It's the time of year when we traditionally look back at the last 12 months and forward to the New Year. So here are my highlights and lowlights of 2009 and things to anticipate in 2010.
January - We woke up on the first day of 2009 in Sutton on Sea, Lincolnshire. We spent New Year's eve with Jayne's brother Ian and his wife Irene, their son Dan and his wife Clare. We went to a rather bizarre party and played some interesting games!! Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States on 20th January. I was really excited about this - we had stayed up all night to see the election results the previous November. I shared the hopes of many Americans for a new and different type of politics in that country. My musical hero, Bruce Springsteen, performed at the "We are One" concert during the inauguration celebrations. Here's a link to the inaugural address on The White House website http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/inaugural-address/.
February - We went to our good friends and neighbours, Mike and Jacquie, to watch the Super Bowl XLIII. We supported the Pittsburgh Steelers because that is where another of my music favourites, Joe Grushecky, is from. The final score was Pittsburgh Steelers 27 - Arizona Cardinals 23 - so we were happy with the result and also that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band provided the half time entertainment. Towards the end of the month Jayne went for a routine mammogram - because she had reached a certain age!!
March - the 12th is etched in my memory as the day we found out Jayne had breast cancer. I was scared, we both cried but Jayne told me that she wasn't going to die. Well that's OK then!! Not sure I really believed that at the time. Anyway we saw the surgeon and found out what was going to happen - we were initally told that Jayne's operation would be on 21st April - my birthday (this subsequently changed). When Jayne was asked if she had any questions all she could come up with was " Will I be well enough to see go and see Bruce Springsteen at Hyde Park on 28th June and in Dublin in July"!!! Also this month we met up with my old school friend, John Brown and his wife. We hadn't seen each other for nearly 40 years since we left school in 1969.
April - Jayne went in to hospital on 6th.
May - had a short break in Sutton on Sea at Jayne's brothers. Did a bit of walking around Louth. Had family round for a curry night to remember Dad's birthday - becoming a tradition.
June - Jayne started radiotherapy and finished just in time for us to go and see Bruce Springsteen at Hard Rock Calling in Hyde Park (London) on 28th. Brilliant, first time we had been to a music festival thingy. Not too sure about the Dave Matthews Band - could have done without them - but there were loads of people there who really liked them.
July - our long awaited trip to Dublin for two Bruce Springsteen shows at the RDS Arena. The weather wasn't very good - it rained most of the time. The two shows were fantastic and we met up with some new friends from Greasy Lake - Sinead, Ceinwen and Hywell. Enjoyed a drop of the "black stuff" on Temple Bar. Jayne went back to work on 27th.
August - another break at the seaside in Sutton on Sea this month. Finally finished my "father of the bride" speech for my daughter's wedding on 28th. Work meeting in London to be told that our jobs are going and our is likely to be privatised - felt really awful and still do.
September - quiet month. Jayne's birthday, we both took time off work and went to Whitelocks for fish and chips. Had hoped to get a pint or two of Black Sheep but they didn't have it!!
October - went to Mike and Jacquie's on Halloween. Sat round their chiminea in the back garden eating beef stew and drinking brandy to keep warm.
November - New York yee hee. Two Bruce shows at Madison Square Garden, trip to New Jersey (Asbury Park and Freehold), lots of sightseeing in NYC. Brilliant week - want to go back. The second night at MSG was the best Bruce show I have seen - The River night. Met up with Sinead, Steve, Ceinwen and Hywell and had great time with them in New Jersey. Back home to reality. Day out with my bro (Trevor) for his birthday - pub crawl in Leeds - lots of real ales. Another work meeting in London - jobs still being privatised!! Went with Paul, Allyson, Janet and Joan to the champagne bar at St Pancras.
December - spent Christmas at home. Dinner at our house with brother Trevor, sister in law Val and nephew Chris. Good food, drink and playing on the Wii. Worked in between Christmas and New Year. Went to Sutton on Sea to spend New Years Eve with Ian and Irene. So started and finished 2009 at Sutton.
In many ways this was the worst and best of years. Looking forward to 2010 with some anxiety - Jayne's hospital check up in March, uncertainty about my job, which as I write is due to be privatised at the end of June. So here's to a good 2010 for everyone - especially my blog followers. Happy New Year.
