Chezzy's Diary

Very Very long gap!!

2006-08-30T19:00:00.000+01:00

Yes I know it's a very long time since I last blogged, a fair bit has happened in the last 6 months but I will no doubt blog about that in a later post! Anyway i'm back!! I have a few things on over the next few weeks so I will report back again then and I'll let you know some of what i've been up to!!

Flying!!

2006-02-20T17:29:00.000Z

Forgot to mention yesterday...I have also moved into the world of broadband! The world of the internet is just flying by now...for the same cost as I was paying for my dial up until the end of the year...can't be bad!! ;-)

Back again!

2006-02-19T16:59:00.000Z

Ok i've been away longer than intended! I managed to get away on holiday, yes another working one. This time to Stonehenge area working on coppicing an area of woodland including a visit inside the Stone circle before it was opened to the public.

A break which was definatly needed! I'm also off to the York Viking festival next week which should be good fun as meeting up with a few friends and meeting up with other friends on the way/return so should be a few packed days ahead!!

Life has had a few twists and turns over the last few months and a few more bumps in the road ahead I suspect but seems to be settling down and ready to face an interesting new year!

Christmas wishes

2005-12-19T14:45:00.000Z

I would to pass my Christmas best wishes onto everyone who reads my blog as I won't be about much over the next few weeks. Sadly my mum passed away on Friday so I am going to spend a little time away with my family.

Also best wishes to everyone in the new year and i'm sure i'll be back blogging by then!

Christmas shopping..

2005-12-04T14:03:00.000Z

I have just got back from the shops and don't seem to have bought much at all! I decided to go in early to avoid the worst of the queues and bustle so got there for when the shops opened...remind me not to go on a weekend again, it was just as busy as in the middle of the day! I am used to going shopping early on a weekday when it's very quiet, I was ready today to do battle with the next person who walked into me as they were too busy in their own little shopping hell world...and i'm very placid!

Back to the early morning weekday shop I think, only problem there isn't many of them left now before Christmas! I'm going to have a cup of tea now..relax and watch a bit of rubbish T.V. to take my mind off it all!

Pause for thought!

2005-11-30T07:53:00.000Z

I have just put out the bin bag for the bin men to collect and it made me stop and think, last week on my holiday there was 9 people at our basecamp and between 9 of us we only just filled one bin bag yet my bin bag I have just put out was full to the brim and there is only 2 in the house, and I wasn't here all of the week either!

It just made me think I could do much better on the re-cycling front! Yes I do re-cycle glass, cans, plastic bottles, newspaper/mags and I have a composter but I have to put my hands up and admit on the odd occation a bottle or newspaper does end up in the bin bag if it's cold outside and same with the composter so I can improve in that area!

The basecamp we went to had a woodburner which was good for getting rid of those small bits of cardboard that you can't take to the local tip for recycling so if anyone has any suggestions in that area! I did find out that you can put egg boxes in your wormery if you have one...I have a chicken so don't have to worry about that bit!

I have to say my local council are good on the re-cycling front as they collect most from your doorstep and also did a great bargin on composters recently, although I do miss the sound of breaking glass that you hear when you drop glass bottles in the large containers!!

2005-11-28T10:30:00.000Z

Well it's that time again, 8 weeks seems to fly by sometimes! I'm back on nights again, part of me enjoys the peace of night shift the other part doesn't like the way as soon as you have got your body adjusted it's time to go back to a normal time zone!!

I went to bed very late last night and got up very early this morning so hopefully i'll be able to get a few hours kip this afternoon!! Which reminds me I'd better hunt out the spare duvet...great for putting over the window...it almost feels like night when it's up...however there is always that one crack of light that gets through however hard I try to cover the window completely!!

2005-11-27T16:53:00.000Z

Ok as promised, some photo's from my holiday...The week started off with fine if not cold and frosty weather! On the Friday we woke up to a layer of snow, and even though it was cold it was beautiful working conditions! A great week was had by all (I hope!)

Painting fence posts with some very sticky black paint!

Welsh museum of life (worth a visit!!)

Building board walk..before the snow!

A bit of team work going on!

Board walk after the snow!!

One of the stunning views!

Back again!!

2005-11-26T19:20:00.000Z

Yes I know i've been a little slack in recent weeks posting! I've just got back from another holiday...last of this year.

A great week in Wales with some really good company! It was my first as a leader and it went really well! (I think!) Hopefully I'll get around to posting some photo's tomorrow, I've got as far as downloading the photo's from my camera but as i'm tired I'll call it a day for now.

Promise I will try and post on here more often...I can't help being a busy popular girl....ok, ok just a busy girl!

Oops!

2005-11-09T11:50:00.000Z

I've just looked at when I last posted on here! Ok I was away for a week but that was a couple of weeks ago! My next one is just over a week away and I'll be leading that one...scarey but i'm sure after a few nerves on the first day i'm sure i'll settle in and enjoy it!

Veiw in the evening looking out to sea...working hard....and Charmouth beach!

Just a couple of days!

2005-10-19T17:33:00.000+01:00

Yep, just another couple of days before my next working holiday, it seems though that the weather is not looking promising! Rain is forcast for Saturday but dry for Sunday...don't know past that, fingers crossed it stays dry!!

