Office Move

Last Friday we finally moved office. This was a very complicated operation which involved all of the maintenance department and outside help as well. Surprisingly, it only took one day, mainly because we had been able to take a lot of stuff across prior to the day.

I got a bit frustrated as I had been given the responsibility to organise the move of the computers but it appeared that the IT company let me down. Two weeks prior I had booked them to arrive first thing in the morning, which to me means at nine. However, their representative didn't turn up until quarter to eleven; leaving all of us hanging around waiting as we couldn't move the desks until the computers are gone and me looking a mug.

Still, the move eventually went without any more hitches and by 5pm we were up and running again and almost tidy. All week, it has been a total luxury to have the office so close to the compound and us all being together in the same office without being cramped. We have settled in really quick.

Christmas shopping

I have finally got the Christmas shopping finished. It took almost all day but it's all done now, just the food and drink to get and something for Macavity.

It is just as well since I have been invited to a lot of parties and meals out so it will be an expensive time, and I will have to be extra careful with the money.

One of the things I wanted to buy was a ticket for Tessa to come and visit in the spring but I can't afford so it has to wait to another time, maybe next autumn or Christmas?

On wednesday Carol and I are going shopping at IKEA during work time. Our boss, Debbie, asked us to go get some shelves for the new office which we are finally moving to on Friday. We are really looking forward to it even though it means to drive "the white pig" which is our old transit van. Carol is hoping that our colleague, John, will lend us his van but Debbie doesn't think there is much chance of that. we'll see.

Lists, etc

Because, I am "in between voids" at the moment, I have finally managed to make a start on the list of items that we already have ... and need for Christmas. There is still more to do to get it finalised.....but, I'm working on it.

"In between voids" means that I have just finished doing up an empty property and I am waiting for my next one to become empty on Thursday. Of course, there is still plenty to do but I'm not quite as busy as I am when I'm doing up a property to a time schedule. I found out that in a couple of weeks I am having a large terraced house in void.

It involves first to go in an do an inspection; assessing what can be kept and what needs clearing out. Then I get the van and get shut of everything that is no good and clean out the whole property. It is then handed over to different contractors for decorating, electrical inspection, gas inspection, new carpets or carpet cleaning. In the meantime I order all the new furniture and white goods and then I go shopping. Usually I buy new curtains, nets kitchen equipment, bedding, towels, etc. then I put it all together and make the flat or house look nice, ready for the new tenant.

The last few days the weather has been quite cold and frosty, but today the infamous British fog was back again. It was quite unpleasant to drive home (that is assuming that driving in Stoke on Trent is ever pleasant anyway) particularly tonight, after it got dark.

First Frost

This morning I woke up and the car windows were all frosted over. Temperature was -4 first thing but went up to -2 by the time I drove to work.

Surprisingly, the traffic was no worse than usual, however, there was an accident somewhere, because I did see an ambulance with "twos & blues".

At work those wooden walkways we have around the office were all covered, in what looked like hail, but according to my colleague Gary, it was just salt that the caretaker had put down to stop slipping.

All day remained quite chilly and it was only 4 degrees when I drove home, so I think we can expect another frost tonight. Winter has arrived early this year!

Here's a picture from last Christmas...

My first blog is open

Had a play about and found this site, maybe it is something i could use?

What can I say...it's been an ordinary day in an ordinary week. I finished my void at work but have another one coming in on Monday.

Chris is working over the weekend but I may do some Christmas shopping, we'll see.

The piccy is taken from a boat in a bay on the western coast off Tenerife. I love the colours of the sea and how clear the water was so that you could see the bottom even though it was deep enough to allow a big boat to get close.

Sorry, if i'm not making any sense...I'm just playing about.