Holiday season...

Well, summer's here!
AJ has been having his driving lessons and (according to him) is doing very well. He hasn't hit anything, hasn't broken the instructor's car and arrives home unscathed!

Work continues apace. Didn't get the secondment, but then again I didn't expect to, being the new boy and all that. We have two new members in the team, both 'seniors' as they know more than I do. So I shall have to make sure they work harder than I do, too! We are another member short as Sarah has gone onto maternity leave. That'll teach her!

David left for greener grass at Hewlett-Packard - I did a small caricature for a leaving gift for him, it was well received by all at the office - and boosted my Brownie points.

I'm spending a bit more time at the 'other' office at the present, due to the tasks I have to complete, probably only temporary. I hope so - they are a bit tight with the tea.

The union branch office has a vacancy for a news letter officer which I quite fancy a go at, so I spoke to the ex-officer who has been seconded elsewhere. I am expected to attend the next branch meeting to discuss with them the next step. I shall weigh up the pros and cons, but it doesn't seem too arduous with 4-6 issues a year. Should have a response by the end of September.

We've been away in the camper a couple of times - but you'll have to read about them elsewhere - see you there shortly...

... and another thing

Young AJ has booked himself a driving lesson - stay off the roads on Wednesday!

Slogging away!

Now, how long has it been? Three and a half months, actually! I'm almost an expert!
Our team has grown so we had to swap offices with the installers. Now we have the larger office but they get the air-con. Luckily the weather has been unseasonably wet and cool (understatement!) so we haven't need it. I feel part of the team and I have settled in well. As in any work situation things are constantly changing and three colleagues have either left or will be very soon - hope it's not something I've said! Two new ones are joining next month to keep the place stocked with us geeks!

We had a team building day, recently, and part of the day was lunch at an extremely posh restaurant in Winchester. It was one of those places where appearance is more important than quantity. Quality was, of course not in question, at all! Having a friend on 'the inside' meant we got the whole lot for £10 each - bargain! We're working on him for a Christmas lunch with the same rules, but I'm not sure we'll get the wine thrown in next time.

I know I haven't been there long, but the opportunity for a secondment has occurred. I have thrown my hat in as it sounds really interesting. It's only for six months and if I'm lucky enough to get it I will learn so much about the rest of the unit, and it should help my 'professional development'.

Julie is still looking for that 'special' job. She came close with her last application and her feed back was that she was, "... strongly recommended to re-apply when the next round is advertised." So, although not the success she was hoping for, it was a positive response.

I'll let you know how things develop, very soon ...

Another new job!

So, continuing from the last post, not The Last Post, the previous post, I completed an on-line, e-lectronic, virtual application form and sent it off. In effect, clicked the 'send' button, and waited.

March; Much to my surprise I was invited to interview and was successful! So it was time to start the tidying up of the desk and files at school, put all my belongings in a red spotted hanky, tie it to a stick and set off on my travels, again.

Unfortunately for Julie things at her place of employment had taken a turn for the worse. She is a very outgoing and 'bouncy' person. She does not suffer fools gladly, although she married me and stuck with it for 21 years! A group of work colleagues, whose names I will not mention, yet, decided to make a formal complaint and have made things very uncomfortable. The situation has now run its course, two of the women have left the department (hit and run comes to mind) and the dust is settling.

April; During the Easter beak I handed over my job to a temp who is to cover while a replacement is found. I snuck out quietly this time - last time I left they made a big fuss, all very nice, but embarrassing to do it twice in two years!

I've been in the new post for a fortnight and I am settling in well with my new colleagues. The learning curve, though, is vertical! There is so much I don't know, but I am booked in for loads of training to get me up to speed. Poor old synapses! My official title is ICT Support and Development Officer - oooooh!

To infinity and beyond ... !
(Thanks, Buzz!)

The Journey Resumes ...

Hello again!

Well, it's been half a year without a post - I s'pose I'd better catch up.
December; well that's when everyone does the Christmas thing. We did, and survived, nothing much to report. Oh, new year happened, too.

January; back to work.

February; we took 'Serena' for a spin. Off we went to Bristol for a short break. Weather was reasonable for the time of year and the camp site was conveniently placed for visits into the city centre. Our pitch overlooked the docklands development and the river taxi/bus stopped right alongside. Of course, no visit to Bristol would be complete without a trip to Ikea! Well, actually it would.

Back at school a vacancy has occurred for an ICT Manager. This has put the cat amongst the pigeons as the person who is/was doing that role has been sort of sideways shifted and the new post plonked above him. He's not a happy soldier! Anyway, being the loyal sort of friend that I am, I applied for the post. Well, I thought that if he was going to have a new leader it might as well be me. He applied for the job, too.

In the fashion of previous staff development at the school, neither of us got the job. It was given to some uninspiring techy from another school. I was unconcerned but poor old Steve was well miffed!

Around this time the County (my employer) had just completed its Pay and Benefits review. this is where it realigns the existing pay-scales with proposed new ones. All in the interest of efficiency, you know! In reality - saving money. Unfortunately I was one of the, 'your pay is frozen for two years then it'll drop to ...' brigade. My turn to be miffed! Nothing for it - will have to get a better paid job. So I sent off an application form for a job that I had had my eye on for a couple of years, but never completed the application process.

Pauses for breath ...