I got home at about 1pm yesterday. We actually landed at Heathrow at 8:30 am, but the journey home on the Tube and train was a nightmare, thanks to the wheel on my (brand new) suitcase weighing 22kg broke at Heathrow.
I'm still seriously jetlagged, and in the middle of an IBS flare up as well, so despite three hours sleep yesterday afternoon, and over ten hours last night, I could sleep for England at the moment.
I had a fantastic time, and took over 900 photos, so it'll be a while before they're online, but they will appear, as will the trip report, in dribs and drabs no doubt! Off to edit some more pics while I'm awake enough to do it ...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
This doesn't look good ...
Just checked the 10 day weather forecast for New York, and this is it! It's not looking very good, and I'm a bit worried about packing, as I hadn't planned to take any long sleeved tops at all (I don't own any!). Hmm. Oh well, if I get wet every day, I get wet!I'm pleased to see that the forecasted temperatures have dropped considerably though - the heat *and* humidity together will be a nightmare, especially for me, as I hate feeling hot, so if all those predicted thunderstorms have affected the temperatures, I'm actually quite pleased.
Now I just hope we're not going to be landing in a thunderstorm tomorrow evening .... that would *not* be nice!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Catching Up
A bit of a general "catch up" post, this one. I haven't blogged for over a week, and there are a few bits and pieces to tell you, if you're interested!
I'm still enjoying the new job. The days pass so quickly, and I'm learning new things every day, so I'm not bored out of my mind, like I had become on checkouts. The lack of customer contact is great, though I do miss several of my old teammates. My section manager signed me off on the Basic level of the safe keyholder checklist today, which means that I can now officially make up change demands and floats alone. Not that I now do the daily cash office work completely alone and unsupervised, with access to both safes and all money, which only an Advanced safe keyholder can do, or anything like that ..... ! I love the cash office work. Those couple of hours each day, alone and usually pretty much uninterrupted apart from the phone, are my quiet time, where I can just get on with the work and be in peace.
Although I'm enjoying my new job, I can't say I'm not glad there are only two more days to work until I go on holiday! Sunday is my final day off before we go on Monday, and it will be my day for last minute washing, packing, etc.
I bought my dollars a few weeks ago now, and was lucky to get $1.9956 to £1, so $2=£1, for all intents and purposes. Travelex, who I bought from, are now offering $1.92, and had I waited until now, i would have lost out on $27 - not a huge amount, but a couple of lunches, or a decent dinner out!
I'm trying not to overplan the holiday, because I know I'll end up disappointed if I have my heart set on things and don't get to do them, but I'm the sort of person who will be up, dressed, showered and ready to go by 8am, and the other 3 people who I'm going with are more likely to amble out of bed around 10am, which to me is a waste of a morning. We'll see how it goes, but I may well have to go off and do things on my own, which in a city the size of New York, is a daunting prospect!
My passport cover arrived today. Nothing fancy, just the standard burgundy leather one, with the usual crest on the front, and my initials in the corner. I bought it partly to protect my passport, as it has almost ten years to go yet, and partly because it adds a bit more bulk to it, and makes it *marginally* less likely that I'll lose it!
It's looking like the temperatures while we're in New York will be high 70s to high 80s, which is way too hot for me, but hey - for a week in New York, I'll manage! At least I might get a decent tan out of it!
Time for a bath before bed. It's almost 11pm, and I have work at 7am again. I finish at 3 though, then it's off to Argos to buy this bag, which should be pretty near perfect for my trip. I just want a bag that has a long enough strap to go across my body, for security and is large enough to hold my camera, sun cream, sun glasses, phone, money, and New York Pass. At £9.99, this looks great - though the furry Tigger keyring is *not* staying! As much as I like Tigger, I can't abide hanging things on my bags!
Not sure if I shall blog again before I go - I suspect it's highly likely, though!
