Week the second

Of training. Still going well, still very much enthusiastic.

Today was bluddygood. Shadowed in the morning and my 'buddy' was very complimentary. Add to that I think I actually achieved a few things. They were having 'Jobarama'. Basically getting a whole load of folk in to apply for jobs. The advisors print off a big stack of jobs for a whole load of industries and the clients look through and bash phones / whatever for application. It was good to support them in that. Felt like I was achieving something.

Not that the training isn't an achievement in and of itself. I am a tired bunny today. This afternoon was caseload management, which I was very happy to see. We're going to have very large caseloads once we're up to full capacity - about eighty clients each at any given time. Which is a lot compared to the current programmes, but it should be most do-able.

...

Fed up with eating out. I know that's an absurd thing to say, and there are starving people in the world, but after eating out night after night you kind of long for beans on toast in front of the telly. Not in plush apartments this week, either, so there's no option for stopping in.

Still, tattie skins and then fish and chips is a good meal. :)

...

Been quite lame as to photos, unsurprisingly. I was going to bring the big camera down with me, but I would have had to put it in my hold luggage and I cringe at the thought of my precious baby being chucked around. And, to be honest, of an evening if we're not out for a meal I'm all for hiding out in room rather than pounding the canals looking for photo opportunities.

...

The flat. Called homestake and they're all good and groovy, we know the mortgage is OK, but my solicitor tells me that she's having bother getting the title deeds out of the seller's solicitor. Which is a wee bit concerning, but I'm not going to wreck my head about it. I'm sure it'll sort, and I know I've got everything in place I need to. Worst case scenario the move-in date gets pushed back a wee bit. I think.

Nobody contradict me!

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Away again

Feel like I just got home. Brother was down with wife and kid for the weekend. Lovely to see them, obviously, but it would have been good to get some proper down time, as well. I did get some peace when everyone went away to Ocean Terminal yesterday, to be fair.

Leaving in an hour or so. Arrived back Friday night at about eight o' clock. So I'll have been home and on my own time for forty four hours. Still, it's just these two weeks then in the proper office. Which is going to be in Princes St for the first few months, and then Festival Square, just off Lothian Road. So all very handy.

...

Feeling a tiny bit blah, but that's just from the transitory feelings. Move into my flat two weeks yesterday and I can start getting properly settled.

Hope everybody's well. *waves*

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Another day...

A good one, if a bit mundane. Looking through forms and diaries and suchlike. Information we'll need and the trainers were good with it. Kept it fairly lively with a couple of activities and such.

Some inevitable problems with IT logins, but all sorted by end of day.

...

Going out to dinner with Gregor and Caroline tonight (yey!). Much looking forward to as I rarely get to see them so it's nice to be in the same neighbourhood.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

It's tasty, tasty, very very tasty!

The kool-aid, obviously.

...

So, how are things with you?

Me?

Utterly awesome, thanks for asking.

...

First - mundanities. The apartment I'm staying in is lovely. If I had a flat this nice I would be a cheerful bunny. Actually, I do have a flat this nice. Way nicer, in fact. :) OK, it's not as slickly decorated, but it's MINE. Yes, that happened while I've been away. Confirmation of mortgage, confirmation of homestake-ness. Officially a home-owner.

Trip down was grand. Easy flight. Very warm plane so I was passed out for the most part. Managed to hook up with my new colleagues by virtue of hearing them say "Work Directions" behind me when I was waiting for my luggage. Quite ignominiously managed to miss my luggage. I really thought it was black. In point of fact, it's navy blue. Twit.

Arrived Sunday night and we piled out for a meal, which was grand. Although such a protracted stay way could be a pain, it's been lovely. A really nice chance to properly bond with the new team. Check me. Using the word 'bond' in cold blood.

Everyone is seriously nice, and a very diverse group. Obviously, there's a certain hint of rose-tinted specs, but I really can't see there ever being any serious personality issues. And there are some really lovely folk I can see being proper pals with.

...

Segue - it's one of my new colleagues' birthday tomorrow and I'm baking a cake. Only - no scale. Just had a quick look and it's rising at an alarming rate. Outside chance I put too much self-raising in. Ach, well. It's a serviced apartment so if I coat the oven, it's not my problem.

Maybe I should stab it and make it collapse a bit.

...

The job. Loving it.

Not that I've started the job yet. Two weeks induction and I'm only on the third day. It's been a very good induction so far, though. Very well balanced. Haven't been bored or drifted off even once. Today was especially cool as I got a chance to shadow a working adviser. There's a fair bit of that built into my schedule and my 'buddy' is a very cool chap. To the point, but super smiley and friendly. Plus, he let me sit in the Big Boy chair and sort out someone's CV. Happily so. One of the few things I actually got decent experience in at the Uni job, so all to the good.

....

Little bit of good news (even more!) - I won a photo contest:



The prize is mere kudos, but hey - who can't use that?

