And another reasonably good weekend has passed. So where was I?

Oh yes, Richard Digance. Very obviously a bit under the weather with a cold, but still gave a very good show. Quite a few songs and jokes we'd not heard before (or at least not for 10+ years) mixed in with the more familiar stuff. Plus he is actually rather good when it comes to playing the guitar. A very enjoyable evening's entertainment. Then as we were
driving home it started to rain. And basically it didn't stop again until sometime between us going to bed last night and getting up again this morning. So a wet weekend all told.

Friday was mainly Park & Ride stuff for me again - in the morning meeting with the engineers to see if some modifications we want to the older sites are possible and affordable, and in the afternoon seeing about a new stop for Martlesham. The latter of which meant a trip up the road in the rain.

Saturday Joan was working so I just pottered about, ironed and stuff. Then yesterday was Ma & Pa's annual "Its nearly Christmas" party so we went along to that. Good food, drink and chat as usual.

So, nothing startling but nothing bad either.

Am now on to the final Gap book - The Gap In To Ruin - This Day All Gods Die and beginning to see things coming to the end. Defnitely enjoyed the whole series but I don't think it will get re-read as often as some others. Not sure what I will go for next either, something a bit lighter I expect.

And now I'd better start putting together the evidence of where I am with my targets in advance of my interim review meeting tomorrow.

test:

And another big post-gap. Seems this is becoming a habit.

Anyway, had a pretty good weekend all told. Last two days of Joan's week off so we were able to spend some quality time together getting stuff sorted and done and so forth. Saturday night we went out with Ma, Pa & Richard to the Beagle for dinner in advance of Dad's birthday on the Sunday. Very nice it was too. Especially as the last time we went
there was before the mouth treatment started, and going there again proved it was over (well, almost over - see below).

Then Sunday we got Christmas underway in earnest. No, really. Sat down and printed off the majority of the address labels for cards, started looking at what presents we already had and what we might buy for people, sorted out our finances to make sure we can pay for it all and watched Scrooge. Joan's favourite film and one she probably watches 3 or 4 times a year, but especially in November and December. Mind you, Sunday was also the Christmas lights switch-on in Ipswich but even though we were running Park & Ride free we stayed away. Probably a good thing we did too after hearing the reports after the event. Despite encouraging people to take it easy and go for a coffee after the magic moment they all decided to go home instead. So all the buses were packed, people had to wait and tempers flared. Glad I wasn't caught up in it all.

Monday it was back to the Dentist in Colchester. I thought this was the review to see how it all went, but instead it was a clean-up and quick check things were OK with me. Now I can go back to normal cleaning and seeing my own hygenist before the actual review in February. So another three months of slight uncertainty over what's going on in my mouth. But they do want the rest of the money now not then so I guess he must be fairly confident it worked.

Tuesday was just a normal day in here, with no alarms or excursions to mention. Then yesterday I was up to Norwich for an ATCO meeting. Should have been down to Crawley to look at their new busways but they cried off and we ended up staying local (for me). Which was nice as I was able to take Joan to work and pick her up as normal. Low turnout (only 6 counties!) but we got through loads of stuff and actually got opinions out of everyone who was there, rather than the usual blank looks from most representatives. Plus bits of it will be useful as the basis for a report I have to write here.

Tonight we are off to the Spa to see Richard Digance, which should be amusing.

Testing...

Hoorah, Martlesham is finally open, the punters are coming in and I can get back to some semblance of normality again...

The launch event on Tuesday went pretty well in the end. It was, of course, dominated by the councillors etc who have never been on site before and probably never will again but at least a couple of the speeches managed to give some credit to some of the people who'd actually done the work. And the doves all flew without encouragement when they got released, which was a step up from events at the Bury Road launch in 2000. OK, so we were pleased it was all over before darkness fell as the lights in the terminal building didn't get fitted until yesterday, but otherwise good stuff. I even managed to get on telly for a few seconds that night. They even managed to make a cake in the shape of one of the buses that was surprisingly edible. Mind you, it was a grey and cold day (again). We really must get the hang of launching things in the summer from now on. Would be nice to have some scantily clad models around or something. Just to add a touch of colour to events you understand...

So Wednesday was the real test of all our hard work when we opened to the public. I got there at 0645 in time for the first bus to roll at 0700. And the first passenger finally rolled up at 0750 or thereabouts. Which was nice as we were beginning to think we'd be stood there all day waiting. So we did the ceremonial handing over of a 20 trip smartcard, bottle of wine and P&R umbrella. There were press around as well so I also ended up in the Evening Star that day. Fame! I'm gonna live forever, etc. Ahem. It all went pretty well from then on with a steady stream of people running through including several who bought smartcards before even trying the route (and thus committed themselves to coming back), a few who bought them on their way home again and also Joan and Mum (who I met on my bus back to the site, which was nice). Hoorah! It was of course another grey and rainy day so that may have put a few people off from trying us out, but in the end we must have had at least 60 cars through. Which compares well with the other two when they opened. But it was a long day and I was more than glad to get home. Despite ending up spending the evening on my own as Joan went out to Bingo with Helen. Total winnings £2.50 each. Whooppee, life of luxury for us from now on.

Then yesterday and we had hoped to get back to regular stuff. In fact I had hoped not to go near Martlesham, but that was not to be. The plan was simple enough - go out first thing and put up the "open for christmas shopping" signs at London Road (the one at Bury Road got removed last year and we haven't got ant for Martlesham yet) then pelt off to Bury St Edmunds to deliver some timetables to Greene King brewery. But while we were putting the signs up the phone rang. Martlesham. One of the new buses wasn't working properly so had been replaced by a spare. Which was a couple of inches taller. So naturally the driver had smacked into the overhanging roof of the terminal building, ripping a gutter off and twisting some of the planks. Marvellous.

Gary and I thus went over to see the damage and have a chat with the on-site engineer and project managers about stopping it happen again. After much arguing and stomping about we finally got them to agree to extend the kerb line away from the building. After all, we might end up running bigger buses still in the future (including double deckers) so need to be able to cope with those too. Not sure when it will happen, bu the sooner the better in my book.

All of which meant we didn't even leave here towards Bury until after lunch. Then on the way back Gary's phone rang - some furniture he'd ordered had arrived. As we had the van we picked that up and I did my good deed for the day by helping him get it up to his flat. Those little things that make me remember some of the reasons I was pleased not to be working at Argos any more. Flat-pack wardrobes are just so heavy!

And now the weekend is approaching rapidly. I think I will devote the rest of today to clearing the clutter that has accumulated on and around my desk during all the launch build-up, then next week back to the cut and thrust of trying to meet targets.

Only another day to go now before Martlesham Park & Ride opens, so hopefully with that out of the way I will be able to calm down my life a fraction and get back on with normal stuff like the rest of my job and things. Certainly had precious little time to keep up with it last week. So, what did I manage to do?

Tuesday was a training day - how to write better English. Not sure how much I learned really, and how much was just reminding me of how I ought to be doing things. Some of it was interesting but I think I could probably have got by without it. Still, we are supposed to be an organisation committed to continuous improvement so I shouldn't grumble. Going on the odd "not so useful" course keeps my name up there as someone willing to go on these things when something worth doing turns up. Plus it was a day out of the office, which normally would be welcome but this time of course was merely one in five days out in the week.

Wednesday and Thursday saw me do Martlesham, Woodbridge, Felixstowe and Lowestoft on P&R promotional duties. Both days went pretty well. The only complaints were related to the roundabout at the site entrance which is nothing to do with me and generally people were looking forward to us opening. In fact we were welcomed almost with open arms by some. My fears about the price compared to the other two sites may prove justified come the opening, but nobody raised them as a significant issue. Mind you, the number of people who never go to Ipswich (or at least say they never go) was staggering. I know they say Suffolk folk are an insular lot but I wasn't sure I believed it until now. The most extreme was a girl who confessed to having lived in Lowestoft 23 years and only been to Norwich once in that time and Ipswich never. I think I'd go stark raving bonkers (again!) if I didn't see different places regularly.

It was good to spend the three days out with some of the drivers and get to know them a bit better. There was a time when I knew all the P&R drivers quite well, but what with other jobs and them changing a lot I've sort of lost touch. So I will be making an effort with the other two sites as well to make sure people know I'm Mr P&R!

The trips also gave me the chance to confirm that the buses are comfortable for the longer journey in to town from Martlesham. OK, so I stayed awake and reading but other spare drivers managed to snooze their way around the county. We did also have a spot of excitement in Lowestoft at one retail park. First the manager of one of the units tried to make a scene about us being there and taking his trade away. But we had got permission from the site management to be there so that was easily resolved. Then we had a car catch fire in the car park which was quite spectacular. And the fire brigade were very quick to arrive so we got to see them at work before making our retreat - after all, a bus is no competition with men in uniform when it comes to getting attention.

Friday was a delivery day for me after we ran out of other people to do them instead. A slight mix-up with the van (mainly relating to the person doing deliveries for me on Wednesday smashing a mirror on it) meant we did 167 miles in a very nice Rover 75 estate. Which meant coming back in to town half way through for a re-fill but we were prepared to put up with that. After all, we did have a lovely leather interior and more toys to play with than you could shake a stick at. Down to individual climate control for each side of the car! Plus there was a nice lunch in Laxfield, another pub I will have to take Joan along to one day. Roll on next summer and us starting to have days out again.

