Hello ya'll!
Since beginning my new role at Present Company, I am often so busy that the entire day passes me by in the blink of an eye and I am left bemused as I settle down to dinner at home in the evening! Very very occasionally, I get two minutes to check my emails or surf Google and the other day, during a very rare quiet moment, I came out of one site where I'd been trying to source linen bags for a client and idly tapped YUCKETYPOO into the search box. I nearly fell off my chair! There were pages of it, in everything from French to Japanese and who knows what all in between. If news of the book is hitting foreign book sites likes these, why aren't I earning more commission from it? I was flattered, horrified and completely astonished all at once. So then I tried Yahoo and there it was again! So it does look as if word is steadily creeping through, despite the fact that I often feel completely disconnected from it because I hear so little about what is actually happening.
As it turns out, my Google discovery co-incided almost supernaturally with the arrival of some of Ashley the Illustrator's latest offerings by email which are just brilliant. Sarah the Publisher thinks we may still have a chance of launching the second in the series this year after all which would be a huge relief. There are other things going on that I can't actually tell you about at this moment in time but I will update soon as I can. If they come off, it will be a major step forward. The good thing of course is that all this activity has fired me up again and it is my intention to make a list of schools, book shops, Beaver and Rainbow packs and local libraries by the end of this week so that I can line up some visits, talks and maybe book signings. Fingers crossed.
Watch this space.
Monday, 30 June 2008
Tuesday, 10 June 2008
ME & PETER PAN
I don't know about you, but Hubby and I are findng it increasingly difficult every Christmas to come up with surprise gifts. He always buys me clothes, at least one Lilliput Lane cottage, at least one collectible teddy and at least one DVD. I always buy him at least one pack of socks, one bottle of after shave, one diecast vehicle for his massive collection and one CD. He usually gets a sweatshirt too. Last year we really really struggled. I suppose being together for twenty-five years and married for almost ten of those, there isn't much we need anymore. During the chaotic run-up to Christmas (see previous blogs), we each finally found something the other would not be expecting. And the funny thing is that they both turned out to be Gift experiences. You know the kind of thing - white water rafting, a day at a spa, theatre packages. And we didn't realise until Christmas Day that we had both been thinking along the same lines - even without knowing it. I bought him a Red Letter Day Rock Tour - this is a trip around all London's famous Rock spots - Abbey Road, a recording studio, and famous spots like Freddie Mercury's memorial wall and the London pads of the rich and famous. He bought me a helicopter ride.
Now don't snort! When he gave it to me, he insisted I had mentioned several times that I'd never been in a helicopter. I think I mentioned it once in passing. Anyway, being Hubby, he decided last year that he would give me a helicopter tour over London and on the Saturday before last, it finally took place. We had to get all the way to Upminster first, then take a cab to the Damyn Aerodrome which is just outside town. I don't know what I was expecting of the place - a miniature version of Gatwick maybe. What we found was a large open airfield with a small Helicopter centre, a small flying club and a cafeteria. I had to wait for almost an hour for my scheduled flight but what an experience it turned out to be. Hubby took photos from his viewing spot on the field as I boarded, got settled then turned and waved through the window. There were only four of us altogether and one of those was the pilot.
I felt almost Biggles-ish as I put on my headphones and microphone and strapped myself in. Taking off was amazing and the dip forward once we were in the air would have been a bit of a shock if Hubby hadn't warned me about it and the other strange sensation was when we banked right and I found myself looking vertically at the ground as it fell away. Once we were up though - well. No words are truly fitting! Essex sank below us and what took its place was a panarama of fields and villages and hamlets and cars the size of ants. I was amazed at how many people have swimming pools in their back gardens! We had to stop at a small local airport for refuelling so we had to disembark. I took several photos of small aircraft and a large hangar featuring the phrase 'Area 51' (to anyone not in the know that's the American airforce's worst kept secret where there have been all kind of links wih UFOs and other strange aerial phenomena). Then we were back in and on our way to London.
