Monday was my non-working day. I dressed for a run, but wasn't feeling much up for it especially given how cold it was. There was a hard frost, but also the most magnificent sunrise. I dropped off the girls and then rushed out to the park for a power walk and to take some photos.
I had various things to get done, but it wasn't a particularly exciting day. Bunnykins wasn't feeling well so didn't go to netball. Mark got the tea on, and then once we had eaten, Woo had an online maths tutor session. I got myself ready for the next few days, tbh, feeling a bit trepidatious. about it all.
On Tuesday I was up with the rest of the household, but had a taxi come at 7:15am. I was catching a train to London to go work at the London office for the first time.
The walk to the office was quiet. I bumped into this fella on the way...
It was a really busy day. There was a strategy session with a client, and a nice lunch out with colleagues, and then a heap of meetings, things to do, and even an interview for a potential new recruit.
I had more meetings the following day so was booked in to a premier inn around the corner. I finished working later than I would have normally, but there was just so much to cram in. I stopped only because my head was throbbing.
I walked to the hotel and checked in. Then popped across the road to the Pappa John's. I really was not feeling fussy. I sat and waited for a small pepperoni pizza to take away.
I got to my room, set down my things, got into my pjs and spent the evening on the bed watching trash TV (escape to the country will do nicely thanks).
On Wednesday morning, I got up at a reasonable time, got ready and had breakfast.
Then got my stuff and walked back to the office.
I couldn't work at the office, but had made arrangements to work in space also owned by the renting organisation. The morning was a bit weird, I was working in a shared breakout space, surrounded by lots of people I didn't know who were getting on with their day to day. I had my annual review, which was positive, but I did end up in tears, more from talking about how stressed I still find myself.
I slept better than I expected, but not brilliantly.
In the afternoon, my team turned up. We had a load of shenanigan's getting up to our rented meeting room, getting stuck in and out of lifts and lobbies for 15 minutes trying to find the right floor and wrestling with a lift that could only be operated by a code (takes time to put it in), but could be called by users of the building (who have a card) while we were still trying to put the code in.
Anyway, we had our team meeting which included a bit of team building. Tim had suggested we make a board game based on one of the models of work we do. I thought it was a great idea, so had brought craft materials with me.
It was good fun, and we got the game completed ready to take it over to meet with the wider analyst team and to give to Alan who is an analyst who was leaving and loves board games.
With government announcements about Omnicron, our MD had sent out an e-mail cancelling Christmas gatherings. The e-mail came out about 11am that day, when we were already all assembled or traveling. The plan had been that after our meetings, the CM team (my team) was going to meet with the analysts and go to the pub and play board games. In the end we had to change plans, but we still got a chance to meet up and say hey at the office. It was such a strange thing to meet so many people that to date I had only seen online and had developed relationships with.
It is interesting as to what is the protocol. In olden days, a similar situation might be meeting a pen pal that you had only corresponded with at a distance. When you finally get to meet, it would probably be quite emotional, a big deal. There would be hugs and vigorous hand shakes. But we are in new times, both the requirements of social distancing and the sheer volume of these new relationships, mean that this hugging option isn't appropriate. So instead, we go for awkward yet enthusiastic hellos.
Anyway, I was booked onto a late train, but with the changes I moved the booking forward. I thought I had left plenty of time, but the tube journey seemed to take forever, and I soon got the sinking feeling that it was going to be close. My train was due to leave at 48 minutes past the hour. At 45 minutes past the hour I was struggling through the crowd to the top of the Bakerloo line at Paddington. I had already run up a set of stairs, and with my mask on and heavy bags, the sight of the last set of stairs weighed on the reserves I had left. I raced up to the concourse. My train wasn't on the boards anymore. I looked at the rows of trains at the various platforms. I got through the barriers and saw one close to me that some people were running to. I decided to take a punt, there was no clue what it was apart from the fact that people were rushing to it. I ran along the platform. I could see a train official and as I passed I called out "is this the train to Parkway?", he said yes. I jumped on the open door into First Class. The doors closed behind me. I was so pleased to have made it.
(Bunnykin's cakes from Food and Nutrition)
I then walked back home and grabbed my uke stuff. Our one gig this year was at the café in the park. Tbh, it was a bit pants, we weren't much rehearsed and our sound was a bit loud and flat. I didn't enjoy it. I felt my singing was OK, but I still felt rather exposed. I mean, I know I get myself in these situations. But overall I would rather try and fail. So hey hum!
I went home to check on Mark, then popped out again to pick up some groceries, seeing some biker Santas passing by.
I spent a while tidying around the kitchen and back room. I ordered take-away. But they delivered the wrong order. They did eventually bring our order (having to re-cook it). Bunnykins has been sketching away. She is really into drawing Manga style cartoons and does really well at it. She is copying from Pinterest templates, but all the copying is by eye and I am super impressed with how precise she is and also the concentration she has.
Us snacking on crisps while we wait for the food...
Bunnykins still drawing...
We watched Avengers Infinity War. It was quite a somber ending. Bunnykins was still drawing when she went to bed.
On Sunday I took the girls across to volunteer at park run. Bunnykins was still drawing...
I got to sneak a picture when she left it on the kitchen table...
Mark was laid up. Jason and M were at the park. They came over to say hello after the Park Run. The girls and I put the tree up.
I hadn't been keen to put up decorations with everything being so messy already. But once we got it up, (and had tidied up the room a bit more), I was really pleased to see it all out. It was lovely to see the old decorations. Our decorations were bought when Woo was a baby - all orange, which I love. They include kooky things like these bearded little men...
On Thursday I worked at home. I was glad to be home. Before I started work I decided to look something up. The previous day I had had a conversation about when the first time was that I came to London. I had talked about coming to university and meeting my friend Rochelle. Rochelle was amazed to find that I had never gone to London. For the October, she arranged for us to go to London together on the bus and she also got us tickets to be in the audience of Top of the Pops. At the time, I recorded the episode. For the number one that week, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Rochelle and I could be seen at the side of the stage, over on the right (if you are facing the stage). I had said (when having this conversation about the experience) that I bet there is no YouTube video with it. But then I had mulled over this and thought I would check....and here it is...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lClEH2L15kc
Ben was over on Thursday evening, we recorded a few videos of our Christmas stuff including two new ones.
I was working on Friday. I was supposed to be in Bristol and then out in the evening for the Bristol social, but this had been cancelled. Tbh, I was glad. This meant that Mark ended up working in the workshop which is a bit chilly at this time of year. I thought he looked like a sports commentator....
I had been thinking about how work was feeling for me. I had come up with a metaphor that works really well. I am on a trawler, trying to get my work done on already rough seas. While I am trying to run around and deal with the main catch, there is a huge tuna landed on the deck. It is thrashing around and I haven't brought it under control. By the end of the day, I had spent some time checking that big fish out and making a plan for how I deal with it. It felt better, though I am still at full pelt to keep everything running.
On Saturday I got up and got ready. I was going to meet Hannah at a new café in Downend. Just before I left the house, I found Mark in the front room with his leg elevated, suffering with the pain, and with his knee quite swollen. He assured me he was OK. I told the girls to check on him - which they duly did.
I had a lovely time catching up with Hannah and our breakfast was lovely.
The finished article...
I spent the afternoon wrapping some presents and chilling out in the front room.
We all watched Avengers End Game. It was gripping. We bought a box set of the Marvel universe quite a while ago - it has been another shared experience. It has been nice knowing what we are all going to sit down to watch and all being interested and keen to get to the next one.
There is more I would like to write this week, but I am shattered. There is too much to cram in, so this will have to do.
No comments:
Post a Comment