working on it

lolabobs — Wed, 09 Nov 2016 21:45:02 GMT

Well then my lovely American chums - I can't begin to imagine how you're feeling right now. I was stunned to see the result. Shouldn't have been so surprised I suppose, shouldn't have had such faith. It is terrifying from where I sit, so truly can't imagine the view from there. You have my hugs and love and sympathies.

lolabobs — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 20:17:38 GMT

And now it's October - and that only just and it's been so long.

Hello.

I won't try and summarise months of a terribly dull life.Well, I will, but very briefly. So. Work continue sto be shit and unbearable and people have left - some for babies, some for relocation purposes, and more are going - babies and relocation and it is horrible and we are all on a minimum of 150% workload and it is undoable and awful and yuk.

Perhaps related, I failed badly at not being on antidepressant medication and have been represcribed and am starting the road upwards again. Happy pills, happy days. Something.

But I have a new kitty. She is beautiful and playful and sooooo snuggly and. Her mother walked into my mother's house and had babies. So we had the joyfulness of 6 kittens for a while. (Mixed with the strife of 6 kittens, rehoming ~~six~~ five kittens and the mother, and my mother bemoaning the trauma everyday, despite the fact it's her house the cats come into and she who feeds all the strays in the neighbourhood and .... anyway. There were six beautiful bundles but only one little girl and she's now mine. She's called Delilah and is bouncy and brilliant. Bruce hates her, but Bernie and Rufus think she's fine. Bruce hates everybody though, except me.

lolabobs — Sun, 12 Jun 2016 20:31:28 GMT

Hello.

Here are some things that are happening/have happened/might happen.

Work -
6 years ago 'they' promised us they would *definitely not* close our GY office.
5 years ago 'they' closed our GY office. I'm used to this. It's okay.
We were a National Service, but 'they' changed this and made us into individual Trusts.
3 years ago 'they' decided to privatise half the service and make the rest into a National Service.
I am in the National Service. The Private sector (how can you ethically create businesses to make money from crime?) see fewer and fewer people and do less and less with them.
The National Service is now creating a new working model.
They want us to have a 'mobile' workforce. So they are going to move people to switch roles. The longer someone has been in a role the higher up the "switch" list they move. So for example, I have worked with Sex Offenders since I qualified, I am the most experienced in my team, it's a job that (impossible targets aside) I do very well - I am now near the top of the list to be shunted to work in another role - maybe with young offenders or in a prison. This will involve me doing a role I very much do not want to do, have no knowledge, experience or ability in and in a location I don't want to be in. In order to find me such a role, the person in the prison/YOT will be moved to work in the community with Sex Offenders...
The uncertainty is horrible.
Oh - and our lease on our office building runs out soon, so we need a new location. Top on the list at the moment is the GY office....

Oh and to add insult to injury, I work in a seaside town and we have seagulls nesting on our roof. We have been watching the nest get built and the mother sitting, tending to her eggs for the last three weeks. Awaiting the hatching and the babies. 'They' announced on Friday that Rentokill were coming this weekend to "get rid" of the nest. I HATE it. I'm so sad - I'm just hoping that rentokill failed to turn up as most of our contracters do. :(

I'm so behind on absolutely everything. I've got the entire season of SPN to watch, and at least 50% of H50. I fancied the look of Outcast, Want to watch Wentworth, wondered if The Night Manager was worth viewing and countless other things I can't remember I'm sure. I did watch The Danish Girl and found it very - I get swept up in movies, so don't always see the faults others do. I somehow managed to miss any spoilers about the outcome, so was taken aback at the ending and saddened. I was amazed at how ethereal and beautiful Eddie Redmayne was, and was smitten with Alicia Vikander. I did like it, but in quiet moments I can't help reflecting that I know no female that postures and gesticulates femininity in the same way!

What else? I continue to watch my food and attempt to exercise in increasing amounts. For most of my adult life when I have dreamed of flying it isn't with wings flapping, or swimming through the air - but of running on air. I wish I could run in real life, but apart from an increasingly dodgy Achilles and an innate clumsiness that makes the thought terrifying, I think I'd get odd looks running with a boob in each hand, the way I do when I 'jog' on the spot at home. I have lost a total of 5 stone now and have to be careful not to obsess. Although I do so quietly, as opposed to my work colleague who *every time* she sees me (ie at least twice a week) asks me how much I've lost and am I wearing "normal clothes" yet. She means nothing by it, but still!

