Where does the time go.............

Well it's been over a month since my last blog and that has left me wondering what the heck has been going on!  I've had a big shock from Virgin Mobile, they didn't change my package like they said they were going to do last month and send me a bill way over what I was expecting.  According to the Asian CSO Pauline spoke to the new tariff doesn't kick in until a month after we upgraded our package.... WRONG! Sandra(VMCSO) said it would start straight away because of all the problems we had, sending back phones that were registered to other people etc, etc.  Pauline asks the Asian CSO not to raise her voice when trying to get her point across as she is not raising her's! "I am not raising my voice at you!" she shouts back.  " I'm sorry but you are!" replies Pauline, "You are not listening to what I am explaining to you!" retorts the CSO. "Nooo! YOU are not listening to ME! Sandra said my new tariffs would start straight away and placed a note on my account to say so, now! I have on two phones, somehow I have a credit balance on one and the other has a large charge on it, WHY? no don't answer that just put me onto a manager!"  Twenty minutes later the Asian CSO comes back on, "We have credited you with £X (can't remember how much) but you will have to pay the 0870 call which was £10.87" Pauline "But that was a call to your company about the phones, made from one of YOUR phones! so it was a FREE CALL!" After a couple of seconds silence a very meek voice replies "All charges have been waived and BOTH phones are on the new £23 monthly tariff! Thank you for your patience is there anything else we can help you with?"  Virgin Mobile have lost a fortune on our account this year because of their staff 'cock-ups' let's hope it does affect their bonus!

Had some sad news from a family member which affected me quite badly, I know it's also affecting them badly too!  I just think maybe somehow if I'd still been still living in Bristol, being there, giving them someone to talk to I could have helped.  Probably not but I still feel guilty for not being there. 2012 has not been a good 'family' year for us.

I have put some new flooring down in the dining room and kitchen, tile effect laminate, looks quite good!  I wanted to lay it in one continuous piece through the connecting doorway but that would have meant two of us trying to place seven lengths in at once, so that idea was scrapped and the rooms were done separately.  I took the kick boards off the kitchen units and placed the flooring underneath, it looks much better than putting beading down.  We do have some L-shaped pieces that cover the expansion gap around the skirting, two pieces of this were stuck together to form a strip to cover the doorway gap as we couldn't find a matching manufactured one.

The Fusion has just had it's second Mot, and sailed through it!  The pieces for the Nissan's window have arrived and hopefully Tom will fit them tomorrow depending on the weather. Work have just phoned asking me to do an early shift on Monday which is cool, beats staying in all day by myself as Pauline will be at work

I'll NEVER get one!

Well I said I'd never get one but I have!  Couldn't afford an i-phone so I've settled for a Galaxy Ace S5830.  The package VM were offering was just a little too tempting, unlimited calls to geographical numbers, unlimited texts, unlimited data, unlimited virgin to virgin mob and 2500 any network mins plus free next day replacement (UK / 3 days EU) handset insurance (worth £7.99) for £23.00 a month. Just have to learn how to use the thing now, that is AFTER I get another handset tomorrow!  Now that's stumped you! The SIM they've sent is registered to someone else apparently so they can't complete the insurance also my present contract doesn't run out until March and they wanted £159 to cancel it.  Anyway after a few facts were exchanged and supervisors contacted, "It's our fault, we'll sort it for you, your NEW phone will arrive tomorrow and also a secure envelope to return the other new phone, just cut up the new SIM as you're keeping your old number"

Started redecorating the dining room and that sometime will be followed by the kitchen, decided to take up the carpet and put down some laminate, painting the walls the same colour (Natural Hessian).
Haven't yet decided what colour laminate but going 'shopping for it' on Sunday. 

Had a letter from the court yesterday, my divorce becomes final on 18th September, a day of celebration! my younger brother's birthday!

