So, I like birds

Just been watching this Crow in our garden. We have two bird baths and it has been picking up bits of bread from the lawn, soaking them in one or the other while having a drink, then taking the bread off somewhere else. Whether to eat or feed to another bird (probably a bit early for babies I believe) is hard to tell. We seem to have two crows hanging around at the moment so quite likely we might get some babies on the lawn at some point in the year.

Never been a die-hard bird spotter, but do enjoy watching them flutter around the garden. We have a resident Robin as well as the regularly visiting sparrows, wrens, blackbirds, pigeons, collared doves, great/coal/blue tits, starlings and assorted gulls. I have also seen a heron, green woodpecker, jay and one or two others flash through on occasion.

Last Sunday we started the day with a visit to the Trimley Marshes nature reserve - just up the road but we'd never been before and I could defnitiely get more active in the bird watching field after that. Somehow the setting (and good weather) fitted perfectly with my mood to make a bunch of ducks, geese, gulls etc the best show on earth. Was particularly taken by the Avocets and Great Crested Grebes.

Of course now I want a better camera with lots of zoomability...

Back at the keys again. Friday's visits went pretty well and while we haven't had any feedback from the operators yet the impression on the day was good so we are hopeful. Then Friday night was the wedding...

First time either of us had been to the football club here in Felixstowe. Quite a nice little clubhouse with a splendidly cheap bar (not that I over indulged on one pint, but I did buy some for other people...). Bride and Groom were great, the company was pretty good (even if I still couldn't bring myself to do too much conversationing - I will get the confidence one day), the music was good (first time I've seen a DJ at a function playing music from a PC) and overall it was quite fun. Joan danced her feet off and I stood by and did my best to mingle.

Most of the weekend was spent blitzing the house and garden but we also had Alexander to stop over on Saturday night, which was a laugh.

And not much more to add really. Joan is over the road at a Body Shop party and I'm debating whether to do any ironing or just go wandering around the web for an hour or so...

Oh, but I cannot wait for Wednesday to come and go. At least then I might get a rest from phone calls asking if we are doing special P&R services for the Elton John concert. OK, so then there will be calls about all the other concerts coming up but we might just get a day's breather if luck holds out. It doesn't seem to matter what I do to get the information out there, people still insist on calling instead. Even the ones who have found a leaflet call to see if it is correct. Fair does my head in. At least I am out of the office all day on Wednesday on a disability awareness course so won't have the biggest rush of questions.

Weekend was tolerable in the main. Weather was great but Joan was at work both days so I can't say I enjoyed it all that much. Lots of reading, ironing, shopping, sitting in the sun, putting up new trellis in the garden and stuff like that while she was out. Yesterday was Alexander's 18th Birthday (kind of scary) so we went up there for dinner and to dish out the presents. A good time was had by all, although Bhupen had to dash off after we'd been there an hour or so to go to work. Which is one of the things that has put me off ever changing to that job no matter how good the wages are. Unpredictable hours and night-shifts are not my cup of tea.

One thing I didn't do over the weekend though was to watch the Grand Prix. From Canada, which meant it was on while we were up at the birthday bash. But, no surprises, Michael S won. So I'm not too stressed at missing it.

Today back at the old grindstone. Having been away at conference for three days at the end of last week (and off again today) Chris did of course come in on Saturday. But only a few emails and not the ones I was expecting so perhaps I managed to get everything right last week! And so far we have two bids received for my first tender effort... Roll on Thursday when we can open them.

Well, Ipswich Town failed at the second-to-last hurdle last night and lost their division one play-off semi-final. Which means they won't be going to Cardiff in a couple of weeks for the final and thus won't be able to win that to gain promotion to the premiership. As a non-fan who's job is affected by football traffic I am generally not bothered by this. OK, so it would have been a good boost for the town as a whole, but it would have made the club even harder to deal with than they are at present, created greater traffic problems on match dyas and generally made more work. But there are plenty of people wandering about here with long faces and a general air of doom and gloom today. I'd be happier if they flattened the stadium and put in an ice rink - Ice Hockey I'm sure I could get in to as a spectator sport on a regular basis.

Anyway, since last I wrote it has been hot and sunny and we spent all weekend out in the garden. The sunburn is slowly fading away from lobster pink now. Of course there is still loads and loads and a bit more work to do out there, but then there always will be. Things will insist on growing and needing looking after or dying and needing replacement. Very inconsiderate if you ask me. Not that I did as much as Joan either - while shifting unwanted P&R for Elton John concert leaflets around town on Thursday I pulled a muscle in my back which is still giving me pain and stiffness. Nearly better it must be said, but could still use a bit more flexibility.

I think I am a bit better acquainted with what I am supposed to be doing now, but still largely in the dark over how to go about actually doing it. Part of me keeps thinking it will all click in to place one day, while another part says I'm going to be caught out as a fraud and got rid of. Now logically I know the second option isn't going to happen, but born worrier that I am... Still, Chris seems to be giving me the right knowledge in dribs and drabs so hopefully I'll see the light soon.

Today we have been out to meet one of our operators - Galloways. Quite a tidy little operation looking to gradually expand. They do a lot of coach holidays and stuff as well as bus contracts so there is plenty of scope for them to take on some of the more different stuff we are planning for the future. They have a good variety of vehicle sizes available and seem willing to innovate. OK, so they also have Ron who used to do this job (I am the fourth person to do this job in the last 6 years. Hope that doesn't mean I'll be moving on too soon) which may be a disadvantage but one I think we can work around.