Erm, anything else? I'm having some problems with emotions at the moment - Doc advised me to stop anti depressants, so I've done so, but am not doing brilliantly on it. Not sure how long the adjustments is supposed to last, or whether I should go back on them. I'm crying over utterly random things (a plant dying, spilled drinks), moderately saddening things (movie, the seagull, my hair) and truly awful things (shooting in Orlando par example), as well as a generally increased level of anxiety (if Paula and I do a vintage sale in August I will have to speak with people...I can't do that...) It's all rather tiring.

But I can still see!

I can see!

lolabobs — Mon, 30 May 2016 16:06:12 GMT

I can see :)

It's been an interesting week, but my eyes are settled now and I can see.

The day itself was okay - my friend drove me to Norwich (about an hour away) for the op, and we did lunch etc beforehand, then she went shopping and I went to be lasered. I was there about 2.5 hours all told, but there was a lot of sitting around waiting. I had my eyes checked over again, handed in my doctor's note and had a 5 minute conversation (well, a listen really) with the surgeon. Then waited...

I stayed calm and serene all the way through, until I was laying on the bed and then I panicced internally a little and really wanted to hold someone's hand.

When it was my turn... I was ushered in to the theatre and laid down upon a bed, they jiggled my head about a bit till it was in the right position, then my eyes and brows were swabbed. While I was waiting I could hear everything that was being said to the people having their op done - I must have had some weird stress deafness though, 'cos when it was my turn I really struggled to hear anything they said to me.

They clamped something into my eye (it applied some form of suction to hold things tight) I couldn't feel suction, but it was like someone was pressing on my eye. This lasted 15 seconds per eye. At this point I lost vision and all I could see was a tiny flickering light. The laser thing happened. I could see flashing and I felt what seemed like tiny drops of water - this lasted 30 seconds per eye.

That was it. They had me sit up. Then had me lay down again quite quickly when I nearly passed out (!) I did breathing exercises for a bit, then was taken through to have my eyes looked at - literally a quick scan with hand held lens. I was told to call my friend for a lift, given a bag with some eye drops and and sent on my way.

At the time I was surprised, thinking there woul dhave been a greater "lay back and relax and get over things" scenario going on, but in hindsight, I think they thrive on people walking out of the doors, under their own steam, smiling and "phew, that was better than I thought"ing. Which is what I did.

10 minutes later however, ie before I'd even got to the carpark, my eyes were fused shut and I was blind and in agony. I literally could only open my eyes by prising the lids apart with my fingers. The journey home was horrendous - not least because my friend announced she'd "never driven this way before" and kept asking me for directions. When I explained that I. Could. Not. See. She tried to help me out with landmarks like "there are lots of trees" and comments such as "aren't the fields pretty" (!) - I gave her directions through my home town by memory and felt my way to my Mum's front door. I needed pampering!

I stayed at Mum's that night - I went to bed as soon as I got in for a few hours, then ate, then went
back to bed - I couldn't open my eyes for over 6 hours (trying to put in eye drops was fun!).

Next day though, I could see. Not perfectly and my eyes stung and felt gritty - but I could see. I had another visit to the surgery and was declared "better than 20/20 vision" and fit to drive (This eye exam took 10 minutes, including getting in, going up to the third floor and waiting to be seen.)

I've needed eye drops for the week (expected) and have had to get used to
a) pushing non existent glasses up my nose
b) trying to take off non existent glasses to see close up
c) having to don reading glasses to see close up
d) searching for glasses when I wake up before remembering I don't wear them anymore.

I think I'm getting there now though :)

My op is tomorrow!

lolabobs — Tue, 17 May 2016 21:10:12 GMT

I was going to type "eep" - but the nerves haven't really kicked in yet. Most of my time has been spent trying to get my doctor to sign the letter that I need before they'll do the op. The letter was a pre printed thing that had two tick boxes either to say: patient medical conditions are stable or patient medical conditions are unstable.
One tick is all he needed to do and my doctor refused to do it. Instead, he printed out a list of my medications, involving effort worthy copy/paste and resizing before signing that but refusing to sign the form itself. I've had to get the thing he printed scanned, then sent to the surgeon to see if he'd accept it. He said no. So then I had to get it emailed to work, printed, faxed to the surgery with a covering letter basically begging him to sign it. (I've been in Hampshire, so couldn't take it in person.) I went yesterday to collect it and he *still* hadn't done it, so I had to beg the receptionist once again. He finally signed it this afternoon! I haven't had time to be nervous!