Another month flies by

Cannot believe it's been almost a month since my last blog, AGAIN!  We were having problems with the garage roof leaking and decided to get it sorted once and for all.  Pauline found a roofing company via Rated People, they arrived when they said they were going to, had a quick inspection of what needed to be done and gave a price.  We cheekily asked about our ridge tiles on the main house needing re-pointing, they said they could do that and clear the block guttering for a £100 on top.  Great! we'd been quoted almost £500 before.  The day finally came to start the work, the young lad started stripping the old felt off while the other guy disappeared somewhere else.  We kept the lad supplied with coffee and he was happy.  When 90% of the roof was off and it was looking like it might rain all the panic bells start ringing, the roofer suddenly discovers that the extension roof was totally unsafe and would need a complete re-build!  The 'builder' that had done the original job made a complete hash of things, wrong materials, wrong support brackets, brackets not fixed in position.  I was amazed how all this had suddenly come to light at the point where the job was nearer completion than the start.  "That will add another £800 to the bill!"  Surely he should have noticed all this when he priced the job?  All is finished eventually and it looks a very tidy job, two days late but okay!  Less than a week later after we have a slightly blustery night we wake to find the felt had lifted in the corner.  A quick phone call and " no problem we'll be round to fix that, it sometimes happens when covering concrete roofs"  They turn up a few days later with the gas bottle to warm the felt again but no lighter to light it with, luckily Pauline found one.  Job done! off they go!   Earlier this week and another blustery night and we wake up to find it's happened again. Phone.... " we'll be there Monday!" that comes and goes, no sign of them!  Monday night ....more wind.... Tuesday morning, lots more felt up and other pieces damaged. JOHNNNNNN! you need to get here quick! we'll be there midday Wednesday.  OH DEAR! I need to tell the boss we can't repair this using the felt that's there it's damaged! Well you need to phone him now then! I can't I don't have my phone and I don't know his number!  You had better tell him to phone me when you see him then because this needs sorting quickly and I'm not paying for it! You have until Friday to do something or else solicitors will be involved because I want my money back!

Got some new tyres off e-bay for the Fusion 2 Falken ZIEX ZE912's for £94 delivered, a good price and a good looking tyre too.  A lot quieter on the road than the Continentals that were on there. A rated for tread, heat and traction.  Let's hope they last well too!

`The Aftermath 29/06/2012!'

What a day yesterday was, driving along in sunshine minding my own business, make a right turn and......... WHO TURNED OFF THE SUN??? Blimey those clouds do not look very inviting.. FLASH... SIZZLE.... BANG!  The whole bus vibrates from the clap of thunder directly overhead, twenty yards later with the wipers going full tilt I have to stop because I can't see where I'm going!  To cut a long story short there followed the worst storm I have ever witnessed.  The Whitley Bay area was just one big pond, one street had a foot high wall of water running down it, surprised no cars were washed along the road.  The trip that was supposed to take an hour to complete took over two, everywhere I went there were flooded roads to go along, it was like several million gallon buckets of  rain had just been tipped on Whitley Bay at the same time.  Needless to say I lost quite a lot of mileage.  The delays did not end there!  Making my way back to the depot I joined a queue of traffic stretching for miles.  After about forty five minutes of going nowhere I decide to take my chances and leave the main road for an alternative route.  This turned out to be a very good decision, for although it took me a further hour to do the fifteen minute journey back to the depot (passing several vehicles stuck in floods, strangely most seemed to be BMWs and one of our own vehicles bogged down on a grass verge) other drivers that had stayed on the Coast Road in front of me took over four hours.

The journey home looked daunting, I had left my car at South Hylton Metro Station and travelled in on the Metro.  The service was now suspended, I decide to walk the short journey to the Haymarket to see if I could get a bus to Sunderland or make my way to the Central Station and catch a local train home.  Being in my Arriva uniform was not a good thing, people were stopping me and asking the most stupid questions like "where are all the buses? I've been waiting for two hours and not seen one" and " why isn't the Metro running?" some even threatening my well being, I eventually find a service that will at least get me to Washington Galleries which is only about three miles from home and much better than the twelve mile hike I would have had without it!  Pauline eventually picks me up from nearby the Galleries and I arrive home around eleven p.m from leaving home at eight thirty a.m  Most of the rain water had disappeared from the roads by yesterday (Friday) morning, there were still a few 'swimming pools' in local fields but no closed roads thank god!  The Metro was still suspended and the traffic on the roads was horrendous but things were moving.  Apparently it was a very rare occurrence, three types of storm in one, likened to the those they have occasionally in some tropical and American regions.  Is this the future of the English summer? probably!

I'm now waiting for the builder that re-felted the out house roof to arrive, the corner blew up in the wind on Thursday night and he needs to re-fit it today!  He will probably want more money to do it but in my mind it's happened because he did not do a proper job, none of the other roofs in the area have had a problem and there are quite a few as the council re-did all their out houses last year.

