tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2009-11-14:/Splutterings of a 30-something mole-like man, searching for divine happiness.MokoFeed2009-11-14T18:15:14+01:00tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-04-20:/2007/04/20/disappointment~2126373/Moley2007-04-20T11:17:34+02:002007-04-20T11:17:34+02:00 <p>It's been a while since I've posted - usual story - busy, work, home-life - excuses, excuses.</p> <p>Well, I've made a prat of myself. Not hard. </p> <p>We had on next fertility check-up appointment yesterday. To rewind the scenario, if you remember my February semen fluid analysis came back as sub-optimal and showed signs of some infection. Well, I took the antibiotics as prescribed and had to wait 6 weeks before conducting another test - that made it 12th April time. So, despite having a deadline at work, I took some time out last Friday morning to produce a new sample - with disastrous effects. If the last result was lacking in quantity, this one would top it! So, I failed to produce a decent sample. I would have to try again in a few days. So, I'm stood at the bus-stop when the wife calls to check I'd done the dirty deed. So I lied. I said it was better than the previous attempt and was on my way to the lab to drop it off so the result would be ready prior to the hospital appointment.</p> <p>Stupid, thoughtless mistake.</p> <p>So, I tried a further attempt on Tuesday - again struggling to produce the goods - maybe I'm stressing too much? - maybe trying to ejaculate into a small, thin pot usually used for urine samples is not the best equipment?</p> <p>so, I failed.</p> <p>Along comes the hospital appointment - we turn up 9.45am with our appointment at 10.30am. A LONG time to agonise over the precarious situation I've put myself in. So, 2 hours after our arrival, we are seen by the female consultant....... and a bloody young female student observing. Great.</p> <p>She talks through the wife's results which all come back as fairly okay. Then onto me. Shit. She mentions the first results being inconclusive and we mention I've produced another sample awaiting the outcome. So the consultant says she will chase it up and we are told to take a seat in the waiting room. Now I felt pressurised to come clean - it felt like everybody sat in the waiting room was staring and looking directly at me. All the couples coming out of the consultant rooms were distraught and in tears - which also played on my mind heavily. I had just blatantly lied to my wife and a hospital consultant in order to buy myself some time to produce a decent sample in fear of my wife's reaction for not being able to perform a simple task.</p> <p>So, I confessed there and then. The wife walked off in tears leaving me to embarassingly explain to two nurses the truth - much to their amusement.</p> <p>The consultant was good about it - telling me to go away and chat to my GP about things and about producing another test. I went home with the wife to talk through a lot of issues - why I had lied, why didn't I tell her the truth etc. Believe me, it was one tough afternoon of talking.</p> <p>So, what's the possibility of having lots of little Moleys running around in the next couple of years? - slim - at this moment in time there's a few complications hampering progress which need to be addressed. Rather frustrating when you get into your 30s and you see your friends & siblings have children etc. I'm just resigned to the fact it may be a long and emotional process and that we may need to think of the other options long-term. </p> <p>Adoption - lovely idea but not sure as now on the legal side children have rights to find out about their real parents or vice-versa. I just see some drunk, hagged-looking woman turning up on my doorstep wanting her ginger-haired, freckly-faced 'charlie' ot 'tommy' back.</p> <p>Fostering - again, a lot of emotions involved - getting too attached to a lovely kid and then having the hartbreak to return them to their rightful families. Also, the possiblity of looking after an unstable child with emotional baggage/problems.</p> <p>So, I'm left here thinking I've been a total idiot lately - my wife disappointed in me and me very disappointed in myself for lying and not telling the truth on something so important to my wife. Feels like I've cheated on her. Definitely think I'm inadequate and firing blanks and that having children is not going to happen. </p> <p>Being in my 30s is the toughest years I've lived through. Like I say, most of my friends have children. Both mine and my wife's sisters have had children. My parents dote on their grandchildren like prized treasures/possessions. I'm left thinking what to make of things and the way forward. I should be grateful in life - it's not like I'm fighting cancer or suffering a life-threatening illness. I have a loving wife and support of friends/family.</p> <p>But left feeling totally gutted.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/04/20/disappointment~2126373/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-03-05:/2007/03/05/babblings_from_recent_days~1850135/Moley2007-03-05T13:25:57+01:002007-03-05T13:30:56+01:00 <p>As I'm feeling very lazy, plus I SHOULD be working on important work work - the actual things that helps pay my mortgage etc etc, and the fact my frosty-but-warm-boss is about to walk thru the door at any moment, expecting to find me working on important work, I'll keep this brief/in note format!</p> <p>Finished important deadline on Friday - despite a frantic commute into Ipswich - and a free-loading passenger refusing to buy a ticket and therefore encouraging the ticket guard to 'call the police' in order to remove him - Jeez. </p> <p>The wife had a diabetic check with the nurse at our GPs surgery..... only to reveal sky-high blood sugar levels and the confession she hasn't taken her medication for about a year 'because it makes her feel sick'. She was warned that action is required to prevent her ending up in hospital on full body system shutdown. One option is insulin injections. She had a practice at injecting with supervision of the nurse and despite her fear of needles found it very easy. She then had an urgent appointment with one of the GPs the next day who confirmed the same thing. She was also told at any cost not to try to have children with her current dangerous blood sugar levels - the baby would be huge and deformed apparently. Okay, I've seen the film, the Fly before... so I'm back to wearing 'protection'. I've nagged the wife constantly about changing her lifestyle and diet - then she got all upset that I was being nasty to her and not supporting her! I won't be firm with her again if that's what's gonna happen. So, whilst we are still saving to have our house totally re-wired, with no electric oven, I'm insisting on stir-frys and steamed fish/meat/veg.</p> <p>Despite my disappointment of the 3rd non-arrival of my replacement coffee table from Harveys, I still have not been called since the last delivery date - Wednesday afternoon...despite been told they would investigate further. It's time for me to do my own investigating... into legal action. 3 days I've taken off work for delivery of that bloody coffee table. Don't get me started... (steam out of ears, erractic breathing etc etc).</p> <p>Attended our annual dinner dance on Saturday night - nice to take our mind off things and concentrate on playing party games whilst getting very drunk. The balloon-modelling idea was hilarious. We also had a few written quizzes to do. For some reason I was sat on the directors / senior management table - all very good for my career profile apparently!! Didn't get to bed until about 3am. Felt very jaded the next day.