Ask me tomorrow morning and it may be another matter...

Hampshire was nice - family visit and relaxation. We went to The Spinnaker tower and I stood on the glass floor.

That was fun.

I nearly had my eyebrows waxed, but chickened out at the last minute (not for pain, just didn't feel comfortable going into the salon) so I bought some DIY strips and then nearly blinded myself trying to get excess wax off my eyelids...

oh! And in the picture above you can see - I bought jeans!!!! So excited by this it's ridiculous!

lolabobs — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 22:01:59 GMT

And that's January done. Not quite sure how time is passing so ridiculously quickly. Work, work has been continuing with its joyfulness, but at least it continues.

I've managed to meet my "book a week" target Thief of Time, Hogfather, The Last Continent, Interesting Times, Reaper Man, The Amazing Maurice..., Snuff, Dodger - all in a Pratchett reread fest, and Goodnight Mr Tom (in a "Wah, I'm stressed and it makes me happy"fest)

I've watched hardly any television - Hawaii Five-O, Sherlock, erm, a couple of Big Bang Theories and that's about it.

Erm. I have spent more time with friends, which is good, I've been pub quizzing a couple of times and am trying to be a little more sociable. (not trying very hard if I'm honest.)

Hey Ho.

Well, that was a week.

lolabobs — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 21:12:39 GMT

First week back at work after a holiday - work sucked big time. I've had so many meetings and been away from my desk for more than 50% of my working week, had to go in on my non working day to be talked to by some Cambridgeshire Police officer and colleagues like I was an inept little girl who had no right to impose on their air. I'm already behind on a hundred and one things and it looks like it's gonna get worse for the next few weeks at least.

We had the funeral of a much loved and respected work colleague, which was really tough, plus of course,the loss of Bowie and Alan Rickman. I've had an inner soundtrack of Bowie all week, which is a mixed blessing.

On a more positive note, the chap I went to see in prison on Monday, announced at the end of the visit that he was please to say I "wasn't the old witch he'd been told I was." So that was nice wasn't it...

Now I'm off to buy myself some Doc Martens in the sale.

So yes.

I bought artses.

lolabobs — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 23:24:17 GMT

I bought this print today - after seeing it in a gallery in the summer and talking myself out of it then - but I've saved up and decided to treat myself :)

If this is huge I'll try and remember how to do a cut...

It's by Clare Curtis and I love it. It's called Barbara's Garden and is inspired by Barbara Hepworth's garden.

I wish I could create such beauty, but I'm happy to enjoy the work of others!

:waves:

lolabobs — Mon, 28 Dec 2015 10:50:48 GMT

Hello,

Seasonal Greetings! Some lovely people sent me cards and I do do do appreciate it and loved them and Thank you! Thank You! There are (yet again) written cards sitting on my side, that never quite made it to the post office. I am quite rubbish in many regards.

I hope those who do Christmas had a good one? Mine was incredibly quiet (and utterly unfestive) - I stopped with Mum, who was entirely anti Christmas this year and well, presents were about the only acknowledgement of the day there was - we had breakfast, returned to my house to visit and feed my cats, then went for a drive. We had crackers and cheese for lunch. Presents came at around 3pm and later we had baked pots and chicken for tea. It was - it was a pleasant day in itself, lazy and relaxed. What it wasn't, was *Christmas* and that's left me feeling rather flat and sad.

Conversely, my birthday (the day before) was lovely. I had breakfast with one friend, returned home and promptly went out with another friend for lunch. I got back from that at 4.30, and by 5 was at Mum's meeting with another friend and her family. They left and my brother and sister in law arrived. Whilst they were there friend arrived and she stayed for the rest of the evening. It was non stop loveliness, seeing friends and family and for that I'm mightily grateful.

