mind at rest, wonder what my 3rd good bit of news is going to be?  We've won the lottery? if only! lolol

SURPRISE PHONE CALL!

Today I had a surprise phone call from the man who is supposed to be doing my disciplinary.  My grievance letter was received yesterday, he has subsequently done further investigations into the allegations made against me and could I go to the airport tomorrow and discuss the matter, I do not need to have my union official present.  I don't like the idea of that so I've informed the car park union shop steward because my mate has been told he cannot official represent me because he's a different area, surely a union guy is a union guy?  My mate is calling round tonight with some pointers for tomorrow, he's really mad that his district will not let him do it.  I also found out that my grievance takes president over my disciplinary as obviously if the guy that's done the initial investigation has a problem with me it could have prejudiced his final decision in bringing the complaint this far.  Well here's to tomorrow! \~/ CHEERS!

Is that a constructive dismissal case I see in the distance?

Got a phone call last Tuesday afternoon, it was my 'boss' from work, could I go in and see him at 10 a.m the following day? I say yes and he puts the phone down.  On the dot the following day I turn up at his office.  He then starts to question me about an incident that happened in the new Express Car Park on Sat 08th May at approx 20:00hrs.  I reply I don't remember anything happening, I'm then told a lady pulled up at the barrier and did not have any money and could not pay her £1.00 parking fee.  I am then supposed to have told her to 'back off' and go and get the money off the people she has just dropped off.  She protests at this saying she has a young child in the car and I ignore her.  She then backs off through quite a bit of traffic and almost runs someone over on the crossing.  I tell him I did have a lady at the barrier with a young child in the car and no money but whether that was Friday, Sat or Sunday I can't remember.  I do know I have never told anyone to reverse off the barrier and go and get the money especially when it's busy.  He says it's 100% positive that it was me and that I am suspended for seven days pending investigation by his bosses.

On the way home it suddenly occurs to me that I was on the bus first thing Sat evening as I can remember calling Pauline when she was in the middle of her Chinese take-away and having a go at her because I didn't have any bait and she's telling me how nice the BBQ ribs were.  After confirming I was on the bus with the Team Leader who was on duty(which is a no-no lol) I telephoned my boss and told him it wasn't me, as I was on the bus Sat until at least 21:00hrs, is he sure it's not one of the seasonal ops/drivers who from behind and at the distance the CCTV camera is could look like me?  I was not on the bus as the CCTV shows 150% that it was me at the barrier.

Shortly after this I get a call from my Team Leader, I'd phoned him first to see if he could remember me being on the bus on Sat evening, but he wasn't home and I left a message.  He told me that I was on the bus, Jim was doing the Novotel run and helping off-site out and Ian(the guy who could be mistaken for me on the CCTV) was at the Express Car Park.

This morning I get all the disciplinary letters etc. from the big boss confirming what had allegedly happened.  Obviously no one has checked the Drivers' Hours Log which will confirm that I was on the bus until 21:00hrs, unless someone has doctored it of course!  I've got my grievance complaint all written out ready to hand in and just need to make an appointment to go and see the CCTV footage for myself.

WTFHIWWM?

I was feeling rather good about life in general this morning, then, I started to think. What a mistake that was! I'm now in the depths of depression and feeling if I put my thoughts down in black and white I'll be whisked off to the 'nut-house' and put on 24 hour suicide watch, maybe not such a bad idea!  Nice comfy air-conditioned padded cell, drugged up to the eyeballs so I've no idea if it's today,tomorrow, yesterday or ten years time.  Nothing to worry about, no cares in the world, just lying there in a drug induced catatonic state, sounds like bliss!

Feelingsssssssssssss......

Well I know it's strange as it's not been any longer than usual but I feel 'lonely'  By that I mean lonely in an 'inner me' sense.  It's been two weeks since I've seen or heard anything of/from/about someone close.  Maybe they're busy straightening out their life I don't know, it's just strange not seeing any sign of them.  I do hope all is well! 

It's taken ages...........

Well I finally got the door hung in the bedroom alcove.  I ended up using a plastic folding door as I looked at MDF but it was far too heavy to make a large door with.  I also looked at buying a 'full size' 27 inch wide door and cutting it down, the plastic one was only £8.48 from B&Q so if it didn't look right it wasn't that much to lose, if it worked then great, saved myself twenty quid or so.  It took a bit of tweaking but I got there in the end and it looks pretty good even if I say so myself.  Pauline isn't that keen on the small gaps at the top but I can rig up a small pelmet to hide those.  Next thing is to tidy the bedroom and store the stuff in the cupboard I've just created, YEAHHHH!!  The fish pond next door is now turning into something that resembles a Greek temple or the nearby Penshaw Monument, several upright pillars with a roof on it, I'm sure there has to be something in the local planning regs to stop it, you have to get planning permission for a lean-to on the house and this structure is 12 foot long by 8 foot wide by 7 foot tall. Still we'll let him finish it then check with the planning department.

