Weekend rolling in

Just got back from dinner and drinks with a couple of previous team members, both who have taken redundancy packages and one of my current workmates.  We had some cocktails (non-alcoholic for me) and  a really nice 3 course meal, all for half price!  It was good to catch up, one of them is travelling to Greece for 2 months and the other is taking some time-out to be a mum and not have to worry and stress about working for a while.

Ok day at work, had a few things to get done and the day went by reasonably quickly. With so many people being sick this week, it was still pretty quiet, but ok. Weekend has started, but I am getting pretty sleepy now so might call it a night. Brush my teeth and then off to bed for me! What a party animal hey!

Nearly weekend

It’s nearly the weekend and thankgoodness! Have a good weekend lined up, with a creative writing course and then a farewell lunch at Henley for a work colleague. Today I got some details on my planned Spain photography trip in August.  Sounds awesome, here’s a taste.

http://www.oceancaptureadventures.com/section238755.html

This weekend I have to book up a few nights accommodation, in London, between trips. I have a bit of couch crashing scheduled for the next couple of months with a couple of people, but still need some accomodation at a few times between trips and as part of trip to Scilly. Also, this weekend, plan is to get started working on a new CV.  And, I also have had a new idea for what to do with October, which is currently an open month (with exception of Iceland).  Will do some more research on my idea first.

So much to do.  And, now only 11 working days remaining!!

PS – I need to check what is happening in the cricket

Fighting flu

I am pretty sure I am still fighting off something, but determined to not let it beat me and hoping the symptoms continue to stay in the mild region rather than some of my workmates who have been off sick. Last night I went out with some workmates to the Bluebird cafe in South Kensington for a lovely meal. It was a farewell meal for a lady who has just left recently. Great food and the restaurant was very nice, although their attempt at a pavlova did hold a bit to be desired (more like merangue with a bit of cream and 3 raspberries…lol). Got home quite lateish after a taxi, tube and bus home, so decided not to blog. Today was very quiet at work and then I made myself go to the gym for an hour on the bike. Have to try and get back into it, as it has been about a week since I did anything with energy. Still very tired today – not helped when there is not much happening – but never mind.

Just having a bite to eat and watching The Bill now…Been raining most of the last couple of hours – summer showers – got a bit wet on the journey home, but nothing too bad. Will aim for an early night.

Free falling

In a good way, feeling like the world is opening up again. Had a very productive morning and evening. Pity about the bit in the middle, but I can accept that. Went and put my Russian visa application in this morning at the Russian visa centre. They have my application and passport now, and I should have my visa in a week’s time.  Relatively smooth, although I did have to make a couple of amend to my application, they had a computer so you could do it there and then, and they seemed to be happy with all my documentation etc. After work I had a drink with one of the people who does IT training for the company. This was part of my ‘informational interview’ phase which I have launched on, commencing with people I know and then hopefully widening the net to different people and subsequently different occupations as well. Chatted about working for yourself so self employment as well as IT a bit. Interesting and helping me generate more ideas of people to talk to as well. I have finished reading my career change book now and will go back and do some of the exercises. Have done some already, it is a very interesting and helpful book. My next step for next week will be to revitalise my CV. Rest of the day was fairly boring, but never mind – if I can achieve one thing each day I am going well. Tomorrow I am going to try and get into the exercise again (had a few days off with feeling sick and all) – early morning yoga is the plan.

Epping Forest

Epping Forest, or at least a part of it, as it is huge, was the unexpected location for the day. I had a text from Kath last night, a lady I met on a photography day and we decided to do a bit of a day trip to take some photos. I met her at Newbury Park station and then she drove to Epping where we found a nice lake in the forest to do about an hour and a half of walking and photos.  We then drove on a bit to a fabulous pub and sat outside and had a Sunday roast, OJ and lemonade (still off the booze) and then icecream and cappuccino. Fabulous and the weather held out today.