One of the stories my mother read to me as a child was Peter Pan and I loved the bit near the beginning where Peter shows Wendy and her brothers how to fly. Many years later, when we were in Paris on our honeymoon, Hubby took me to Disneyland Paris where we went on the Peter Pan ride - which included flying over a tiny simulation of London. Well you can forget all that - this was the Real Macoy! As we reached London and gazed at it as it sparkled in the sun so far below, I felt as if I too were flying, unaided, over the greatest and most historic city in the world and I was awe-struck! There was Old Father Thames - winding and whirling its way through the city like a gigantic serpent. There was the Millenium dome (now the O2 Centre of course). There was St Paul's looking truly ravishing. There was Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge - open - a spell-binding sight from above! There was Canary Wharf and the Gherkin.
Every so often, the earphones would emit a crackle and the pilot would point out some familiar landmark from this totally unfamiliar viewpoint, or one of we three passengers would gasp and point and a rushed exchange of comments would pass between us - four strangers united in this one powerful moment. It was probably the most amazing experience of my entire life. We were in the air for almost an hour! When we go back to the aerodrome, Hubby was there, taking photos as I dismbaked and ran into his arms - snapping away with is camera like a photographer possessed. I took lots of photos too which I showed him via the digital camera as we had lunch in the cafeteria. I kept saying "That was amazing!" and every time I did, his face lit up with that lovely sunny smile of his. He had given me another thing I'd never had before and I once again thanked my lucky stars for him.
The Rock & Roll tour is next and I hope he enjoys that as much as I enjoyed seeing London from the sky.
And - if I ever learn how to do it, I will post photos of both on here for you to share!
The whole experience still astonishes me even as I tap away at my laptop and write this blog. I can't think of a single funny thing to say! I just want to go back and do it all again!!!!!!! It was absoluely incredible.
Now don't snort! When he gave it to me, he insisted I had mentioned several times that I'd never been in a helicopter. I think I mentioned it once in passing. Anyway, being Hubby, he decided last year that he would give me a helicopter tour over London and on the Saturday before last, it finally took place. We had to get all the way to Upminster first, then take a cab to the Damyn Aerodrome which is just outside town. I don't know what I was expecting of the place - a miniature version of Gatwick maybe. What we found was a large open airfield with a small Helicopter centre, a small flying club and a cafeteria. I had to wait for almost an hour for my scheduled flight but what an experience it turned out to be. Hubby took photos from his viewing spot on the field as I boarded, got settled then turned and waved through the window. There were only four of us altogether and one of those was the pilot.
I felt almost Biggles-ish as I put on my headphones and microphone and strapped myself in. Taking off was amazing and the dip forward once we were in the air would have been a bit of a shock if Hubby hadn't warned me about it and the other strange sensation was when we banked right and I found myself looking vertically at the ground as it fell away. Once we were up though - well. No words are truly fitting! Essex sank below us and what took its place was a panarama of fields and villages and hamlets and cars the size of ants. I was amazed at how many people have swimming pools in their back gardens! We had to stop at a small local airport for refuelling so we had to disembark. I took several photos of small aircraft and a large hangar featuring the phrase 'Area 51' (to anyone not in the know that's the American airforce's worst kept secret where there have been all kind of links wih UFOs and other strange aerial phenomena). Then we were back in and on our way to London.
One of the stories my mother read to me as a child was Peter Pan and I loved the bit near the beginning where Peter shows Wendy and her brothers how to fly. Many years later, when we were in Paris on our honeymoon, Hubby took me to Disneyland Paris where we went on the Peter Pan ride - which included flying over a tiny simulation of London. Well you can forget all that - this was the Real Macoy! As we reached London and gazed at it as it sparkled in the sun so far below, I felt as if I too were flying, unaided, over the greatest and most historic city in the world and I was awe-struck! There was Old Father Thames - winding and whirling its way through the city like a gigantic serpent. There was the Millenium dome (now the O2 Centre of course). There was St Paul's looking truly ravishing. There was Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament and Tower Bridge - open - a spell-binding sight from above! There was Canary Wharf and the Gherkin.