So that was the working week over with finally. I was fairly knackered by the time I got home on Friday night and looking forward to relaxing a bit. Of course Joan was at work both Saturday and Sunday so I was still up around normal time to take her in. But then I spent two days doing a bit of tidying and ironing, a bit of reading and a bit of playing games on this here PC. OK, so I also did a lot of struggling with stupidly designed spring clips while trying to change a headlamp bulb (I think I wasted over an hour trying to undo the blasted thing before giving up, getting help from Dad and watching him solve it in 5 seconds flat). Went on a bit of a downwrd spiral for a while after that - mainly frustration over being either beaten by something so stupid or at being so stupid myself. Didn't really pick up until Joan came home again - she is my living anti-depressant.

On the book front I am now on to number 4 - The Gap into Madness: Chaos And Order and still we are meeting new characters and situations. Which is good in the stopping boredom setting in stakes but adds more twists and turns to the plot that will need resolving at some point. Am definitely enjoying the series but at the same time wish I could get to the end quicker.

Last night we squeezed in watching Bend It Like Beckham which managed to be a lot funnier than I had expected from the reviews. Could be that some of the jokes made more sense to us through knowing Bhupen and his family than perhaps they would to others.

So now we are almost up to date again. This morning was the final on-site snagging run through for Martlesham before the launch ceremony tomorrow. Found a few minor things that give cause for slight worry (like the building lights haven't arrived yet!) but I think we should be OK in the end. I'll be glad when the first punter turns up on Wednesday morning though. Then this afternoon I have been working here after yet another trip to the dentist. Just the normal one in Felixstowe today for a check up and filling. Face still a bit sore but then I did need extra anaesthetic again as I was a tad sensitive when he started drilling. Right, that will do for today.

Grrrrrrrrrr. Another two hours at Argos last night waiting for alarm engineers (and again we attracted a security guard and three police people). That was after a pretty good day when we had been lazy in the morning then visited Makro for some stocking up on boring but useful stuff (cat food, loo roll, you know the score). Kind of left a grim taste in the mouth after the enjoyment we'd had earlier.

Today has been pretty good too apart from the early start. My bus was in Framlingham and after we finally got there (long story involving forgotten leaflets and diversions to Martlesham site) we had a welcome response level. People knew we were going to be there and wanted to know about the site. I hope they translate into users. Course tomorrow then more bussing weds and thurs before deliveries on fri.

Tomorrow is also our 8th wedding anniversary. Where does the time go so fast?

Full report on all the week's activities when I have the energy to write it...

What happened to October then? Don't seem to have had a minute to sit and think, much less stick stuff up on here. Anyway, Argos refit is nearly finished now. Joan has had a hectic time of it trying to keep everything going while the shop has been turned inside out and back again. I must say it is looking very nice in there now, but not sure if all the effort has been totally worth it. She hasn't had a day off this week (and funnily enough Marion has been on holiday for the whole process) and is getting a bit tired. I think all the staff are looking forward to the end now.

I've been frantically trying to get everything done for Martlesham opening. I think we are just about there now, which is good as I'm basically not in the office again until the day of the opening ceremony. This week I will be out doing promotional bus trips three days, on a course one day and delivering the new area books the last. They came this week and are looking particularly good, if I do say so myself. But too much lifting as the quantities ordered seem to get more each time. And with a bit of arm-twisting and calling in of favours I have managed to get help with the distribution so nearly all the books will be out to the right places by the end of the week as well. That will help my quest for new outlets to resume as I won't spend half of it playing catch-up.

The big thrill for me was last Sunday when we had a visit from College friends Cara & Phil, who I've not seen for something like 9 years. Joan had to work unfortunately, but we called in to see her and a good time was had by all I think. They haven't changed a bit (apart from the two girls of course) and I just felt totally relaxed with them here. Great stuff. We also went out to Ma & Pa's for tea that night which was not so relaxing - Dad hit us with the news that he has a dodgy ear, a dodgy eye and during the stress that made him quit the Abbeyfield job suffered a minor lacuna stroke which may have affected his memory a bit. It hit me quite a bit and I had a few funny moments myself. You don't expect it to happen to your own parents after all. Still, all seems to be either treatable or not worth major worry and he is getting on with life the same.

Catching up on entertaining things, I am now on to book 3 The Gap into Power - A Dark & Hungry God Arises and totally gripped. No chance of anything getting between the books now, I will be going all out to the end of the series. We also watched Enigma which was very good. And nice to see the British perspective on code breaking after the travesty of U-571. Time for lunch now (I think I can manage it after the shock of buying new tyres earlier)...

Gave in to temptation earlier and had my first hot Bacon & Sausage roll from Alberts since before the tooth work started today. Absolutely wonderful and a bit nice too. Made up for the annoyances on the way in this morning. We had a bit of a clear out from the loft on Sunday which resulted in me sticking out for the dustmen this morning: 10 black sacks, a couple of old suitcases (full), some old boxes of junk, a mysterious short ladder found up there and our old headboard which for some reason we had kept - all of which took a while to pile up. Then driving along I managed to turn off the A14 and was halfway along the Nacton Road before I realised it, so had to divert back to the A14 to get to Park & Ride. All of which meant I missed the bus I was aiming for and arrived later than planned. Worries me a bit that. I know I'm awake when I'm driving but I quite often find myself at a place without remembering the stretch of road since I last noticed it. I must have been paying attention because I've never ploughed into another car or wound up dead in a ditch, but it is a tad scary.

Oh well, here now and all the management for the whole division, never mind just the group, are out on some away day brainstorm session so at least it is peaceful here and we can get on with stuff.

Yesterday was another Library P&R plugging day. Woodbridge this time. A bit busier than Aldeburgh but still not really worth sending two of us out for the day. Still, another nice lunch on expenses. Monday just the usual desk work stuff. Nothing startling.

Still not feeling particularly enthralled by much of this at the moment and would rather be somewhere else. Although possibly not at Argos with Joan - they have finally started on the re-fit the shop has been needing for a good five years so things area bit chaotic there to say the least. Still, at least she will be getting her own office out of it for the cash stuff so with any luck her life will be much better.

I guess it must just be the approach of winter - had to get the big coat out for the first time today, clocks go back on Saturday night, half term next week. Stuff like that really. I dunno. I'm sure I'll be over it in a few days.

Well, Tuesday was pretty much a complete waste of time. OK, so Aldeburgh may not be the busiest town on a windy autumn day, but during the 4 hours or so we managed to put up with sitting around in the Library we only gave out 4 P&R leaflets and spoke to about 6 people. Hopeless. I don't think they actually told anyone we were going to be there, which didn't help of course. Still, got a nice lunch out of it.

Wednesday we had the secured car park inspection for Martlesham and passed, then another operations meeting in the afternoon which went well.

Thursday I had the day off to relax with Joan. Partly because I was simply knackered and needed a day off and partly to use up some hours. Only been back from holiday three weeks and already managed to build up two days worth of flexi time. And no prospect of that letting up until after Martlesham opens now so I thought I'd better have a day when I still could. So we did some shopping and washed the car but otherwise took it easy.

Yesterday it was back into the thick of launch planning and working out distribution for the books when they get here. And now today I have ironed a bit and will be off to pick Joan up when she finishes at 3 for a lazy rest of the day.

I wish this building would make its mind up about what temperature it wants to be. Luckily I decided to bring an extra layer today as its been OK, too hot and now too cold. Most peculiar. Mind you, I was here at just after 7 today following the dropping off of Jerry at the hospital. He might well be under the knife or even out of theatre by now. If it all goes according to plan he should be allowed home again tomorrow but I think someone else will be picking him up.

So, we had a pretty good weekend all told.

Apart from Friday night – in celebration of having my teeth back we decided some nice crusty bread was in order. So naturally I sliced my left thumb open with the bread knife. Still painful and bruised now although the cut seems to be healing nicely. Putting a real cramp on my joypad skills!

Saturday Joan worked in the morning then when I went to pick her up I got notified of a change to the plans. Instead of going home we went to Puccinos for lunch with Lesley. Which was particularly tasty as always in there. I really must get round to trying something else rather than having the same filling all the time, but it is just so nice… We then managed to sleep through most of the afternoon, which was also nice. I think we are now finally caught up with the missing sleep caused by the alarm.

Yesterday we spent the morning wandering around the market – even managed to spend some money for a change. Although mainly what we came home with was fruit, veg and bird seed. Then while I did exciting grass cutting stuff Joan went mad in the kitchen. So we had a fabulous dinner with homemade pumpkin soup and wonderful turkey with lots of different roast veggies. Lip smacking stuff. Plus we re-watched Mission Impossible 2 which was pretty good too.

Today I have of course achieved loads through being here so early (and especially before the distractions of phones and other people arrived on the scene). I could almost bring myself to do it again if the situation arose. Tomorrow I am in Aldeburgh at the library it would seem, doing an exhibition for the P&R publicity plan. So definitely an early finish for me today is warranted. Which will be arranged by simply slipping off after lunch to re-distribute all the new P&R leaflets which have all been delivered to London Road.

Well it’s finally decided and official. We, the public transport group, are confirmed as being one of the teams that will move to our new home in Endeavour House sometime next year. Still can’t decide if this is good or bad news, but they do say a change is as good as a rest…

Stitches came out fine this morning. It sure is nice to be free of them. I was able to use both sides of my mouth again when I had my lunch. Whoopeeee. Hopefully the sensitive stuff that happened with the other top jaw but not the lower won’t repeat itself, but we shall have to wait and see. I have to go back in November for a review and polish up thing, then that’s it. Back to normal dentistry again.