I'm still enjoying the new job. The days pass so quickly, and I'm learning new things every day, so I'm not bored out of my mind, like I had become on checkouts. The lack of customer contact is great, though I do miss several of my old teammates. My section manager signed me off on the Basic level of the safe keyholder checklist today, which means that I can now officially make up change demands and floats alone. Not that I now do the daily cash office work completely alone and unsupervised, with access to both safes and all money, which only an Advanced safe keyholder can do, or anything like that ..... ! I love the cash office work. Those couple of hours each day, alone and usually pretty much uninterrupted apart from the phone, are my quiet time, where I can just get on with the work and be in peace.
Although I'm enjoying my new job, I can't say I'm not glad there are only two more days to work until I go on holiday! Sunday is my final day off before we go on Monday, and it will be my day for last minute washing, packing, etc.
I bought my dollars a few weeks ago now, and was lucky to get $1.9956 to £1, so $2=£1, for all intents and purposes. Travelex, who I bought from, are now offering $1.92, and had I waited until now, i would have lost out on $27 - not a huge amount, but a couple of lunches, or a decent dinner out!
I'm trying not to overplan the holiday, because I know I'll end up disappointed if I have my heart set on things and don't get to do them, but I'm the sort of person who will be up, dressed, showered and ready to go by 8am, and the other 3 people who I'm going with are more likely to amble out of bed around 10am, which to me is a waste of a morning. We'll see how it goes, but I may well have to go off and do things on my own, which in a city the size of New York, is a daunting prospect!
My passport cover arrived today. Nothing fancy, just the standard burgundy leather one, with the usual crest on the front, and my initials in the corner. I bought it partly to protect my passport, as it has almost ten years to go yet, and partly because it adds a bit more bulk to it, and makes it *marginally* less likely that I'll lose it!
It's looking like the temperatures while we're in New York will be high 70s to high 80s, which is way too hot for me, but hey - for a week in New York, I'll manage! At least I might get a decent tan out of it!
Time for a bath before bed. It's almost 11pm, and I have work at 7am again. I finish at 3 though, then it's off to Argos to buy this bag, which should be pretty near perfect for my trip. I just want a bag that has a long enough strap to go across my body, for security and is large enough to hold my camera, sun cream, sun glasses, phone, money, and New York Pass. At £9.99, this looks great - though the furry Tigger keyring is *not* staying! As much as I like Tigger, I can't abide hanging things on my bags!
Not sure if I shall blog again before I go - I suspect it's highly likely, though!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Two Days In ...
... and loving the new job.
On Monday I did 7-4 with Debbie, and started learning the cash office side of the role, as well as a few other bits and pieces, like how to print temporary shelf edge tickets and order real ones. I also learned about temperature checks, and started doing some of those, as well as the routine zapping that has to be done on each department every week. That just involves scanning one of each product, and checking that the details shown on the handset screen match the ones on the shelf edge ticket that customers see. I know this all sounds rather boring, but it's all new to me!
Yesterday I did 1130-830, also with Debbie, and learned more of the cash office side of things, as well as some of the other tasks, like back door paperwork, updating the weekly sales board in the dining room, and the closedown procedures.
Coming from checkouts, and having already done cash office before, albeit with Safeway/Morrisons, I think I'll get the hang of cash office pretty quickly. Nothing is hugely different, in fact the system we use as Waitrose is much simpler and more user friendly, with not nearly as much faffing around!
My glasses are certainly helping, and I can see why Cathi, my new section manager, and Catherine, who is my department manager, were concerned at my interview about my poor eyesight. Although I knew my vision had worsened over the past year or two, I hadn't realised just *how* bad it had got, and I have been wearing my glasses for most of the tasks that involve paperwork or the PC, though I can't wear them to walk up or down stairs yet! It still feels very weird to have them on, and although I know they look fine, I feel very self conscious when I'm wearing them, but I can honestly say that I haven't *not* worn them because of that, which is good. They are a very strong prescription though, and I do take them off if I'm not doing paperwork or using the PC, to give my eyes a rest.
All in all, I think I made the right choice to move across now. I have a day off today, then tomorrow and Friday on office, and my last scheduled day on checkouts on Saturday, when I suspect I shall realise just how easy I have it now! It's very nice to do a full day's work and not have my feet screaming in agony at the end of it!