I can't really complain as I have managed to avoid rain (a little snow on my first one!) so far this year...in fact sun burn has been the bigger issue on my previous ones ;-)

If I don't post till I get back I will hopefully come back with plenty of photo's and will post a few on here.

Now I had better get on sorting my packing!

Glan Feanol Hol

2005-10-09T12:30:00.000+01:00

I've now finished my write up on my working holiday at Glan Feanol, well actually I finished it a few days ago but didn't get around to adding it on here!

I've also booked my place on the Megabash at Craflwyn in North Wales which is a weekend of Rhody bashing. Click here to read more about why certain Rhododendron needs to be controled as it is destroying the natural habitats. Just waiting for my confirmation, hopefully will meet up with some of the volunteers from past holidays and new one's from different organisations, the last Megabash attracted over 600 volunteers!

Back on nights again!

2005-10-03T15:50:00.000+01:00

Well it's that time again, back on night shift for a week. It seems longer between the last on and this, probably going on holiday between helps! I have two more holidays between now and my next night shift (get back from hol and go on nights straight after if I have worked it out right!)

I left the office this morning to find it very cold outside, looks like the nice weather is ebbing away, just need 2 nice weeks in the next 8 or so weeks...somehow I don't think i'll be that lucky as I have had 3 weeks away in rain prone areas this year and only got wet on one of the days!

I found I had one talent i'd forgotten about when I was away a few weeks ago, I decided to make some cakes for tea breaks for the volunteers and they went down a hit...it's nice to be apreciated. I think I will keep it up, hopefully they will be as popular on my next Holiday, although as i'm not leading or assisting I might not take as many selections with me as it took a whole day baking to make a weeks worth!!

North Wales NT Holiday!

2005-09-28T02:30:00.000+01:00

As promised a quick lowdown on my holiday, I will do a full report on my Sniffy's Album site but as an inbetween I have put a few photo's on here! I have been lucky so far, my third NT working holiday, assisting this time and the weather held out with a bit of bad weather overnight and a few small showers on the last day! Just want to say thank you to everyone who was there and the wardens making my first assist a very easy afair..in particular to the Leader!

Getting ready to climb Tryfan with the John Muir trust on Sunday

Wardens working hard!!! (With a little of help from 2 volunteers!)

One of the stunning skys we had!!

Finished product (lower steps and rail)

I'm Back!

2005-09-25T17:46:00.000+01:00

Just a quick post to say i'm back from holiday, I had a very good holiday despite having a cold all week and feeling tired!

Too tired at the moment to post any photo's etc as I haven't down loaded them off my camera but should have them on line in the next day or so!

Time to relax!

2005-09-11T01:30:00.000+01:00

It's been a very busy week, very short staffed at work so been hard work, then again the week went quick!

I must need my head seeing to, what do I do on my day off....No not relax, I spend the day cleaning the house!! However I do intend spending tomorrow as a lazy Sunday. I think I will have a lie in, maybe go for a stroll to get my appetite up and have a nice Sunday roast late afternoon then an early night, ready for a very early shift Monday!

Only one week to my holiday, I'm looking forward to it...I've already filled my car with petrol incase they decide to do have fuel protests next week so I have enough to get to North Wales, luckily my car is good with fuel. I have enough to get there with probably 1/4 tank spare...Will worry about the way back if they do have protests when I get there!

Um One last holiday!

2005-09-04T21:00:00.000+01:00

Ok I know I posted a few weeks back that I had booked my last holiday for the year...However I went in yesterday to find out how much leave I had left, I was thinking I would have about 4 days, turns out I have 7 so enough for one more week away!! Life isn't always that bad, makes up for the shitty days I suppose!!

Due to only 2 allowed off at any one time I have 5 weeks left in the year which didn't clash with A, Other staff and B, weeks I have already booked...Two working holidays back to back is a little to much even for me! I wanted to try somewhere different, there were no holidays I could lead or assist on available so I had a look through the paying ones and tossed a coin between west Dorset and exmoor...Very difficult to choose between the two, both looked great locations. I've never been to Exmoor but it's been 10 years since I had been to Dorset and even then it was a day trip.

After the coin toss I enquired about the one in Dorset, there was a space so I booked it, even though part of me still would have liked to go to Exmoor, I can always go next year! The one I have booked sounds interesting, working near Chesil beach by the coast stopping in an old radar base!! I now have one week away each month now until December then a week in Janurary, should be knackering but fun, you only live once so why not explore the countryside and enjoy what our special and unique British landscape has to offer whilst putting something back into it for future generations at the same time!!

2005-09-03T00:40:00.000+01:00

Thought I'd better pop my head in and show i'm still around! Been a busy week or so as we have two off sick and next week two are on leave as well. I'm feeling knackered now, dread to think what i'll be feeling like next week!

The boss is back and no bad reports whilst he was on holiday so I must have done ok looking after things, thanks to the other guys in the team of course!

I'm off on my working holiday as an assistant in a couple of weeks time, which although i'm a little aprehensive about, i'm looking forward to it! I guess I should get into training as not sure what activities they will throw at us, might have to dust my bike off and cycle places for the next few weeks as mountain biking is a possible activity, won't find out till I get there!