</p> <p>My first wedding anniversary is fast approaching (10th March) so action required. Gonna book table for two at posh gastro-pub restaurant. Maybe I should order a string quartet too? Hhhhmmmm, maybe that would be good. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/03/05/babblings_from_recent_days~1850135/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-03-05:/2007/03/05/silly_situations~1849961/Moley2007-03-05T12:51:22+01:002007-03-05T12:51:22+01:00 <p>Stolen from bloglikesit, muhahahaha; sappedinhull etc</p> <p>How many have you done before???</p> <p>[x] Gum has fallen out of your mouth when you were talking.<br> [x] Gum has fallen out of your mouth when you were NOT talking.<br> [x] You have ran into a glass/screen door.<br> [ ] You have jumped out of a moving vehicle.<br> [x] You have thought of something funny and laughed, then<br> people gave you weird looks.<br> So far: 4</p> <p>[x] You have run into a tree/bush.<br> [ ] You know that it IS possible to lick your elbow.<br> [x] You have tried to lick your elbow.<br> [x] You never knew that the Alphabet and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star have the same rhythm.<br> [x] You just tried to sing them.<br> So far: 8</p> <p>[x] You have tripped on your shoelace and fallen.<br> [x] You have choked on your own spit.<br> [ ] You have seen the Matrix and still don't get it.<br> [ ] You've never seen the Matrix.<br> [ ] You type only with two fingers.<br> So far: 10</p> <p>[x] You have accidentally caught something on fire<br> [ ] You tried to drink out of a straw, but it went into your nose/eyes.<br> [x] You have caught yourself drooling.<br> [x] You've fallen asleep in class<br> [ ] If someone says "fart" you laugh.<br> So far: 13</p> <p>[x] Sometimes you just stop thinking.<br> [x] You are telling a story and forget what you were talking about<br> [ ] People are often shaking their heads and walk away from you<br> [ ] You are often told to use your "inside voice".<br> [ ] You use your fingers to do simple math.<br> So far: 15</p> <p>[x] You have eaten a bug<br> [x] You are taking this test when you should be doing something more important<br> [x] You have put your clothes on backwards or inside out, and<br> didn't realize it<br> [x] You've looked all over for something and realized it was in your hand<br> So far: 19</p> <p>[ ] You forward *those* emails because you are scared that what they say will happen to you if you don't.<br> [ ] You break a lot of things<br> So far: 19</p> <p>[ ] Your friends know not to use big words around you<br> [x] You tilt your head when you're confused<br> [x]You have fallen out of your chair before<br> So far: 21</p> <p>[x]When you're laying in bed, you try to find pictures in the<br> texture of the ceiling<br> [x]The word "umm" is used many times a day.<br> So far: 23</p> <p>total : 23</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/03/05/silly_situations~1849961/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-03-05:/2007/03/05/my_fine_p316~1849905/Moley2007-03-05T12:41:35+01:002007-03-05T12:41:35+01:00 <p>I've answered honestly ... so now it's your turn !!!</p> <p>Just read the "offence" and if you've done it, you owe that fine. Keep going until you've read each "offence" and added up your total fine. When you are done, put your fine on your blog and copy and paste the rules. You don't have to confess your answers, just the amount of your fine.</p> <p>Smoked Weed - £10<br> Did Acid - £5<br> Ever had sex at church - £25<br> Woke up in the morning and did not know the person who was next to you-£40<br> Had sex with someone you met on Internet - £25<br> Had sex for money - £100<br> Vandalised something - £20<br> Had sex on your parents' bed - £10<br> Beat up someone - £20<br> Been jumped - £10<br> Crossed dressed - £10<br> Given money to stripper - £25<br> Been in love with a stripper - £20<br> Kissed some one who's name you didn't know - £0.10<br> Hit on someone of the same sex while at work - £15<br> Ever drive drunk - £20<br> Ever got drunk at work, or went to work while still drunk - £50<br> Used toys while having sex - £30<br> Got drunk, passed out and don't remember the night before - £20<br> Went skinny dipping - £5<br> Had sex in a pool - £20<br> Kissed someone of the same sex - £10<br> Had sex with someone of the same sex - £20<br> Cheated on your significant other - £10<br> Masturbated- £10<br> Cheated on your significant other with their relative or close friend -£20<br> Done oral- £5<br> Got oral- £5<br> Done/got oral in a car while it was moving - £25<br> Stole something - £10<br> Made a dirty home video - £15<br> Had a threesome - £50<br> Had sex outdoors - £20<br> Been in the same room while someone was having sex - £25<br> Had sex with someone over 10 years older - £20<br> Had sex with someone under 10 years younger - £25<br> Been in love with two people or more at the same time - £50<br> Said you love someone but didn't mean it - £25<br> Went streaking - £5<br> Went streaking in broad daylight - £15<br> Been arrested - £5<br> Spent time in jail - £15<br> Peed in the pool - £0.50<br> Played spin the bottle - £5<br> Done something you regret - £20<br> Had sex with your best friend - £20<br> Had sex with someone you work with at work - £25<br> Had anal sex - £80<br> Lied to your significant other - £5<br> Lied to your significant about the sex being good - £25</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/03/05/my_fine_p316~1849905/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-27:/2007/02/27/where_s_mr_motivator~1814671/Moley2007-02-27T14:54:36+01:002007-02-27T14:54:36+01:00 <p>Rainy day today. Sometimes I love the rain, other days I find it miserable. Yesterday I inadvertently commented 'cometh the sunshine'. Maybe a little premature. Unfortunately the weather does effect me lately. God - a bloke with mood swings.</p> <p>Again, I'm all alone in our little postage-stamp-sized Cambridge Office. The phone never rings, hardly no emails. In some ways this is a blessing in disguise, in other respects it's depressing. I'm struggling lately to feel motivated in my job and at home. Wish I could snap out of it. I'm feeling 'empty' inside lately - just wandering around like a zombie.</p> <p>I have two days to finish a deadline. It should be okay though. Just got to get my bum in the right gear!!</p> <p>I have plenty of work on though over the next few weeks and then we are going to visit some of my wife's family in Lincolnshire at the end of March. That should lift my spirits up.</p> <p>Right, best crack on with some work - or it'll never be done! Not that I care that much at the moment!</p> <p>Mr Motivator, where are you?!</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/27/where_s_mr_motivator~1814671/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-26:/2007/02/26/in_good_song~1807817/Moley2007-02-26T13:57:22+01:002007-02-26T14:08:58+01:00 <p>Another day, another week, soon to be a new month.</p> <p>I got off the bus this morning at Cambridge, walked through the park (Christ's Pieces) to work - the sun was shining and the birds in good song. It made me feel very content with what I have. Despite my ailing ability to get the wife pregnant and working for a company which is about to be sold, I am quite upbeat about things.</p> <p>Maybe it's because the dreary months (Oct - Feb) are nearly over and Spring/Summer are on their way. My emotions seem to be reflected by the changing seasons - through the blackest months cometh sunshine.</p> <p>There is hope. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/26/in_good_song~1807817/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-23:/2007/02/23/below_standards~1792943/Moley2007-02-23T18:15:17+01:002007-02-23T18:15:17+01:00 <p>Well, this week has flown by. What a strange week it has been!!</p> <p>I had a letter last Saturday from Addenbrookes - stating my little specimen was at a suboptimal level and showed signs of an infection!</p> <p>Infection? Well what kind of bloody infection? Certainly not a STD as I've only ever slept with the wife. Unless looking at young ladies with big boobs infects the male reproductive system? - I very much doubt it.</p> <p>So, I had to book an urgent doctor's appointment to get some antibiotics to clear it up. In the world according to Murphy's Law I had to get the most up-herself, unsympathetic, pompous, egotistic, cold, uncaring, rude female GP. All the other GPs came out to the waiting-room to collect their patients. She didn't - chosing to go the ultimate 'family doctor' personal touch and use the intercom system to announce she was now ready to see her next patient.</p> <p>Time is now of the essence as I have to take the antibiotics for two weeks and then wait a further six weeks until I have to do my 'manly' duties. Let's all hope for a good result. How hard is it to ejaculate an optimal amount of love-juice into a small pot?</p> <p>Maybe it's me with the health problems as so far all the wife's tests (3 or 4 separate events) have all shown positive signs. All I had to do was squirt into a pot - and it came back as 'not enough' and 'infected'. Talk about how to really deflate a man....</p> <p>Still, I have my health..... <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>...... but slowly losing all of my self-esteem.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/23/below_standards~1792943/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-16:/2007/02/16/today_is_thursday_isn_t_it~1752200/Moley2007-02-16T17:07:42+01:002007-02-16T17:08:07+01:00 <p>I am right, aren't I? TODAY is THURSDAY? Until 2pm, I thought we were on Thursday. My frosty-but-warm boss said goodbye and wished me a lovely weeked as she departed - I was thinking 'what about tomorrow? Tomorrow is Friday! You only part-time now?'</p> <p>Then I checked my work emails and looked at the date - thus realising today is in fact Friday! Jeez, I need shooting - any offers?</p> <p>I've spent today going through a powerpoint presentation story-board with my frosty-but-warm boss and her young-and-inexperienced-but-now-in-charge boss, who is my director. Can't seem to get motivated! It's been a crap week, I've been feeling really low, thinking about sky-high dodgy-looking BT Broadband bills (250 calls in a month? I think NOT!), replacement coffee table held by an incompetent delivery company 250 miles away and most importantly why a bottle of chilled pink champagne & two tubs of strawberries still remains unopened in my large, big-bertha fridge.</p> <p>Right, let's include a random line in order for Google to advertise something irrelevant on my blog....</p> <p>A large endangered bengal tiger sits proudly on an off-shore oil rig reading his NBA basketball year-book.</p> <p>That's all folks!<br> Have good weekends - I will! Hic!!.</p> <p>Moley </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/16/today_is_thursday_isn_t_it~1752200/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-14:/2007/02/14/what_it_says_on_the_tin~1739135/Moley2007-02-14T13:19:51+01:002007-02-14T13:35:29+01:00 <p>There's a phrase, whether it was from the 'Ronseal' TV commercial campaign during the 90s, I do not know, I'm sure someone will duly correct me!!.... it simply said at the end of the advert, "it does exactly what its says on the tin". No frills, no gimicks, our products stains wood. I like that - what you see is what you get.</p> <p>Now, that brings me onto one of my pet-hates, love them or loathe them - customer call centres. CUSTOMER SERVICES - It does exactly what it says on the tin? Right? It provides a service to its customers and their needs/concerns. I could be very much mistaken though.</p> <p>To set the scene, I'll back-track for context, so bear with me. </p> <p>When relocating from Slough to Haverhill, we fell in love with the last property we saw on a long day of 20-viewings (that's probably one every half hour between 9am-6pm - not recommended from first-hand experience). We discovered the property had been on the market less than a week so we were one of the first to view. We promptly put an offer in and it was accepted. </p> <p>One of the best features about our 1960's-built terraced house is an out-shed/alleyway that runs parallel to the property - hence providing access to the back-garden. These out-sheds have exterior doors either side. It is interesting to note that this differs from property to property. Some owners keep the out-shed as a store for bicycles etc. Others have bricked up the doorways to provide a separate room (such as a utility room). Ours has the exterior doors remaining but the partion wall has been knocked through, providing an extra-large lounge space. This is one of the reasons we love the property. </p> <p>So, we sat down with the layouts/measurements and decided that a sideboard and dining table/chairs would fit perfectly in the room with still plenty of space for a large TV and a couple of two-seater sofas. We went window-shopping to all the furniture retailers - the Ikeas, Argos, Harveys, MFIs, Furniture Villages etc etc. We tried out loads of tables and chairs and plumped for an oak-veneered table with leather high-backed chairs, accompanied by matching side-board and coffee table from Harveys. We placed the order, subject to successfully completing the house move. So, this was all set-up and we received our furniture on 25th September. The delivery driver did notice a scratch/chip on the coffee table so took photos on his digital camera and wrote a comment on his delivery note stating the problem and recommendation for replacement. I then received a phone call from the delivery company in November saying the new replacement coffee table had arrived from the manufacturer. Delivery was scheduled on 20th December. </p> <p>I managed to arrange to have the day-off to receive the new delivery. So, I waited.... and waited... and waited. I kept myself busy by doing housework when my mobile phone rang.... it was my boss..... I then got a call from the wife..... then continued to wash up. Whilst doing so I had another call but assumed it was either my boss or the wife again so let it ring. It was only then when listening to the voicemail that it was the delivery driver calling to say the replacement coffee table had been damaged during transit so no point him coming and he'd take it back to the depot. I was quite furious but these things happen. </p> <p>I then had another call mid-January with a new delivery slot - Mon 12th Feb. I was told that the delivery could arrive any time between 12noon and 8pm. </p> <p>Fine, I'll work from home. So again I waited.... and waited.... and waited. The wife was getting quite fidgety about 7pm - I calmed her down reassuring her the delivery could take up to 8pm. We'd been at our parents for the weekend and hadn't got the chance to go shopping - so by now the wife was hungry and tired. So at 7.55pm the mobile rings - the delivery driver! Oh good. "I'm afraid we're gonna have to leave your delivery off as by law we can only do 10hours driving a day and the depot have given us too many drop-offs". I went mental. I phoned his office and went mad. I explained that it was now the third time we had failed to receive a quality product - some good six months since we placed the original order. The supervisor spoke to the driver and called back - apparently it was the driver's/warehouse's fault for departing the depot late. So, as usual one person blames the other. I told the supervisor that I didn't care who's fault it was and I was increasingly getting fed-up of using paid-holiday (she is not to know that I can work from home) - and I would prefer a delivery slot after 5.30pm. She said she couldn't guarantee this but would speak to the distribution manager and call me back the next evening to confirm - which was meant to be last night. She sounded really f*cked off with me at the time - so no great surprises that I got no phone call. </p> <p>I will take all the paperwork and visit my nearest Harveys store at lunchtime. Quite tempted to persuade perusing potential customers not to buy from a shoddy outfit as their delivery times are truly awful.