And now it's Monday and it's a day off from work and it's Sunny and... I'm sitting in in my pjs, with a massive fluffy dressing gown, a hot water and (in a minute) I'm returning to my book. Small pleasures.

x

I have renewed sympathy for the three little pigs.

lolabobs — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 19:08:04 GMT

I have one hair on my chinny chin chin that I *cannot* get with the tweezers, and it's driving me wild.

In other, unrelated "news" (I use the term reservedly):

I completed Fire Marshall training last wek, watched a disturbing and terrifying video of a fire in New York, learned which extinguishers go with which fire and embarrassed myself ridiculously when I misunderstood a question. (You know, one of those faux pas that the trainer then comments on and quotes for the remainder of the session...)
It was still fun though.

I went on another 'training ' event - a Health and Well-being day in London. I left my house at 6.45am and returned at 8.30pm. The event lasted 2.5hours and consisted of: A woman, probably a size 20UK sizing, announcing how even though she was so horribly FAT, she was still a runner and anyone could do anything they set their mind to, and the wilder and more unrealistic the goals the better. A man, who wore a camouflage jacket and glittery trousers performing a "psychodrama" about his life in the forces. A variety of stalls (tables with leaflets on and salesmen) trying to sell us Health care, social club membership, union membership and secure donations to charities. And 30 minutes of yoga.

The yoga was fun (even though it still ended with the lead pointing out that his company's services could be hired), but as relaxing as it was, it wasn't worth the day, my time or the cost to the company of getting me there. There wasn't even tea or coffee!!!!

Erm, yes. It calmed me no end.

Anything else? Probably. I'm behind on all the tv (Except Walking Dead, I'm watching Walking Dead) and I'm rereading Harry Potter, because I need stress free reading and I'm cold, but my hot water bottle and cat are helping to overcome that.

:waves:

When you visit a prison...

lolabobs — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 20:46:00 GMT

There are rules and regulations. Sometimes searches by officers and/or dogs and beepy magic machines.

And there are lists. Lists of forbidden things.

On Monday I went to an oral hearing with a colleague and, as we were checking in, we were directed to "make sure you haven't any of the items listed."

I dutifully scanned it:

Mobile phone
Electronic cigerettes
Electronic storage devices
Skip
Batteries
cash
etc etc

...

Yes, that's right, amongst the list of items one is not allowed to carry in to the prison is a skip

I know.

lolabobs — Sun, 25 Oct 2015 15:32:21 GMT

I know that when my Mum passes, I will miss her desperately. I know that the "steps" to grief will have me all kinds of mixed up and with a big ol' helping of guilt thrown in for good measure.

Which means that on afternoons like today, when I intended to spend a lazy afternoon, popping into the grocery store then meandering out into the country to sit, with my book and maybe my camera and just enjoy the last of the Autumn sunshine. On afternoons like today when I mention, in passing, to mother that I am popping out, purely so she doesn't call an ambulance if I don't answer the phone. (This is not hyperbole, she's gotten a taxi down at 7.30am bef0re now, when I didn't answer her call, 'cos I was in the shower.)

It means that when she asks if she "can come along for the ride" even when I've told her I am diving to Asda for one item only and says "I'll sit in the car", that I have to take her. That I have to take her and go for a drive through the country with her, and stop for lunch and goddamn it, be sociable.

It means that I can't say no, 'cos I'll feel awful and it means I feel guilty now, because I make myself feel guilt in advance for "what if I said No and she died tonight?" That I feel so fed up with not having any space without feeling guilty for it all the time. That I feel guilty for feeling fed up and it's all one manky mess of misery that means I've come home and am sitting here feeling like the worst daughter in the world, and fighting the urge to tell you all just how many times I have already taken her out this week, in case you realise I am as evil as I clearly am.

On afternoons like this, life sucks.

lolabobs — Sun, 11 Oct 2015 20:24:26 GMT

When I was small, I would return from school every lunchtime and climb through the hatch separating our garden from my honorary grandparents' next door. I'd watch the children's programmes with them, then pop home for a ten minute lunch before returning to school. At the end of the school day I'd do exactly the same, going straight to Nanny Vera's and Grandad George's. I'd play, build forts and then, watch the children's programming.

So I know all the presenters of Blue Peter, I can sing the theme tune to Rainbow, and Picture Box and Trumpton, Bod, The Flumps, Fingermouse... (and often do.)