Now time to find a corner to drift off to sleep in as I was up at 3am and slightly knackered at the moment!

Interesting working week!

2005-08-24T19:40:00.000+01:00

Well been a bit of a interesting week, due to the boss being away I have been left to make sure everything is ticking over smoothly....it was going fine until, one of the staff had to to go to hospital with a possible fracture in her foot (will find out today what exactly she has done to it!)

So now the roster is out the window and so is the project we were working on as we don't have enough staff...oh well just a few days before the boss is back!

Another holiday!

2005-08-19T03:20:00.000+01:00

Well my final holiday for the year booked, although I do still have a few odd days left to book! Although not sure if my holiday is actually a holiday as it is another working one, back in the Brecon Beacons, but this time I am going as a leader...should be good, if not a little scarey as it will be my first one as a leader!

At least I know the basecamp and the wardens so a good start, and I can get the chance to see how my last bit of footpath is getting on!

Before then I have my holiday assisting in North Wales, oh and I have a long weekend off the weekend after next and fancy going off somewhere, historical maybe or somewhere with nice landscapes...anyone got any suggestions where I can go please let me know in the comments section! (not too far north or Cornwall as I'm on an early shift on the Monday!!!

Trip follow up..

2005-08-17T02:40:00.000+01:00

As promised I have now done a short report on my trip and more photo's on my other site Sniffy's Album.

Busy at work at the mo, boss is away and I have been left in charge for two weeks, within two days one of the other departments has nicked the room behind our office which my boss had his eye on for an admin room for us, photo copying room etc. I tried my best to get them to hold fire till he gets back, but lost the arguement. He will not be happy when he gets back, I know he won't blame me as I don't think he would have won the arguement either, I tried my best, lets hope nothing else like that come up whilst he is away!

Llangollen Trip

2005-08-16T01:00:00.000+01:00

As promised more on my weekend away! I will do a full report on my other site...not today though! A few sneak photo's below..

Valle Crucis Abbey, Llangollen.

Chirk Castle, Chirk.

Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen.

Campsite, including rainbow!

Hopefully will have uploaded the rest of the photo's in the next few days.

Packed Weekend!!

2005-08-15T04:10:00.000+01:00

Just a short post (will write more tomorrow!). Just had a very packed, but enjoyable weekend! Started off by going to see one of my friends (who I don't see that often as we live 100 miles apart) and going out for a very nice pub meal and a good gossip on Friday evening, then Saturday picked my cousin up and headed for North Wales to Llangollen for the day to meet up with the NWFF group, first visiting Valle Crucis Abbey, (in the rain!) then a long lunch (trying to avoid the rain!) then going on to Chirk Castle (should have gone to Castell Dinas Bran as well, but raining too much!).

Then 3 of us camped under the shadow of Castell Dinas Bran (just a tad wet and windy!) , after brekkie the weather improved a bit and we made the climb to the castell before heading home! Will post photo's tomorrow!

'5 Q's 4U'

2005-08-09T10:02:00.000+01:00

Thanks to /T/BLOG I came across this (copy and pasting from T as when on nights brain is slightly slower!)

In this little diversion the "tagger" asks five questions of the "taggee," and then the "taggee" ends the post with the instructions for how the game works so that it propagates like any good meme is supposed to.

/T/ Asked me..

Chezzy here are your questions:

1. Have you ever gotten stuck on a road with your car so that you needed to either call road assistance, a tow truck or a friend to help you out?

A: Not with my present car, but had a few adventures with my old one, two that stand out (there are to many to mention!) First was I was driving round a very busy roundabout near Watford, England. Dome roundabout for anyone who knows the area, I pulled up at the lights part way round, as the lights changed I went to pull off my clutch cable snapped! I was on my own and had a mini panic as I couldn't move my car and there were cars stuck behind me and beeping at me!! I was rescued by a milkman who came and pushed me out the way whilst I waited for my rescue service. The second time was when I was driving to the Lake District with my hubby, picking my mum up on the way to give her a short holiday. I was on the M6 in heavy traffic going through Birmingham, I knew something was wrong, my hubby said I was being paranoid, as my alternator packed up as I was in the fast lane (fortunately traffic was doing about 2mph!) he had to push me to the hard shoulder...Right in view of the RAC building, how embarrassing, specially as I was with a different rescue service. All ended well, got my alternator changed and still made the holiday albeit a few hours late!

2. What does your ideal vacation look like, what should it definitely include and what not?

My ideal holiday (vacation) would have to be somewhere scenic and a little remote, it should defiantly include some kind of activities and defiantly not include 2 weeks worth of sunbeds!

3. If you could work to mend a footpath on one of your holidays anywhere in the world, what path would you be working on and why?

Not sure if they would have footpaths as such that would need mending but it would have to be in the Himalayas in the shadow of Everest. I wouldn't like to climb it, value my life too much! But to just be in the mountains presence would just be awe inspiring, if a mountain could talk what stories it would have to tell of the people who have walked it's paths!

4. What are your favorite clothes you like to wear when you are home and don't have to go anywhere?

Any old jeans, tee-shirt, just something comfy and un-work like!