Every so often, the earphones would emit a crackle and the pilot would point out some familiar landmark from this totally unfamiliar viewpoint, or one of we three passengers would gasp and point and a rushed exchange of comments would pass between us - four strangers united in this one powerful moment. It was probably the most amazing experience of my entire life. We were in the air for almost an hour! When we go back to the aerodrome, Hubby was there, taking photos as I dismbaked and ran into his arms - snapping away with is camera like a photographer possessed. I took lots of photos too which I showed him via the digital camera as we had lunch in the cafeteria. I kept saying "That was amazing!" and every time I did, his face lit up with that lovely sunny smile of his. He had given me another thing I'd never had before and I once again thanked my lucky stars for him.
The Rock & Roll tour is next and I hope he enjoys that as much as I enjoyed seeing London from the sky.
And - if I ever learn how to do it, I will post photos of both on here for you to share!
The whole experience still astonishes me even as I tap away at my laptop and write this blog. I can't think of a single funny thing to say! I just want to go back and do it all again!!!!!!! It was absoluely incredible.
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
UNWELL GIRL
I have been horribly and pathetically ill since Tuesday last week. I have neuralgia - and for those of you not familiar with the phrase, it is some kind of complaint whereby all the nerve-endings on one side of your face and head become acutely sensitive - which leads to unbelievable pain, I have to tell you. I noticed my teeth on the left side of my face were terribly sensitive when I woke up last Tuesday but by the end of the day that had spread to my jawline, my ear, even that side of my scalp. I finally got a doctor's appointment last Thursday and she confirmed it and said I also have swollen glands and a throat infection and she put me on penacillin and some strong tablets specifically to calm nerve-endings.
Had Grand-daughter and Youngest Grandson overnight Friday. Their mum and dad offered to cancel as soon as they saw my pain-racked face but I insisted the children stay as they would be a distraction to my growing misery. And they were. Youngest Grandson awoke at 1.30 am on Saturday full of the joys of spring, wanting only to coo and kick and play and would not settle down again until I took him into bed with me (I know the baby books forbid this but I was shattered and I knew he would be if he didn't get back to sleep) and he went out like a light in ten seconds flat.
On Saturday, we took them into Croydon. Grand-daughter had expressly requested a tram-ride and a trip to the cafe to share a cake with Grandad, and who were we middle-aged fogies to disagree. We started out at Nero's in George Street and she utterly delighted in having half of Grandad's chcoolate muffin, then we progressed to North End where she cadged a ride in the Barbie car on the roundabout set up there with one flash of her big blue eyes. Then she was given a sticker by a clown and then she fell asleep. Youngest Grandson had slept most of the morning anyway in their two-tiered buggy. After lunch we took them home and Youngest Step-daughter collected them a few hours later. As usual, once they had gone, our cosy homestead became, for a couple of hours anyway, a desolate wilderness of hush, still with their toys scattered about.
Around eight o'clock, the neuralgia hit me full force and at nine pm, Hubby woke me up from my slumber on the sofa and suggested I go to bed. I then slept twenty out of the next twenty-four hours. I was in dire pain all day Sunday (what I remember of it!) and all day Monday and knew as soon as I got up Tuesday that I was in no fit state to go to work. Finally I went back to the doctor today and she has signed me off for the rest of the week. There is an area about 2cm by 1cm on my left cheek that is swollen and inflamed and, although the pain has gone off quite a bit and my teeth are now functioning almost normally again, I know I am still not a hundred per cent. I am feeling a lot better though so Hubby snapped his fingers about 4pm this afternoon and said with tons of passion "Tomorrow you can write all day! It'll be good practice for when you can write full time. " So tomorrow, it looks like I'll be writing all day. Maybe I can even breathe life into The New Idea - it is surely far too good to keep simmering on the back burner.
Had Grand-daughter and Youngest Grandson overnight Friday. Their mum and dad offered to cancel as soon as they saw my pain-racked face but I insisted the children stay as they would be a distraction to my growing misery. And they were. Youngest Grandson awoke at 1.30 am on Saturday full of the joys of spring, wanting only to coo and kick and play and would not settle down again until I took him into bed with me (I know the baby books forbid this but I was shattered and I knew he would be if he didn't get back to sleep) and he went out like a light in ten seconds flat.