Tomorrow is the day of the Park & Ride price increase. And naturally it has all gone tits-up at the last minute. The leaflets won’t arrive and the livery changes on the buses won’t be happening until Monday now, and the software changes for the ticket machines until the 18th. Oh well, we will just have to muddle through as best we can.

Finished the first Gap book last night and have gone straight on to number two – The Gap in to Vision – Forbidden Knowledge which is proving just as good so far. Books 2 – 5 are all a lot thinker than 1 though. The style is still taking a bit of getting used to – nearly all thoughts and action with a tiny bit of conversation and even less description. So my images of how the locations and people look etc is coming more from memories of a zillion other sci-fi books and films etc.

Now we have Norfolk coming for a chat.

Oh me and my big mouth! Did I mention not much going on in our lives? Thought I might have done. Anyway, we had a nice dinner whilst re-watching the first Mission Impossible film and had just started mellowing out for the rest of the night when the phone rang. It was, of course, an alarm call for Argos. First one since Joan’s been back at work (there were a few calls while she was off but we passed them on to other people) and it seems the procedures have been changed in that time. Now we have a security company on board as well to come and go in with us as the Police were getting fed up with the time it was taking other keyholders to arrive from Braintree (Marion) or wherever Matt lives and weren’t prepared to wait.

So, we went gaily trotting along there and met up with the guard chap, went in and could find absolutely no reason for an activation. Other than perhaps the heating over the door having been left on, which has been known to cause problems in the past by blowing hanging cards around. Of course they have no cards these days so all we could assume was that perhaps the heat had been picked up by the infra-red sensor doobry that was showing on the panel as being the cause of the alarm. One remote re-set later and we were on our way home again. Only to be called out again after about 20 minutes had passed. Back we trotted then, to meet the guard again. Except this time the Police were there to have a nose around (they said they’d been along for the first one as well but we saw no sign of them).

Second time of activation in a short period with no obvious break-in means they can’t or won’t reset over the phone and we had to wait for an engineer. So, we pulled over a sofa from display, put the telly on and settled down to wait. He eventually turned up at about 1230 by which point we were all a bit tired and frustrated. Diagnosis was a fault in the sensor (which he didn’t have a spare for with him) and he ended up simply disconnecting that one so we could go home. Finally got to bed about 1.15 this morning. So I had an extra hour over when the alarm normally goes before I got up and came to work feeling a little bit sleepy.

Kind of wish I hadn’t – we had the second part of the big group meeting where we talked about ways and means for us to meet our ridiculously huge targets. Some of the ideas put forward are just crazy so there was much argue-ifying and shouting back and forth. A great way to spend a totally unproductive morning.

Oh well, Joan is out with Jacqui from Ipswich so she’s having a good time at least.

Another busy day for me. Finally saw the last few pages of the timetable books and got them approved for printing, wrote a 3,000 odd word guide to using Park & Ride and checked through the web site and changed half of that. So for the second day in a row I didn't get out at lunchtime, but never mind. I did manage an early finish instead.

Joan still doing OK and going to increase her hours again next week.

Nothing else to say!

Slightly annoyed with myself today - I wrote a bit for here last night then managed not to save it. Probably wasn't particularly earth-shattering but irritating to have lost it nonetheless.

Anyway, after two hours of fretting over what had happened to her, messages left on our answerphone, texts sent and even a call to work to find out if she really had left I finally got hold of Joan around 3.30 yesterday. Lots of worrying over nothing on my part as the morning had seemingly gone quite well and things are looking back on track for her. But I hate not knowing what's going on, not being able to talk to her etc. Don't know what I'd do if we were forced into a no-contact situation for an extended period of time.

Last night saw the end of the current run of Waking The Dead, which is a shame as once again the series has been pretty gripping. I know they don't come cheap, but I do wish they could manage more than four two-part stories at a time. Still we do at least get Silent Witness back this weekend in compensation. Not sure what it is about slightly gruesome police-oriented tales that draws us in. Of course I'd also love to see the BBC put the same care, attention and budget in to a decent Sci-Fi series...

Am finding the daily use of Park & Ride to get to work not too bad so far. And it is much better than sitting in the car stuck in traffic down some of the roads around here thinking about whether there would still be a space left in the car park when I arrived. OK, so door to door takes a bit longer, but I'm prepared to put up with that for a bit less hassle and stress of a morning.

Here's a few words I wrote yesterday then completely forgot to post after getting distracted, plus commentary from today in brackets!


Spent some time working in the garden today while the sun was out - which was nice actually. I know I normally avoid digging if I can the last rays of summer were more than welcome. (Today my side aches like I've shifted half a ton of earth. Funnily enough, I seem to have shifted some earth yesterday).

Anyway, the call Joan was expecting finally happened and she is a lot happier now. She will be working part-time this week to properly get back in to routine and then hopefully everything else will be sorted. (She should be home any minute and hopefully not had any hassle off Marion today. I'm waiting for the call).

Not much else to write really - Richard came along yesterday so that aspect of Saturdays is also back to normal! Tonight H, B & A are coming along for a meal and this morning we finally go our wills and stuff signed so I can take those in tomorrow. Gripping stuff this life we live! (Meal was top stuff with lots of laughter all round doing Joan the world of good. Wills all handed in to the will people at last so that's another job done).

I'm sure the time will come again when I have the chance to make more regular (possibly even daily) entries once again, but I can't see that being particularly soon. Mind you, better to be busy than bored.

So what have I been up to this week then? Checking timetables, sorting park & ride stuff, checking timetables, having a one to one with new joint group record of 23 items on the list and more general timetable checking. I'm sure we will get the damn books printed one of these days, but it does seem like a real struggle once again this edition. Bloody bus companies changing their minds all the time over what they want to run.

Joan went back to work on Tuesday and not really much has changed. The new stockroom lad is OK but needs a bit more training before he'll be really useful, and Marion is as dippy as ever. She went home at 4 on Tues leaving Joan on her own, on her first day back, with a delivery due (it hadn't arrived by the time we gave up and left just after 6). Not a very promising welcome. Wednesday wasn't much better and by lunchtime yesterday (her day off!) Joan was not in a good state. Cathy the counsellor had been and was not best pleased at the way things were going on, which left Joan in a bad way. I went home at 12 to be with her and hopefully did the right things by being there for her. We left a number of messages with the area manager, but he never called back which didn't help matters either. He should be calling her at work this afternoon so hopefully that will help resolve a few issues. I'm waiting for a call to tell me how it went before I pass judgement though.

Fingers are crossed though for things to get better.

Have now finished the video games book. It was very interesting if not at all what I was really hoping for in the pages. It was mainly a history of the companies and personalities involved in the American industry with a bit of detail on Europe and Japan thrown in for good measure. And as stated before console dominated. I guess what I really want is some sort of encyclopedia of the games themselves. Perhaps I will have to write it.

Have now started Stephen Donaldson's Gap series (Sci-fi not about clothes retail) with volume one: The Gap Into Conflict - The Real Story. Just scene-setting in the pages I've turned so far but it is looking quite good.

We are also entertaining ourselves at home with new purchase Super Bust-A-Move All-Stars on the Gamecube. Yet another iteration on the Puzzle Bobble theme but I felt we needed a version to use downstairs on the big telly as well as the one on the PC so it just had to be bought. A few slightly annoying changes over the original but most of the pure gameplay is there unaffected.

Right, back to my P&R newsletter writing...

I feel terrible. Friday was, as mentioned, the last of the big trips to Colchester for general mouth abuse. Talk about saving the worst for last. Not only do I feel like he spent the whole time smacking me in the face, I look like it too - all swollen and bruised. Great fun. It was also the most painful of the lot to actually go through, even adding extra anaesthetic half way through didn't really help. So I am back on the anti-biotics and also pumped full of ibuprofen to keep the pain bearable. Lots of soup and mashed potatoes are also helping to kep me alive...

Not much else to say really. Am generally just feeling down over the whole thing and not particularly wanting to go to work tomorrow. But not really "ill" enough to stay home either.

Have started a book for the first time since coming back from Switzerland. Hadn't wanted to until now as I couldn't be bothered getting deeply involved in anything. Instead I was wandering my way through some of the stockpile of interesting articles sent over by Monica in Seattle. I feel a bit bad about the length of time some of them had been sitting around waiting for me to investigate, but then I do view reading as something you have to want to do. Hence they come out when I want to read but not get lost in a plot or major discussion. So, what I am now reading is The Ultimate History Of Video Games by Steven L. Kent. It is proving both fascinating and frustrating in equal measure. The former because although I sort of know a bit about the stuff that interests me there is loads in here that is new (or at least puts flesh on the bones of rumour) and it is genuinely interesting stuff. The latter because it is very USA-centred and only really deals with arcade and console games, while I grew up with a very British computer. Still, good so far despite those flaws.

Joan now out buying plants while I sit here and feel gloomy.

Not sure how best to describe yesterday in one, pithy phrase. I guess mildly interesting but also tedious would be the most accurate description.

We left Ipswich at 0730 and were expecting to get there before 10. Actual arrival time was just after 11 due to excessive numbers of accidents on the A14 (some of which were not pleasant to see as we passed) causing us to sit in queues an awful lot. It did prove the car was happy at both high and low speeds, but not much else. Still, at least the roads were generally free of tree screens so I could look at the scenery (mainly fields with the occasional cow, admittedly) as we flashed or crawled past.