5. What is the weirdest that ever happened while you were on a night shift?

Nothing really weird has happened on night shift, but I did have to work last new years eve, most of your night shift is on your own between aprox 1 am and 5 am which i'm used too, normally busy doing paperwork etc, but due to being a holiday I didn't see anyone between aprox 11pm and 7am, and very little work to do, it did seem a little creepy and weird, specially at midnight all alone seeing the new year in!

Thanks /T/ for taking the time to come up with these questions.

In accordance with the rules of the meme, I need to post these instructions:
Instructions:
If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying Interview me. (Tickle me or Caress meÂ are not acceptable substitutes.) You must leave your blog address so I can think of good questions for you!
I will respond by asking you five questions - each personÂs will be different. IÂll post the questions in the comments section of this post.
You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Don't forget, you will need to check back for your questions and it might help if you let me know when you have answered them.

Night's AGAIN!!

2005-08-08T19:50:00.000+01:00

I don't know if it's me but i'm on nights again and it doesn't feel like 6 weeks since I did them last time! At least I am only doing 4 nights instead of 5 as I have taken the last night off so I can go to Wales on the Saturday. Also I have a trainee with me for the last 2 nights so should be an easy week!!

Does mean my days will be back to front again and I'm killing time this morning before I go to bed at 1ish this afternoon. On that note I have been doing a bit of surfing and came across this site and had a go at a personality quiz. Not far off! Have a go for a bit of fun, there are other quizzes, some dafter than others!

Your Birthdate: December 22

While sometimes employing unorthodox approaches, you are capable of handling large scale undertakings.

You assume great responsibility and work long and hard toward completion.

Often, especially in the early part of life, there is rigidity or stubbornness, and a tendency to repress feelings.

Idealistic, you work for the greater good with a good deal of inner strength and charisma.

An extremely capable organizer, but likely to paint with broad strokes rather than detail.

You are very aware and intuitive.

You are subject to a good deal of nervous tension.

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Another holiday!

2005-08-04T02:00:00.000+01:00

Just booked another holiday...ok maybe not the best time to go on holiday in this country...Janurary!

Another working holiday too! Difference being that i'm going to be working near Stonehenge and highlight of the week will be standing amongst the stones after the site is closed to the public. Also going with me cousin which should be a good laugh. Of course photo's will be put on line afterwards of the week.

Before that though I have my weekend in Llangollen coming up and a week in September in north Wales and a few days leave left this year so might do some more stuff before the end of the year. Looks like my camera will be busy!

2005-08-01T13:55:00.000+01:00

Trying to get away from cars...But it now turns out the other front wheel bearings are going as well so car has to go back in again....Not happy!

Anyway, on a better note I have managed to get my last night off on my week of nights so I can go to Wales for the day (maybe stop over camping again, although doubt the views will be as good as the last campsite I stopped at but you never know!) with the NW and Midlands TTFF's groups (see link on right for Time Team links) Even though so far no Midlanders in the group unless you count me as an ex-midlander, if my cousin goes there will at least be one true midlander going!

It does mean that I have had to work an extra day this week though! Hopefully worth it, I'll post photo's when I go of course!

Right, off to surf for a nice camping site in the area we are going to, if anyone knows of any nice camping sites in north Wales (small and friendly preferred!) Let me know in the comments section please!

1,000th!

2005-07-26T19:30:00.000+01:00

Just looked at my counter and nearly at 1,000 visitors to this site, I could delude myself thinking i'm popular but most of it is due to Blog explotion! My other site which I have been running for 18 months and put a lot more work into has less than 200 visitors which have come from me 'selling' it on forums etc I visit so much more realistic figure!

If you want to have a look at it please feel free as It has taken a lot more hard graft than this one so I like it when I know someone looks at my hard work. Just CLICK HERE! To have a look!

Anyway thanks to everyone who has read my site and wishing myself happy 1'000th very soon!

Car's 2!!

2005-07-24T13:55:00.000+01:00

Sorry I'm a bit late updating, time getting the better of me again!

On the saga of my car it turns out it was one of the bearings going on the driver front wheel which had started making a rumbling noise but not yet vibrating so hence me thinking it might be a noise from the engine, expensive but not as bad as I thought it might have been!

However my car saga goes on, I had to drive in to London today so I decided not to risk making my car worse (being fixed Friday) so I took my Hubby's company car (with permission of course!) and about 5 miles from home on a duel carriage way at 60 mph I got a puncture!! So by the time I got it fixed was 1 1/2 hours late for work!

Oh well, that is life. Years ago I would have got really stressed and worried about it, I must be calming down with the ageing process! However my hubby doesn't know yet as he is away and phone on voicemail.....He will have to get the tyre sorted tomorrow as it's just the emergency tyre on the car at the moment!

Oh and i'm coming down with a cold!!

Cars!

2005-07-20T13:57:00.000+01:00

Not a happy bunny! My car has decided to make funny noises from the engine, i'm taking it in to the garage but as it is short notice they are going to look at it and let me know what's wrong but won't be able to do any work on it. Sadly the noise sounds expensive!

I'll post tomorrow the verdict from the garage...fingers crossed it's not as bad as i'm thinking it could be!

Working hard..