</p> <p>Still, it's Valentine's today so I bought a bottle of pink champagne and two packs of strawberries last night. I also bought the wife a sentimental card and bought her a little white porcelain mug that says 'I love you'. Silly, I know! I will buy her some roses later on. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/14/what_it_says_on_the_tin~1739135/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-08:/2007/02/08/title~1703308/Moley2007-02-08T13:55:59+01:002007-02-08T13:58:51+01:00 <p>Today is the first time in my life that I have had the pleasure of working from home. It's rather nice - warm, quiet, no phones (other than me mobile that very few work colleagues know).</p> <p>Although I only work 20 miles away in Cambridge, I didn't fancy the bus-ride or being stranded later on. Also our tiny postage-stamp-sized office in Cambridge isn't very well insulated so it's bloody freezing. Best off here at home.</p> <p>It's still snowing here but has eased off slightly in the last hour or so. </p> <p>I kindly put some fruit and bread out for our feathered friends as well as topping up the feeders with wild seed and peanuts. We often get the same regular visitors to the garden - a male and female blackbird, a pair of blue tits and a handful of house sparrows among others.</p> <p>I'm feeling very cosy in my house - could get quite used to this lifestyle. Maybe my boss does have the right idea about starting out on our own. </p> <p>Right, best crack on as the wife is due home for lunch soon.</p> <p>I trust the weather isn't causing people too many probs.</p> <p>Moley </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/08/title~1703308/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-02-06:/2007/02/06/musical_chairs~1691336/Moley2007-02-06T15:02:14+01:002007-02-06T15:02:14+01:00 <p>I was told yesterday that the Finance Director of our company has been put in charge of looking at overheads - in order to make us look more attractive to potential buyers over the next few months.</p> <p>Apparently, according to this Finance Director, our Cambridge office is the most expensive - despite us renting the size of a postage stamp, accommodating only 3 people. Commercial space in Cambridge is sky-high.</p> <p>So, my frosty-but-warm boss has said uncertain times follow in the next month or so. The closure of the office will mean a 50-mile daily hike to Ipswich - not the most attractive looking place I've ever been.</p> <p>I suppose I could leave - but that means paying back the six grand for my relocation costs - which will put me in real financial debt. </p> <p>So, I guess a job is a job until we find a prospective buyer - which is dragging on very slowly. The leadership team at our Stratford office have been put in charge of producing an info pack for the buyers. They have a reputation for poncing about though. Instead of having a one-to-one meeting which gets to the answer in 30mins, they decide to have teleconference call with about 10 people that lasts 4 hours. Pointless and irrelevant. God help us. Where do we find these idiots? </p> <p>Sorry peeps, just fed up with the structuring of this company. I joined in Jan 05 and within 3 months was told redundacies were on the cards. Then by May 05 we merged our northern and southern operations together to save money. This meant no longer working with the two guys who interviewed & hired me but some young 'management' guy from our Manchester office who I'd only see once a week. In the summer of 05 I switched to work for another division, covering two regions - which then restructured in Jan 06. I had a choice. Stay in Slough with the Southern business or move to the Eastern Business. I chose the Eastern option as it was agreed to rent space in Cambridge. In Sept 06 our Slough office closed with staff either moving to London or Stratford-upon-Avon. Now it's spring 06 and I may be moving offices again to Ipswich. I wish they would make their bloody minds up. It's like musical chairs! </p> <p>You wait, we will be bought by another company and restructured - only to find our Ipswich office is moving someplace else.</p> <p>All-in-all I love my job and the industry that I am in - just a shame of its pitfalls and constant re-jigging. But I guess most companies are like that these days. I blame the economy we live in. We live in a world of risk and enticement.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/02/06/musical_chairs~1691336/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-01-26:/2007/01/26/weekend_beckons~1627301/Moley2007-01-26T18:05:33+01:002007-01-26T18:05:33+01:00 <p>It's been another busy week at work as my nasty-but-nice female boss has been asked to speak at a Further Education function at a new college in East Anglia next Wednesday. So, as she's beginning to worry, she asked me to collate some information, source company brochures/literature etc and produce a double-sided A4 flyer - which I have done.</p> <p>She's still stuck in meetings for the rest of the day so I'll plan my escape ON TIME!!</p> <p>Just going to catch my bus to Haverhill - hopefully should be a normal ride home. This morning's bus was only a single-decker of which it began to swell with the capacity of a double-decker. Usually work commuters stay downstairs and college kids go upstairs. It's some kind of daily ritual. This morning's single deck bus forced amalgamation of the two conflicting parties. I managed to bag a front seat at the bus station earlier on whilst the hoards of college kids got on later with standing room only remaining. There happened to be a young lady of around 18 who was standing chatting to her male college pal when all of a sudden the bus veered around a sharp corner rather quickly and she took a dive - full-frontal onto my lap with her bosom being thrust in my face. She was SO embarassed and went a salmon-colour. All her mates at the back of the bus started cheering - poor girl was probably ribbed about it all day long.</p> <p>Nevertheless, I'm still smiling.</p> <p>Have a fab weekend folks....</p> <p>Moley </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/01/26/weekend_beckons~1627301/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-01-22:/2007/01/22/apprehension~1599722/Moley2007-01-22T14:11:14+01:002007-01-22T16:10:45+01:00 <p>Last week was rather crappy. I started the week doing market research into construction opportunities within the FMCG/Manufacturing sector - yawn yawn.... I'd also found out that the sale of the company is causing a lot of uncertainty amongst potential clients and thus making me job of producing company proposal submissions very difficult. </p> <p>On Wednesday I was then volunteered by my boss to help our Stratford-upon-Avon office with a proposals submission. I didn't mind as I had no other deadlines until I discovered I had two days to complete the client's questionnaire - which took me up to Thursday night. I got home about 8pm on Thursday night and felt really stressed out - due to the fact our company's IT infrastructure is very tempermental. I ended up trying to send emails to my counter-part in Stratford at home during the evening as I was copying large files on our server without much success.