One programme has always eluded me though. I'd go so far as to say it's haunted me. Wispy memories of a moonlit garden, statues coming to life, children and, perversely, a dinosaur. It scared me, I remember that, a giant statue of a slow, ponderous dinosaur coming to life and stalking the garden. Children being trapped within, travelling somehow to somewhere.. just fragments of magic and fear.

Look what I found today!!!

Research tells me I would have been 6/7 when I watched it, which explains the difference between my memories and the seriously bad SFX from 70s BBC. Oh though. I have watched the whole series today (And read the book by E Nesbit too!) and it's the resolve of a quest I didn't really know I was on. There's a small sadness that the reality doesn't match my snatches of memory, but I'm tickled at how my 7 year old self was impacted by the show, the power of the images to stick with me for so (very!) long.

Lola is a happy nostalgia bunny today.

lolabobs — Sun, 04 Oct 2015 12:10:34 GMT

How do people abandon pets? For the last three months or so, Mum has had a stray cat practically living in her house, she was a beautiful little girl. When she'd been there about three weeks, we found a charity that would take her in, but when we took her, it turned out that she had kittens somewhere, as she was in milk, so we took her home again and she carried on spending 90% of her time with Mum, but obviously fed her babies somewhere, 'cos after a while Mum woke up one Saturday morning to find two little black kittens in her kitchen. (!) We got those homed and were on a waiting list for the Momma cat to be given a space. Finally, this week, a very good local charity found room for (the by now pregnant again) little kitten and we took her over on Tuesday.

I was fighting tears the whole way, she's such a beautiful, friendly little girl, but neither Mum nor I could take her in, I'm at work 9 -11 hours a day and can't leave kittens for that long, and Mum simply can't cope with the care and attention required. But oh, I felt so guilty. It felt like a massive betrayal and cruelty, even though I know she is going to a lovely place, with caring people and will be found a home (after spaying) as soon as possible. She wasn't our pet, but it hurt...how can people do it to 'proper' pets - ie my neighbours who moved out and left their two kittens behind? :(

On a more cheerful front.... yesterday I took Mother to http://www.thetallyhotearooms.co.uk/ (I can't remember how to do a happy little link) and we had a nice little cream tea. Butler type serving and lovely stuff. Then afterwards, we took a meandering drive home and stumbled upon Mettingam Castle. I nearly cried again. My Dad and I used to spend Thursdays together and go on jaunts and outings and one day we found this castle - it was at the end of the day and we didn't have time to explore, but planned to return - and we could never find it again! It sounds stupid, but we'd just been taking random turnings through all the country lanes and were never quite sure how we got there - and yesterday, there it was! And although it made me sad, because I couldn't go home and tell Dad where it was, it felt like a present and made me happy and feel loved. I know exactly where it is now, and will go for a proper explore soon, and Dad'll be with me when I do.

lolabobs — Sun, 27 Sep 2015 20:35:09 GMT

My toes are cold.

I'm laying under two cats, so am overheated on my top half.

I burnt my finger yesterday and now it's cold and numb.

I bought some "slobbing around the house" trousers last week, but I have not managed to wear them. It's not that I've not been slobbing, just that it seems they are "too nice" to wear whenever I consider donning them. Apparently they will be for "Best Slobbing Around the house" not just common or everyday slobbage.

lolabobs — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 19:05:04 GMT

Showing off my hair to family today. My brother asks "How many colours did you get?" My nephew responds with "And why can we still see the grey?" - tactful soul he is.

Anyway.

I'm fairly certain that cut won't have worked. It's been a long time!

I've spent the weekend slightly stoned on super strength painkillers, having put my back out somehow. It's slowly on the mend and I have a dvd and a glass of fizzy pop to tide me through the remainder of the evening.

Hello.

lolabobs — Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:39:57 GMT

Hello!

Aw, hello.

I ran away from Lj and got scared to come back, but I did and I've been looking around and it's like stepping into a big warm bath of friendly fandom loveliness.

I can't possibly catch up with what I've missed, and it was the thought of trying to that daunted me for so long, so I'm not going to try. So forgive me if I've missed anything and seem tactless or insensitive. Hello. How is everyone?

I'm sure nothing very exciting has happened to me, since I was last here. Work... well, work is work. We have a new boss who is good at his job but...distant. I have no sense of knowing him or any clue about his personality, but, well, he does the job and that's the best I can hope for.

