Not sure what the strike numbers were, but I was in bed until 09:45, so I wasn't on a picket. News from Mr Capps suggests Clevedon had a good result though.

I went out to Priory School, my old alma mater if you will, to collect my GCSE certificates that I didn't collect in 1997 - though I was relieved to see I'm not the only one, I only saw the late T's to Z's but there was a fairly nice portion of unsigned boxes. The old place has changed, they've built the retail park around the school, including an Argos and McDonalds off the grounds, and a lot of school land has been sold off, they are also renovating the buildings and putting up new structures. Some things remain the same though, it was a bit unusual.

But, hooray for certificate collection!

Also, had a txt waiting on my new mobile from John, which is nice to be looked out for.



Mission 101 :

• 069. Get either replacement certificates or letters of acknowledgement for all my GCSE passes

Probably Tim's fault, but for some reason I had a Batman, Superman and Dragonball Z themed dream last night, which was weird but unremarkable.

This morning, after eight days online, I decided to shut down and reboot my PC. It is a good thing I did, because it started up my Gmail Notifier and I had an email from 12 January from the Local Education Authority passing my request on and giving me a named contact for my certificates. This is quite a good moment, I'm so much closer now to getting my resume pack filled.

Have last nights Channel 5 episodes of CSI to watch. I really need to get all of them and just watch a marathon. Apparently I also need to do the same for Smallville, The O.C., Lost, MagiRanger and a few tonnes of anime. I'd actually like to see a serialisation of Bruce Wayne growing up and learning his skills, kind of Hercules : The Legendary Journeys or Mortal Kombat.

Ok, I'll get the rotten stuff out the way first, because the day has had highlights!!

Firstly, I forgot to mention my suggestion for music in the staff letters column didn't get posted. I'm not upset by this, as I realise it might be a slightly right-wing view - in the way Alan B'stard was slightly dishonourable. Still, when I rule...

Secondly, the IT system meant to replace a shitload (metric, not imperial) of administrative staff has been delayed until December 2006, it was originally scheduled for Spring 2004.

Thirdly, the 'net I've worked on is to be centralised, this isn't a shock or distressing, because I had said for years that it should be managed that way and now they can achieve it. The only downside is the shitload (again metric) of files I'll have to review and the lack of a central structure with under 3 months remaining. Still, as Darrell would say it's an SEP (Someone Else's Problem) now.

Then I had the ridiculous conversation of a member of staff trying to apply for an external job, and left wondering not so much how they ever got recruited or promoted above me, but how they remember to eat and breathe without a flowchart. Seriously, you can't forget whether you had an appraisal, it's what leads to you get a bonus, and it's the rules that you keep your own records and access your attendance, there are desk aids on it in our file library - I know there are, I wrote them and published them, I also laminated them and stuck them on your noticeboard people (just because it's covered by a picture of the Crazy Frog now does not excuse anything)! Oh, and it's not exactly leaving a good impression to complain at your potential employers HR section because they don't explain what each form they refer to does - it is not important, it just means 'you will do form checking'. It was about an hour of my life, overall, wasted. On the plus side, I don't think I have to worry in any internal recruitment competition.

The plus side though...
I got my earcuff through the post this morning, and I'm quite happy with it. It's fairly subtle, being silver and it's got a nice bit of detail on it. I also can't feel it, it just rests nicely.

Hmm, I do need a shave, haven't since last week. Flash really bleaches and then yellows skin. Still not sure what to do about the hair.

But, yay for earcuff!

Had a really fun conversation about interior design with Tink last night, previously I may have felt emasculated from it, but having someone like Sarah confirm what seems stylish actually is something to be proud of. But, like I pointed out to Sarah, I wouldn't bother buying things now while in this place, I'd rather start fresh and make a place my own. But, mmm, was sounding very nice. Maybe I have some taste, or else more of that osmosis of feminine mind is rubbing off when outnumbered in the office...

Oh, and though I'll probably go into it more later...RESPECT...seriously, everyone has to be nice in the UK, it's almost like a law now...we are so almost CANADIAN!

Also, I'd like to say how nice staff are in girly clothes shops. They are ever so helpful to guys with lost and helpless looks on their face, and they do know absolutely everything from vaguest of details - which is great, because guy clothes shopping requires three details : item type, colour, size; girl clothes shopping requires intricate knowledge of the history of costume and fashion in the ancient to renaissance periods. But seriously, greatness is a sales girl who asks questions a guy can answer.