The Passenger Transport Solutions part of the show was surprisingly small. Considering that it has previously been held as a stand alone event I wasn't particularly impressed by the number or quality of exhibitors. Some of them were quite good and it was nice to put a few faces to names, but mostly I was happy to leave it well alone. The Bus side was a bit more interesting - always nice to see shiny new buses up close, meet some people and see our stuff being used as show examples (in this case the bus stop announcements for Martlesham Park & Ride). But neither of them managed to hold my attention for the whole day. Perhaps if I had gone to the seminars I booked up for things might have been better, but we missed one through traffic and the other because I was sorting out some fine details on our bus order.

Big disadvantage was the enormous cost of food at the NEC. Still, at least that can be claimed back.

When we got shot of Sonic, Charles and I took a wander over to Birmingham International Airport which is located on the same site.

There we had a trip on the new mono-rail, cable-hauled people mover thing. Which was wonderful and unsurprisingly turned out to be Swiss technology. Say no more. It also successfully killed some time for us.

Trip home went much better and we stopped for dinner at a very nice pub in Bury St Edmunds which I hadn't known about before.

Today I have been plugging away at various bits of timetable change, P&R price change and other work. Feel like I haven't got anywhere but do have a pile of finished stuff to prove me wrong for a change. Colchester and the final dental work tomorrow.

Whoopee doo.

So here I am back at the desk. Not quite sure how I made it through yesterday really as much of it was very frustrating.

Started off badly. We are now back in the old car park we used to use before the summer, having been chucked off the College

waterfront one now that their new term has started. Except of course they have built a new block in the middle of our old place so we

have fewer spaces to play with. It was tight before but now things are ridiculous. Yesterday I arrived at 0825 - earlier than I would

normally and it was already full. Luckily I was able to find a space on the road nearby but that did of course mean a longer walk in the

rain at the end of the day. Today I arrived at 0810 and got one of the last remaining places. We are supposed to be able to start

work any time between 0730 and 0930 and some people who prefer a later start are sure to be getting more and more irate as the

weeks pass. I think I might just bite the bullet sooner rather than later and just use Park & Ride all the time. Which could prove

awkward in itself when Joan goes back to work, plus it will involve more potential exposure to the weather.

OK, so I'm supposed to be spending my days helping to persuade people to get out of their cars and use public transport, and as such

ought to be setting an example but frankly this just winds me up. I have already started thinking about possibly switching to taking the

train when we move office to the other side of town - right by the Station - but it still leaves things like taking Joan to work, picking her

up at night (especially in the winter when things get dark...), getting around during the day if needed and stuff like that. It does kind of

wind me up also that throughout the time I have been here people have been leaving all the time with rights to park nearer to the

building than where I end up. But no-one I know of has even been given the opportunity to move to a nearer spot. Yesterday there

were plenty of spaces in the nearer car parks free when I walked past, but no way I can get in to use them. If they were to just change

the system to make all spaces available on a first come first parked basis then half the problem would go. Oh well, we will just have to

grit our teeth and get on with it.

Anyway, yesterday I also found over 300 emails waiting for me, a whole pile of stuff in the in-tray and final confirmation fo the chnages

ot the Park & Ride fares. For the existing sites it was what I suggested basically, but for Martlesham we are going to be looking at

£3.20 which I think is too high and will put people off using it. After all, that's only a 30p saving on parking all day in town (Although

not as close to the shops etc as the bus will go). But, the commercial bus fare on the same(ish) route has gone up and we can't

undercut it. So basically I spent all day wading through words and maps and stuff trying to get a handle on where we were with

everything. How can two weeks generate so much rubbish that it feels like I was off a month or more? It just doesn't make sense to

me. Still trying to make sense of most of it today (and that's without even looking at the new timetable book proofs).

So all in all it was nice to get home again at the end of the day. Wonder if I could have got any more cliches in to that sentence?

Today I am just plugging along for the morning. Then we have a Martlesham meeting this afternoon so that should hopefully provide

answers to some of the outstanding questions.

Tomorrow I am off to Birmingham with Gary, Charles and Sonic for Coach & Bus and Passenger Transport

Solutions exhibitions at the NEC. Not sure if they will be really interesting or deathly dull, but they are a day out anyway. Just

so long as I am allowed to nod off inthe car rather than being stimulating conversation all the time.

OK, so what I didn't mention on Thursday was starting to feel a bit under the weather while we were wandering around Makro - head begining to ache, limbs likewise and general flu like symptoms coming along. They came to a head yesterday when I spent most of the afternoon shivering under the duvet and generally being miserable. Feeling much better now, although not up to 100% operating efficiency as yet.

A few more things about the holiday that have come back to me (why is it so hard to write about the experience?). The global reputation for Switzerland being a really clean country is totally deserved. Not just in the obvious things like spotless toilets or whatever (and there's a cultural difference for you - in the UK you will generally find a coat hook on the back of a toilet door, over there they seem to be on the wall to the side). We never saw a single item of litter in Switzerland, hardly any graffitti and none of the general "mess" that fills France. Even the roadworks looked spotless. To the point of having little gangs of men up on the mountain roads clearing leaves. OK, so with the twists and turns and precipitous drops up there it makes sense, but they were everywhere, all the time.

Then there is also the more relaxed attitude over on the continent to sex, porn and generally getting your kit off. Seemed to be sex shops everywhere you turned, all the newsagents full of openly displayed porn mags etc. Then when we stopped in Paris there was a selection of magazines in each room provided by the hotel - not porn mags, but one was a photo mag including sections on Porn photographer Thomas Ruff and an explicitly illustrated article on transexuals - not what you'd expect at a UK Travelodge or Holiday Inn. Not that I'm complaining as I think this country is far too uptight most of the time, but still a bit of a surprise to find.

Plus I'm missing not having time to include a crusty roll with cheese as part of my breakfast routine - and I'm not even back to work yet.

Oh well. We shall just have to save hard and make sure we get back there some time.

Now to listen to the new Iron Maiden album Dance Of Death which is sounding good up to track three...

Err, getting errors earlier and thought posting hadn't occurred - hence the test. Oh well, seems OK now.

Popped up to the new Makro cash & carry bulk discount type store this afternoon. Some pretty good bargains appear to be available there so I expect Joan and I will be back after payday to start stocking up for Christmas.

testing... 1-2-3

And now it must be time for the traditional "what we did on our holidays report"...

Saturday 6th September:

Usual early start for a Supreme holiday - although not as early as in the past as they now pick up from Felixstowe. Which was nice - I was able to drive us up the road to the pick up point with plenty of time to spare rather than us having to rush to Ipswich, and safe in the knowledge that Ma & Pa would be along later to collect the car and tuck it away in their garden for the week. So then it was coach down to Thurrock via Colchester and Chelmsford before changing on to our real coach for the rest of the trip. Our designated driver was Keith, who was a pretty good bloke and very good driver all week (although he could probably stand to lose a stone or three) and we were generally safe in his hands. A couple more stops to pick people up on the way down to Dover (making a total of 17 on the coach - just enough for us to get to know everyone fairly well and almost on the limit for viable operation - I think we only went ahead because one of them worked for the company) then before you knew it we were afloat and heading for France.

Crossing was very smooth and we made sure of having a good lunch - not knowing quite what we were going to end up with in the evening. Then after picking up courier (sorry, "Tour Manager") Earl the New Zealander (a bit cocky but generally good at his job and full of useful or interesting information) at the gates of the port in Calais we were off for an afternon on the French motorways. So not really much to say about the countryside we passed through as most of the roads were tree-lined so we would only get the occasional glimpse. Of course what we did get to see then proved to be a bit of a disappointment. I hadn't noticed it on previous visits to France, but the place as a whole was looking a bit shabby. It seemed that every building (indeed every entire village) we passed needed a new coat of paint - and even the ones that had been recently decorated were done in really dull and drab colours. It was like there was a fine coat of dust over everything. And there was also plenty of litter lying around. Generally uninspiring and I don't think either of us missed much by sleeping away much of the journey.

We finished up for the night in Riems at the Hotel Campanile. Again this was not all that impressive at first glance - room a bit shabby with cigarette burns in the bed clothes (but then it does sometimes seem that everyone in France has a Gauloise on the go at all times) and one of the lights not working - but the food more than made up for it. I ended up with an organic buckwheat pancake filled with eggs and ham and cheese while Joan had local goat's cheese ravioli along with lashings of wine that helped us sleep off the travel very easily.

Sunday 7th September:

The hotel filled us up with a very good breakfast before we continued on our merry way east and south. Again, more motorways to start with as we passed Metz and Nancy but these were slightly more interesting as someone had seen fit to line the sides with geometric shapes in various hues - squares, triangles, circles and then cubes, pyramids and spheres on poles. Obviously intended to stop them becoming too monotonous for drivers. We also managed to see a few more villages that confirmed the shabby France theory. However, by late morning things started getting a bit more scenic and interesting as we plunged through Alsace and we ended up for lunch in a lovely medieval village called Kaysersberg. That was a place that was not in need of a lick of paint - absolutely beautiful. Lots of tumbledown cottages leaning on each other for support, twisty cobbled streets and the like. Also a fantastic 800 year old church.