Well where shall I start? Popped down to Bristol for my son's 30th birthday, gave him a surprise because he wasn't expecting to see me until June.  His surprise present (a parachute jump) didn't come off unfortunately, due to the volcanic ash issue, still it's there to use in the future.  Stopped in Devizes and had a wonderful pub lunch instead.  Came home Monday afternoon after a phone message from my boss but by Wednesday evening when I went to work things had changed so all was well.  Had a shock piece of news on Tuesday that is best forgotten and left to those involved to sort out themselves as only they can, I'm sure if they need help they will seek it from the best place. That's all for now I think, ttfn!

Getting motivated!

Well it's 11:05, I've been up about an hour and I'm trying to get myself motivated to make a start on the door frame for the bedroom.  The weather outside looks great and I'm thinking more along the lines of sitting out on the patio, but then again I suppose I could do all the sawing,drilling, screwing and squaring up out there. Now that's a thought! I just love the way I have these flashes of perspiration lol. What is it now? measure once, cut the wrong size, measure again and buy a new piece of wood. Have some food and then get on with it I suppose!

Where did the time go?

Jezz that was a quick 2 weeks! I've been busy on my days off decorating the smallest bedroom.  We were going to turn it into a dressing room but decide we would decorate it so the grand kids had a room to sleep in when they visit.  The computer is going into our bedroom, we are re-arranging some chests of drawers and moving furniture into other rooms to try and get the best space.  Finally got some more slate chippings for the space next to the drive, lets hope the local yobs do not decide they make great stones for throwing.  Bought the timber to make a door frame in the alcove of the little bedroom, this will make a nice sized cupboard, hide the central heating boiler and make it quieter in the bedroom.  One more project left and that is to built a base and erect the new shed on it but that will have to wait until the weather is a bit warmer I think.  Oh and put Evie's trampoline back up in the back garden (I will be glad when they move and get a garden of their own so we can reclaim ours, the thing takes up so much space)

Back to work ........ for a rest!

Well I've papered the small bedroom, lined the inside of the cobwebby cupboard and filled all the gaping holes around the doors and coving.  Pauline is going to do the gloss paintwork and I'll do the ceiling and walls when I can.  B&Q are supposed to be delivering my garden shed today that's why I'm up so early on a night shift pattern.  Cost me twenty quid to get it delivered but I saved more than that by buying it last Saturday and getting an extra 20% discount. My mate Billy is coming over on the next set of rest days to build a base for the shed to stand on (he knows what he's doing, unlike some of us [me])   Next project is to finally put a door and associated framework in the alcove in the bedroom to 'close off ' the central heating boiler and make a small cupboard out of it.  The best thing about it, the gap is just the right size to put in a door frame with just a small piece needed above it to 'fill the gap'.

Rest days? what are they?...........

Well that's the end of another set of shifts. We've decided to redecorate the small bedroom, this shouldn't take too long as it's 'just a matter of sticking the blown vinyl on to the walls and then painting it', I was going to put some wooden shelves up in one of the cupboards but bought some plastic shelving from B&Q.  Just had some new uniform issued, navy polo shirts & trousers (no more ties!) Gawd knows where they got the sizes from, they trousers are too small, the polo shirts are 'snug' fit and as for the jacket.....it's the horrible stretchy water resistant 'breathable' type, different size bodies but all the same arm size. So my 'big' forearms go about 3/4 of the way into the sleeve and then things get tight. I'm okay as long as I don't have to bend my arms when wearing it and to make it worse it's all logo'd.  LOL just tried the trousers on or should I say I put my legs in them, great if you've got no shape to your body and built like a stick insect! Leg length = Regular? it's about 39 inches inside leg.  I think the boss will be having his uniform shoved where the sun doesn't shine.

OUCH! bet that hurt?