---

Mission 101 :

• 017. Buy a tasteful, subtle earcuff (10/01/2006 - Sterling Silver Ear cuff)

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* Interestingly, there is a church clock tower almost directly opposite the opposite, with a view into their room.

So, I went out tonight with some folk from the office. To be honest, I wasn't too interested and only went because I promised Heth I'd split a 2-for-1 meal with her, which of course she had had with someone else before I arrived.

On the way, I bumped into Dave J, and asked if he was going to join us in getting leg-less, he told me he couldn't because he was just getting over surgery. Knee surgery. D'oh.

We met in The Dragon, a Wetherspoons in Weston, I stuck with a crowd (Heth, Rob, Richard, Jack, James, Ian, Pat, Gary, Clifford, and Mark) for most of the evening. It was great to see old, familiar faces: James who left Finance to study at Exeter Uni; Jack who moved from IB to the Citizens Advice Bureau; Mark who works in the Library now; and, Gary who used to be my manager when I did Housing Benefit.

Oh, and it was identified that I'm considered 'one of the girls'; could anything make a guy more depressed? I'm so trusted, nice, etc...oh, and lovely was interjected there too.

I think, had anyone there added anything about 'good personality' or 'sense of humour' as well, following the discussion some of the girls were having the other day in the stairwell about the value and the meaning of those 'assets' were (ie. a complete redundancy) then I'd have probably drunk a lot more. Though, it is refreshing to hear the truth, rather than spoon-fed pap about being able to 'compete' with personality in place of appearance.

We later moved to The Regency, of course, I was slightly ditched when Heth asked me to get her a coke, I was made to wait 15 minutes because of the crowd and busty blondes, and when I got back to the table nearly everyone, Heth included, had sodded off. At The Regency, watched Richard and Lisa vs. Pat and Rob in pool, while also acting as referee for Gary and Mark's game of table football (fussball), because Mark was obviously rigging the ball loading.

Got a few snaps in.

Only had a bottle of Smirnoff Ice and a few sips of beer, but everything tasted like either flavoured piss or heavy, dirty water. I left early at 22:00, which seemed like the earliest polite opportunity, because they were changing venue again. Got a hug and pecked cheek from Heth and Liz, and a firm, manly hug from Richard.

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Mission 101 :

• 042. Accept being photographed and try to get photographed with as many friends as possible (23/12/2005 - Me and Heth)
  
• 046. Get hugged or cuddled five times each year (2005 - 01 Hugs - 02/12 Heth [x2], 16/12 Nat, 23/12 Heth [x2], Liz, Richard)
  

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To say I am impressed with Weston College is an understatement. I wrote to them and hand delivered my letter to reception on Wednesday and despite the Christmas delays on post, I got a reply back this morning. Obviously they didn't still have my certificates, but they told me the awarding body, the centre number and the details of the actual issue date.

Unfortunately, according to the request form from the awarding body "AQA will not, under any circumstances, issue certificates where originals have been lost or mislaid or for those that have not been claimed" (my empthasis), this is regretable but they can issue a statement of results to candidates for personal reference, which is an official document and can be presented in place of a certificate. £32.30, which is about £60 less than I was expecting to pay per certificate.

Now, I just need to hear back from the Local Authority, and I can work out an order schedule - best or most commonly requested first.

Got another free bottle of wine this morning, a Merlot. What a shame. I really will need that corkscrew, those stoppers and some glasses soon.



Mission 101 :

• 069. Get either replacement certificates or letters of acknowledgement for all my GCSE passes

Friday, I got up to Exeter fairly easily despite the cattle-like cramping of the Virgin Voyager (that's a train, not a nickname), arrived at St. Davids at 17:45 and got a lift to Tink's just after 18:00, and we had a cup of tea and a nice chat while waiting for Tom, Nat and John to turn up.

John arrived first, and I was glad to see him, after last weekend I'd really enjoyed talking to him and he is a genuinely nice guy to know. We all had a fun chat on population control, benefit claimants and breeders, until Tom and Nat joined us. I got a hug from Nat (aww!) and then we sorted out the Chinese meal, which despite Nat's suggestion that I ordered five courses for myself was a 'buffet' idea, and cracked open the wine.

