Oops ...

Yesterday I went for my lunch break, never left the staff dining room, didn't use any form of communication device, internet etc, and went back to work £90 poorer! One of my colleagues, Bob, is like me, and getting very into his photography. He has the same camera as me, though he bought his a few months ago, and has just bought a new lens, which makes one of his old ones unnecessary. So he's selling it. And he offered it to me at way under half price, with the option to pay over the next few months, or after New York. Well, I'd have been daft to say no, wouldn't I?!

His wife Karen brought it into work with her today, and I'm now the proud owner of a Tamron 55--200mm lens, which after a very brief play today, looks like it will replace the lens the camera came with as my default everyday lens. I'm on a day off tomorrow so I shall hopefully get out and try it out!

Yesterday was a really sad day for most of us at work. Our section manager Jo, who was the first "Waitrose" manager to come into the branch when we converted from Safeway in November 2005, left. Her partner is the branch manager at another local store, and has been offered the branch managership at the brand new Cheadle Hulme store, which is a coup for him, and the chance for Jo to move closer to her roots in Manchester. Everyone assembled in the dining room, and the manager gave a short speech, then we gave Jo her card and a Dartington crystal vase. She cried. I cried. A whole bunch of other people cried but pretended they didn't. Jo is the first manager I've ever really liked, and got on really well with. She's warm, and down to earth, and supportive, and just *lovely*, and I'm really sad that she's left. It sucks. So there. -