Monday 28 December 2009
Saturday 24 October 2009
Nostalgia
Saturday morning - just listened as usual to Sounds of The Sixties. Bit of a tradition - the weekend wouldn't be the same without it. I am quite nostalgic really - but apart from that I still really enjoy listening to sixties music. The weather is cold and damp with mizzely rain that soaks in to your clothes.
This week saw a milestone in my working life - I started my first proper job at the Inland Revenue in Bradford on 20 October 1969 - and have now completed 40 years for the same employer. No gold watch, no thank you letter and definitely NO BONUS payment. Instead I am losing my job - which is being privatised next year. So I am being forced in to a career change or I could choose to take early retirment. Sadly at the moment this isn't financially viable. With just over three years to work I'm sure I can manage to do whatever I end up with - but I must admit to feeling rather sad and hugely disappointed at the way me and my colleagues have been treated. I am over the anger now - honest.
I left school - Cow Close County Secondary - in July 1969 with two GCE's and five CSE's - obviously an underachiever as my school reports are littered with "could do better", "must try harder". Clearly the teachers could see potential in me that didn't materialise. My first paid job after leaving school was at John Colliers (mens outfitters) in Horsforth, Leeds. I worked in the cloth stock room. My job was to pick the rolls of the cloth for the cutters to cut out the suit lengths and then return the rolls to their rightful place in stock room. My granddad (Joe) also worked there - he was passed retirment age by then but was employed to sweep up and keep the stock room floors clear etc.
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the GAP retail store. They are doing a promotion selling shirts and jeans etc in the style of 1969. I couldn't resist - I'm now the proud owner of a pair of slimline denims - exactly like I wore in my youth - the waist band is only slightly larger!! I can wear these with my baseball boots - didn't have a pair of those back in the day though. So maybe I am regressing - reliving my lost yoof!!
Life is full of coincidences - Leeds United won the First Division title in 1969 and here we are 40 years later and they are top of the First Division again!!!
My favourite songs from 1969 - Blackberry Way (The Move); Something In The Air (Thunderclap Newman); Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival); First Of May (Bee Gees); and Saved By The Bell (Robin Gibb).
What else happened in 1969 - the moon landing of course in July; Golda Meir becomes the first female prime minister of Israel; British troops arrive in Northern Ireland to reinforce the Royal Ulster Constabulary; the very first U.S. troop withdrawals are made from Vietnam; the Woodstock Festival begins in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era; Monty Python's Flying Circus first airs on British Television.
What will our children and grandchildren look back on in 40 years time - Barack Obama first black American President is inaugurated; swine flu virus classifeid as a pandemic; longest recession in Britain since records began in the 1950's; Michael Jackson dies; Sri Lankan Civil War ends after more than 25 years of conflict; Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
We're off to the seaside today - to see Jayne's brother, Ian and his wife Irene. Maybe we will get to the beach chalet and watch the world go by - probably with the wind gusting, the rain lashing and the sea raging. What is it with British fascination about the seaside - perhaps it's because we live on an island.
Thought for Tomorrow - You know you're getting old when you decide to procrastinate but never get round to it.
This week saw a milestone in my working life - I started my first proper job at the Inland Revenue in Bradford on 20 October 1969 - and have now completed 40 years for the same employer. No gold watch, no thank you letter and definitely NO BONUS payment. Instead I am losing my job - which is being privatised next year. So I am being forced in to a career change or I could choose to take early retirment. Sadly at the moment this isn't financially viable. With just over three years to work I'm sure I can manage to do whatever I end up with - but I must admit to feeling rather sad and hugely disappointed at the way me and my colleagues have been treated. I am over the anger now - honest.
I left school - Cow Close County Secondary - in July 1969 with two GCE's and five CSE's - obviously an underachiever as my school reports are littered with "could do better", "must try harder". Clearly the teachers could see potential in me that didn't materialise. My first paid job after leaving school was at John Colliers (mens outfitters) in Horsforth, Leeds. I worked in the cloth stock room. My job was to pick the rolls of the cloth for the cutters to cut out the suit lengths and then return the rolls to their rightful place in stock room. My granddad (Joe) also worked there - he was passed retirment age by then but was employed to sweep up and keep the stock room floors clear etc.