I went to Reload - an 80s music festival, which was fab. Jimmy Somerville, Marc Almond, Rick Astley, Billy Ocean, UB40, Level 42, Altered Images amongst others. Much fun, plus my first ever experience of Churros!

Erm, I've spent 4 hours at the hair salon today, getting colour put in at an obscene price, but it was nice being pampered and feeling that it was okay to treat myself and take that care of my apearance if that makes sense? (Although, I'm not there with the self-love to not have hated that fact that 3.5 hours of said experience was spent sitting in front of a mirror!) But my hair now has layers of gold and copper and chocolate brown and I love it. (I haven't got a decent photo yet, else I'd share.)

What else? I went on holiday with P, just to the Lakes for 4 days, but it was so nice to be away from everything and to laugh at ridiculous things and screech at each other's driving on deadlysteep passes and drink a glass or 3 of wine. Oh, and almost weep with joy when on the 4th day we found an internet spot!!

Anywho. Hello peoples. Should I watch Hannibal?

where to start...

lolabobs — Sun, 31 May 2015 19:42:45 GMT

First of all, Barney car is no more. :(

The quote for repairs was £3668 (!) and the insurance wouldn't match that, so he was written off. Much sad.

As well as much sad, much hectic searching for a new car - had to be automatic, a high seat for Mum to be able to access it, couldn't be silver (drove my friend to distraction, she kept finding me bargain cars online, but I wouldn't have them 'cos silver! Couldn't be purple either, 'cos that would be a betrayal of Barney, other than that I wasn't fussy!) We were time constrained, because as soon as I got the insurance check, I'd lose the hire car, so it had to be sorted swiftly. Much driving around and sitting in cars followed, including one day we drove for a couple of hours (having checked the car was available before we started) only to get there and find it had been sold an hour earlier!

Anyway - I am now getting to know Teddy. He is a Black Ford Fusion, with 38k miles on the clock, very smart and shiny. He has privacy glass/blacked out windows in the back and my friends say it looks as if I am driving President Obama about. (I tried to get a little Barack Obama noddy head or doll figure to chauffeur, but they are almost impossible to get in the UK (for a reasonable price anyway.)

Insurance remains a battle - not so much the claim, that has gone through smoothly, but trying to get cover for the new car... My existing company have been nothing but trouble, demanding money in ever increasing amounts each time I called. This is still an ongoing war.

Next... did I mention buying a new mattress? I ordered it just before the car it us. It was delivered on Thursday. I was up at 6 as it was due to be delivered from 7am. It arrived at 12 (!) and despite me having taken the measurements of my bedframe to the store and had the man check the size, the mattress was WAY too big. Yet more telephone complaining and I now have to wait in a) one day next month for the mattres sto be removed and b) wait until the 21st JULY for a new one to be delivered. Not impressed.

Hmm.

Still, at least it is being dealt with.

I'll tell you about work in a locked post...

I kept meaning to post.

lolabobs — Sun, 26 Apr 2015 20:30:05 GMT

There's work stuff. developments re Craptastic New Boss. Minor developments, but movement nonetheless.

But the irony when I see my last post, when the thing that prompted me posting today?

Today some... person drove into the back of me when I was waiting at a roundabout. Luckily I drive an automatic, so when I'm not moving, the brakes are on (as opposed to bite point in a manual) - so when the person rammed into me, we didn't go too far onto the actual roundabout and didn't, therefore, get squished.

We pulled to one side and the passenger of the other car leapt out and came to us, to enquire if we were alright ... Mum was a bit freaked out at this point, head in hands and scared... the first thing this chap said is "are you alright? It was my wife's fault." (No shit, Sherlock...)

Anyway, details were exchanged, photos taken and much biting of tongue as I remained civil throughout. At one point, I double checked, "There's going to be quibbling over responsibility is there?" - Chap says, straight away "no, we drove into you, it's our fault." Wife says - "I thought you were going to move, there were no cars coming.", "There were" sez I. "No there weren't..." And Chap intervenes - "We're not going to that, it was our fault, we drove into her." (Driver never even got out of her car, she had a fag in her hand the whole time, including when she hit me.)