</p> <p>It happens that I had Friday booked as a day's hoilday - to accompany my wife to her hospital examination. We decided it would also be a grand opportunity for me to produce my semen fluid specimen as we only had an hour and a half to travel the 20 miles or so to deliver it to the laboratory for testing. Probably not the best time to do it because:-<br> 1) I had a stressful week<br> 2) I had a few drinks the night before<br> 3) I stupidly switched our central heating system on to 'all day', creating a tropical jungle setting<br> 4) I wasn't pysched-up enough prior to the main event<br> 5) The whole thing was planned for a certain time/day - subconsciously making me aware of my requirements at that chosen time.</p> <p>I'll spare you the exact details but the results of my 'moment of pleasure' were disappointing and a total anti-climax. The wife didn't look too pleased either. Nonetheless we duly delivered the specimen in good time. </p> <p>The wife was very nervous about her examination but it all went smoothly and she was estatic to find out immediately that her womb and tubes are all functioning perfectly....... leaving me to break out in somewhat nervous sweat.</p> <p>The wife has an ultrasound and a few blood tests to endure before the catch-up appointment with the consultant on April 19th. Until then I'll have to keep my pecker up!</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Moley </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/01/22/apprehension~1599722/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-01-12:/2007/01/12/a_tale_of_forgetfulness~1545598/Moley2007-01-12T13:15:03+01:002007-01-12T13:15:03+01:00 <p>Well, I've slacked again - so much for a DAILY diary. Sorry, had a rather busy week at work and been flaking out in the evenings.</p> <p>Maybe I should tell you about last Saturday in what turned out to be the most freaky day I've had in years.</p> <p>I got up Saturday morning and the wife and I spent several hours tidying the house to receive our weekend guests - my sister-in-law, her husband and 8 yr-old daughter.</p> <p>They arrived at 2pm and Simon didn't waste any time in cracking open a few bottles of Stella. I didn't mind at all as it was Saturday and I don't need an excuse for a alcoholic beverage. So, we chilled out nattering for a few hours and we booked a table at a local pub for 5.30. I'm sure the beer had special powers as before long the others were waiting in the hallway with shoes and jackets on! I only nipped upstairs to change my jumper. So, I started rushing around - jacket from wardrobe.... wallet.... ah, that's downstairs on the sideboard. So I proceeded downstairs into the lounge, still rushing, when I stumped my foot fairly hard against the corner of the sofa. Naturally I yelped but the alcohol had kicked in and I thought nothing more of it. So we departed.</p> <p>We took a slight detour as Sarah wanted to cook some breakfast in the morning, followed by a light lunch. So we nipped into a Co-Op and bought some bread, eggs, a lettuce and loads of crisps. We popped the shopping in the boot and went to the pub for a lovely meal. A couple of pints helped with the intense pain now travelling around my left foot. We paid the bill and set off home.</p> <p>When we got home Sarah put the kettle on and remembered the shopping was still in the boot. So it took me a while to put my shoes back on with my damaged foot and I hobbled to the car and grabbed the bags. The adrenline was still pumping as I got up the garden path in record time - click-click went the central locking. We carried on chatting until 10pm when little niece was getting tired - so I went up to fix up a duvet for her as she refused the quick-option sleeping bag.</p> <p>We all clambered into our beds by 11pm as a busy week took its' tool. We were all in slumberland when we were awoken by shouting. What is going on??!!! It's 2am. The sister-in-law came into the bedroom to notify us that a loud woman was calling our names through the letter-box. </p> <p>Sarah was nearest the door and bolted downstairs to see what the commotion was about - I hovered on the landing in my boxers. All I could hear was a distant conversation in the street. Something about killing me???!!!! What??!!! </p> <p>The wife returned, steam coming out of her ears......</p> <p>"YOU LEFT THE BLOODY CAR BOOT OPEN ALL BLOODY NIGHT"....</p> <p>Shit.....whimper.... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/01/12/a_tale_of_forgetfulness~1545598/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2007-01-04:/2007/01/05/donation_required~1515728/Moley2007-01-05T00:21:29+01:002007-01-05T00:21:29+01:00 <p>Hhhmmmmm....... I've not written for a while. Been in the doldrums a bit lately - back to work after Christmas break, cold & dark mornings, work is stagnant as people are worrying about their jobs with the company up for sale etc etc. My frosty-but-warm boss keeps confiding in me about her contraversial relationship. She is one of these people that is very self-conscious. She is paranoid that everyone is gossiping about her and now her boyfriend's ex-wife has managed to get hold of her mobile number, she's been receiving malicious text messages.</p> <p>I accompanied my wife to her hospital appointment this morning. After a comprehensive discussion with the consultant, we had two options - either regulate my wife's monthly cycle in order to conceive at the right moment or to consider a fertility process which also would take a long journey. </p> <p>As we are both in our 30s, we are very keen to start a family as soon as possible whilst we have the energy to look after a baby/toddler/child. So fertility treatment is the only option for us. The wife is happy as it's a positive step in the right direction.</p> <p>But of course fertility treatment requires a team effort and so I must provide a semen sample to check if my sperm is fertile. For a bloke it's a bit of a shock and the initial thought is inadequacy. Alarm bells have started ringing - what if the problem is also with me and a low sperm-count? </p> <p>Only time will tell when we get the results of all our tests on April 19th - four days after my birthday.</p> <p>Deflated, flat, anguished, lethargic, inadequate, infertile? </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2007/01/05/donation_required~1515728/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-22:/2006/12/22/a_little_squirt_goes_a_long_way~1467647/Moley2006-12-22T11:49:42+01:002006-12-22T12:02:38+01:00 <p>Well folks, Christmas is nearly upon us. My week has been somewhat mixed due to my stomach bug on Sunday night/Monday morning. </p> <p>My last days in the office were meant to be Monday & Tuesday but I was very unwell so was pacing around the house, panting and trying not to throw-up any more of my stomach contents from the weekend. </p> <p>Wednesday I had a hospital appointment - my first at my new local hospital, Addenbrookes in Cambridge. I suffer from Ulcerative Colitis, a form of IBD. Although after discussing my condition with the specialist he seemed rather unconvinced about the severity of my condition and has requested a colonoscopy in the new year. A colonoscopy is where they insert some horrible-looking probe thing someplace where it really shouldn't venture!! MMMMMmmmmmm, really can't wait for that activity to take place. </p> <p>During Thursday afternoon I was awaiting a delivery of a replacement coffee-table to replace the scratched one delivered in September. The wife came home for lunch, then my frosty-but-warm boss rang and after that I proceeded to wash up - and my phone rang again. As I had my hands lathered up, I assumed it with either the wife or the boss, so left it - only to discover it was the delivery driver calling to say the replacement coffee-table he had on board was also damaged and that he was intending to leave us off the afternoon's run. How very annoying. Lucky I wasn't busy at work really - had taken the whole afternoon off for that!