2005-07-16T11:00:00.000+01:00

Well I have loads to do this weekend, all boring stuff like house cleaning etc! Well I have cleaned downstairs and the kitchen, mowed the lawn and started to cut the hedges etc and I still have loads on my to do list....but the chair in the garden is calling my name and I have a blister on my finger so working is hurting me now. What do you reckon I should do....

....well I have tomorrow as well to finish my to do list, looks like the chair has won. I might do a little more later on!

Lead 1 Weekend

2005-07-14T19:20:00.000+01:00

As promised below is a few photo's from my weekend away, looks like I am being very lucky with the weather at the moment as well!

The new Hardwick Hall, sadly the only time I had free was on Friday and the Hall is closed on a Friday! However the gardens were open.

The Old Hardwick Hall, also not open on a Friday!

Basecamp where we were stopping, handily the pub was right behind the base, what more could you want!

Finally I camped over for one night before going home in the Edale Valley in Derbyshire and this is the view from my tent in the morning when I got up, I didn't want to go home!

Missing!

2005-07-13T19:50:00.000+01:00

If anyone was wondering where I have been just to let you know I haven't fallen of the edge of the planet!

I was away over the weekend doing a leadership training course to become a leader for the National Trusts working holidays. Which i'm pleased to say I passed, thanks to the tutors and the good companyand help of the others on the course!

I also camped for a night before I came home from the weekend in stunning scenery in Edale valley in Derbyshire, I of course took photo's which I will post on here either later today or tomorrow! I am a busy girl at the moment, pity I have to go back to the daily routine of work!

This weeks poll..

2005-07-04T09:30:00.000+01:00

...is a little sureal, not sure where it came from, somewhere in the reccess of my mind! I think the results should be interesting anyway! Please spare a few seconds to vote...Thanx!

I WON!!

2005-07-03T03:10:00.000+01:00

Ok, it's not that exciting, but I actually won a battle on battle of the blogs on Blog Explosion. After getting completey and utterly defeated last time by a blog about coffee!! I wasn't going to have another go, but I had quite a few credits and thought why not! Although now I'm quitting whilst I'm even!

Nights

2005-06-30T16:40:00.000+01:00

I'm afraid not much going on this week, apart from me recovering from all the hard graft I did last week on holiday (worth it!) I'm on nights this week so sleeping through all the nice weather (and storms!!!)

I'm off on my NT working holidays leaders course soon which although a little aprehensive about I am looking forward to, then the real thing in september when I am assisting on one. I think I must need my head testing as it is an 'Active holiday' aimed at 18 to 24 year olds (I am a few years older!!) I have to say though I am looking forward to it and hope I will be able to keep up. Not witht the drinking though, I will leave them to it, it's amazing what some people will agree to after having a few. ;-) (Don't worry H i'm saying no more!)

Brecon Beacons

2005-06-27T01:45:00.000+01:00

OK here are a few photo's from my holiday, I have only posted a few on here but the rest are on my other site Sniffy's Album , there is a small write up on the holiday on the site (click on the link on the left for Brecon Beacons working holiday, and more photos under Pictures.

Footpath being built and taking a break on the top of Pen-Y-Fan

Group photo after finishing and waterfall where Kevin Costner bathed in Robin hood!

Finally Raglan Castle which was one of the Castles I visited on the way home!

Remember there are more photo's on my other site (Link on right) Sniffy's Album, please feel free to post comments on here or on the message board on my other site!

I'm Back!!

2005-06-26T03:25:00.000+01:00

Just a quick blog today, i'm very very tired!

Thanks for all the wishing me a good holiday...It was exelent and I'm not just saying it, although a lot of hard work the results were worth it and the company was also exelent (and i'm not saying that incase anyone who was there reads this!!) The company made the holiday, thanks guys! Also thanks to Rob (the warden!!) for all his good spirit, especially when it came to us using the pitching stones from down the hill rather than the ones next to us!!

I will post more tomorrow, plus hopefully I will have sorted the photo's out by then!

Holiday..

2005-06-18T04:25:00.000+01:00

Ok i'm all packed bar a few bit's and bob's for my holiday. I will be away for a week so i'm leaving my poll up for an extra week!

There should be lot's of pickkies I hope when I get back! I'm just hoping my hubby looks after the pets ok whist i'm away..idiot proof instuctions written out for him already!

How will I cope without the internet for a whole week!!! (I think i'll survive, just will have a lot to catch up with when I get back!)

This weeks poll

2005-06-14T20:05:00.000+01:00

Sorry a few days late but new poll in place. Remember if you have any suggestions for a poll just let me know!

RAF Cosford Air Show Photo's

2005-06-13T11:17:00.000+01:00

Well here they are..ok not very good but will give you the idea!

Slighty blured Red Arrow!

Even more blurred Red Arrow!

One very wicked plane...new fighter (Sorry forgot name) very loud, very fast and very cool!

Chech (sp) Republic display team.

One of the bommers that were on display, sorry forgot which one!!

Cosford Air Show

2005-06-12T21:48:00.000+01:00

Well apart from a few spits of rain and slightly burnt sausages on the BBQ I had a good day today watching the Cosford air show for free from my sister's back garden. So ok we only got to see the fast or big planes that had to fly further out from the base to turn, it was still a good show. Although we have decided that next year she needs to cut the tree's down in her garden and remove the garage so we can get a better veiw!