On Saturday, we took them into Croydon. Grand-daughter had expressly requested a tram-ride and a trip to the cafe to share a cake with Grandad, and who were we middle-aged fogies to disagree. We started out at Nero's in George Street and she utterly delighted in having half of Grandad's chcoolate muffin, then we progressed to North End where she cadged a ride in the Barbie car on the roundabout set up there with one flash of her big blue eyes. Then she was given a sticker by a clown and then she fell asleep. Youngest Grandson had slept most of the morning anyway in their two-tiered buggy. After lunch we took them home and Youngest Step-daughter collected them a few hours later. As usual, once they had gone, our cosy homestead became, for a couple of hours anyway, a desolate wilderness of hush, still with their toys scattered about.
Around eight o'clock, the neuralgia hit me full force and at nine pm, Hubby woke me up from my slumber on the sofa and suggested I go to bed. I then slept twenty out of the next twenty-four hours. I was in dire pain all day Sunday (what I remember of it!) and all day Monday and knew as soon as I got up Tuesday that I was in no fit state to go to work. Finally I went back to the doctor today and she has signed me off for the rest of the week. There is an area about 2cm by 1cm on my left cheek that is swollen and inflamed and, although the pain has gone off quite a bit and my teeth are now functioning almost normally again, I know I am still not a hundred per cent. I am feeling a lot better though so Hubby snapped his fingers about 4pm this afternoon and said with tons of passion "Tomorrow you can write all day! It'll be good practice for when you can write full time. " So tomorrow, it looks like I'll be writing all day. Maybe I can even breathe life into The New Idea - it is surely far too good to keep simmering on the back burner.
Sunday, 18 May 2008
NEW BEGINNINGS
So - better luck this time. It is Sunday evening, 18 May at GMT 20.00 hours. I am sitting at our dining table right beside the French Windows, overlooking the patio and the garden beyond. I would like to say that the French Windows are open and the curtains are waving lazily in a warm summer breeze - but I'd be lying. It IS a nice evening. But that doesn't mean it is a warm evening, so the windows remain firmly shut.
Two weeks ago, Hubby and I ambled up to Lincolnsire to spend the Bank Holiday weekend with Hubby's brother and partner. They live about a mile outside the historic marketing town of Spalding in a detached house surrounded by fields. The house is beautiful - all dorma windows and shrubs. The nearest neighbouring house is two hundred yards away and a shallow dyke shields the house from a link road - which at times is fairly busy. Upon arrival, Hubby and I - plus Hubby's parents - were taken on a tour of the house. There are four bedrooms and each room is en-suite and there is a family bathroom on the ground floor. The main living room is lovely and airy and in an 'L' shape and the back garden is laid to lawn and framed in trees. Through a rustic gate at the rear of the garden lies The Lodge Cattery. Talk about Butlins for cats! Each 'lodge' has a play area, a snooze area and a rear 'bedroom'. There are places for the cats to climb, to scratch, to generally exercise and the radio is on all day and most of the night, so they don't feel too cut off from their normal lives. The lodges overlook a large spacious courtyard and to one end of this is the Feline Kitchen. Opposite them is an array of hutches for smaller boarding guests - such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chipmunks - plus a chicken house and a lovely wooden summer house that has been transformed into an office, where Brother In Law tends to all the business aspects, whilst His Other Half oversees the feeding, grooming and wellbeing of the guests. She also administers any medication so her former career as a nurse comes very useful. It really is a lovely place and we were there from Saturday evening to Monday afternoon. So quiet and restful. I am sure the cats must lreally enjoy it and there is certainly no shortage of love there. I'd love it if I were a cat!
On Monday, back at Current Company, I made no secret of the fact I had an interview lined up on the Wednesday coming and was equally as forceful on Thursday when I told them it had gone well. So well, in fact, the I was told a second interview could be on the cards. "What hours then?" asked Newish MD after almost choking on his felicitations at just how well it had gone. "Full time," I replied. "If you want full time, we can give you that," he blurted out. Now just one cotton-picking minute, I thought as I looked at him. How can they be thinking of offering me a full time post now when just a fortnight before they were as good as dispensing with my services? Turns out they want to take the company into a new age and would like to expand on the Customer Support Role they'd initially offered on a part-time basis. "I thought you only offered me part time because that's all you could afford," I remarked suspiciously. "No we offered you part time because that's what we thought you wanted," said Newish MD. A series of meetings followed at the same time as much discussion between Hubby and I. They have offered me; a better general package, a bonus scheme AND they have agreed to accommodate any writing commitments that arise as a result of Books 2 and 3 hitting the maket over the next year or so.