Then it was back on the coach for the final run in to Switzerland. At last. Crossed over the border at Basel without a hitch and started to get used to seeing signs with more than one language on. After an hour or so the scenery was becoming decidely more vertical and we started to do the occasional climb with hairpin bends and the like. I think I now get the point of mountains. The last set of twists and turns brought us high above Lake Lucern and to the Hotel Belle Vue at Seelisberg which was where we were based. Absolutely wonderful place. Proper Swiss style and a warm welcome from the staff. Plus our luck was in for a change and we actually got a room with a balcony and view out over the lake. That certainly made up for some of the views over car parks and the like we have had in previous holiday hotels. Absolutely stunning scenery and frankly worth the price of admision and two days travel on its own. We spent a lot of time looking at that vista over the rest of the week.

So we then had a nice dinner (all the food was nice, but there was only one meal on offer each night, no choices. Which was OK for me but a bit annoying for Joan as she prefers not to eat red meat - and we did get served a fair amount of it). Still, it was a good evening getting to know one or two people from the coach and the wine was on the house as a welcome. The rest of the week it was just viciously expensive, but then that's the whole country - particularly when you have nowhere else to go.

Seelisberg is a lovely little village with a gorgeous church (complete with immaculate churchyard full of wonderfully carved graves). A bit spread out along the hillside so time pressures meant we didn't explore it very well. Still, there's an excuse to go back some time (like we need an excuse!). It is also home to a branch of the Maharishi Maresh Yogi's Transcendental Meditation centre which a lot of our fellow travellers thought was a bit of a hoot. Of course they also have a branch up the road in Suffolk so I'm kind of used to seeing the signs (if I remember rightly they originally wanted to take over the Bentwaters airbase when the US air force pulled out 10+ years ago but were turned down). Anyway, a nice place to be based.

Monday 8th:

First full day in Switzerland saw the good weather that had blessed our journey disappear and we had low cloud and drizzle in the morning. Still, undeterred what should have been a rest day according to the brochure was actually our trip to the city of Lucern. Saw lots of the touristy bits (Lion Monument, Covered Bridges, Cathedral etc) as well as doing a bit of shopping and general wandering about looking at the pretty buildings. Real chocolate box architecture mixed in with the modern. That was followed by a drive along the northern shore of the lake (past the transport museum I hadn't known was there, but is top of the list should be ever make it back again) through lots of very pretty places and some spectacular views to the town of Brunnen. By this point the sun was streaming down and everywhere was looking crystal clear. Plus the lake water was astonishingly bright blue. There we got on a boat and had a tour around the southern arm of the lake (more pretty villages and views plus the William Tell Chappel, the Rutli meadow were the Swiss federal system was extablished and a monument to F Schiller) before docking at the hamlet of Trieb which is at the bottom of the hill from Seelisberg. After a drink there we took our first fenicular railway ride back up to the hotel - which is about 100 yards from the upper station. Overall a very good day.

Tuesday 9th:

This was a day out to Interlaken, where my colleagues Gary and Charles spent a fortnight last month. They had bright sun and temperatures of over 40 degrees, we had persistent rain which threw me into a real funk and I was a miserable sod for much of the day. For which I apologise! Stopped at the town of Brienz on the way down for a look at a woodcarving museum and workshop (according to the brochure) which turned out to be a small room on the back of a shop and not very thrilling to my mind. They had loads of overpriced tat for sale - from cuckoo clocks to a Titanic musical box playing the Celine Dion song - as well as the usual souveniers. Yes, I can appreciate the hours of work that go in to some of the carvings, but I can't say I liked any of them very much. We certainly didn't buy any.

Interlaken was very much a tourist resort kind of a town (well, the bits we saw anyway) so we just looked at the shops, had some food and tried to avoid the rain. I also had a wobbly moment where I was blaming myself for the weather and ruining Joan's holiday. I don't think it helped that we knew people who had had a really good time there while we were just trying to stay dry - no chance of the promised views of the Eiger and Jungfrau for us. Definitely the low point of the whole trip for me.

On the way back we went over the Susten Pass in the hope of finding better weather higher up but we were not lucky in that respect. Quite a spectacular ride though and the bits we could see were quite something. In all the years I studied Geography it was drummed in to us that rivers cut V shaped valleys while glaciers carve out U shaped ones. I fully appreciate the difference between those now as well having seen them close-up. Man, if only we could have had a field trip like this at O level!

Wednesday 10th:

Wednesday was optional excursion number one - south to Locarno in the Italian part of the country. Again it started dull but when we emerged from the 17km long Gotthard tunnel (longest road tunnel in the world, and longest of any sort until the Channel Tunnel came along) it was in to brilliant sunshine (and a new language on the road signs). Locarno itself was lovely, situated on the shores of Lake Maggiore and with the weather there was a real mediterranean flavour to the place. First up we took the fenicular up to the church of the Madonna del Sasso (on the rock) which was rather impressive. One of those places perched on a hillside that you wonder how people would be able to build on now, never mind a couple or more hundred years ago. A real feat of engineering skill. Much to the annoyance of our knees (which are still complaining) we walked back down rather than taking the train. A very steep cobbled path (must be lethal in winter) marked every fifty metres or so with a shrine for one of the fourteen stations fo the cross. Going up obviously being part of the pennance in the past. Still, worth it for the views over the lake on the way.

Then we had a nice afternoon wandering around, lunch (real Italian pizza!) and a sit by the lake. Then it was the journey back - this time over the top of the Gotthard pass. In itself the road is just as remarkable a feat as the tunnel - bridges over immense gaps, bends built out from the hillside and so forth. Unfortunatley it was agin a bit misty at the top, but we did have a stop about ¾ of the way up where we experienced both bright sun and their first snows of the year. It was still a wonderful drive - I just love the views down the valleys lined with precarious roads and railways crossing each other on spindly little bridges. We also passed a few army bases as they are all located up in the mountains (in fact literally in, being largely bunkers and carved out buildings).

Last stop on the way home was at the foot of the lake in Altdorf. There we visited the market square which saw William Tell doing the business with crossbow, apple and son's head. This is commemorated with a large statue, the shape of which is re-created in every tourist shop you see.

Wednesday night was billed as a folklore evening and I was expecting a night of tales of glacier sprites and mountain goat spirits and all that. Instead what we got was three old blokes who between them played accordian, Alpenhorn, trumpet, double bass etc and played tunes with coins spinning in bowls and spoons, danced and twirled flags. They were also hot on audience participation with Joan also blowing the horn and twirling the flag with us both dancing and spoon bashing. A really fun night with enormous amounts of laughter even if it wasn't what we were anticipating. I was very impressed with Joan for getting in to the spirit of things after the way she has been of late (mind you, she would normally be up for it - for me to get up and make an idiot of myself was amazing).

Thursday 11th:

The weather matched the sombre mood of the news when we woke up (rain everywhere, pictures from two years ago on the tv). Spent the morning reading and chatting quietly in the hotel before we went down to the local restaurant for a traditional Swiss lunch. Well, Joan and I managed that anyway with Rosti (and me with a big fat sausage (ooh, Matron)) but the others in our little group had deer and a brace of cold meat platters that would have fed a few dozen more.

In the afternon it cleared enough for our last trip out. Up to just under 2000 meters on the Stanserhorn nearby. Part one of the trip by 110 year old fenicular then cable car the rest of the way (the railway having been partly destroyed by fire in the '70s). A really good ride if a bit pricey considering there was no view most of the time we were up top due to low clouds. Still, we had a nice walk to the summit which proved to us that the air really is thinner up there and allowed us to meet some friendly Marmots. Then it was back down for the final night of Swiss hospitality.

Friday 12th:

Was a long day travelling up to Paris. Just stops along the road with not really much to write home about. The traffic in Paris proved to be as horrendous as I remembered from last time we were there and despite it being nice to pass through Versailles again we were shattered by the time we reached our hotel for the night. The so-called Quality Hotel in Nanterre which I cannot recommend to any but the most desperate. Again a meal with no options was on hand and I was so tired I didn't finish it. Still, we were at least there and no more travelling was required for a few hours.

Saturday 13th:

Breakfast was pathetic and overall we were glad to be free from the hotel and back on the road again. We had a couple of hours in Paris first thing (we just took a walk along the river which was nice and mellow) before heading back to Calais. Another smooth crossing and before we knew it we were back at Thurrock saying goodbye to everyone before being herded on to our coach home. Which ended up stopping at Colchester so we were transferred to a taxi for the final (hair-raising) stretch back to Felixstowe. Overall a very good week.

During the week I read one book - Lucky Wander Boy by D. B. Weiss. This had been sent to me by a US member of the Llamasoft forums in return for some magazines I had posted his way. Interesting. A story of video games, obsessions and some other stuff. A bit more high-brow than what I would normally read but enjoyable just the same. We also listened to the first Harry Potter book as read by Stephen Fry which was a good distraction from the monotonous roads.

And now we are back, and suddenly this week is nearly over as well and I haven't done half the things I wanted to. OK, so instead I have used Jerry's pressure washer to clean years of dirt off the paths in the back garden, and re-painted all the downstairs window frames. But that's not what I was planning! I have also begun re-reading all the Calvin and Hobbes cartoons, which I am enjoying rather a lot - I reckon I need a good laugh stored up before I go back to work. We have also paid a visit to Argos where Joan has sorted out a gentle return to work starting soon, done shopping and general mundane stuff like that. So now I must get this epic entry online and see what's new in Llamaland.

Wow, what a wonderful country Switzerland is. More to follow when I have the time to write it...

Strewth but it is hot in here today. Which is nice, don't get me wrong, as things have been a bit chilly over the last couple of days, but nonetheless I could wish for a bit of temperature consistency... Anyway, here's another "squabble" from the weekend I meant to put in before but forgot.