One good thing was she put on the Air base's radio station on in the garden which were running live commentary so even if we couldn't see everything we at least knew what was happening and what was coming up next, also they occationally put on air the commands from inside the aircraft as they was doing the displays which was good. In the case of the Red Arrows it went something like this from the lead plane...."Smoke on......Smoke off.......Smoke on ........Smoke off" (In a posh RAF accent!)

I will try and post some photo's tomorrow but I'm not sure how they will turn out as most are tiny silhouettes of the planes...Whenever I could have a good shot my camera seemed to want to play games and switch off to save batteries or the like!!

Sad Day!

2005-06-09T20:55:00.000+01:00

For anyone who knows me they will know that I am a Time Team fan and my online surfing began on the Time Team Forum where I made many friends, went on trips and learnt a fair bit about archeology from, is closing down next weekend.

The community that has built up there (including the odd marriage!) has now had to re home it self, due to (I can say it on here as the mods can't kick me off!!) Big Brother over loading the forums, well they aren't admitting it! A very long standing educational forum being kicked off for ratings, very sad!

I wasn't going to watch BB before, I definatly won't now!!

I will add the links to the new forums tomorrow, I'm off to bed now as I'm up early, but I had to have a rant before I went to bed.

TTF RIP!

Polling again!!

2005-06-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

As you can see I now have a poll again! Thanks to Puppetdude3 for his suggestion for a free poll site, I did try the one he suggested first but no matter what user name I tried it came up as already in use...Even a random selection of letters! So I did a bit of searching and found another site...Basic but it works and no pop ups!!

I have also added a guestbook as well! Due to having hurt my foot..Not sure how, I'm resting it today, so have time to mess about on my comp! I'm going to have a go on the games mentioned on Puppetdude3's blog then a bit of surfing on blog explosion...It's a hard life sometimes!

Poll-less!

2005-06-08T19:24:00.000+01:00

Well I made the effort this morning and did my walk, even though I was out of breath at the top of the hill but it was worth it, it should get easier the more times I do it... Doing it again Saturday morning!

Due to it causing pop ups I have taken my poll off at the moment until I can find a free service that doesn't advertise with pop ups (if anyone knows of a site please let me know!)

For anyone who is interested at last count most people would rather have watched paint dry than Big Brother...What can I say!

Lie in..

2005-06-07T08:05:00.000+01:00

Well I was going to get up this morning and do a 4 mile walk before work in preperation for my holiday in the Brecons in less than two weeks time, um, I sort of had a lie in instead! I did do some weights though so i'm feeling a little less guilty!

I will tomorrow honest...it should be easier tomorrow as I have a day off, however it is going to be a very busy day as I have been putting off lot's of jobs till my day off!

This weeks Poll....

2005-06-04T19:12:00.000+01:00

As it is Big Brother silly season I thought I would base this week poll on BB.

If anyone has any suggestions for future polls please let me know!

A few changes!

2005-06-04T03:15:00.000+01:00

Anyone who has been to my site before will notice I have made a few changes!!! I'm blaming Robbie, he changed his header and I thought to myself I wonder if I can work out how to do it, after a lot of experimenting I have managed to change most of the backgrounds, typeface, colours borders etc etc until I was happy (ish!)! It might not be the best looking blog out there but i'm impressed with myself as it was my first attempt at editing programs since I had my Amstrad!

My Walk today!

2005-06-04T00:10:00.000+01:00

I thought I would have a go at posting some of the photo's I took on my walk today, as you can see it is sunny...it was slightly over cast when I set out and I slightly got caught out and have slightly red arms!

Ivinghoe Beacon

Some flowers!

Looking back towards Ashridge estate

Walking back through some very large wheat feilds...oh ok I sat down for 5 mins admiring the views and the wheat feild was behind where I was sitting!

Good day!

2005-06-03T14:19:00.000+01:00

Isn't it nice when you get up in the morning in a down mood and things turn themselves round before the day is out!

I decided that I was going to make the effort and walk up the side of the Beacon by where I live in preperation for the Brecons in a few weeks time...I intend to walk up the side as much as I can between now and then.

I had planned to walk for an hour then head back, I was at the top of the beacon within 50 mins including stopping to take photo's so I walked a bit further and it was a glorious day so I decided to take a longer senic route home.

As I walked I noticed not only the sunshine, but tiny little flowers in the grass, birds, butterflies, insects and when walking through a disused quarry how nature had claimed it back. To cut a long story short I felt I had gone from feeling down in the morning to a feeling of contenment and peace by the end of my walk. It remeinded me how lucky we are in the British Isiles with all the diversity of our countryside. A very inspiring day!

I also spotted a path straight up the side of a comb which will be perfect practice for the Brecons, much steeper and longer than the path up the side of the beacon and about a 20 min walk from me so I should be warmed up before I attempt it!