Well what could I say? By Monday just gone I hadn't heard from the place I'd been interviewed and nothing else was on the cards, so I decided to take up their offer - as soon as I had it in writing. I got the official letter on Friday last week so I am now re-employed. I have already been moved to a different office and that's that. I don't suppose we'll know whether or not it has actually panned out until we've given it a few weeks and - as everyone has said - there is absolutely nothing to stop me from leaving later in the year if it all goes to pot, is there? And the best thing is that they are prepared to honour any writing commitments - so now I can start contacting the schools and the bookshops without having to worry about using up holiday!
It is funny the way things work out don't you think? All I have to do now is get some proper Work lined up - a commission or two, a couple of talks and maybe some workshops. I am also playing with a Brand New Idea. Not the historic novel as yet - that remains ongoing. But I have been bandying this idea around for a new weekly column somewhere if I can persuade an editor to try it out. I won't say too much here, but I promise I will keep you updated. If I can pull it off, it could lead to all kinds of things - so watch this space.....
Two weeks ago, Hubby and I ambled up to Lincolnsire to spend the Bank Holiday weekend with Hubby's brother and partner. They live about a mile outside the historic marketing town of Spalding in a detached house surrounded by fields. The house is beautiful - all dorma windows and shrubs. The nearest neighbouring house is two hundred yards away and a shallow dyke shields the house from a link road - which at times is fairly busy. Upon arrival, Hubby and I - plus Hubby's parents - were taken on a tour of the house. There are four bedrooms and each room is en-suite and there is a family bathroom on the ground floor. The main living room is lovely and airy and in an 'L' shape and the back garden is laid to lawn and framed in trees. Through a rustic gate at the rear of the garden lies The Lodge Cattery. Talk about Butlins for cats! Each 'lodge' has a play area, a snooze area and a rear 'bedroom'. There are places for the cats to climb, to scratch, to generally exercise and the radio is on all day and most of the night, so they don't feel too cut off from their normal lives. The lodges overlook a large spacious courtyard and to one end of this is the Feline Kitchen. Opposite them is an array of hutches for smaller boarding guests - such as rabbits, guinea pigs and chipmunks - plus a chicken house and a lovely wooden summer house that has been transformed into an office, where Brother In Law tends to all the business aspects, whilst His Other Half oversees the feeding, grooming and wellbeing of the guests. She also administers any medication so her former career as a nurse comes very useful. It really is a lovely place and we were there from Saturday evening to Monday afternoon. So quiet and restful. I am sure the cats must lreally enjoy it and there is certainly no shortage of love there. I'd love it if I were a cat!
On Monday, back at Current Company, I made no secret of the fact I had an interview lined up on the Wednesday coming and was equally as forceful on Thursday when I told them it had gone well. So well, in fact, the I was told a second interview could be on the cards. "What hours then?" asked Newish MD after almost choking on his felicitations at just how well it had gone. "Full time," I replied. "If you want full time, we can give you that," he blurted out. Now just one cotton-picking minute, I thought as I looked at him. How can they be thinking of offering me a full time post now when just a fortnight before they were as good as dispensing with my services? Turns out they want to take the company into a new age and would like to expand on the Customer Support Role they'd initially offered on a part-time basis. "I thought you only offered me part time because that's all you could afford," I remarked suspiciously. "No we offered you part time because that's what we thought you wanted," said Newish MD. A series of meetings followed at the same time as much discussion between Hubby and I. They have offered me; a better general package, a bonus scheme AND they have agreed to accommodate any writing commitments that arise as a result of Books 2 and 3 hitting the maket over the next year or so.
Well what could I say? By Monday just gone I hadn't heard from the place I'd been interviewed and nothing else was on the cards, so I decided to take up their offer - as soon as I had it in writing. I got the official letter on Friday last week so I am now re-employed. I have already been moved to a different office and that's that. I don't suppose we'll know whether or not it has actually panned out until we've given it a few weeks and - as everyone has said - there is absolutely nothing to stop me from leaving later in the year if it all goes to pot, is there? And the best thing is that they are prepared to honour any writing commitments - so now I can start contacting the schools and the bookshops without having to worry about using up holiday!