Well that's another set of night shifts over, been quiet on the customer front but a couple of incidents 'livened' things up.  Friday morning a poor fellow gets his leg crushed between the tow-bar of his car and a vehicle pulling away behind him.  God knows what the driver was doing, it was just as if he didn't see the car in front of him...BANG!....one crushed leg!  Late Saturday evening some poor fellow collapses just outside the office, luckily a taxi driver saw him and waved down one of the Op-support guys who then called the control.  We had an ambulance on the way within 30 secs, the Team Leader went straight out as she was the first aider on duty, couldn't find a pulse 'but he is alive! I can hear him gasping for air'  I didn't tell her the obvious.  Paramedic was there within 4 mins.  A couple of minutes later the ambulance arrived.  We shut down 'normal' car park operations as the whole exit road was blocked with emergency vehicles (we had moaning customers because they couldn't have the bus at the terminal to get to their cars, can you believe some people?)  They worked on him for a good 30-35 minutes before getting him in the ambulance and it was a further 20 minutes before they left the airport.  Good news the guy is in the Freeman Hospital and is in a stable condition, let's hope he lasts a bit longer! EXCELLENT JOB WELL DONE EMMA & ROB! you were great! Shame about your Hi-Vis Emms but it was a good cause.

B-B-B-Berocca!!!

After seeing it advertised on the TV again and being a bit listless lately, I decided to give these Berocca tablets a try.  Hmm multi-vitamins, no caffeine, lovely orange flavour...... one drawback, it has a rather smelly after effect (LOL) but I am feeling a bit livelier.  Gem has left for London after a week at home, a bit of a panic at the end, her train was leaving half an hour earlier than she thought, no time to go to Greggs for that sandwich now!  Gem's just been on the fone to say she's at Hitchin and it's snowing heavily.  Pauline has just come through the door in a panic, she hasn't got any insulin for Evie and Kelly didn't leave any at school for her.  We only have slow acting insulin in the house and Evie is now on the fast one and 4 instead of 2 injections a day, it's better for her in that she can eat more normally and doesn't need her afternoon snack, the drawback is more blood sugar tests during the day.  Jezzz it's all happening at once today, all was peace and harmony ten minutes ago!

Ummmmmmmmmm.............

I thought it was about time I did another blog as it's been almost 2 weeks since the last one and it is supposed to be a daily one (ha-ha-ha-ha-ha).  I'm enjoying myself back driving the bus, having a laff with the staff and customers.  Going round in circles up to 100 times a shift gives you plenty of time to contemplate the worlds troubles and it's surprising sometimes the things that pop into your mind when you hit that certain 'bump' in the road.  The weather is rubbish, it's been really frosty the last couple of nights, foggy too!  We had a very small snow flurry early this morning but that soon fizzled out.  Looked out the bedroom window before going to bed this morning and saw 2 reels of cable (most likely from the Virgin Media depot behind us) hidden in the bushes.  Poor idiots that placed it there probably do not realise it will be fibre optic cable so it's not a lot of use/value to them, still I did my duty and called the community policing team.  They said they'd get someone to go and have a look, probably in a couple of days I expect......... oooooohh just had a call from them, someone is coming round about 5pm to collect them, that's fast.  Well suppose I'd better go and get ready for work.

February already...........

Well it's been almost a month since my last blog, a lot has happened since then some good some not so good but we're still smiling.  The snow has gone (well almost) I'm no longer a team leader and I'm back out in the cold instead of that nice warm office.  On the upside, I'm feeling happier, sleeping easier and people are noticing that I'm happier.  Had an unusual request today, Evie's mum works at a local Nursery and they have a storybook and a cuddly toy (that's supposed to have been found at the airport) and they want me to take pictures of it in different places at the airport, should be a laff.

The end of Newcastle Airport?

Well they've finally stitched me up at the airport, been suspended and facing the sack for gross misconduct.  Gross misconduct? wow ! what did I do? well basically I trusted my staff to do what they said they were doing and now I'm on the carpet because they didn't.  Time to start looking for another job by the looks of it.  Times are hard and I expect I will be made an example of. Not that my staff are the only ones, just we've been caught.  It makes my blood boil when you think we have people who have done much worse and not faced the sack. C'est la vie, that's the way my life has always been, as soon as I get somewhere someone/thing knocks the ladder out from under me.  A friend who was some sort of psychic once told me I was cursed by a jealous friend when I was about twelve years old and times like this often make me think 'is there something in it?'

Ten past eight?............... OHHhhhh 2k +10

Well here we are 1 week into the new year and the snow is still falling, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings took 4 times longer to get to work than normal because of it. We've spent most of the time digging staff and customers out of their parking places.  Watched two sets of women last night in the car park cleaning off their cars. Now! we are talking 12-15 inches of snow all round the cars and on the car body.  The obvious thing to do? clean the windows so you can see out, these two clean every single flake off their cars. Guess where they put it???  That's right! in front of the cars, then they attempt to drive out over an 18 inch ridge of snow and ice in vehicles with a ground clearance of about six. Anything with a wheel width of more than 4.5 J was doomed to spend more time than the owner wanted stuck in the parking space with it's wheels merrily spinning. Am I glad I've now got 4 days off? YOU BET!