Time fly's

2005-06-02T17:40:00.000+01:00

Gosh is it Thursday already! Time fly's when your having fun...or in my case busy doing to much work!! I don't have anything interesting to blog about I just thought I would show my face as I haven't written anything since Monday...just incase anyone was thinking of mounting a rescue mission to find where I had got to...what do you mean no one had noticed I haven't been around!! ;-)

One of those day's

2005-05-30T18:01:00.000+01:00

Well whilst most people have been having a nice bank holiday day off, please pay a thought to those of us who were working! I had one of those day's where I never seemed to be able to catch up with my work....And to top it off a project my boss and I have been working on, which should go into effect tomorrow, has been changed....Today! So all our work has to be altered to suit, but he has gone away, and the work is password protected. I have done my best and we are going to have to make do until Thursday when he gets back. Oh Well!

Let's hope tomorrow is better!

Question is..

2005-05-28T19:00:00.000+01:00

As you will see on the right I have added a poll (You can tell I have a day off and nothing better to do!)

Not a very interesting question I know but my mind is numb after a week of nights! I will try and put a new question once a week, be it silly, serious, topical or even a bit surreal! I don't expect many people to vote but i'm only doing it for a bit of fun!

If anyone has a question they want me to ask please feel free to put it on the comments section and if I think it suitable I will put it up for a week and post a link for that week to the person who has posed the question. (Don't forget to list the answer choices as well!)

Now the question is do I go to bed or force myself to stay awake till tonight!

Blogs!

2005-05-26T09:17:00.000+01:00

I have been sufing blogs on Blog explosion the last couple of mornings (evening to me this week!) and it's interesting what a diverse world we live in! Also how, even though they are diverse, country's are similar on how they post.

I have noticed though that most of the time, not always, I can work out what country the blog writer is from by either the general theme of the blog, how it is written etc before looking where they are from or the $ sign! Has anyone else found this to be true?

I think I have too much time on my hands! Or more like I can't sleep on night shift so end up surfing instead!

Night!

2005-05-23T19:50:00.000+01:00

As I am on night shift this week my posts might be a sporadic so bear with me! I kind of like night shift, no one around to disturb you, however as soon as my body has got used to doing nights it's time to go back to the world of normal living!

I will bid farewell for the moment as i'm off to bed now...well it is nearly midnight...well to me it is anyway!

Skint!

2005-05-23T00:15:00.000+01:00

Remind me not to go out to the shops when I have free time on my hands! Spent far to much money today! I went out to get a set of weights so I can improve my upper arm/body strenght ready for my holiday moving heavy stones in the moutains of Wales...I ended up comeing back with a new digital camera as well! I was going to get one as I wanted one I can alter apperture/shutter speed etc but wasn't quite planning to buy one today!

I am impressed with it though, 2.1 more mega pixels than my last one and a lot more creativity possible with it without the hassle of lugging a large old SLR around with me! It has a black and white feature as well which reminds me of my college days doing A level photograpy, without the mess of chemicals ruining my clothes!

Rainy day..

2005-05-21T16:13:00.000+01:00

It's been one of those days today, in theory I should have woke up with a hang over or at least a little tender as last night went to another leaving do, dropping like flys at the moment at work! However even though I drank more than I should have and didn't get even tipsy and woke up sober! The only think I can think of was I had a really bad headache before we went to the pub and someone gave me a headache tablet, perhaps that had an effect on me!

It has been one of those rain, sun, rain, sun...days as well, trust me to pick a rain bit to go to the shop and end up getting soaked....I did see something to make me feel better about it though, as I got back to my house like a drained rat I saw a group of kids, scouts or something similar, just as wet as me, only they had back packs on and sleeping mats strapped to them so were obviously camping...Poor souls, did make me feel better about myself though, as I stepped inside my nice central heated house and dried myself out!

2005-05-19T22:10:00.000+01:00

Pleased to say my car passed her MOT this morning and after a lot of walking in and out of shops I managed to get a couple of leaving presents, i'm quite pleased with myself as I had no idea what to get and I have come home with hopefully some interesting presents and kept to budget!

A book of interesting facts for every day of the year, a scarcastic funny little book on commuting which i'm sure he will like, a 2 pint beer glass with 8 funny beer mats, a bottle of vodka and a bag of pick and mix, (don't ask!). Don't worry he won't read this so it doesn't matter that I have listed what I have got. I just have to wrap them now!

Busy few days!

2005-05-18T16:03:00.000+01:00

Due to doing funny hours this week at work I haven't had time to get on my comp, and when I have I have been too tired to write anything! I will write more tomorrow as I have a day off, MOT in the morning, hopefully the car will pass!

It is one of the blokes in the office's leaving do on Friday and I have been given the task of getting a pressie for him, and I haven't a clue...Any suggestions would be appreciated! I've been asking around his friends what to get and they have no idea either! I'm hoping for inspiration when I go shopping tomorrow!

Car's who'd have em!

2005-05-13T03:50:00.000+01:00

I have just spent all day waiting for my car to be checked over (brakes, exhaust and tyres) ready for it's MOT which is due very soon. I was told last MOT that I should keep an eye on my exhaust and brakes. As that was a year ago I thought it advisable to get them checked..I had my brakes checked when it was serviced before anyone panics thinking I had left it a whole year!

As it turned out my brakes are still fine, just cleaned them up for me and same with the tyres, just needed front swapping with rear and tracking done.....Then came the bit you know you are not going to like...You need two parts of your exhaust replacing, oh and as your car is a fairly new model will have to order them in and take loads of money from you'...Ok they didn't say those exact words but that's what they meant! I knew it would be expensive as anyone who has a VW (ok mines a skoda, but was the same story when I had a polo) will know, parts aren't cheap, but they do last longer than most, from my experience anyway!