...

I really am starting to worry about that cake. It's starting to look like something from a sci-fi film.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Drinking the Kool-Aid

And damn it's tasty!

Just discovered the 'net cables in my apartment.

Proper blogging tomorrow!

...

Nihil obstat,

Chris

Getting sad

Goodbyes, so longs and farewells. I'm fired up for new job, definitely, but the people at this one are really lovely, so I am sad to go. It's not like I'll drop off the face of the earth or nothing, but you know what it's like going from seeing people every working day to seeing them once every few months when you manage to grab a lunch date.

I was doing fine, actually, until June went away and we had a wee hug. Andrea's not long for leaving, either, which might just finish me off.

Awwww. Bless.

***update - yep - greetin'***

...



Talk amongst yourselves.

Wish I'd got there just about twenty minutes earlier. Mind you, if I had, I would have had to leave the cemetery earlier, or Calton Hill which, although filled with tourists, was gorgeous at sundown.

...

Have a look at that!

...

*snigger*

...

I have out-of-print books! Woop!

By Sheri S Tepper. The 'Jinian' series. Sooooo good.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Did I say how awesomely cool Stardust is?

It is, you know. Awesomely cool.

I can't wait until it comes out on DVD and I can watch it by myself, thus being able to shout at the telly just as much as I want. Whoop!

On you go, Tristan. ON YOU GO, MY SON!

I must check that actually. I'm sure it was Tristram in the book, and not Tristan.

...

A tree.



I know - I suck at titles.

But would "Tricksy branches against green shades" really be any better?

...

Only one day to go after today. Got exit interview later. Barrel of laughs that's going to be.

...

OoooOOooooh!

...

Packing in my head at the moment. Staying in very nice looking service apartments when I'm down in Brum, which is cool. Still not got my travel itinerary, though, so I don't know when I'm leaving on Sunday which is a trifle nippy. I would like to know how much of my Sunday is actually going to be usable.

Happily, my current spoiled boy status at Mum's house means that I've got a buffet of freshly ironed shirts to choose from. Tomorrow - a haircut.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

I can has flat!

I'm pretty sure. Just got a call from mortgage adviser who advised me that the Halifax had agreed my mortgage and I could expect the paperwork in the next two or three days. Homestake have my application and have checked it through, bar the loan agreement from Halifax.



So. Every 'i' is not crossed and every 't' is not dotted, but I do believe they are marked and approved for said actions.



Shouldn't I be jumping up and down whooping or something?



I'm very pleased, obviously, but I'm behaving in a most restrained manner. It's not like me.



It's a bit hard to believe, actually. I'm sure it'll sink in later. And then even the most far-flung of you will hear the WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!



...



Is Hamish:







Although you could be forgiven for thinking it was a portrait of the coffee cup.



...



This chap will do cartwheels for me.



...



What to do tonight now? I could celebrate.



Or I could go home and watch DVDs, which was the actual plan.



...



No matter.



Nihil obstat,



C

Five days and counting...

One week left in my job. Much to do. Two folders that need a bloody good going over; a few handover notes; filing like a sum' bitch. Mostly filing like a sum' bitch.



Just managed to open up my Big Block of Filing up at King's Buildings as I'm covering Reception and KB today.



...







Best viewed large on black. Really.

...

Irritated at myself. I forgot about an entire setting on the camera. The macro one. When you're taking close up shots. I'll show you why I'm irritated tomorrow.

...

Today's photo not by me:


-- from Shot by Scott ("ALPHA MALE":) ) - (?)

...

Mortgage stuff update, if you're bothered, is that we're waiting for bits of paper with an expectation that they will arrive, and in a timely fashion.

That's no reason not to be stressed about it, though, is it?

...

Nihil obstat,

C

I really do surprise myself when I forget

Aaaaaaaand relax.

Last night: Family Guy, Pizza, making podges.

Mortgage stuff that was seriously, seriously breaking my head (to the point where a colleague saw me in near tears -aaaarrrrggghhhh) has now all settled down. Bad thing is it really was that bad, but then it all cleared up and now it's fine.

Like I say - seriously breaking my head.

...



What do we think of that? Seriously. That's a question. I want to know. Comment box is at the bottom.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Buying a flat is going to kill me

And then I won't need to have bought it because I'll be DEAD from the STRESS!

Won't that be a cruel irony?

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Such a tired boy

I had intended to do some modelling last night, as we know. Didn't. Buggered about with some photos for a bit, answered some mail, then got an early night. I refuse to believe that I'm still tired from the weekend. I'm not that sodding old yet!

...

Some small socialising tonight. Popping round to see France (a person, not the country) and then maybe the sister, but I doubt the second one. Anyhoo, means I won't be getting home until a bit later. I've got that 'running away with me' feeling again. Like I'm never going to get a chance to sit still and file my head a bit. Ach - far better that the the other, as they say.

...