Anyway. My poor Barney is very bruised, bent and battered. I'm not sure at this point if he can be salvaged, as, although he is driveable, both the rear bumper is naffed in its entirety AND the boot/rear hatch is bent badly. Poor baby Barney :(

I spent an hour on the phone to the insurance company, who were helpful, but barely intelligible - I think they have a word count per minute in the hundreds, garbled and repetitive. I am promised a call tomorrow from a hire company with a replacement like for like vehicle, and the garage for the assessment.

Later in the afternoon I received a phonecall from the driver. "We didn't take your registration number, we need it for the insurance.... What make and model is it? Thanks." No apology, no civility. I saved her number in my phone as "car fucker."

Thankfully, around an hour later, Chap phoned me, he introduced himself saying "we met in unfortunate circumstances this afternoon", then proceeded to tell me insurance claim had been made, that his insurance company may contact me, that they had accepted FULL responsibility for the accident and he wanted to let me know and call out of courtesy. One of them has a conscience and some manners at least.

What a crock though. Poor Barney. Poor Me! This year is really turning out to be a bit pants.

Pah.

I'll update re work another day.

Barney's back!

lolabobs — Sat, 11 Apr 2015 09:13:54 GMT

My lovely Barney car.

Oh the trauma.

On Wednesday I took him a garage just along the road (on the recommendation of family) and they kept him the whole day and then phoned to tell me, basically, that he was dead. The gear box was faulty, they'd looked online and everyone was complaining about it. If it could be fixed it would be several hundred pound and couldn't be trusted anyway. They wouldn't even try to fix it themselves yada yada yada. (And they charged me £30 for the privilege.)

Oh the angst. Barney is newish, only 30000 miles and a dream of a car. Just right for Mum to get in, right height, comfortable etc. (Also, the only car I've ever named!). I did some research over night, looking at his value and how much I should pay etc, and had reached the conclusion that I would have to get a loan to get a new car...

Still, I decided to try one other garage - drove there at 7am, because I couldn't trust Barney on the roads when there'd be other traffic.

A day later, having heard nothing, I phone for an update.

"Oh yes, he's fixed, you can come get him." (well, garage man said "IT" but that's just rude.)

Turns out it was two broken wires. Which he replaced. at a cost of £114.

Barney's back!!!!

(Apart from the emotional connection to my big purple car, I realised how dependent I am upon having a car - obviously I need it to ferry Mum about, but for myself. Walking anywhere with my slightly still naffed lungs left me constantly out of puff and my feet hurt and my back and... gosh I'm unfit. Hurrah for magic garages!)

:(

lolabobs — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 16:21:24 GMT

Well then...

NB continues to be a tit.

The atmosphere at work has been terrible, following Sodexo's announcements that they plan to make 34% of the Norfolk and Suffolk workforce redundant. To add insult to injury they are reneging on the enhanced redundancy deal that was agreed prior to the take over. Thankfully this doesn't impact on me, in the sense that I am NPS employed and therefore not under Sodexo - but people I have worked with for 10 years are under this cloud. I *am* affected in the sense that come September the 'private' half are pulling out of our office and so we will be forced to relocate - where is as yet unknown and causing anxiety. (Yes, Sodexo are the ones who seem to think that they can replace trained officers with a fingerprint recognition kiosk...)

Oh, and an offender sent me a three page letter full of vitriol which ended with "I'm happy enough, I hope you never will be." - what it is to be loved.

In other "let's make Lola grumpy" news:
My tooth broke and there is a large hole in my mouth, which I am hoping doesn't cause me pain until I can get to the dentist on the 21st.

Barney - my beautiful purple car - is broken and I can't do anything about it until Tuesday, due to the long bank holiday. The one garage chappie I have spoken to today was full of optimisim, stating "It'll probably have to be sent away and will cost around £500...although the last one I did was £1800."

Oh and a stray cat came into my house and peed on my kettle.

Grrrrrr.

Hello people!

In "Making Lola less grumpy" news:
It's Easter Sunday tomorrow and I can eat chocolate again after Lent

I succesfully demolished my old three seater sofa small enough to fit in my car and take to the tip instead of paying the £40 charge to collect it.

I have rearranged my room to accommodate lack of three seater sofa andd gain of 1950s chest of drawers and it all looks fab.

