Back to work

I’ve been back a week but it feels longer.. just because so much was crammed into last week.

Started off with the usual email mountain but thankfully nearly all my 824 emails were notifications, only 20 or so were directly to me and of those 3 or 4 needed action.  The rest, as they say, happened and I’ll move on.

After day one it was a transformation meeting in the UK for our Marketing and Communications team.  Lots going on, not least I know work in Workforce and Field Enablement, rather than Internal Communications. Only one problem, explaining to everyone what that means!

End of the week I was asked to join the Managers Institute in London to talk about social media.  We have a good turn out for the Communications Clinic and some great insights – as well as some new contacts who I shall be seeing this week.  A lot of what I will be doing has probably already been shaped by what was talked about in our two sessions – the abundance of tools, the way to decide what to use and helping those not on the IBM network stay connected.

Friday was a time to get things back together and ponder what this week would bring. It was also a terrible day for the network, one of those once a year days where the things you want seem to be out of action. It allows you time to think and reflect on what you have already done. Something I think I probably need to do a little more of.

And with that I’ve decided to work a little less on the computer and take time to do other things. Spread my self a little thinker in the places I got most from last year. Getting some perspective on things will be important in the organisational changes we will see and part of that will probably mean getting out to see the conditions and situations people really find themselves in at work.

A woman’s investment

A Woman’s Investment

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Looking into the black hole

When standing on the edge of a black hole it is so tempting to jump in, even if you really don’t want to.

It seems the more you try to get out the harder it sucks you down. People talk about rational thinking and positive state of mind, how can you have these when the forces pulling are so strong and seemingly out of your hands.

The silent scream inside your head is so deafening, anything positive is hard to find or recognise even when it is found. It isn’t that you look at the bad side of things, there just isn’t any good side. Breathing is a chore.

I’d scream out loud if I could, but where is the energy? It’s only there to self destruct, just to see what would happen because the way things are they are just too painful. That is no reflection on my family – my wife and kid(s) are what I live for, what gives me the strength to get up each day.

wow… council tax reduction

The local council have just given me a £400 exemption on this years council tax because we didn’t live here for three months when we got flooded.

I just wrote one letter and they did the rest.. nice one LB of Sutton.

Saturday in town

went up into town on Saturday, something I haven’t done for ages.  Nearly always go on a Sunday.

A friend wanted to see the WestEnd Live event in Leicester square which was very busy but the rain and umbrellas made it a bit of pain.

In the end we went down to the Royal Festival Hall and walked along the South Bank to Gabriels Wharf for an iced coffee then up to Borough Market and Hays Galleria.

We also stopped at City Hall and watch the London Youth Dance event which was quite interesting.  I’m not a dance fan but it was great to see these kids doing something so productive and enjoying it.  It’s a long way from the sort of thing we may have done as kids as back then it was either sport or nothing.  Last year in Taipei we were walking along one of the underground malls and arrived at the end which had a big space in which loads of troops of kids were practicing dance moves.  This wasn’t something organised, it was just what these kids did at the weekend.  At the end of the day they would compete against each other.  I suppose it is another form of jumpers for goal posts for the X factor generation.

and then something went pop!

saturday morning I had just about had enough of the tonsillitis, it was getting more painful as one side of my throat got ever bigger.  I got up and made breakfast and was sitting, trying to read nursery rhymes to my daughter then got up for the thrid cup of tea (as that seemed to be soothing it somewhat.)

As I switched the kettle on there was a strange feeling in my neck, a release of pressure and a rather vile but glorious taste… whatever it was that was holding back the wall of pus had burst and the pain was gone (more or less).  I was so happy… the taste and smell from my mouth totally foul but the joy and relief was unbelievable.

I’d just spent the last 5 days sweating for England in bed, hardly eaten a thing and it was pretty much all over. the headaches, the earache, the constant stabbing in my throat, the endless waiting for the next batch of pain killers and the lump under my chin was getting smaller.

I was so excited on Saturday morning I went out looking at bikes instead of going to the hospital to plead they stab something in my neck to relieve the pressure.  However, I realised by 12 that I still wasn’t 100% as I collapsed in a sweaty, tired but happy heap on the bed.

I’ve never had tonsillitis like this before and hope I never do.

Tonsillitis

yes I have tonsillitis.  one very swollen neck and throat.

was at hospital until 12:30 last night, and it wasn’t even that busy.

stayed in bed today and watched just about everything on 4 On Demand (on-line)

Happy anniversary Ping – 4 years married.

Yes, it is four years now since we got married.  Since then we have moved house twice, bought our own flat and had a lovely little girl called Phoebe.

Here’s to many more Ping. Love you lots and lots. xxx

Tonight we are all going to An Nam, Vietnamese restaurant.  Not sure what we will do this weekend but the weather doesn’t look great

Have I forgotten about this place?

Pretty much, yes.

I think work and holidays just made it impossible to think about anything else.  Once I finish working I just cannot be asked to spend another minute on the pc, especially when my daughter is around and I can make play-doe sweets, paint flowers and generally make a mess.

One thing I have done is look at SecondLife, as my old laptop died, the temp replacement I go actually works in SL.  Apparently my T40 would have if only I had updated the drivers for the graphics card.. oh well, probably gave myself some extra time in real life.

So far my opinion of SecondLfe is, it’s ok, but it has a long way to go.  It appears to be a glorified web front end or chat room, nothing more.  OK if you start investing money you may get some sort of return but not everyone can…that is obvious.

The other thing has been an incredible pain in my right shoulder which has stopped me sleeping and generally made me feel terrible, grumpy and much older than I am.  Waiting to get to  the top of the physio list at the local hospital, by which time I’ll probably need an op.

Back taking the blue pills.. not so good.

building work has now started

The bathroom is almost back to how it was – the only thing to do is finish a little tiling and put the shower up.  Then the stuff we had left over we can do with the help of our little friend and not pay £319 just to put a vanity unit/sink up.

We have been allowed to get a new kitchen, which was nice.  So we have that being put in.  Now as the kitchen is a bit of a squeeze I’m hoping they can get everything in but I will wait and see.. it makes me nervous just typing about it.  What will go wrong and what won’t be done how I want it to.

You talk to these guys and try to head off problems but they just say we will deal with it when we get to it.  Then moan that they have a problem the next day,  “You didn’t tell us about that,” they say, when you tried to just that.

I can’t believe how many days I have said where the sink goes.