On a positive side although I was waiting around all day as I couldn't get home easily from where I was, it was a lovely day and I spent the morning walking by the canal and the afternoon sitting in the grounds of Berkhampstead castle in the sunshine which was very relaxing although I do have a slight red tinge to my face now!

Happy tidings

2005-05-11T17:15:00.000+01:00

When I got home from work today I found the wild duck that had been nesting in my garden in the middle of the lawn with all 9 ducklings underneath her. Due to her not being able to get out of the garden I had to catch her and her chicks and re locate them. She was easy to catch but the ducklings gave me the run about! I am pleased to say I managed to get all of them to the local reservior and realeased them in a safe location and watched her take them in the water and swim off into the long reeds. It was a very satisfying to watch. I hope they do well but I will never know as there was lots of other mother ducks there, hence why I realeased them in that location. I did manage to get a quick photo of them after I caught them, they were really cute!

Worthless..

2005-05-10T18:22:00.000+01:00

Yesterday was an interesting day at work, I had an appraisal where each in the team got marked on the work we have done in the last six months. Frustratingly my boss marked all of us the same as our department is new and it is our first appraisal so we can have the opportunity to show improvement. He did give us all 100% but it's frustrating as I know myself and one other have put much more into the development of the team and job role and it looks like we all have done the same work, sort of makes you feel a little under appreciated even though he did say he knew I should of got the top grade for what I have done. Thing is I understand why he has done it, just a little miffed!

Second was a big bust up between two of the team and I got caught up as a witness to a verbal warning from my manager to one of them, who is a good friend of mine, although he was in the wrong and knew it...Unfortunately this happened right before my appraisal! Typical!

Today was nice and calm, if a little edgy between the two who had the bust up!

Chilled out..

2005-05-08T03:15:00.000+01:00

As it has been such a nice day I thought i'd take a picture of something summery...this was a Christmas present!

2005-05-07T10:16:00.000+01:00

I'm feeling a little delicate this morning, it was someone's leaving do at work last night so a few drinks were consumed, it was a good night though!

I had to go in for my feedback for not getting the job yesterday, I had done better than I thought but I also was told the Bulls...t I was expecting, some people can talk an interview and tell the people what they want to hear, doesn't mean they will actually do the job well! I have to say the two main things he said I didn't show was that I wouldn't be tough enough with the staff and second I didn't show my commitment and flexibility.....I told my colleagues and they nearly fell over with shock as they are my two strongest points.....Problem is I know I didn't sell them well as to me they are second nature not something to boast about. I must admit I did defend myself in the feedback and said I am a hands on person, come and see me working and he would see I am telling the truth (ie not just saying it to bulls....t through an interview!) He had to admit he had not actually asked anyone what I was like but would make the effort to see how his teams worked on the ground (he is new to the location). Right now I am de-stressed I will shut up on the matter!

On a positive note it appears I have won a competition, first in a long time...(so ok I was the only entrant!). Take a look at http://dossman.blogspot.com/ for my winning entry! Also at http://puppetdude3.blogspot.com/ where I found the link to the competition.

Not a lot to say day...

2005-05-06T00:27:00.000+01:00

Think that says it all!

One of those days..

2005-05-05T00:55:00.000+01:00

Well no suprise to me I have just received a call to tell me I wasn't succesful in the job application I applied for. I'm not bothered at all, although I know I would be as good as, and in some cases better than the ones that are doing it now. Apparently I was against some tough competition. In reality i'm shit at interviews and I only shine with work I have proved I can do sadly they didn't know me. Hey ho nevermind! Just have to go and listen to the crap feedback now!

On a lighter note my cold is slightly better today and my hen has laid another egg....I think I will save them up and have scrambled eggs for brekkie on Sat. :-)

2005-05-04T01:21:00.000+01:00

Well what can I say in my first post? A little about myself I suppose, i'm a 30 something (only just!) married woman who likes to occationally have a bit of adventure in my life, nothing to ott though!

I have two pets, (excluding the hubby!) Button (rabbit) and Star (chicken) and no children, who needs kids when you have pets, the plus factor is they don't answer back and the neighbours can look after them when you are away!

Where am I in my life at the mo? Well I work (to hard sometimes!) and have just gone for an interview for a promotion, which I won't get, the the experience was good, I will find out in the next couple of days if I got it so it will give me something to write on here.

The other area of interest in my life at the moment is becoming an assistant leader for the National Trust working holidays. I'm off mending high level footpaths in south Wales in June (not as an assistant) which should be hard work but fun. The last one I went on was in Yorkshire which was really worth while, ence me applying to be a leader! My training course is in July and I will be assisting on a holiday in North Wales in September, which is an adventure holiday as well aimed at 18 to 24 year olds so I need to up my fitness levels quickly! (I am also learning a little basic Welsh so should come in use!)

Well I think that is about it for today, oh except my hen laid her first egg today which I was quite proud of, I even felt a little guilty eating it...it was nice though! I'm sure I will have plenty to put in my Blog over the months!