#I can see clearly now........ soon

Well what an eventful time it's been since my last mutterings!  I have been to Bristol to see family and some old friends (one whom I met by the strangest coincidence) I bought Thom and Izzy their birthday presents whilst there.  I know Izzy enjoyed her's and I'm hoping Thom will enjoy his next month just as much!  Noah was his usual chatty self though he did catch a dose of tonsillitis just after I left.
My first anniversary at Arriva has come and gone, we've had the roof on the garage rebuilt and felted properly, an expensive but quality job done this time, funny how builders always find problems at the point of no return during a job.
Yesterday we went and ordered ourselves some new spectacles from Specsavers, my prescription was the same as last time, just a one point upgrade on the reading portion to help with the ticket machine screen at work.  I decided to get a pair of prescription polarised sunglasses this time, my Transition lenses are okay for every day use but they do not stop the glare off things like car bodies on sunny days, only draw back it means I'll need to carry both pairs of glasses with me at work.  Pauline had a bit of a shock as her's changed quite dramatically, having said that she has been complaining about not being able to see clearly with her old glasses for a while.
The car performed excellently on the way home, 70 mpg, still not refilled yet (over 500mls later) but will need to today or tomorrow after work.  Had a drive of Kris' Clio 182 Sport, very nice it was too! I need to visit the Post Office collection centre today to get my parcel for Father's Day from Kris and Nikki, can't wait cuz it's my windscreen detailing stuff, hopefully no more greasy screen!

Two months!?

Can't believe it's been almost two months since I last blogged!  Life's chugging along, nothing really exciting has happened apart from going into more debt to do things in/to the house.  Found out we had a water leak under the kitchen sink when the lino started to rise up in waves also realised the cupboard under the sink was looking a funny shape.  After the tumble dryer and the kitchen light fitting the dish washer has given up the ghost.  Now waiting for the oven to go bang, everything else I brought up with me from Bristol has gone bang and the washing machine has had so many repairs it's almost new anyway.

 Relieved to hear 'the boy' had sold his motorcycle and decided to go back to four wheels again, looking forward to my test drive next week (snigger).

 Next Tuesday sees my first anniversary with Arriva (it's just whizzed by) and that means a ten pence an hour rise WHOO HOOO!  Been putting in a lot of hours the last couple of weeks and I'm really glad my holiday is here.  The drivers at work awarded me with a medal after I 'took out' a stupid cyclist who had decided to cross the road in front of my bus without looking, really made a mess of his back wheel and I don't think his girlfriend will be caressing his bearings for a few days, poor fellow looked in real pain.  It must have been a close call as my boss said he'd watched the c.c.t.v footage and was expecting to see a head come through the screen.  A mate I worked at the airport with has written off his Scooby, I upset him by posting on FB ... Chris Chapman's Scooby Doo is now Scrappy Doo! which is a shame as it was the first thing that came into my head when I heard the news and I thought it was quite witty!

Off to Bristol again for a long weekend on Friday, it will be very nice to see the family again.  Also hoping to get to see an old friend I found thanks to FB, if he's not on holiday again

Feeling better..........

April Fool's Day today and I believe I am finally over the lergy I brought back from Bristol.  I ended up working two days whilst on holiday last week, not that I mind as overtime has been a bit on the short side this year, the only problem, as usual the wages department have messed up again and still owe me 9 1/2 hrs pay.  Managed to get overtime this week too, even better when you remember Friday is a Bank Holiday and we run a Sunday service.  So instead of a 9 1/2 hour shift I'm only doing a 6 hour shift but get 9 1/2 hrs pay plus a twenty quid supplement.  The Ops Manager also said something about me working Easter Monday, so as that's a rest day, that means more overtime and a lieu day.  Still waiting to hear about the Malta position but life has to go on.  Still can't believe I've been at Arriva for ten months already it doesn't seem that long at all.

Had a good laugh at all the motorists panicking and spending time in long queues to fill up with fuel, don't they realise the sooner you fill up the sooner you have to refill so you do not benefit.  Glad I got a diesel at least there was plenty to go round and for the amount of petrol Pauline uses if push came to shove I could use her car for work.(now-now Pauline you know you don't mean it!)

Yes it is the lergy!

Well after my little scare on Wednesday and my relief when it stopped it seems I celebrated a little too early!  I have had a sore-ish throat and a niggling pain, extending from the right side of my neck up over my head to just above my right eye, since Thursday morning, got the sniffles too!   Time for the brandy and hot lemon I think!

Oh No not the lergy!?!?!?

Came back from my visit to Bristol on Monday.  My arrival was delayed after some poor van driver veered off a bridge over the M42 near junction 8, hitting a lorry and at least one other vehicle.  The wreckage of his van looked like a trailer that had flipped onto it's side.  Anyway I had a great time, spent an extra day with 'the boy' as he wasn't feeling well so was off work.  Everyone seems happy enough, despite lingering colds etc.