Neighbours over the road came home from holiday and Steve from next door was parked outside their house. Now, it should be noted that there was still room on their side of the road for them to park up complete with trailer tent and only be perhaps 3 extra metres between the car and front door than if they had been directly outside their own abode. And of course we live in a road that has no parking restrictions whatsoever - no lines, no spaces marked, no permits required or anything of that ilk so anyone is perfectly at liberty under the law to leave their car wherever they like so long as it is done in a safe manner. Me, I would have grinned wryly and walked a bit further with the suitcases - done it often enough in the past with shopping before we got the driveway. If we had a real load of stuff I might have politely asked Steve if he'd mind moving up a bit. What did mr over the road do? Sat in the car hooting the horn for about five minutes before going to hammer on Steve's door. And when he did finally come out he proceeded to shout and swear at him for the whole time he was moving. What a harmonious neighbourhood we occupy. It was so nice and quite while they were away. Oh well, only 1 more day until we make our escape.

Work has been one frantic rush since Monday trying to finalise Park & Ride reports and get everything else in a state I can leave it in while I am gone. I think I am just about there now barring any further emergencies. All that remains is a quick trawl through my in-tray to see if anything is outstanding and tidying the desk so if anyone does need anything they might be able to find it. Then if I canmanage to get away at a reasonable time tonight and tomorrow I will be one happy holidymaker.

All the thinking about the upcoming trip has got my mind full of images from previous holidays I have been on - random snatches like:

Riding on a steam train on the North Norfolk Railway when I was about 7.

Being scared out of my mind on a (very) small rollercoaster in Denmark in 1980.

Hearing the new Police album blaring out of a cabin on a ferry to Holland.

The first realisation that the Dutch eat their chips with mayonaise then trying the same and liking it.

Nearly breaking our necks on the treacherous, rain-soaked cobbles of Clovelley.

Sweltering in the heat in Paris in 1999.

Absolutely loving the enormous rollercoasters in Canada two years ago.

And many more besides. I think when time permits I'll have a reflection or two at length on past excursions so watch this space. Perhaps something for the grim winter evenings that are slowly creeping up on us.

Right, better get back to the desk location project. Not sure if I will have time to post tomorrow so next entry probably when we get back from the alps. Woohoo.

I think "Squabble" is a good word to use for an overview of some of what I am now going to relate...

We did pop up to see Helen during Saturday afternoon (Bhupen & Alexander having come home and gone straight to bed) and it seems that a large part of their holiday saw them witnessing family feuding between Sheila & Stewart and Caroline & Chris as well as much sponging off the former by the latter. Once again I am quite glad that in the end we didn't join them - I got enough of that 2 years ago thank you very much. When I go on holiday I want to relax, not listen to others arguing all the time. And that after they had the delays on the way out, the big Blackout to contend with and, to put the icing on the cake, Helen had to give some medical aid to a fellow passenger on the plane home. Oh well, I'm sure our trip to Switzerland will be fine.

Yesterday we took it pretty easy. Lots of tidying up around the house then a trip to Ma & Pa's to give them their wedding anniversary present. 35 years is the Coral anniversary, but rather then buying them a chunk of the great barrier reef we settled for a grilling machine instead. Well, it was what they wanted.

Also over the weekend we watched both Rush Hour and Rush Hour 2 which were both funny. And it was nice to see the start of the first one, and indeed to see it properly - wehn we watched it before it was at Helen & Bhupen's not long after they had got their widescreen tv and thus we got to see the normal aspect picture stretched out making everyone look short and fat. One of my pet hates that is, tv pictures being shown in the wrong ratio but there isn't much you can do to tell people they are seeing things the wrong way. At least more and more stuff is being transmitted in widescreen now so the chances of having to sit through something looking dire are becoming fewer and far between.

Finished the Brunel book yesterday - as I said already, fascinating stuff. There is a prog about his Great Eastern on the BBC this week which should be worth a look. I will have to get something on the Stephensons now to add to the railway buildser knowledge I seem to be accumulating. Not started anything else yet - I am just going to catch up on a bunch of articles I have lying about then embark on a new book as part of the holiday.

Today got off to a bang with a meeting about how we could do some quick & dirty marketing and publicity to try and get more passengers in the short term. Except the first 45 minutes or so degenerated in to one big argument between Sonic and Peter the Marketing manager (down to what the meeting should have been about, never mind anything else). Quite fun to watch if a bit uncomfortable in places. Not the sort of example you expect managers to be setting really. Calmed down in the end when I made a useful suggestion and we got moving from then on. That was followed by a meeting with a firm who should be able to do some distribution for us (if the money can be found) which will help me with my targets if nothing else.

Oh well, now the afternoon is almost over so I think it is time for me to go home. 4 days to go...

Woohoo, one week from now and we will be on our way. I am so looking forward to this holiday it is just not real. Must get up in the loft for the suitcases later today. And of course Helen and Bhupen and Alexander are back today from their Canadian/American trip so I expect we will be seeing them later for loads of catching up.

Yesterday went OK at work - I managed more of what Sonic wanted and unlike most of the rest of the team don't seem to have had an argument with him over anything yet, then a good meal out at the White Horse to round the day off. Tasty as ever. Good to see Grandma again too. Hopefully they are having a safe trip to take her home again as I write. One thing for sure, they probably won't meet too many caravans on the road (there are over 4,000 at the Showground it would seem).

Today I have done another mercy run with keys to Argos! Jacqui from Ipswich (ex Newmarket) is covering today but dippy Marion had managed to not leave her a key for the office. Luckily that was one of Joan's we've not passed on to someone else while she has been off so I was able to save the day again. Then had to disappoint the incoming staff who seeing me expected Joan to be back at work. So as I was out I got us a decadent McBreakfast and now we are off shopping befre visitations start.

Of course what I didn't mention in the waffle about American Beauty was how good the music was. Both the songs chosen for inclusion and the original score (which is being used either on radio or tv a lot at the moment but I can't think what for). Really good stuff and added a whole extra dimension to the experience.

So, yesterday we had an unexpected office bonus as Sonic was on a flexi day but hadn't told us. Always nice to not have him breathing down our necks - I know I got more stuff done than I would have done otherwise. Then in the evening we watched the third Austin Powers film Goldmember. Just as funny as the first two, although the series seems to be moving away from plots and more in to the realm of linked parody sketches of the Bond films. And there are some serious product placement issues that could use sorting out a bit if they decide to make a third.

Today I have been out and about delivering again. I think I have finally got to all the places that should have been delivered to for this edition (about a week before I start proper work on the next one...) and found a few more new ones too. Not as many today as before though. However, I was in the Haverhill area and I am hoping to get a load of pubs round there to take books through an arrangement I am working on with Greene King. I just wish the other two brewer/pub chain people I've written to would respond. I'll give them until we get the next edition then just start going to their pubs without help otherwise. All of which has left me pretty tired tonight. Joan is out getting aromatherapised so I am just going to relax with my book until she calls for her ride home.

Thoroughly enjoying the Brunel book as it is taking a different perspective on his life. Rather than being a straight biography it tackles different topics he worked on (rail, ships, bridges etc) and then does a bit of analysis and commentary on how they fitted in with the spirit of the age etc. Which is a period I have been interested in for a while, depsite having studied it at A level history. And unlike the rest of my class when we were asked to give a biographical presentation on a leading figure from the period we were covering I chose Thomas Telford, man behind many roads and canals, rather than a politician which gained me a few points for originality as well as being more interesting.

The roads today have been swarming with Caravans. The Caravan Club is holding a festival of lanterns (!) at the Suffolk Showground this weekend and people must be coming from all over - there are thousands of little cream sheds on wheels visible from the road. To my mind there are two types of caravaners - those who use it as a cheap way of sleeping somewhere they have control over on holiday, a base to visit new places. And those who are in it for the caravans themselves. I think it is mainly the latter camped on the edge of Ipswich at the moment. All busy queueing for the showers and swapping tales of chemical toilets and awnings. Not my cup of tea at all. The only caravans I've slept in were a static one in Wales on a geology field trip (static caravans, there's a mystery in itself. Why have a mobile home then never move it?) and the one belonging to Ernie's next door neighbours when we all went up for a funeral a couple of years ago and thus made too many to all fit in the house. Neiher of those experiences has made me want to repeat the situation.

Well, the new computer seems to be working pretty much OK. Now I've delved in to the settings, resurrected some bits I cunningly copied across to the network, re-installed all the extra fonts I need to actually do my job and so forth. OK, so I can still only print from Windows to one of the numerous printers I am supposed to be able to access (and yet they have got the DOS printing side of things right without being prompted) but otherwise all seems reasonable - they even managed to keep my Zip drive working. Plus the new keyboard is very nice to use, the mouse is optical and rather swish (and again they managed to provide one with a wheel rather than me having to dig out my old one) and the monitor is a very tasty large flatscreen one. Which I wouldn't mind at home quite frankly. All in all it has made coming back here after four days away almost tolerable. That and the choccy biccies Gary provided after his day trip to France on Saturday and the cream scone related to Danny's birthday a couple of weeks ago (luckily he bought the cakes today - they haven't been hanging around since the actual date...).

Of course it turns out that we have also lost access to one or two programs (including our main public transport database) as they aren't Windows 2000 compatible. Reckon someone screwed up there, but not my problem.