On Monday I did 7-4 with Debbie, and started learning the cash office side of the role, as well as a few other bits and pieces, like how to print temporary shelf edge tickets and order real ones. I also learned about temperature checks, and started doing some of those, as well as the routine zapping that has to be done on each department every week. That just involves scanning one of each product, and checking that the details shown on the handset screen match the ones on the shelf edge ticket that customers see. I know this all sounds rather boring, but it's all new to me!
Yesterday I did 1130-830, also with Debbie, and learned more of the cash office side of things, as well as some of the other tasks, like back door paperwork, updating the weekly sales board in the dining room, and the closedown procedures.
Coming from checkouts, and having already done cash office before, albeit with Safeway/Morrisons, I think I'll get the hang of cash office pretty quickly. Nothing is hugely different, in fact the system we use as Waitrose is much simpler and more user friendly, with not nearly as much faffing around!
My glasses are certainly helping, and I can see why Cathi, my new section manager, and Catherine, who is my department manager, were concerned at my interview about my poor eyesight. Although I knew my vision had worsened over the past year or two, I hadn't realised just *how* bad it had got, and I have been wearing my glasses for most of the tasks that involve paperwork or the PC, though I can't wear them to walk up or down stairs yet! It still feels very weird to have them on, and although I know they look fine, I feel very self conscious when I'm wearing them, but I can honestly say that I haven't *not* worn them because of that, which is good. They are a very strong prescription though, and I do take them off if I'm not doing paperwork or using the PC, to give my eyes a rest.
All in all, I think I made the right choice to move across now. I have a day off today, then tomorrow and Friday on office, and my last scheduled day on checkouts on Saturday, when I suspect I shall realise just how easy I have it now! It's very nice to do a full day's work and not have my feet screaming in agony at the end of it!
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Photoblog Up And Running!
My photoblog has finally got a photo posted. I plan to post one a day, either a new pic, or one from my archives.
The link is in my sidebar, but here it is again
Life Through A Lens
The link is in my sidebar, but here it is again
Life Through A Lens
Proms In The Paddock
Last night was the annual Proms In The Paddock concert, here in Lewes. Organised by Commercial Square Bonfire Society, it featured LGB Brass and the Guildford Friary Band, playing music from Broadway musicals, as well as many other classic favourites, like the Sailors Hornpipe, Pomp and Circumstance, and finishing as always with Tchaichovsky's 1812 Overture, during which the fireworks were discharged.
Our group this year consisted of myself, Daniel, Dom and Debbie, Maryke, Justin, and Eszmey, Sharon and Dani, and Clare, and the weather was perfect. Warm and sunny, with a light breeze, meaning that sitting in the Paddock with our Chinese takeaway dinners, and listening to the bands play, all the while enjoying the company of friends, was a lovely way to spend a summer evening.
I took quite a few photos, mostly of Eszmey, but I can't post them here, as she's not mine! Suffice it to say that she's incredibly photogenic, and has attitude aplenty, and I'm very pleased with most of the shots I got of her.
Mostly though, I wanted pics of the fireworks! This was my first chance to take pics of fireworks with my SLR camera, and I was a bit worried that I would be unlucky, as I couldn't for the life of me remember how to change one particular setting, but in the end, I came away with some shots that I'm actually pretty proud of. Yes, this is a shameless picture post, and I apologise for loading time, but I want to show these ones off!
Our group this year consisted of myself, Daniel, Dom and Debbie, Maryke, Justin, and Eszmey, Sharon and Dani, and Clare, and the weather was perfect. Warm and sunny, with a light breeze, meaning that sitting in the Paddock with our Chinese takeaway dinners, and listening to the bands play, all the while enjoying the company of friends, was a lovely way to spend a summer evening.
I took quite a few photos, mostly of Eszmey, but I can't post them here, as she's not mine! Suffice it to say that she's incredibly photogenic, and has attitude aplenty, and I'm very pleased with most of the shots I got of her.
Mostly though, I wanted pics of the fireworks! This was my first chance to take pics of fireworks with my SLR camera, and I was a bit worried that I would be unlucky, as I couldn't for the life of me remember how to change one particular setting, but in the end, I came away with some shots that I'm actually pretty proud of. Yes, this is a shameless picture post, and I apologise for loading time, but I want to show these ones off!