I then came home and did do my cleaning tasks, the kitchen and bathroom have both been done. I have not done any packing or consolidation of stuff yet, but I can start doing that during the week, and there is still a few more weeks before I move as well.

Has been an excellent weekend, really enjoyed both days and taken some photos and seen some new places – tick, tick, tick!  Only 3 more weeks of work left now. Bring it on.

Hampton Court Flower Show

The weather did not play ball today unfortunately, so the umbrellas were in and out and the cardigan on and off for most of the day, but Hampton Court Flower Show was another glorious day of flowers, displays, gardens and all things natural. Spent a full day at the show with a friend and we covered quite a bit of ground, but still left with plenty of other things that we could have seen. It was a fun day, we saw the flower hall, most of the garden displays and also watched a 30min catwalk show which was cool, great floral inspired clothes, hats and accessories.

My photos were a bit dissapointing as the light was terrible, and I also did not take quite as many as I did at Chelsea, because even I have to admit there are only so many shots of flowers that you can really look at…We headed back about 4:30pm, having arrived at 10am, both flowered out…so it was a full day. I came back to Waterloo and my friend went onto a friends place. Legs recovering now. Have been fighting off a virus thing for the last few days, luckily feeling a lot better, less ill in the guts but still pretty tired, so I think that it might be another early night.  A day of cleaning and packing and sorting tomorrow so absolutely nothing exciting at all, but it has to be done.

Come back summer!!

Cruisy day

Today was a very cruisy day at work. We had a morning of bits and pieces and then an afternoon picnic in the park, at Hyde Park. Had some lunch catered by M&S, drinks, some frisbee tennis and caught up with a lady from the team who has just had a baby – 4 week old. Very relaxing afternoon and great way to end the week. Only 3 more weeks for me to go now!!

It’s starting to feel very real now. I have given my notice as I mentioned at Acton, and in August I am going to be staying with a friend from work. They are going to be away quite a bit of August, so I will crash at their place while I am not away and house-sit when they are not there. They live in a different part of London so it will be fun being somewhere new and also having people around to chat to…well after work anyway…I have 2 weeks of travel booked for August and the rest I am leaving open for day trips, exploring London and maybe doing a bit more career investigation stuff…now I have started the ball rolling I am keen to keep going. I need to organise some couch crashing for end of August and for latebSept and also my travel arrangements for October. All going well, want to try and get my Russian visa organised on Monday as well.

Lots to do and the next few weeks are going to fly by I can just feel it.  Very exciting!

Icky

After what I have to say has been a very good run on the health front, I have been struggling today, with a mild gastro thing. I am really hoping it stays mild – feeling a little bit better having had some toast for dinner.  Also a bit of a headache and all week have been tired, so trying to compensate and not use all my energy up with exercise. Planning on turning the laptop off early and having an early night as well.

Tomorrow we are supposed to be having a picnic in the park from lunchtime, as a bit of a thankyou for all the hard work everyone has been doing around the last few months and I don’t want to miss out. And then the weekend, don’t want to be sick…don’t want to be sick. Fingers crossed that it is all better in the morning.

Finding answers

Firstly, I did walk to the station – risked the rain and made it without getting wet at all so that was good.  Also, although I felt really tired today and a bit icky I did do 50 mins on the bike at the gym as well.

As for the other question, way more difficult.  I have come up with 3 so far.  In no particular order

Trust

Honesty

Respect

I’m going to do a bit more thinking on these as well and maybe expand on these with some further details over the coming weeks.  But these are the 3 that have jumped to the forefront.

With a bit of encouragement from a workmate, I have started reading How to Get a Job You’ll Love and commenced on some of the planning to finding myself a career change/choice for the next 5 years. I am aiming for a bit more of a directed approach into something new, something that inspires and that meets my core values.

Important questions

I am thinking about two very important questions this morning

1. What are my Core Values. What are the key values on which I want to base my life, my career, my relationships.  What are they!

2. Should I attempt to walk to the tube station in the rain…on and off..right now quite on!

Stay tuned for the answers to both of these questions…pending