Finished off the weekend last night by watching American Beauty. A very good film. Not 100% sure if I grasped all of it but I did enjoy the majority which I understood. I can certainly see how it ended up winning shedloads of Oscars and BAFTAs and other awards. The I had one of those nights of fragmented dreams (installing a stair lift at Ma & Pa's house, going to a party dressed as one of the girls from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, shopping and other bits) that just leaves you feeling totally flummoxed in the morning.

And another bank holiday weekend flows quickly by. Still not managed to find the time to see what's going on in llamasoft land but have washed the car, watched the end of a crime drama we started on Saturday and read a book. Simpsons Comics Royale - top classy stuff! Have now moved on to another Brunel biography, this time by Angus Buchanan in advance of a programme on tv in a couple of weeks about his Great Eastern. Oh well, Mum and Grandma coming along now so best stop.

Hmm, so after posting that lot Mitchell came round on one of his regular "you've written some good letters taking the initiativem well done" visits, which was nice. But there is no extra money to be had for writing a good letter so I was still looking in the jobs pages Wednesday night! And indeed phoning up for another one with the police - assistant facilities co-ordinator. The form has now arrived and I'm not sure if I will stand a chance of getting an interview, but it might be worth a shot. Currently have the one application in process at Ipswich Borough Council so hoping to hear from them about an interview this week. I know I have pretty much everything they were looking for on that one...

Thursday was one of those days where you think you've acheived nothing despite working your socks off all day. I'm sure when I go back on Tuesday and take a look there will be lots of things I can list as having doen, just can't recall them now. I did get another well done - this time off Sonic for a report I'd written which he liked but Ian and Mitchell want radically changed before it goes to members. Oh well. Then just as I was leaving my new PC turned up. Hopefully it will work by the time I get to it on Tuesday.

Friday I had a course on Microsoft Project. It was taught by the same woman who did our project management course earlier in the year so at least she knew what we knew about projects to start with. Quite interesting and I think I will make use of the software once we get it installed. It was held at one of our more interesting buildings - Belstead House on the edge of Ipswich. An old rambling property, with lots of different rooms tucked away in corners, nice grounds and a resident cat. Pity the food was a bit naff though - just a boring buffet. Last time I was there it was proper cooked meals. But, it was better than being in the office with people wanting stuff done and the phone and stuff. Made a nice introduction to the long weekend.

So, yesterday Joan and I went out for another lunch in the country. This time up the coast to Dunwich where we had a nice picnic in the shadow of the old priory and then got rained on. Not quite sure why the priory ended up in ruins as none of the info boards said, but most of the town is actually under the waves now having been swallowed up gradually since the 13th century. Would probably make a very interesting Dive in some parts I imagine. We then wound our way back through the rather pretty villages and towns down the coast (Aldeburgh, Leiston, Snape, Eyke etc) before both feeling zonked and having a couple of hours sleep to finish off the afternoon.

Today I have shopped while Joan takes it easy, and later we are off to Ma & Pa's for tea as Grandma is up for the week. We have also watched The Patriot with Mel Gibson which was rather good and entertaining (although no doubt historically dubious).

Finished the Engineering book and was once again staggered by thescope of some of the projects covered. Amazing vision thos people had. Now reading London Trolleybus Chronology 1931 to 1962 by Mick Webber which isn't as sad and anorak-y as it sounds! Well, maybe a bit. But despite them stopping in London 9 years before I was born I've always liked Trolleybuses and some of the pics are fascinating for their recording other aspects of the times as well as just the vehicles - the shop fronts, adverts, clothes, cars and things are all interesting to me.

Busy, busy as always.

Friday I managed to stay in the office all day rather than having meetings and stuff so was able to write up the ATCO minutes and do a bit more target preparatory work. Then it was the weekend (hoorah) and I went home early. (Well, I am now over 20 hours up on Flexi time, and we are only supposed to go to a maximum of 16). Friday Night we watched Josie And The Pussycats which was actually quite funny. A very good send up on the ideas of product placement (which did of course enable loads of that within the film) and some good music. Plus Alan Cumming is always reliable as a bad guy.

Saturday we went down to Colchester and got the stitches out then stopped at Flatford on the way up for a nice picnic lunch by the river. Not been there properly before (i.e. Joan had never been and I'd merely delivered books to the tourist information centre!) so that was very interesting to see the real places made famous in the works of one John Constable. I like a nice old building to start with, and I can certainly see how plenty of artists have been inspired by the location. We then took a leisurely drive home through some pretty bits of south Suffolk before doing a nice load of shopping at Tesco.

Sunday was a lazy day mainly spent sitting around with book(s) in hand. Joan did go out to the Felixstowe Fuschia show in the afternoon (and won a nice hanging basket in the raffle) while I popped in to Argos for some shopping we needed. Then watched Shallow Hal which was also gently amusing (but I can't see the appeal of Gwyneth Paltrow).

Monday back to work with a bang and a meeting with the supplier for stop announcement kit on the new Park & Ride buses. They will be shouting out the names of stops as they go past them which could be interesting. We are thinking of having a competition to find the "Voice of Park & Ride". The meeting then involved us walking round town with the guy taking GPS readings at all the stops and then driving up to the site to capture that one. Very hot and sticky by the time we got back here. Still, better than sitting at the desk I suppose (plus we did learn that Ipswich Buses are having trouble with people smashing their buses up overnight at the weekends - and that the security guards have been joining in rather than trying to stop them). In the afternoon I gave my small group New Routes presentation which went quite well with plenty of feedback which we will hopefully be able to act on. Plus we also got the news that Chris Evans is leaving us to go and be an ambulance driver for the special care baby unit at Addenbrookes hospital in Cambridge. Good luck to him, no doubt there will be other movements in the coming months of things don't change!

Yesterday was more New Routes in a meeting with the people looking after the Libraries equivalent which was quite informative, although I'm not sure how much we will really be able to share with them. Then another 1 to 1 with Sonic where he seemed pretty pleased with how I'm doing. And today I have been at Martlesham P&R this morning for the second operations group meeting.

SO, in that time also plenty of reading been done. First of I finished Park And Ride and have to say it was very interesting, even if P&R as such wasn't mentioned! I'm obviously just at the right age and from the right background to relate to what Mirandaw Sawyer was going on about. Although I do wonder if the cultural references will make sense if I go back to re-read the book in 10 years or so. Watch this space!

Followed that with The Great Escape by Paul Brickhill. The original true tale on which the film was based, as written by someone who was there. Read this many times over the years as Ma & PA have a copy, but this time I bought my own as it was cheap! OK, so it was missing the photos from the edition I'm used to, but did have a preface and introduction that were new to me so win some, lose some. Still an absolutely staggering tale of courage and acheivement under terrible circumstances. And no idea of how/if I would manage in such a situation.

Then I had a quick (and I do mean quick as I started it with breakfast yesterday and finished before bedtime) fiction interlude with the next Eric Thompson Magic Roundabout book - The Adventures of Ermintrude. Funny.

Have now started Civil Engineering 1839-1889: A Photographic History by Mike Chrimes which looks fascinating and has loads of pictures of bridges and things which I do like. All the more interesting now I've picked up a bit of civil knowledge through buildong the P&R sites - although not enough to provoke a career change!

Well, I'm glad I went withmy instincts and picked the book up yesterday morning as no sooner had I reached the A14 than my phone rang - Dawn not feeling well enough to come with me. She did manage to make it to work though. Grrrr. Still, her loss as I had a pretty good day all told.

Trains there ran perfectly to time - not been out of Victoria before either so that was a nice trip for me. And it turned out the girl who had sat opposite me for the whole hour and a bit of the trip was heading to the same meeting (but she didn't say anything until after we got there when the best she could manage was "I thought you would probably be coming here because of your bookmark" - I have a picture of a bus. How sad am I?). Some serious money been spent by the Bus Company and council down in Brighton & Hove with a pretty modern fleet running all over (inclusing some brand new Scanias that I was very impressed with) and loads of Real Time information on the streets plus a swishy control centre. Plus it was good to meet up with the colleagues from other counties I've not seen for about a year now due to being ill or at the bloody dentist during the last couple of meetings. Brighton itself, however, seemed pretty run down in places and a lot drabber than I remembered from my only previous visit about 10 years ago. Now all I have to do si write the minutes up and circulate them.

Journey back was also pretty punctual, if very hot for the London - Ipswich part. And here's a co-incidence or two for you: Finished the Ransome book somewhere between Chelmsford and Colchester on the way back. (Very enjoyable, and almost has me wanting to get back on a boat again soon). Thought about it for a while whilst looking out of the window then ruminated over the unread books sitting on the shelves at home waiting for me. Decided that the next book would be Park And Ride - Adventures in Suburbia by Miranda Sawyer. Not actually about P&R at all but a good look at what makes those places the way they are (and also fitting neatly in to the right age-frame for me at the moment). Then we left Colchester, I picked up the Evening Standard left behind by a fellow passenger and opened it to... a guest column by Miranda Sawyer talking about Suburbia. Now, the book was published in 1999 so it is not as if she was trying to promote it all of a sudden. Needless to say the article will be cut out and popped in the back of the book for next time I read it! Bizarre twist of fate there. Especially with a feature on Brighton a few pages later.

Finally got back to Ipswich at 7 (after catching the 0711 out in the morning) in time to meet hordes of football fans around the station heading for Portman Road. Glad to avoid them it must be said (Ipswich won 1-0 in the end apparantly).

Today I have been out of the office again - delivevring books (again) this time in the West of the county. Got to everywhere I wanted to that was already on the list and also found some more new outlets. Hurrah.