Saturday, August 04, 2007
Summertime ...
... and what a fabulous day it is!
Mum and I pottered down to the town centre this morning, as we needed a few groceries, and I wanted to pick up a new suitcase from Argos, having finally decided to take something a bit bigger than the 16" one I usually travel with.
On reaching Argos and entering the catalogue number into the stock checker, I realised that the case I wanted was only available from Argos Extra stores, and resigned myself to going into Brighton by bus on Friday, and carting the case home on the bus.
A quick stop at Waitrose, where I bought a scratchcard and lost, and got my shopping, then we came home, to discover that my new glasses had arrived and had, luckily, fitted through the letterbox. The envelope had a sticker on it, declaring "Dispatched on a Friday - Free Sweets!", and when I opened it up, not only did I discover my glasses, but
a gummy eyeball! Rather tasty too, it was!
My glasses are pretty nice, if I say so myself. I ordered the pink case, and the frames themselves are a blush pink. The left lens is very thick, but that only really shows from the side, so most people won't realise, and this is just my basic pair anyway. After New York, I'm planning to order a pair with thin lenses, and also a pair of prescription sunglasses too.
After I got home and tried my glasses on, Clare picked me up to go for lunch. She insisted on paying, as a thank you for the concerts we've been too, which I usually pay for, and we went to the Newmarket inn for lunch, which was very nice. We both had the ham ploughmans, which came with warm, crusty bread, and all the usual things, and which was a very nice way to spend a summer lunchtime. On the way to lunch we stopped at the Argos Extra store in Hollingbury, where I picked up my suitcase. I've chosen the 24" Constellation expanding case, which matches my 16" one, and which will be less than half full on the way out, so which should have plenty of room in it for anything I may bring back!
We drove back to Lewes with the windows down, the sun shining and the wind in our hair, and Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" playing at close to full volume ... fabulous!
This evening it's the annual "Proms In The Paddock", which is like a local version of the more famous "Proms In The Park". There is a huge field in Lewes, with gently sloping banks, and plenty of space for a stage and a couple of thousand people, so a group of us from work go each year. We usually get a Chinese takeaway, or pizza, fish and chips etc, then enjoy the summer evening with friends, music, and a great atmosphere. Tonight will be the first time I've had the chance to try fireworks photos with the new camera, so hopefully I'll have something to share tomorrow! Here's the blurb from a local Lewes magazine.
"The evening will be split into three performances. Firstly LGB Brass and then the visiting Friary Guildford band will perform individually, showcasing a variety of tunes from military anthems through to West End show tunes. The bands then join together for the final performance, which will include a selection of proms night favourites including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, before once again finishing with the 1812 whilst the fireworks go off."
Mum and I pottered down to the town centre this morning, as we needed a few groceries, and I wanted to pick up a new suitcase from Argos, having finally decided to take something a bit bigger than the 16" one I usually travel with.
On reaching Argos and entering the catalogue number into the stock checker, I realised that the case I wanted was only available from Argos Extra stores, and resigned myself to going into Brighton by bus on Friday, and carting the case home on the bus.
A quick stop at Waitrose, where I bought a scratchcard and lost, and got my shopping, then we came home, to discover that my new glasses had arrived and had, luckily, fitted through the letterbox. The envelope had a sticker on it, declaring "Dispatched on a Friday - Free Sweets!", and when I opened it up, not only did I discover my glasses, but
a gummy eyeball! Rather tasty too, it was!My glasses are pretty nice, if I say so myself. I ordered the pink case, and the frames themselves are a blush pink. The left lens is very thick, but that only really shows from the side, so most people won't realise, and this is just my basic pair anyway. After New York, I'm planning to order a pair with thin lenses, and also a pair of prescription sunglasses too.