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the GAP retail store. They are doing a promotion selling shirts and jeans etc in the style of 1969. I couldn't resist - I'm now the proud owner of a pair of slimline denims - exactly like I wore in my youth - the waist band is only slightly larger!! I can wear these with my baseball boots - didn't have a pair of those back in the day though. So maybe I am regressing - reliving my lost yoof!!
Life is full of coincidences - Leeds United won the First Division title in 1969 and here we are 40 years later and they are top of the First Division again!!!
My favourite songs from 1969 - Blackberry Way (The Move); Something In The Air (Thunderclap Newman); Bad Moon Rising (Creedence Clearwater Revival); First Of May (Bee Gees); and Saved By The Bell (Robin Gibb).
What else happened in 1969 - the moon landing of course in July; Golda Meir becomes the first female prime minister of Israel; British troops arrive in Northern Ireland to reinforce the Royal Ulster Constabulary; the very first U.S. troop withdrawals are made from Vietnam; the Woodstock Festival begins in upstate New York, featuring some of the top rock musicians of the era; Monty Python's Flying Circus first airs on British Television.
What will our children and grandchildren look back on in 40 years time - Barack Obama first black American President is inaugurated; swine flu virus classifeid as a pandemic; longest recession in Britain since records began in the 1950's; Michael Jackson dies; Sri Lankan Civil War ends after more than 25 years of conflict; Israel completes its withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.
We're off to the seaside today - to see Jayne's brother, Ian and his wife Irene. Maybe we will get to the beach chalet and watch the world go by - probably with the wind gusting, the rain lashing and the sea raging. What is it with British fascination about the seaside - perhaps it's because we live on an island.
Thought for Tomorrow - You know you're getting old when you decide to procrastinate but never get round to it.
Monday 5 October 2009
Lost in Cyberspace
Floating, floating, somewhere in cyberspace. Isolated and lost. How can I reconnect to all things earthly. It feels like I am cut off from the rest of my family and friends. Withdrawal symptoms. Don't know what's happening to anyone anymore. It feels weird, strange.
The cause of my unease, anxiety and frustration......I haven't been able to log in to Facebook since Saturday. Have I been "blackballed" - I've deleted those offending cookies but still no joy. Can FB really still be doing site maintenance.
What did I do before FB - used the telephone or email of course. That seems so passe now.
How the world has changed - social networking is now at a new level. But I'm hooked. I imagine that there are more people collecting friends than there are people collecting stamps - more "Penny Black" friends on FB.
Jayne said to me it's strange that when we meet someone in the street or at work and they ask how we are we most often reply "fine", "OK". However on FB we seem to want to tell the world when we are not fine, not OK, when we are ill.
Who's winning at Bejeweled Blitz - no need to ask really - it will be my sister, Susan of course. Who's posted new photographs. Who's crops need harvesting and fish need flushing or feeding. Who's the latest tough guy in Mafia wars. What's the latest quiz doing the rounds. Will I have any new friends. This got me thinking what the noun for collecting friends might be - here are some suggestions:-
socialallergy - preferring online friends
mateorology - collecting friends who only talk about being under the weather
relatvity - all your friends are family
phillately - all your friends are call Phil - not to be confused with stamp collecting
Technology changes so fast. I heard on the radio the other day from some "techie guy" that in the near future all TV programmes will be delivered via the Internet and not television sets. We will not sit down at 7.30pm to watch "Corrie" as dictated by the TV schedulers - instead we will watch what we want, when we want - viewing on demand on your computer. I know we can get TV programmes that way already - BBC iPlayer and 4 On Demand for example. I also regularly listen to radio on the net - either live or "listen again".
Change or get left behind.
OK drama over for now - taking refuge in my new hobby of blogging. I don't have the poetry and imagery of Jaxter in her Jottings (it's really not boring Jax). Just some rambling drivel I'm afraid.
So I'm sat here with Jayne listening to Rosanne Cash's new CD - The List. A selection of country songs suggested to Rosanne by her dad Johnny Cash back in the summer of 1973. He described them as their musical genealogy. Why did we buy it.....one of the songs is a duet with Bruce Springsteen!!!
Jayne spent the weekend setting up her online shop to sell her handmade Christmas tree ornaments. This is called Ohchristmastree and can be found via the following link http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8181181
There are more items to add so put the link in your favourites and keep checking what's on offer - you can also buy something if you want!!