</p> <p>Thursday was dedicated to Christmas shopping for my wife. I don't think she'll be impressed with the state of my current bank account balance - but I really wanted to make this Christmas special for her as she's put up with a lot during the past year - which has proved a very stressful time.</p> <p>Today I've got up and had a luvverly shower with me Radox shower-gel. Some decent brand products are the bee's knees in their chosen consumer-goods market. Just a little squirt of Radox goes a LONG way! Who thought I was having sexual intercourse with the missus?! HHmmmmmm?! Well that's another little squirt of something else that I'm hoping will go a long way in producing our first child. We are seeing a specialist on 4th Jan to discuss my wife's condition and the realistic chances of us having a baby. I'll keep you posted.</p> <p>The wife has left me with a whole errand of chores and activities to keep me entertained all day long - I was hoping just to wrap her pressies up and then attack the beer or wine! Pah!</p> <p>Take care all and have a really super Christmas and wonderful New Year!</p> <p>Moley<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_wave.gif" alt=":wave:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/22/a_little_squirt_goes_a_long_way~1467647/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-18:/2006/12/18/virus_scan~1453033/Moley2006-12-18T17:51:32+01:002007-01-03T11:55:54+01:00 <p>Well, survived my wife's colleagues on Friday night - assisted with Carling after Carling after Carling - probably about 5-6 in 3 or 4 hours. Not bad going for me. The little daughter of the director who kindly opened up her house had a trampoline in the garden. Drunk adults bouncing on trampolines probably should be a recipe for a local trip to the nearest A&E, but we all managed minor scrapes on elbows etc. The little girl's hamster, Casey, provided the best entertainment of the night with her party-trick: swallowing a whole chip intact. This was quite alarming as at the time 3 of us were letting hammie have a little run-around on the floor before being tossed a chip from the take-away. Fortunately the star hamster coughed it back up in one piece! ta-da!!!</p> <p>Saturday was spent at some close friends and their little one-year-old daughter. Very enjoyable as several cans of Guiness were consumed during the day. Sunday was a quieter day as we ambled around Halstead. Nice quaint town. We left our friends about 6pm yesterday.</p> <p>Got home, ate a light supper, and went to bed with the wife - suffered from severe bottom-burps, gassed myself in bed with the fumes before trotting to the toilet to repeatedly throw-up. Went back to bed, felt dreadful. Woke up at 7am, trotted to toilet again and yes, threw-up lots more. </p> <p>Spent all day resting at home, feeling rather drained at the moment but not thrown-up all day - apparently little girlie had a stomach bug last week - oh great, thanks for telling me!</p> <p>So, quietly sat here doing a virus-scan on pc as I monitor my own virus! Things should turn okay.</p> <p>Laters,<br> Moley<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_confused.gif" alt=":-/" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/18/virus_scan~1453033/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-15:/2006/12/15/inflatable_dinghy~1442002/Moley2006-12-15T17:17:19+01:002006-12-15T17:22:55+01:00 <p>Hello fellow-bloggers and the WWW.</p> <p>I'm feeling a little more upbeat after the last few days. I just have to let the waves splash around and see where they take me in my inflatable dinghy. </p> <p>I guess I've always washed up someplace safe that has helped me in my professional career. Just seems I've felt rather vulnerable in my little dinghy lately - I'm sure things will work out just fine and if I do start to drown in self-pity, I'm know someone will rescue me.</p> <p>I've popped to my bank in my lunch-hour and have had a good result - no, not a bagful of swag on the dash, but the kind staff have sorted out my credit card problem. I have accidently paid off too much on my card before settling the account. I had £100 to my credit. Unfortunately I don't have the card anymore as this was cancelled when my wallet dropped out of my pocket getting off a bus (which has been safely returned to me by the staff at Stagecoach). The nice man at the bank took my passport as identification and spoke to the Card Services department, who are going to pop the £100 back into my current account - all ready for Christmas!!</p> <p>I've also just had my head shaved - grade 2 all over!!! I was quite amused sat in the barbers in Cambridge. The two young posh chaps before me spent AGES faffing around with the barber chaps. 'Oh, could you just take a little off the top but a bit more off the sides' etc etc. Then they wanted the hair-gel applied in the correct manner. Think the barber was surprised when I simply asked for my head to be shaved. Mine took half the time compared to those uni-toff chaps. </p> <p>So gents, get your heads shaved - quicker and more aerodynamic. No pouncing around with this hair-gel lark - you're a bloke for Christ's sake.</p> <p>I've also splashed some cash on my wife's Christmas present. She's gonna love it! Let's just say that I've arranged for her and her sister to have a pampering session. My wife Sarah has had a particularly tough year dealing with the sale of the flat, purchase of the new house, changing her jobs and enduring her rather erratic Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. So thought I'd treat her. I've also paid for her sister to go with her. She's had her first child this year and has been couped up in a house 24-7 without much company - think she deserves a little pampering too. </p> <p>Off out tonight - one of Sarah's directors has opened her house up for us. About 20 of us are going to the house-party with a promise of some chinese take-away and several alcoholic beverages. Sounds good to me!!</p> <p>May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a grand weekend - enjoy whatever plans you've made, relax if you're planning a slobbing weekend.</p> <p>Take care,<br> Moley<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_cool.gif" alt="B)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/15/inflatable_dinghy~1442002/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-14:/2006/12/14/just_plain_unlucky~1437567/Moley2006-12-14T15:32:21+01:002006-12-14T15:32:21+01:00 <p>When I decided to switch work locations with my current employer, I was really pleased - especially as they assisted in paying solicitors costs, selling agents fees etc etc. I was also aware of the terms and conditions of the policy itself. If I leave the company on my own accord, I am liable to pay the reimbursements back using a cascade system - roughly about £8,000 if I leave within 5 months of moving, down to owing nothing if I leave after 2 years service (so would need to pay back £4,000 if I left after 1 year of moving etc). However, if I am dismissed or made redundant by the company, I am not liable. Make sense? </p> <p>So, this week we are told that the company is up for sale in 2007. Was hoping for a choice in my decisions about the future. I guess I have no choice. It's either 'sit and wait' to see who buys the company and what they offer (more than likely a redundancy package) or find new employment, 'leave' and pay £8,000. </p> <p>The £20,000 equity we had from the sale of our old flat went towards paying off a large loan and several credit cards. Just seems you can't escape debt, even at the best of attempts.