It is funny the way things work out don't you think? All I have to do now is get some proper Work lined up - a commission or two, a couple of talks and maybe some workshops. I am also playing with a Brand New Idea. Not the historic novel as yet - that remains ongoing. But I have been bandying this idea around for a new weekly column somewhere if I can persuade an editor to try it out. I won't say too much here, but I promise I will keep you updated. If I can pull it off, it could lead to all kinds of things - so watch this space.....
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
!@*#ING IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You just will not BELIEVE what I have just done, Blogspot Buddies! I have just spent best part of half an hour writing a light, chatty, informative blog about our lovely Bank Holiday weekend in Lincolnshire at Brother-In-Law's cattery - and concluding with an update of the Job Situation ... then accidently hit the wrong button and deleted the lot! I am such a Klutz. I was dead chuffed with it, too, and now it has vanished - all my hard work gone in the stroke of a button.
Ah well - I will have to do it all again.
But it can wait now.
I'm off to boil my head in the steamer ....
Ah well - I will have to do it all again.
But it can wait now.
I'm off to boil my head in the steamer ....
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT
On my way home from work this evening, I counted no less than five abandoned pens lying in the street. Being me, my immediate thought - as a writer - was "Are they trying to tell me something?" One of them was really nice and must have cost a fortune new - all silver scrolling and gold edging - but I couldn't reach it so I was not able to rescue it. I have never seen that many pens lining my route home before, so of course I was reading all kinds of secret codes and signs into it! What do you think?
So here is the latest. I went to the doctor on Friday and asked if these tests are absolutely necessary. Had she seen something in my blood tests that she hadn't told me about? Was there actually a reason, other than the fact I am ever so slightly anaemic? She answered no on both counts. So why did she feel these tests were so important? She said that there is nothing wrong, and no, the tests aren't that important. So why then had she felt such a drastic step should be taken? Only because - and I quote - "You are young; you have never been anaemic before and I like to consider every option." Now I am all for doctors and health professionals being thorough, but I still felt she was being over-cautious. So I suggested a compromise. Could we try a course of iron tablets for a few months then get some more blood tests done? If she isn't happy with them and my blood count is still low, then I'll go for any further tests she deems necessary. She agreed. So I have got three months until I need to worry about it again.
I walked out of that surgery feeling as if I have achieved something for mankind. A huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. She may like to consider every option, but I know my body better than she does, and I know there is nothing wrong with me. Everything is functioning normally; I just need to get my blood count up - end of story. So if your doctor ever suggests something you really don't feel necessary, Blogspot Buddies, say so. Patient Power!
And now onto the other blight of my life - the redundancy/recinded-redundancy/redundancy issue. I am being worked on my several experts who all feel I should stay; Chairman is popping his head round the door every five minutes and smiling broadly. Newish MD keeps reminding me I am in the strongest position I have ever been in with that company. And Friendly Colleagues all keep peering at me doe-eyed and saying "What will we do when you've gone?" The truth of the matter is that I have insider knowledge of Former Line Manager's customer database and they are anxious not to lose any following his resignation. Technically I am still under notice and my finishing date is still 16th May. I will not be pushed into making a decision.
Consequently, I went for an interview this morning and think it all went rather well. Admittedly it is full time as opposed to part-tme - so the writing will still be designated to the evenings and weekends - but at least our income won't suffer. I was told as I left the interview that someone will be in touch to let me know whether or not I go onto the second one. And they know I have had this offer from Current Company so they know they have to move fast. We shall just have to wait and see. I know they were inundated with replies so I won't hold my breath. But it was nice to be made to feel I have something to offer still - besides Former Line Manager' s sodding customer database!
Watch this space for the further exiting episode of FIFTY & NOT OUT (produced live in front of a Blogging audience).