The food was great value, such large portions it was awe-inspiring and the food was gorgeous - except after it had been left out a few hours and then it was 'not so good'.

The squirrel bit was kind of amusing, where I was in trouble for not bringing it and it was Sarah teasing herself as to where I hadn't hidden it! I just hope Sarah wasn't too upset by it.

Slight drama during the evening, and I apologise to Sarah and John for my bit again. No excuse to be made just my sincere apologies.

Once again, it was John and I as last people up, and still fairly logically speaking I hope.

I was up fairly early, mainly because I had fairly broken sleep. I'm not sure whether I can't sleep after alcohol or whether I can't sleep the first night in a strange place. Though I felt tired, I was ok though, no feeling of ill!

Got to spend more time chatting to John and Sarah in the early afternoon , and with Sarah until we had to depart. Despite having to run back, we got to St Davids in perfect time for me to catch my train, and Sarah was off on her way to Highbridge.

Also, managed to give Sarah her cabling for PC to Stereo, so hoping that will work out. Though, I'm sure we said 'a hug and a smile', though I did get a very rewarding smile, so it does even out.

All in all, I had a great weekend and I'm really grateful to Sarah for inviting me, John for his non-dumbed down technical ideas, and Tom and Nat for a few good laughs.

The Friday rolled through until 15:30 when Jaqs picked me up, a little late, and we got stuck at the Munro garage in Bleadon when they couldn't use the card machine for petrol, so unfortunately we didn't get to the Hollywood Bowl until 16:30 and so missed the first game of bowling. However, I managed to get a shot in the second game. My score was greatly increased since Wednesday, I didn't break 100, but I didn't come in last.

 

Name	1		2		3		4		5		6		7		8		9		10			Score
Pam	9	-	6	-	4	4	7	2	3	5	-	6	1	1	-	/	6	3	3	4		80
	9		15		23		32		40		46		48		64		73		80
Maggie	1	-	5	1	1	-	3	-		X	9	-	-	-	9	-		X	-	-		58
	1		7		8		11		30		39		39		48		58		58
Simon	9	-	8	-	7	-	1	5		X	3	5	9	/		X	-	3	3	-		95
	9		17		24		30		48		56		76		89		92		95
Gary	8	1	8	-	4	/	8	/	-	5	8	-	1	5	8	/		X	-	/	6	120
	9		17		35		45		50		58		64		84		104		120
Annie	6	-	3	-	4	-	6	-	-	9	4	/	5	-	7	1	-	3	9	-		68
	6		9		13		19		28		43		48		56		59		68
Chris	-	7	-	3		X	-	9	7	/	3	-	9	-	1	-	-	-	-	-		64
	7		10		29		38		51		54		63		64		64		64
																						485

Pam covered our bill, so I was spared some cash.

The meal at the Hankridge Arms was great afterwards, starting with Potato Wedges with cheese, mushrooms and bacon, and followed by 6oz Rump Steak, chips, peas and grilled tomato. It was divine. The Reverse Secret Santa was amusing with Gary and Simon trying to work out who bought what present for themselves, especially with the very frilly underwear.

I took photos, but still have to sort them out.

Pam gave Si and I a lift to the station, which saved taxi fare. It took a while to get to Taunton station, but I finally got a train (and saved more when they never came round to sell tickets) and arrived in Exeter at 21:45, with the wonderfully patient Tink waiting for me (::squeeeeze::).

On the way to Tom's we tried to stop off at Sainsbury's for nibbles, but they chose that time to lock the door, so we just continued our journey. Met John when I got to Tom's place, and he really was a nice guy with a lot of knowledge, and in passing saw random relatives of Tom's over the weekend. Enjoyed a chat until about 5:30-6:00, accompanied by wine and profiteroles; and yes, three glasses of wine made me feel rotten...I'm a very cheap lush! Somehow my squirrel managed to stowaway, he's a very sneaky character.

Slept for periods of two hours, waking occasionally to hear Tom typing or playing games, and then had a wonderful wake up call/vision in the morning!

Sarah gave me a lift back to the station in Exeter for 12:00, along with Tom and John, and I headed back to Weston.

It was great, I love hanging out with Sarah, and Tom, and now John. I'm looking forward to the next time.

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Mission 101 :

• 041. Have a candlelight dinner with someone (not necessarily a romantic one)(10/12/05 LDS Team Meal at Hankridge Arms)

Yesterday I ran out of work, so came home early. My new camera had arrived, so woo.