Barely touched that, you know. Wee levels tweak, parsimonious hike on the saturation. Nice, eh? Got loads of Guisachan pics I hadn't put up. I think I need a 'queue' folder for those I want to upload. Or maybe I'll call it 'reserve' for when I ain't got nothing recent.

...

Apathy, baby!

...

Today's photo not mine.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

'nother box ticked

I had made the mortgage application. Which can take two frickin' weeks to get a decision on. I thought we lived in a zippity age of communication. But, yes, all agreed in principle so there's no need to worry.

Doesn't mean I won't, of course.

I've had to request a change of exchange date. Only by a week or so, but it's going to take that long to get lender decision, then admin done from Homestake folk. Still. I'll be in by Christmas, all going well. And I've got an appointment for next Tuesday with Homestake to do the bits that require me to be there (mostly ID verification) and then it's just a matter of waiting for the paperwork. During which back-and-forthing I'll be in Birmingham.

Piece of piss, eh? *laughter*

...




I frickin' love this shot. Click through and view large!

...

Photos, photos, photos. Gotten into a somewhat bad (good?) habit of spending my evening buggering about with pictures and photoshop. And flickr. These three things together are eating my evenings in vast gulps. I haven't even watched an Angel or Farscape episode since last week. Crazy.

Tonight I intend to model, though. Those 25 different colour of Fimo are crying from lack of attention. I'm on late duty, though, so won't get home until eight. Hope I still have the oomph for it. Well. If not, I'll watch Angel. His son just teleported back from whatever Hell dimension he got taken to. And he's all grown up! (The son, not the Hell dimension.)

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Who would want to be men of the people...when there's people like you

Thank you, the Arctice Monkeys.

...

Big weekend. Very nice. Much lovely food. Knackered. Please let home time be soon.

...

Made me smile.

...

Out taking photos on Saturday for Gregor & Caroline. Still not entirely happy with the levels on this one, but I did feel all photographer-like having done the shoot and then sitting sipping my latte and buggering around with saturation and suchlike.



...

Must go and visit Gran tonight. I've been quite slack about visiting recently. Yes, because I've been busy and all that, but still. Go and visit Gran and then I can hide in my room all night and have an early sleep.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Published

Yon bit of freelance work I was talking about. It's all approved, got the final text in from my editor. Not up on website yet, but very soon will be. Aaaand, she only wanted to change one word. It seems 'outwith' isn't in common use amongst studenten. Which is fair. Anyhoo - rah! Published, I am.

...

Definitely excited about the flat now. I've managed to talk myself down from rampant fear of suddenly being denied a mortgage (I'm preapproved from three different lenders), the survey's fine, I've done everything I need to.

And I'm so not scared of karma that I'm...still not able to say anything positive without several superstitious pantomimes. *laughter*

It's all good, people. It's all good.

...

Weeeeeed



...

Realised that when I finish work today there's barely a minute of unscheduled time between then and about 9pm on Sunday. Going to have to try and keep next weekend clear of all commitment otherwise I'll be starting new job before I know it and without having some small time to myself to breathe. Wonder if I could get Mum and Dad out of the house next Saturday - have some 'me' time.

...

I have twenty four colours of Fimo! TWENTY FOUR!

Podges. Podges as far as the eye can see.

That's a point. I've knocked together a shell for the 'Abandon Podge' website but haven't had time to polish it at all.

...

Nihil obstat,

C

Moments of excitement

We're getting there. Definitely getting there. I was round at the sister's house last night (dinner by future bro-in-law) and they had neither of them seen particulars, online or otherwise, so I had to describe and that got me quiet enthused. It's a funny thing. I should really be kicking my height with glee, but it's all a bit grown-up and serious for that.

I am excited, though. Definitely. Why, only this morning I was looking at wall-mountable storage solutions from Ikea. And yesterday I saw a really nice laquer box in John Lewis which I thought would look lovely on a coffee table. What with having extra space above kitchen for a study I'm rather hoping to keep the living room quite minimal.

All together now: "Surface, darling, I must have surfaces!"

...

That meal by Cameron. Good. Gods.

We started with hand-dived King Scallops on a bed of balsamic dressed rocket, topped with a pancetta strip. Followed by an entree (bugger the accents) of filet mignon with roasted vegetables (to die for!). Dessert of cream slice pastry thing which was likewise gorgeous. White with started, a nice chianti with the main course.

It was such a lovely meal. Hand-dived those scallops were. A fella (or lady, who knows) jumped out a boat, swam down and picked them. No trawling for these little fishies. So good.

...



...

A very busy weekend ahead. Friday gang on Friday (s'been ages!), pics of Gregor and Caroline Saturday morning, then a 40th birthday on Saturday night. Then Oddbins winetasting fair on Sunday, followed by meal out.

It's going to be a shocking 'spensive weekend is what it's going to be. Fun, though. :)

...

Nihil obstat,

C