So here is the latest. I went to the doctor on Friday and asked if these tests are absolutely necessary. Had she seen something in my blood tests that she hadn't told me about? Was there actually a reason, other than the fact I am ever so slightly anaemic? She answered no on both counts. So why did she feel these tests were so important? She said that there is nothing wrong, and no, the tests aren't that important. So why then had she felt such a drastic step should be taken? Only because - and I quote - "You are young; you have never been anaemic before and I like to consider every option." Now I am all for doctors and health professionals being thorough, but I still felt she was being over-cautious. So I suggested a compromise. Could we try a course of iron tablets for a few months then get some more blood tests done? If she isn't happy with them and my blood count is still low, then I'll go for any further tests she deems necessary. She agreed. So I have got three months until I need to worry about it again.
I walked out of that surgery feeling as if I have achieved something for mankind. A huge weight was lifted from my shoulders. She may like to consider every option, but I know my body better than she does, and I know there is nothing wrong with me. Everything is functioning normally; I just need to get my blood count up - end of story. So if your doctor ever suggests something you really don't feel necessary, Blogspot Buddies, say so. Patient Power!
And now onto the other blight of my life - the redundancy/recinded-redundancy/redundancy issue. I am being worked on my several experts who all feel I should stay; Chairman is popping his head round the door every five minutes and smiling broadly. Newish MD keeps reminding me I am in the strongest position I have ever been in with that company. And Friendly Colleagues all keep peering at me doe-eyed and saying "What will we do when you've gone?" The truth of the matter is that I have insider knowledge of Former Line Manager's customer database and they are anxious not to lose any following his resignation. Technically I am still under notice and my finishing date is still 16th May. I will not be pushed into making a decision.
Consequently, I went for an interview this morning and think it all went rather well. Admittedly it is full time as opposed to part-tme - so the writing will still be designated to the evenings and weekends - but at least our income won't suffer. I was told as I left the interview that someone will be in touch to let me know whether or not I go onto the second one. And they know I have had this offer from Current Company so they know they have to move fast. We shall just have to wait and see. I know they were inundated with replies so I won't hold my breath. But it was nice to be made to feel I have something to offer still - besides Former Line Manager' s sodding customer database!
Watch this space for the further exiting episode of FIFTY & NOT OUT (produced live in front of a Blogging audience).
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
SO NOW WHAT...?
Hi girls and boys. You just will not believe what has happened since my last blog. Honestly - if someone wrote my life as a book, no-one would publish it because everyone would be saying "But that kind of stuff never happens in real life!" Want to bet? Okay. So a quick recap of the last blog - Monday - find out redundancy is on. Tuesday - go to hospital to see consultant and get told camera down throat ( and in at the other end as it turns out) is inevitable. Here then - is the next episode.
Last Saturday, I received a letter from the hospital telling me I am booked in for the test on 15th May. Was shocked to learn colonoscopy is also on the cards and consequently went into deep depression (again - is being manic depressive all part of being a writer?). It ruined the weekend which was a shame because Hubby and I went down to Middle Sister's for a family tea on Saturday and I was too out-of-it to really enjoy it. Anyway, along came Monday and off I toddled to the office (like Shakespeare's schoolboy 'creeping like a snail, unwilling to school') and the guy I have been PA to said "Let's go out for a coffee and a Danish." As we were sipping our cappacinos he apologised to me for the way the company have handled the redundancy. He knew it was on the cards way back in December but had been told not to tell me. In the next breath he told me he would be resigning that day and I was the first to know. By mid-afternoon, he was gone and everyone was gobsmacked - mostly the Newish MD who walked around looking like a shell-shocked soldier for the rest of the day.
On Monday evening, Youngest Sister called. She was very worried about me, said I was not my usual self on Saturday and had lost all my sparkle. She convinced me I should make an appointment at the doctor's to find out why the endoscopy/colonoscopy thing is deemed necessary when my only symptom has been the anaemia - surely the sensible thing would be to try me on iron tablets first and see if they made a difference rather than subjecting me to the two horrible tests. I rang the doctor on Tuesday and got booked in for this Friday, so I will go armed with a list of questions.
Five minutes after getting to work, yesterday, Newish MD came into my little cubby hole. I knew, as soon as he shut the door, that he was going to lay something heavy on me. With my line manager now gone, they thought they had a new role for me. Would I be interested in heading up the new Customer Services department? Chairman walked in an hour later and reiterated how desperately they now need me to stay. What would it take, they wanted to know, to achieve that? By yesterday evening, I had a written proposal in my hand which I took home to show Hubby and discuss with him. Basically it would mean working the three and a half days a week I originally suggested months and months ago. The salary would drop but there would be the prospect of bonuses which would - theoretically - more or less make up for the shortfall.