My Mum's two sisters are visiting and it's lovely to see them.

dreamy time

lolabobs — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 11:02:26 GMT

Two separate dreams last night:

One, obviously prompted by the furore in the news, and the support shown by the team, but there was a big showbiz gathering in a nightclub type environment and the Top Gear boys were, just propping up the bar and kind of caressing each other - smoothing down hair, stroking down the sides of each other. Not sexual per se, just a kind of soothing, constant contact with each other.

Two: This was work based, in that my lovely boss was there and being deliberately "annoying", taking the mickey, not doing x, y z task and grinning as he left it for me etc. Then there was a drama, and I was left to go and deal with it - offender causing drama, self harming etc and I ended up getting cut and covered in blood - then boss came to do his bit and realised the mess I was in and was remorseful and worried and all caring and lovely. Just tentative little arm pats and not knowing what to say.

I like dreams!

Clearly I spoke too soon.

lolabobs — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 15:04:14 GMT

I woke up last Saturday with a cough and cold, which was kind of a pain, but okay. But then on Wednesday I went to work and almost fainted after walking up the stairs and since then, my lungs have gotten tighter and tighter and I've been a wheezing and coughing and sufferin'!

I am now on two separate doses of antibiotics, plus an inhaler and it seems I have some form of asthma added to the infection that's naffing my chest.

Not sure where I stand with work, I know I am well within the limits for continuing to be paid whilst I am off sick, but I am also in the "we need to watch you and be horrible because you've been off" category also. Doesn't help that new boss spent all week (when I was back at work) telling me how he "wasn't going to give me a warning." I expect he will now.

Gragh.

Add to that, this Saturday I spent all afternoon at our local hospital after Mum fainted in the chip shop! Lots of really lovely, helpful people looked after her 'till I got there, and the paramedics were fab and tests showed nothing wrong, (She's since developed a cold too, so it was probably linked to that.) She's fine now, just bruised from falling (And even more bruised from the botch job the nurse did placing the canula.)

Saturday coming in my best friend's birthday party - it's a big birthday and she's having an 80s themed fancy dress party to celebrate. My costume is just about ready, although the make up I ordered has yet to arrive, and there's the small matter of limited breathing ability, but I am determined to be there for her. I will post photos of the costume... the "wig" I made in 1985 has been rescued from the attic and is about to do duty again!

We've lost Terry Pratchett

lolabobs — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 15:59:09 GMT

Gutted.

lolabobs — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 23:01:10 GMT

Hello. It's been forever.

I was ill for an age - I think I had all the "itis" things it was possible to have and I coughed and spluttered and whined and suffered my way through 4 weeks off work, with drugs rattling my bones and homemade honey and lemon and ginger and soothing my throat. I'se better now though.

I did watch the entirety of Walking Dead (to date) whilst sitting feeling sorry for myself and I am now officially hooked and awaiting each new ep with anticipation. You used to be able to search on LJ for communities linked to a fandom, but I can't seem to do that anymore, which is frustrating. Not that I'm particularly shipping anyone, but it would be nice to have the option to see other folk's reactions.

What else has happened?

I made cheese straws today - they turned out marvellously, and I made shortbread that didn't. I added the tiniest amount of lemon to the mix because I thought it would work, but it really doesn't.

I went to London twice last week - once for work. A horrible oral hearing which saw me catching a 5am train (which should be illegal) and having to last until 2pm until my first coffee of the day (the woman at the prison who was "looking after" me, didn't offer me anything to drink, not even water, despite stopping off before the meeting to get *herself* a coffee because she was "desperate". I was too gobsmacked to say anything and then it was too late.) Hmm.

I also went on a day trip for fun though, with my brother and sister-in-law, we went on the Thames in a river taxi and saw all the sights, then to the 02 to see the Elvis Graceland exhibition - I was *this* close to the '68 comeback special black leather suit... swoon.

Of the two trips this was my much preferred. (although the late night train journey home, sitting near louts who were playing music loudly and smoking on the train was less pleasant.) Fun day with family though.

Hmm. Else?

Oh, "new boss" and I use the term advisedly has thus far proven to be every bit as effective and supportive as expected. Highlights include reneging on previously agreed 'deals', hardly ever being here, blaming technology for his failings and lying. Happy days.

Anyway. Hello!