</p> <p>Just plain unlucky. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/14/just_plain_unlucky~1437567/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-13:/2006/12/13/facing_uncertainty~1432765/Moley2006-12-13T12:31:31+01:002006-12-13T12:31:31+01:00 <p>Well, the big news of the day is that our newly-appointed Chief Executive Officer has decided to shape our company up and streamline the business. Because the business entity I work for has struggled in recent years, he's washed his hands of us, and other parts of the business. So we are up for sale! A company buy-out, re-structure (AGAIN) and potentially new geographical positioning all to look forward to.</p> <p>The obvious questions rush through my head. Do I sit and wait to see what company will buy our company? Will I like them? Will they move me out of Cambridge, despite me moving house in September? Will they keep my job open? </p> <p>Our mortgage relies heavily on my salary. I don't know at the moment what will happen to my job or whether I should start looking about the marketplace.</p> <p>Having moved business locations, sold a one-bed flat and bought a three-bedroomed house in reasonable close proximity to my office, I've already have a VERY turbulent 2006. I also have the personal pressures of my wife's health and the keenness to raise a family in the couple of years as the boilogical clock ticks away. Having my job situation put in jeopardy doesn't really help my cause at this moment in time. I have enough worries.</p> <p>I guess in the meantime, I'll sit and wait to consider my options.</p> <p>Another new year with personal challenges becomes me. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/13/facing_uncertainty~1432765/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-12:/2006/12/12/blog_inspired~1429915/Moley2006-12-12T17:55:36+01:002006-12-12T17:55:36+01:00 <p>Well, I've been logging on to this site for a week and have been checking out other bloggers' profiles and entries. I'm VERY impressed. Shows you have diverse we all are. We like nothing more than to be a little nosey in other peoples' lives. The world of blogging presents that very opportunity.</p> <p>It's almost like going to a library and browsing the various sections on offer. Still, it's inspiring me. It has reflections on my own life, however mundane it seems to be at the moment! So, there you have it, fellow bloggers. YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION!</p> <p>Moley<br> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif" alt=":D" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/12/blog_inspired~1429915/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-11:/2006/12/12/jaw_floor_dropper~1427542/Moley2006-12-12T00:18:11+01:002006-12-12T00:18:11+01:00 <p>Went to local supermarket with the wife tonight. As we approached the entrance she kindly asked if I didn't mind paying for the shopping. Naturally I accepted. So, we grabbed the largest sized trolley we could (shirley a bad sign...) and off we went.</p> <p>Mental arithmetic wasn't my strongest school subject. So, as we are waddling along, I'm trying to tot items in my head. The wife seeks confirmation that it's okay - "course it is, it's Christmas".</p> <p>74 items later and it's time for payment..... my totting up should be fairly accurate.... about £90 should cover it.</p> <p>£160.53p !!!!!!!! How the hell did that happen??!!! For the second time this year, my jaw literally hit the floor.</p> <p>Whimper..... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/12/jaw_floor_dropper~1427542/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-11:/2006/12/11/positive_thinking~1425665/Moley2006-12-11T14:58:26+01:002006-12-11T15:02:03+01:00 <p>Today has been quite an interesting day. My wife ventured into Cambridge with me today: I was off to work, she was off to finish her Christmas shopping. We decided to go for a coffee before I started work at 9am. When I got to work, my frosty-but-warm boss was already in and feeling rather chilly. She decided to nip into the Grafton Centre shopping precinct and grab a coffee. So both ladies met and had a good old yarn about me, our employer and my manager's contraversial love-life amongst other things. It was all VERY friendly apparently. We're all going to meet up in the New Year and go for a meal.</p> <p>It has dawned upon me that my life isn't bad at all. I have a lovely, caring wife, a three-bedroomed house in a lovely town, I have a nicely-paid job in one of Britain's loveliest cities. I have my health and most of my teeth. My bank account is looking okay (not in my overdraft anymore!!).</p> <p>What more could a man ask for?!?!!!</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_wink.gif" alt=";)" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/11/positive_thinking~1425665/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-09:/2006/12/10/mission_complete~1420458/Moley2006-12-10T00:19:00+01:002006-12-10T00:23:14+01:00 <p>Today I've succeeded in my Christmas challenges. My wife and I set out at 8:15am to travel 20 miles to Bury St.Edmunds to complete our shopping. We arrived 9am and was focussed enough to purchase all our gifts by 11 o'clock. So, was quite pleased!! As we got back home, my wife wrapped the presents as I tackled the tree. It took me a while but it looks okay. I can make adjustments throughout the week. It's been a lovely day and I've really enjoyed my shopping excursion.</p> <p>The biggest Christmas challenge is yet to come though. I am going over to Berkshire to see my parents on Christmas Eve. I think we will only stay a couple of days though. I can only tolerate my family for a short amount of time. I have several issues with my family at the moment. I feel that I have become the forgotten one. 'Out of sight, out of mind' as they say. </p> <p>Both my twin sister and my older sister have recently given birth to their second children. I met my wife about 5 years ago and married earlier this year. Over the period, we have got to know and trust each other enough to make the decision that it would be lovely to start having children of our own. Unfortunately my wife has medical conditions which have made it very hard for her to conceive. This is proving heartbreaking for her. When somebody wants something so much and sees others that have that exact thing they can't have, it is very upsetting. I know if I go and spend Christmas with my parents that my sisters, with their little daughters, will be in attendance at somepoint during the day. My parents dote on their grandchildren. Often when we visit them and my sisters arrive, we blend into the background and feel almost dismissed. I am coming to the conclusion that as my family are not too bothered about me, I'm not overly bothered about them. Harsh, I know. Sorry folks, not very Christmas is it? I'm sure it will be fine. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/10/mission_complete~1420458/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-08:/2006/12/08/flying_clocks~1415356/Moley2006-12-08T14:46:57+01:002006-12-08T14:55:32+01:00 <p>Thank God Almighty that it's Friday. The week has flown by like there's no tomorrow. The wife's flu is improving - she's currently Christmas shopping in Bury St Edmunds. She said she might pop into Cambridge. VERY brave woman.