Had a phone call yesterday 'begging' me to go to work today as they were short of drivers.  Started the day well and then, around midday I started to get a sore throat and about half an hour later the headache started.  Praying it wasn't the same as the lergy my son and his wife have had I continued with my day.  Luckily by the time I finished the headache and sore throat had gone, PHEW!!!

Took Catherine to work on Sunday and helped her get the equipment for the lessons up and ready.  After seeing the way she was shaking those poles about to check they were up safely I was feeling sorry for anyone that gets her riled, she was like a terrier with a rag.

First visit of 2012

Off to Bristol on Friday for my first visit of 2012.  It will be good seeing the family again and give me a chance to go to South Bristol Crem and place some flowers in memory of my Mum on Mothers Day! Will also probably take the local 'Apple Tech. Dept.' out for a pint or two as he's going to help me re-boot my laptop.

Finally got  to the local NHS Centre today and asked about the results from the blood tests I had done back in December, the receptionist didn't want to give them to me... "We usually give out results between 2 & 5pm"  "Well I won't be here then! and as you're doing nothing else at this moment can't you look them up for me?"  Anyway everything is now 'normal' including my blood pressure(YEAHHH!) so going on the diet and exercise program has done me a lot of good!  I need to find a way of getting some more exercise though as I've had to cancel my gym membership.  Hopefully they will bring back the 'Cycle to Work' campaign again this April and I can get some help to buy a bike, I can then go to the local cycleway and spend some time riding along that 3 or 4 times a week for an hour or so.  Depending on the cost I might try and get one for Pauline too!........... (I'll wait for the cries of 'I can't ride a bike!')

Had a letter off the Pensions Service this morning.... I now have to work until November 2020 before I can draw my state pension, at least it's only a year longer than expected, Pauline has to wait an extra SIX years for hers.  I think raising it by that amount in one go was a bit much, they could have done it by a year every 3 or 5 years, it's DOUBLED the time she has to go now before she can draw her pension!

What song would you say?

Sat here this morning checking some dates for a possible visit to Bristol when a question popped into my mind out of nowhere.  What song would I say describes how I feel about my life?  Hmmm...... when I'm feeling a little down it has to be 'I started a joke' by the Bee Gees.  When things are going great then 'For ever in Blue Jeans' by Neil Diamond.  A song that makes me cry? 'Tell me there's a Heaven' by Chris Rea, a song I can relax to? 'Albatross'  A song I immediately turn off? 'Sitting on the Dock of a Bay'  There are countless songs that make me feel good, too many to list. Just thought I'd put this into a quick blog!

Is it my fault?...... probably!

I have just made a shocking discovery, someone close has as many emotional 'hang-ups' as I have.  Do I feel guilty about it!?!?!?!? Shit yes! of course I do! It's not until you're older you realise how your own emotionally charged upbringing affected the way you treated your own children.  You try to be a 'good' parent but without realising it the past gets repeated.  There have been some fantastic highs, some lows,one, a really low point (which thankfully never came to it's ultimate conclusion, thanks to a timely phone call for which I am eternally grateful! and hopefully it will never occur again)  Having come from a background where 'love of family' was never really shown, anger being the main expression of emotion, holding in emotions becomes second nature and causes a lot of inner pain, anguish AND guilt.  I have made decisions in the recent past, which, to others may have seemed easy and selfish.  They were neither easy or selfish, there was a lot of deep soul searching and thought before the result was concluded.  There are times when I regret making those decisions but also times I'm very happy I did!  I sometimes wish I was emotionally more self-confident, wishing to tell those I love dearly how much I love and miss them and how proud I am of them. If I was I'd probably be able to tell them instead of not being able 'to find the right time' or 'the right words'.  I suppose really any time is 'the right time' and 'I love you, miss you and am proud of you' is the only way to say it!......................................... SHIT!!!!! I need professional help!! SERIOUSLY!! TOO MUCH BURIED CRAP EATING AWAY MY LIFE!!

It's only a quick drink!

Went out with some pals from my days at the airport on Friday afternoon. Yes! what started out as a few pints turned into a few more, I was still able to make my own way home though!  Really enjoyed catching up on what's been happening to people.  Funny thing is out of the five of us there, four now work for Arriva.

Decided it's time my car had a service, it's had an oil and filter change but that's all.  This time it'll be the full works with proper Ford parts, they aren't that much more expensive.  Tom will order a service kit for me (trade price) and then do it for me next month when I'm off for a few days. I've put nearly 25k on the clock since  mid-November 2009, it's now almost on 29k and will be 30k by the time it gets serviced.

