It is Monday evening and I have finally found a few minutes
to jot down the comings and goings of the past three days.
Saturday morning was filled by working my way down an
enormous “to do” list. It started with a trip in to Redditch
to drop TP off for his voluntary work at the Charity Shop. I then filled up
with Diesel and headed over to Alcester to collect some timber that I had
ordered ten days ago. This was when my plans started to go awry. The chap at
the Builders Merchant wasn’t familiar with my order so I was asked to wander
around the warehouse in a search for the goods. We eventually located the
timber and at this point I will quote the warehouseman; “if that is premier
quality I’d hate to see their lower grades of timber”…
… it is fair to say that I politely declined to accept the
timber and left somewhat frustrated at having waited ten days for nothing. I
then drove out to Chippy Ian’s house and dropped off the cash we owed for the
installation of the fire back. I then headed back towards home stopping off at
the Feed Store to pick up some Layers Pellets.
This had taken the bulk of the morning and there was just
time to walk T&M whilst 30% returned to Redditch
to pick up TP. The weather was vile and the dogs and I were thoroughly soaked
by the time we got back home. I had just about towelled them off as the
remaining family members walked in through the door.
In the afternoon I took things at a gentler pace and managed
a healthy snooze on the sofa. The second half of the day wasn’t entirely
unproductive and I eventually wandered in to the Dining Room and made an elm
spacing disk to pad out the door handle and stop the damned thing rattling. I
appreciate that this seems almost inconsequential but this is one of those
countless tiny tasks that need to be completed as we head towards the point
where paint can get applied to the walls.
Sunday morning was an early start as TP was playing with the
Under 17’s squad in a league match North of Birmingham. He was playing out on
the Wing on a sodden pitch and it is fair to say that he didn’t really see much
action. The heavy going meant that it was very much a Forwards match as the
slippery conditions meant that the Backs were never going to demonstrate feats
of agility and pace. To be fair it was
actually quite a good game and although we lost we held up well against a
strong opposition especially as nearly half of our team was comprised of Under
16’s.
While I was spectating 30% called to let me know that our
cellar had flooded. Basically the heavy rains over the past few weeks have
raised the water table and it has seeped through the cellar floor over night. This
was nothing too disastrous as it was only a couple of inches and having had
this happen once before all white goods are raised on a course of bricks above
the stone flags. There was no damage done but it did mean that 30% had a fun
morning pumping the water in to buckets and carrying it up and out of the
house. It is fair to say that when we got home she was absolutely shattered.
The afternoon saw me complete the regular walk around the
Three Miler and then 30%’s Mum and Dad paid a visit and we spent the afternoon
chatting, drinking coffee and sampling a very nice Banana and Chocolate Chip
Tea Bread.
As the evening drew to a close I found myself packing a suit carrier as most of next
week will be spent in London
hopefully persuading a Client that they should continue to patronise Dante’s
Nine Circles of Hell as their chosen supplier of IT Services.
Time for an early night I think.
Monday started way too early as 30% kindly dropped me at
Evesham Station in time for the ten to seven train. By ten o’clock I was
drinking coffee in one of the London Circles of Hell and I remained in the same
room for the next nine hours reviewing PowerPoint slides and preparing for the
client meetings tomorrow.
It wasn’t as arduous as it sounds as the American Executive
has a VERY relaxed approach to the sessions that will be held tomorrow.
Personally I would have spent more time on some dry runs but I have to admit
that his approach is infectious and I can honestly say that I am far more
relaxed about a client presentation than I would normally be.
We ended up dining together at the Swan Inn on the South
Bank of the Thames along side the Globe
Theatre. A G&T, a steak dinner and some decent conversation followed by a
wander back to the hotel under the gaze of St Pauls.
I’ve had worse days.
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