Today, I ran out of work, so came home early. On route I stopped off to check my bowling before Friday. I's a good thing that at the moment I can laugh at myself, because come Friday everyone else will!

Frame 01 5 1

"Woot", thought I as my first roll actually knocked pins down, maybe I wasn't as bad as I thought. How young and naive I was.

Frame 02 - -
Frame 03 - -
Frame 04 - -

I decided to change my ball from a 12 Large to a 10 Large.

Frame 05 1 -
Frame 06 - 3
Frame 07 - -
Frame 08 5 /

"Spare!!" thought I, chuffed that it would bring my score up in the last throes of death.

Frame 09 - -

D'oh!

Frame 10 6 -
Score : 26

Ehh, dammit. But I'm still looking forward to Friday. It's a day off, followed by bowling, followed by a nice meal, followed by Tink, Tom and other folk!

Had a really good, laid back evening at the office Christmas meal. I got out to the Commodore at about 19:35 and met up with Heth, Janet Q (Scottish and funny), Gilly (from Fraud) and her husband, and Frank. Dave J remembered a drink he owed me from taping T4 on the Beach for his daughter, so I got a free pint of Diet Coke. It was quite busy out there, but still pleasant.

I ended up sat for the meal with Gilly and her husband, Margaret (Visits) and her husband, Liz (Visits), Lisa and her husband (named Chris, also Liz's brother). It was highly enjoyable. Chris was a very funny guy with some great stories and remarks, and Liz and Lisa were great fun. We were quite amused by our crackers, especially after I found the link of New Years suicides - in the characters there was a fact about January 1st and one kept getting repeated of a physicist dying, then the gifts were plastic skeletons and a pencil sharpener, or as I pointed out a razor blade (which was slightly rusted and a bit red) and Chris looked for the mini screwdriver set that usually gets thrown in.

The food was amazing. I had the Prawn Salad to start, and we were all surprised when the salads included a load of small prawns and one full king size with head and legs, but I resolved that he died happy 'just look at the smile on his face'. Main course was an absolutely amazing portion of beef sirloin; I passed on my favourite, roast potatoes, and only took the last dribbles of gravy to let everyone else get some - I was happy with the sauté potatoes and everyone enjoyed theirs too. The dessert was Profiteroles in chocolate sauce and was so light and fluffy.

When the dancing started I left for the back bar, not through reluctance to boogie, but because it was crowded and I couldn't see for the smoke machine. So, I got Frank and myself a drink and joined Nonie and Kath for a chat, we were soon joined by others and had a good laugh. Frank has a very Brum sense of humour, with shameless bluntness, and others just provide the two of us with ammunition for responses.

I imbibed no alcohol the evening, and only had a pint and a half of Diet Coke; I also think I saved myself a good deal of money. I didn't get photographed, because the only opportunity was while eating and I'm not that comfortable with that. I also got another hug from Heth, not sure if it counts towards the mission though.

So that's one Christmas party down; one party, a knees up, and a potential hanging out remaining.

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Mission 101 :

• 046. Get hugged or cuddled five times each year (2005 - 01 Hugs - 02/12 Heth [x2])

Had a great night talking with Sarah and Scott last night over Skype, even more of a whoop as the Beta 2.0 is out with built in webcam - despite no-one else having it.

I got to sleep late but happy, and was awake fairly early even if not up, and I had a half-day so things worked out. Had a dream of Scott and Sarah sat on a couch watching tv while I was sitting on the floor with a laptop saying I was 'writing my novels' though the screen showed some cartoony Guild Wars thing.

I got hugged by Heth in the office, after being reassuring and pleasant.

Need to have a shave and freshen up mid-afternoon and await a taxi at 19.30 for the office meal.

I'm still feeling perhaps the most relieved I've felt since I was in college, there are people I talk to and who talk to me, who seem willing to hang out and who at the least always express pleasantries. It's more indirectly through their presence and nature, than directly through words, that makes me feel better about myself and everything. The fact these people (like Scott(s), Sarah, and Tom & Nat) are hot/sexy/gorgeous, fun and interesting really makes me glad that they accept me; they rox like a fox.

I need to do some alterations on my journal at some point too, which should be 'creative'.

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Mission 101 :

• 046. Get hugged or cuddled five times each year (2005 - 01 Hugs - 02/12 Heth)