Since all I have managed to line up is one interview and there is no guarantee I will get offered the job, Hubby thinks I should accept their offer and use it until something more suitable comes along - that way I don't actually wind up jobless for any length of time. Chairman has been with me most of today tying to persuade me to stay and he is prepared to be as flexible as I like.
I'd like to actually tell them to stuff it because only last week I was told they didn't need me and now they begging me to stay. But realistically, the offer they have made consists of of a pretty good package which I probably would be a bit daft not to at least try out.
Now - dear Blogspot Buddy - add to all that the fact that Sarah the Publisher called me yesterday to say they may have to suspend the second Yuck book indefinitely because Ashley the Illustrator has let us down big time and not come forth with any further illustrations - I will perhaps be forgiven for feeling that The World And His Wife Are All Out To Get Me - what was it Kenneth williams shouted in Carry On Ceasar? "Infamy. Infamy. They've All got It in For Me."
I know just how he feels!!!!!!
Last Saturday, I received a letter from the hospital telling me I am booked in for the test on 15th May. Was shocked to learn colonoscopy is also on the cards and consequently went into deep depression (again - is being manic depressive all part of being a writer?). It ruined the weekend which was a shame because Hubby and I went down to Middle Sister's for a family tea on Saturday and I was too out-of-it to really enjoy it. Anyway, along came Monday and off I toddled to the office (like Shakespeare's schoolboy 'creeping like a snail, unwilling to school') and the guy I have been PA to said "Let's go out for a coffee and a Danish." As we were sipping our cappacinos he apologised to me for the way the company have handled the redundancy. He knew it was on the cards way back in December but had been told not to tell me. In the next breath he told me he would be resigning that day and I was the first to know. By mid-afternoon, he was gone and everyone was gobsmacked - mostly the Newish MD who walked around looking like a shell-shocked soldier for the rest of the day.
On Monday evening, Youngest Sister called. She was very worried about me, said I was not my usual self on Saturday and had lost all my sparkle. She convinced me I should make an appointment at the doctor's to find out why the endoscopy/colonoscopy thing is deemed necessary when my only symptom has been the anaemia - surely the sensible thing would be to try me on iron tablets first and see if they made a difference rather than subjecting me to the two horrible tests. I rang the doctor on Tuesday and got booked in for this Friday, so I will go armed with a list of questions.
Five minutes after getting to work, yesterday, Newish MD came into my little cubby hole. I knew, as soon as he shut the door, that he was going to lay something heavy on me. With my line manager now gone, they thought they had a new role for me. Would I be interested in heading up the new Customer Services department? Chairman walked in an hour later and reiterated how desperately they now need me to stay. What would it take, they wanted to know, to achieve that? By yesterday evening, I had a written proposal in my hand which I took home to show Hubby and discuss with him. Basically it would mean working the three and a half days a week I originally suggested months and months ago. The salary would drop but there would be the prospect of bonuses which would - theoretically - more or less make up for the shortfall.
Since all I have managed to line up is one interview and there is no guarantee I will get offered the job, Hubby thinks I should accept their offer and use it until something more suitable comes along - that way I don't actually wind up jobless for any length of time. Chairman has been with me most of today tying to persuade me to stay and he is prepared to be as flexible as I like.
I'd like to actually tell them to stuff it because only last week I was told they didn't need me and now they begging me to stay. But realistically, the offer they have made consists of of a pretty good package which I probably would be a bit daft not to at least try out.
Now - dear Blogspot Buddy - add to all that the fact that Sarah the Publisher called me yesterday to say they may have to suspend the second Yuck book indefinitely because Ashley the Illustrator has let us down big time and not come forth with any further illustrations - I will perhaps be forgiven for feeling that The World And His Wife Are All Out To Get Me - what was it Kenneth williams shouted in Carry On Ceasar? "Infamy. Infamy. They've All got It in For Me."
I know just how he feels!!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