After I got home and tried my glasses on, Clare picked me up to go for lunch. She insisted on paying, as a thank you for the concerts we've been too, which I usually pay for, and we went to the Newmarket inn for lunch, which was very nice. We both had the ham ploughmans, which came with warm, crusty bread, and all the usual things, and which was a very nice way to spend a summer lunchtime. On the way to lunch we stopped at the Argos Extra store in Hollingbury, where I picked up my suitcase. I've chosen the 24" Constellation expanding case, which matches my 16" one, and which will be less than half full on the way out, so which should have plenty of room in it for anything I may bring back!We drove back to Lewes with the windows down, the sun shining and the wind in our hair, and Bon Jovi's "Lost Highway" playing at close to full volume ... fabulous!
This evening it's the annual "Proms In The Paddock", which is like a local version of the more famous "Proms In The Park". There is a huge field in Lewes, with gently sloping banks, and plenty of space for a stage and a couple of thousand people, so a group of us from work go each year. We usually get a Chinese takeaway, or pizza, fish and chips etc, then enjoy the summer evening with friends, music, and a great atmosphere. Tonight will be the first time I've had the chance to try fireworks photos with the new camera, so hopefully I'll have something to share tomorrow! Here's the blurb from a local Lewes magazine.
"The evening will be split into three performances. Firstly LGB Brass and then the visiting Friary Guildford band will perform individually, showcasing a variety of tunes from military anthems through to West End show tunes. The bands then join together for the final performance, which will include a selection of proms night favourites including Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory, before once again finishing with the 1812 whilst the fireworks go off."Thursday, August 02, 2007
Eight Legged Foe
I just found a spider crawling along the wall above my desk. Thankfully I had a box of tissues on the desk and was able to stay calm, squash it, and dispose of it, but when I told Mum just now she said it was nowhere near as big as either of the two she's recently killed in the living room and on the outside of the French doors.
We get very few spiders here, so to have three like that in less than a week has got me really freaked out, and now I'm sitting here shaking and close to tears. And I've gone and put my shoes on. At least if I step on a mutant giant univited arachnid visitor it'll get squashed!
We get very few spiders here, so to have three like that in less than a week has got me really freaked out, and now I'm sitting here shaking and close to tears. And I've gone and put my shoes on. At least if I step on a mutant giant univited arachnid visitor it'll get squashed!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
My Summer 2007 Wardrobe
OK, so I know we're into August, and summer is only going to last another 7-8 weeks at most, but I finally got round to buying some summer clothes, in honour of my upcoming trip to New York, where it's hovering around the 100F mark at the moment.
I ordered from Ambrose Wilson, as Mum has an account with them, and had a 20% discount code. When I actually went to the website, I discovered that the autumn and winter collection is now out, and all the summer fashions are on clearance - result!
I wanted some more cropped trousers, and lots of tops, as well as some underwear (new bras, if you must know ... ) and pyjamas, and this is what I ended up ordering.
I ordered these in black.
This is in pale beige with black print.
I ordered these in black too. They're by Nike, and I hope they're comfy!
This one I ordered in the white, as shown.
I got this in white and in black.
I got this in white and in sea green.
This one I just had in white.
I also ordered some plain coloured T-shirts, seven pairs of pyjamas, some leggings, another pair of cropped trousers, a passport cover and eight bras. The grand total ended up being under £180. Not bad :-)
The shoes, most of the pyjamas and the passport holder haven't arrived yet, but everything else has, it all fits, and I'm a happy girl!
I ordered from Ambrose Wilson, as Mum has an account with them, and had a 20% discount code. When I actually went to the website, I discovered that the autumn and winter collection is now out, and all the summer fashions are on clearance - result!
I wanted some more cropped trousers, and lots of tops, as well as some underwear (new bras, if you must know ... ) and pyjamas, and this is what I ended up ordering.
I ordered these in black.
This is in pale beige with black print.
I ordered these in black too. They're by Nike, and I hope they're comfy!
This one I ordered in the white, as shown.
I got this in white and in black.
I got this in white and in sea green.
This one I just had in white.I also ordered some plain coloured T-shirts, seven pairs of pyjamas, some leggings, another pair of cropped trousers, a passport cover and eight bras. The grand total ended up being under £180. Not bad :-)
The shoes, most of the pyjamas and the passport holder haven't arrived yet, but everything else has, it all fits, and I'm a happy girl!