</p> <p>I'm in our Ipswich Office today, catching up with things with my female boss. We get on quite well as she is a couple of years older than me. Behind that tough, intense, professional-careeer woman exterior lies a very warm gentle lady. Not many of my colleagues in Ipswich see that. If she barks at someone, that's it....conclusion made that she's a witch from hell. So, there you have it - the 'sweet & sour' thing going on. Intense but gentle. Frosty but warm.</p> <p>She has asked me to draft up an events calender for next year for her corporate events and activities. So today I'm wearing my 'Public Relations' hat. We did have a young female colleague who helped us do this kind of thing but she somehow lost interest in the role and was banished back to working in our Post Room.</p> <p>So I am sat in an empty office in Ipswich staring at a makeshift 'Excel spreadsheet' calender thinking where the hell has this year gone?!?!!! Did I blink? Have I been in a coma? </p> <p>One moment it was January and I was mainly working for our Southern building operations, living in a small one-bed flat in Slough. Now it's December, I'm now married with a three-bedroomed house in Haverhill, working for our East Anglian division with our Slough branch closed-down. What happened there??!!!?!?!! It's like falling asleep on a bus or a train and being nudged by the driver or conductor, "come on lad, you can't sleep here all night" without realising it's the end of the journey. Mad, totally mad. </p> <p>I simply coin the infamous phrase, 'time flies.......'</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/08/flying_clocks~1415356/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-07:/2006/12/07/christmas_tree_challenge~1411356/Moley2006-12-07T12:09:28+01:002006-12-07T12:09:28+01:00 <p>Well, today is Thursday. And tomorrow is Friday. And because tomorrow is Friday, it means I get to enjoy two days away from the daily organ-grind. Hoorah for weekends and leisure time.</p> <p>Feeling a bit jaded this morning. Went to bed late again. I'm a big kid and refuse to go to bed at a sensible time like normal young professionals. My wife went to bed about 10pm and told me not to be late as I had work in the morning. Naturally I dismissed her saying I wouldn't be long. Well, I got watching television - 'Road Wars' on one of the Sky channels. It mainly follows traffic police officers from the Thames Valley region. In particular in concentrates on Slough which is ironic as I recently relocated after living there for 4 years. I find it very amusing yet surreal to see residential roads just yards from my old flat - and seeing them on the big screen!! After the programme finished, it must have been about quarter-past 11. Now at this juncture I should have admitted defeat and gone to bed. But I didn't.</p> <p>Last weekend I was tasked with putting up the Christmas tree decorations. Being a bloke and recently married (back in March this year) I've slipped into bad habits quite quickly. The Christmas tree task has joined the 'other' tasks that the wife has been asking me to do for a while. So, after a few vodka and cokes (this is the only alcohol I seem to have in the house at the moment - no beer or wine - miserable times!) I decided to start my task with great enthusiasm. Personally I do not recommend decorating Christmas trees after 11pm, especially when you've had a few alcoholic drinks. Other excuses being that the room wasn't well-lit to my liking and the tree has presented logistic problems in our new house. Previously the alleged artifical tree sat on a table near a large window in our one bedroom flat. This time the logistics are different. The tree nows sits on the floor and is fully exposed - subject to bickering with the wife a few nights previous. This means I have to decorate the WHOLE tree nicely. So, I started the task last night but left it incomplete. I have only reached stage one of four - applying the gold and white tinsel. I still have stages two, three and four to tackle before this weekend - beads/chains (2), baubles (3) and lights (4). </p> <p>I came down the stairs this morning and studied the tree for a good period of time. It looks wrong. As I work in Business Development/Marketing and have an keen eye for detail, I am one of those finicky people. It has to look absolutely right. I will endeavour to start again tonight with attempt number two. It has become the race against time to have the project successfully completed by Sunday morning, due to family visitation, but also to stay on the right side of my flu-ridden wife's patience. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/07/christmas_tree_challenge~1411356/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-06:/2006/12/06/frustrating_times~1408741/Moley2006-12-06T17:42:50+01:002006-12-06T17:42:50+01:00 <p>Don't ask me why - just having one of those moments when I feel like banging my head against the nearest wall. Actually, I think I will...... THUD....... that's better.</p> <p>I think I've caught my wife's flu-bug. There is nothing worse then the dreaded 'man-flu'. I'm feeling rather strange. My sinuses are tingling and the back of my nose feels tickly. My eyes keep going in and out of focus. It doesn't help that the weather outside is dark, cold and windy.</p> <p>My boss asked me to send her some old comments I made regarding some annoying spreadsheet that I really despise. Unfortunately I misread and forwarded them directly to one of the company's directors - who instantly emailled both of us back with a rather sharp response. Don't think the boss was too impressed. I'm beginning to hate working in an office - you make a few productive comments about better ways of working but get confliction thrown back. Sometimes working in an office is like a reality TV gameshow - you have to be careful what you say and do and to who.</p> <p>Still, I'm leaving the office at about 5.30 to spend an hour on the bus back to Haverhill - a journey I enjoy as I can snooze or read a jolly good book and shut myself away from the world..... unless some irritating commuter decides to sit next to me to reveal what annoying habits they've inherited. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/06/frustrating_times~1408741/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:quietasamouse.blog.co.uk,2006-12-06:/2006/12/06/first_ramblings~1407445/Moley2006-12-06T11:08:51+01:002006-12-06T17:57:01+01:00 <p>Welcome, please wipe your feet. Or you could take your shoes off - that all depends on the colour and age of your carpet. You may not like your carpet and therefore use any excuse to trash it in order to go out and buy a new one. The decision is entirely yours. Whatever makes you feel the most comfortable.</p> <p>As I am new to the world of blogging, I've no idea how this webpage is going to look, what I can write or what features I can add to improve my own little website/blog-thing. Only time will tell. </p> <p>Still, I am overjoyed as if I've given birth to my first baby. In a way, I have. My little baby blog. Not bad going for 31-year-old man. Awww, bless. Hhhmmmmm, do I need to phone both sets of parents and announce the glad tidings? Do I explain the weight in kilobytes, megabytes or gigabytes? Who knows.</p> <p>Enough ramblings for now. More later.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://quietasamouse.blog.co.uk/2006/12/06/first_ramblings~1407445/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>