In with a chance..........

Found out the other day that I'm still in with a chance of a job in Malta as the selection process has been delayed, will find out as soon as possible how much chance I stand of getting a placement.  As the days go by the reality of what's involved in a move to Malta is gradually seeping in!  Pauline was a little shocked at first I think but she now realises that I want to do it to secure a better future for us both and not to get away from her.  The main 'problem' as far as Pauline is concerned is as always, Evie and her diabetes.  I'm hoping that when Evie starts at the Comp, which will be around 2015 Pauline will decide to come out to Malta full time, well until I retire anyway. We can keep this house and rent it out, giving us something to live in when/if we return.  Of course living out there would also give family a cheap holiday if they wanted to come out, it would only mean finding the air fare and some spending money, which would probably still be cheaper than a holiday in the UK.  Of course this is all fantasy at the present time!

Pauline's birthday has come and gone. She is a little sad at the moment, life isn't going down the 'happy path' in some departments.  We have both continued to lose weight on our diets, though I think I need to kick-start mine again as the losses have slowed and I'm barely losing a pound a week now.  Pauline wants to lose around another nine pounds and then she will try to maintain that weight, me? I've still got around another twelve months before I reach a weight where I will be fully satisfied with the amount I've lost, I will still be overweight but a lot happier about it.

Time seems to be flying  by, can't believe I've been at Arriva for over eight months now!  Heard things at the airport are bad, they have just made a third of the car park staff redundant.  I also found out that they are in imminent danger of losing their 'O' licences for the buses as the guy everybody thought was the nominated holder, isn't, VOSA are going mad as the airport haven't had one since they kicked Meteor out in 2006.  A friend from the M.T department who was taking his CPC around the time I took mine has finally passed last month and has been approached by the airport to take on the responsibility.  He phoned me and asked if they were paying me any extra for having a CPC.  I told him they were offering around £700 a year but I'd already had things arranged to move to Arriva, they haven't offered him any extra, told him it needs to be at least £2k, which is what would have kept me at the airport.

Looking forward to the 10th, off out for a few drinks with some old friends I haven't seen for about five years, should be a good chin-wag too!

Friday the 13th isn't unlucky...........

Things were going so well, up for work, breakfast eaten, bait made and in my work bag!  Pauline asks me to get the wheelie bin in as the 'men' had been.  Garage door opens, wheelie bin pushed into it's place, arms up to shut the garage door and 'AARRRGGGGHHHHH!' someone just stabbed me with a red hot knife just under my right shoulder blade!  It felt just like something had 'snapped' and boy did it hurt!  Still sore today but I'm coping (cuz I'm a man!... lol)

Finally got the hang of this 'converting' thing for the Apple TV, I just need to find the time to 'do' all the DVDs now, must register for the free trials we have too, that way I can update the movie collection a bit.  Watched The Green Lantern the other night, good story line and special effects but too much time spent on the 'love' part.

Received a lovely 'thank you' card from Thom and Izzy for their Xmas presents, glad they liked them.

Wages department at work are being a right pain in 2012, I've got to go and see the Depot Controller AGAIN this week, next weeks pay is short for the 3rd time this year and it's only three weeks (well it will be by Thursday) old.

Happy New Year!

Well here it is! 2012! Holiday now over it's back to work to the news of fare increases, new duties(for the 3rd time in 6 months) and new routes to learn.  Luckily the new routes are variations on ones we already do, so it won't be that hard to learn.  The New Year celebrations were a very quiet affair this year, very little alcohol was consumed along with a small pizza and some freshly cooked 'pickies' from Asda.
I've seen a notice in work about managerial/supervisory vacancies on offer in Malta  (contract lasts until 2021) that I'd like to have tried for but the closing date was 30th Dec, I'm going to send in my CV in anyway, you never know!  A placement out there would suit me nicely up to retirement and with good connections to Newcastle Airport it's only a couple of hours away.  I'm sure Pauline would love to have me out the way for eight weeks or so at a time.  She'll be able to have the bed all to herself again, like she was used to when I worked at the airport.  Apart from that, the money would be great (and the weather) if it's anything like our drivers are getting paid that are out there on secondment.
Found out when I can take some of the holidays I have left, end of Jan and mid-March.  For some strange reason they were going to pay me the new starter rate instead of the rate I've been on for the last month.  According to the Depot Controller it's down to the software they use, he has to be very careful when putting some info in as it sometimes wipes other info.  Still it should be sorted by the time it gets banked on Weds night.