Well, it has been official for a bit over 24 hours now. From May the Fourth I will be Senior Public Transport Officer - Network Design (Central) or some such glorified title. Chris and Ian pulled me to one side at half past one to confirm the good news. And I was in my first relevant meeting at two. Fastest piece of action anyone has seen round here for years! Obviously I'm still nervous about my abilities but really looking forward to the change. I will have to move desks and don't get a choice as I have been paired with Sue from the Community Transport Team so have to sit next to her. That means my view will be even more restricted, being straight on to the grey cabinets on the end wall, but at least I won't have my back to them and be bothered by all and sundry making use of them.

Just waiting for the official letter now. And news of how much money it will all be worth to me.

Which means I now have to start telling people and planning for my successor. So I've written one procedure today and told everyone at the ATCO publicity meetings they will need to find a new scribe.

Meanwhile, Charles has been told off for bad-mouthing the new building. Apparently Mitchell has had three complaints about him complaining to all and sundry. Great. While Barry was chosen to go and meet the press to say how nice the place ie. What's that saying about pleasing some of the people all of the time again?

Yesterday's entertainment came from Catch Me If You Can which was, frankly, brilliant. A really good film, and based on a
true story too. Looking forward to taking a peek at the extras on disc 2 now. Have also finished the maps book. Really fascinating stuff and it has inspired me to dig out some of my books on old maps to do a bit of scanning come the weekend.

Am now on to Sunrunner's Fire, third of the Melanie Rawn books.

Oh yes, and today is Richard's birthday so we will be popping along there tonight.

Blurgh, I feel reet grotty today. Hay fever I am assuming rather than a cold after spending pretty much all day out in the garden yesterday. All stuffed up and not breathing properly. Which meant I didn't sleep particularly well. And of course the anticipation and wondering if anyone is going to come over and give me some good news doesn't help either. And at gone 4pm I don't think it is actually going to happen today. Which could just mean Mitchell thinks Chris (or possibly personnel perhaps) ought to tell me or could mean he doesn't want me for the job. I just want to know one way or the other then I can start planning properly. Hey ho.

So, what was the rest of the weekend like? Sunday was nice, fairly sunny and tolerably warm for the time of year. We went for a walk along the beach in the morning, sat on the cliff tops with an ice cream, that sort of thing. Generally a lazy day (even to the point that Richard came along and we had some three player games of Bust-A-Move and Monkey Bowling). Then we went to Bingo in the evening. Yes, that's right. WE! Joan and Helen had been planning to go and they decided Bhupen and I ought to go along as well. We only played 2 books at a time rather than the 6 they handled (I think I could easily upgrade to 3 or 4 with no problems straight away - 6 after a month or so of practice!) and nobody won anything but it was an interesting experience. Lots of gaps between the main games where you can play extra ones at a pound a time (anyone playing the lot while we were there would have shelled out well over £100) and odd concentrated bursts of concentration. I expect I'll go again some time, but not every time Joan wants to go.

Yesterday, as mentioned, we spent most of the day in the garden doing the annual shed clearout, pruning, grass cutting, car washing etc. We also had our first lunch outside of the year and got a teensy bit sunburned into the process. In the evening we watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding which was just as good as we had been lead to believe.

Oh yes, and I bought a Gameboy Advance SP for half price on Saturday. Just borrowing games from Richard for now rather than spending loads of money on them myself. There are a few I would like, but we shall see how the job and money situation goes first.

Back here today and nothing much going on that thrills. Popped into town at lunchtime to buy Richard's birthday presents and otherwise just updating reports, writing letters and so forth. And now time to head home I think...