Joan has been signed off for another month. She turned up for her appointment to be told she had missed it through some cock-up with them writing the wrong time on the card. When she did finally get to see him she said she now had a splitting headache from the confusion, which was enough for him to say "well, you aren't going back to work then". So now she will be off until at least a week after we get back from Switzerland. Hope the weather holds for her!

Right, must go home now or I will get in trouble for building up too many flexi-hours.

Teeth and Travel

Oh how embarrassing - the inner gunge fell out of my mouth this morning just while I was in conversation with Dawn and Ian and Ray about our New Routes stuff. To make matters worse there is a really tight bit of thread exposed now - stretching across the gum which my tongue keeps wandering on to. And the whole jaw is still aching in a most unpleasant fashion. Still, only a few more days until they come out so I guess I will be OK.

Off to Brighton (& Hove) tomorrow for an ATCO publicity meeting. First one I've managed to get to since last year so hopefully all will go smoothly with the trains and so forth. Mind you it has been a scorcher again today so the chances are high for melting rails and sagging power cables to put a damper on things. Dawn is coming too though so at least we will be able to suffer together through any problems (and I will put up with the extra weight to take my book I think!).

Forgot to mention yesterday - after arriving at Gatwick at 1.30 pm for a 4.30 flight on Sunday Helen and co were told their tickets had been printed wrong and they weren't flying until 5.30 - and then other delays kept them on the ground until 8. Not the best way to start a holiday so I hope it doesn't prove to be an omen for us. Certainly there are no rumours of the French going on strike at the moment. Fingers are crossed.

Now that weekend was what we in the trade call a scorcher (I did study Climate during my degree thus allowing me to call myself "the trade"!). OK, so Friady I was at work and not too sweltering. Which was good as the mouth was still quite painful meaning I did the bare minimum needed to get through the day before heading home.

Saturday was carnival day in Felixstowe. We popped in to town for a spot of shopping first thing then walked up again in the afternoon to see the parade. Joan's first as she's always been working in previous years. Once again there were some pretty good floats mixed in with the regular "good effort" ones and the obligatory majorettes. A phenomenon I still can't get to grips with. I can't recall any of the girls I went to school with having been involved with them (unless they managed to keep it very quiet). I still find them slightly sinister though. And it was exceedingly hot where we were stood - but then it was hot everywhere.

In the evening Helen, Bhupen and Alexander came along for a farewell and happy holidays tea. All good fun had by all, and Joan once more proved herself a whizz at rustling things up out of nothing.

Yesterday was hotter still. After a lazy start we went down to the sea front for some chips for lunch. Timed nicely to co-incide with a demonstration by the air-sea rescue team (what a big chopper!) and then a display by a Jaguar Fighter from RAF Coltishall up the road in Norfolk. Very good, and I do like my noisy jet fighters I have to confess. There was also some mild disturbance behind us at one point - it seems that there were a couple of men enjoying each other's company a bit too much in the bushes in the gardens and some daytrippers stumbled in to them. Glad it wasn't us. After an hour or so we had to head home due to being just too hot - there was a major haze on but the sun was still baking.

After cooling off we spent the evening watching Three Kings which was a good film. I won't say I enjoyed it, as the subject matter was a bit close to the knuckle - especially now George Junior has repeated his Daddy's work in Iraq. But it was enjoyable, if you catch the difference. Very well made and yet another film I look forward to the commentary on.

Now finished the Julian May expedition with the last page of Magnificat again this morning. Very enjoyable all over even if the end did seem a little rushed - OK so the gist of it is told as history in the Exile books, but it would have been nice to have a little more detail in the "contemporary" tale. There is also the 6 million year gap between the two series that I'd love to see filled in at some point. I now really must get her Rampart World's series under my belt. I have now finally gone back to non-fiction with Nancy Blackett - Under Sail with Arthur Ransome by Roger Wardale which, as the title suggests, is all about Ransome's real life boats. Again, I have read it before but after the last Ransome book felt the urge to re-read this one before anything new went under the eyes.

Woken up by a cracking thunder storm today which was nice - at least it made the drive in to work coole (and the rain and thunder started again just as I got there which made the walk up from the car park interesting). Of course the heat was back by lunchtime and the car was stifling on the way home again. Plus Gary & Charles back from Switzerland today full of life so I am looking forward to our trip there even more.

Hey ho, another long gap between entries. Looks like this will be the way of things for the time being. If nothing else, I am finally able to say I am busy enough at work to not have the time there to meander on anyway. Almost too busy in fact - to the point that when I got another two reports dumped on me to write on Tuesday I was in a fine state come the evening and ready to tell Sonic where to stick it. Of course yesterday morning we arrived in the car park at the same time and I had to walk in with him - and was only able to ascribe my being unhappy to pre-dental nerves. Because today has seen treatment the third to the lower right, which is throbbing gently as I sit and type this. I could really feel him digging around today and am not sure how he can see what he is doing, what with nurse Zoe waving two suction tubes in and around the area plus retractors holding the lips out of the way. Oh well, ¾ of the way done now although part 4 not now happening until the end of September (which does at least mean not having stitches out a couple of days before we go away).

So, what have I been up to then?

Basically, work and more work. Lots of thinking on targets with a few speculative letters sent and so forth plus designing stuff for Park & Ride and the usual dishing out of books. Last Thursday I did a run up to Lowestoft and then attempted to find new outlets on the way back south to Ipswich again. After getting stuck in traffic for the Lowestoft Air Show (how did I manage to end up there on that day?) and ending up at the wrong Post Office once (Oulton Broad rather than Oulton Village) I was a bit frazzled and frustrated by lunch time. Which only got worse as I drove back south through parish after parish with no suitable outlet to be found - by about 3.30 I was ready to call it a day and give up on any hope of meeting the target on outlets. But then things picked up, I had some good finds and all was well again. Fickle brain of mine going from lows to highs so quickly. I'm not sure how much more of the day out delivering I can sustain though - it is a majorly slow process even if it does seem to work. The being out of the office and feeling free to explore is wonderful, but it leaves me feeling I am doing too much on one target and not enough on the others. We shall just have to see how things develop.

Joan is doing much better now and will probably go back to work when this current certificate runs out. Although I hope she will hang on to the Monday rather than going on the Friday when she will be free to, as these mouth stitches are due to come out on the intervening Saturday and I would like to take her for a nice lunch on the way back from Colchester. Being able to relax in the sun has been a real blessing for her, and I have not felt as bad about having to leave her alone every day as I would if she was stuck in the house.

We have also watched a few more films that all turned out to be better than I was anticipating. Namely 102 Dalmations, America's Sweethearts and Muriel's Wedding. I think I must have go the last one there confused with something else as it wasn't at all what I was expecting, but it turned out fine!

Am still reading my way through Julian May having progressed from the Pliocene Companion through middle-ground Intervention and on the the Galactic Mileu books Jack The Bodiless and now am in to Diamond Mask. Everything up to an including Intervention I had read several times before, but for the Mileu trilogy I have not been back to them since I first got them. Which is serving to make them all the more enjoyable.

They are also books I can remember peripheral things about in the main. Like the Companion I recall buying in Oxford when staying with my old friend Stephen back in the mid-80s and intending to take it on holiday with us the week after I went home from there, but finishing it before we went away. Intervention reminds me very sharply of the wedding of my A-Level geography teacher Bob Barker, which means I must have first read it in November 1988. With Jack I have a very clear image of the book falling out of my backpack in the car park at Argos here in Felixstowe and being rescued by a delivery driver, and while Diamond Mask hasn't brought anything back like that I do remember buying the final book in the series (Magnificat) in Hardback in Ipswich with Joan for less than the price of the paper bound version. Strange thing memory like that.

So of course while I was lying there with what felt like a small military operation going on in my mouth this morning I was thinking about other books and what I associate them with - so here are some examples. I read Sun Tzu's The Art Of War on the train to an interview with Argos in Market Harborough and then on to College friends Carolyn & Keith's wedding in Stafford back in 1994 after reading about it in David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series. The Pern series from Anne MacCaffrey came in to my life from a secondary school suggested reading list which recommended book 3 in the series and thus lead me to track down books 1 and 2 first. Discworld book Interesting Times by Terry Pratchett was one I read on our honeymoon. I am sure there are others which will pop back in to my head when I next read them - so I will endeavour to remember to mention them.

And finally for today can anyone explain this dream? Having to choose between other college friends Cara and Deborah on the basis of how they would go about clearing up a pile of spilt chips in McDonalds. And no, I can't recall what I would have been choosing between them for. Bizarre!

Payday for Joan today, hooray. I'm sure life is supposed to get easier as you get older, but we still seem to be lurching from one payday to the next rather than being on a sound footing which does rather get me down some days. We shall survive as always, but it is getting a bit tedious always having money on the mind. Still, perhaps I will get lucky with a form one of these days.

Ended up blitzing the spare bedroom and study yesterday with much moving of furniture, disposal of rubbish (including one of the old wardrobes) and so forth. So pretty exhausted by the end of the day. But still managed a mundane existence dream - this time I was putting up shelves in Ma & Pa's garage to house an unexpected windfall of CDs. Very odd, and once again surely a sign that I need to get a more exciting life.

Had a meeting at the Station in advance of them closing the tunnel NEXT summer this morning to start the process of sorting where all the coaches and buses will go for the duration and up to Marltesham Park & Ride this afternoon. Hey ho.