Not being on FB so much has also meant that I have been reading more over the last couple of days - Harlan Coben "Promise Me". I like HC - if you haven't tried him yet he's worth a try.
Thought for Tomorrow: Modern art - if it hangs on a wall it's a painting; if you can walk round it it's a sculpture.
The cause of my unease, anxiety and frustration......I haven't been able to log in to Facebook since Saturday. Have I been "blackballed" - I've deleted those offending cookies but still no joy. Can FB really still be doing site maintenance.
What did I do before FB - used the telephone or email of course. That seems so passe now.
How the world has changed - social networking is now at a new level. But I'm hooked. I imagine that there are more people collecting friends than there are people collecting stamps - more "Penny Black" friends on FB.
Jayne said to me it's strange that when we meet someone in the street or at work and they ask how we are we most often reply "fine", "OK". However on FB we seem to want to tell the world when we are not fine, not OK, when we are ill.
Who's winning at Bejeweled Blitz - no need to ask really - it will be my sister, Susan of course. Who's posted new photographs. Who's crops need harvesting and fish need flushing or feeding. Who's the latest tough guy in Mafia wars. What's the latest quiz doing the rounds. Will I have any new friends. This got me thinking what the noun for collecting friends might be - here are some suggestions:-
socialallergy - preferring online friends
mateorology - collecting friends who only talk about being under the weather
relatvity - all your friends are family
phillately - all your friends are call Phil - not to be confused with stamp collecting
Technology changes so fast. I heard on the radio the other day from some "techie guy" that in the near future all TV programmes will be delivered via the Internet and not television sets. We will not sit down at 7.30pm to watch "Corrie" as dictated by the TV schedulers - instead we will watch what we want, when we want - viewing on demand on your computer. I know we can get TV programmes that way already - BBC iPlayer and 4 On Demand for example. I also regularly listen to radio on the net - either live or "listen again".
Change or get left behind.
OK drama over for now - taking refuge in my new hobby of blogging. I don't have the poetry and imagery of Jaxter in her Jottings (it's really not boring Jax). Just some rambling drivel I'm afraid.
So I'm sat here with Jayne listening to Rosanne Cash's new CD - The List. A selection of country songs suggested to Rosanne by her dad Johnny Cash back in the summer of 1973. He described them as their musical genealogy. Why did we buy it.....one of the songs is a duet with Bruce Springsteen!!!
Jayne spent the weekend setting up her online shop to sell her handmade Christmas tree ornaments. This is called Ohchristmastree and can be found via the following link http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=8181181
There are more items to add so put the link in your favourites and keep checking what's on offer - you can also buy something if you want!!
Not being on FB so much has also meant that I have been reading more over the last couple of days - Harlan Coben "Promise Me". I like HC - if you haven't tried him yet he's worth a try.
Thought for Tomorrow: Modern art - if it hangs on a wall it's a painting; if you can walk round it it's a sculpture.
Thursday 1 October 2009
Washington CD
Great day in Washington CD today - meeting with other team colleagues. Weather was fine and sunny going there and coming home and the A1 / A19 was not very busy. Decided to go up via the A19 so missed by bacon sarnie at Scotch Corner (Sedbury services).
This was a great opportunity to talk with colleagues in a really supportive environment about the impending loss of our jobs, our hopes and our fears. It's important to have people you can share these thoughts with - people who understand.
Also good to talk about work and get some different perspectives.
I will really miss these people!
Did you know that there is a place called New York......in County Durham.
Jayne's spent the day looking at the possibility of starting an online shop to sell her Christmas tree ornaments. More work to do but I think she'll do it - will this make our fortune...? so she can retire early - certainly hope so....but need to remain realistic.
Thought for tomorrow - gossip: hearing something you like about someone you don't.
This was a great opportunity to talk with colleagues in a really supportive environment about the impending loss of our jobs, our hopes and our fears. It's important to have people you can share these thoughts with - people who understand.
Also good to talk about work and get some different perspectives.
I will really miss these people!
Did you know that there is a place called New York......in County Durham.
Jayne's spent the day looking at the possibility of starting an online shop to sell her Christmas tree ornaments. More work to do but I think she'll do it - will this make our fortune...? so she can retire early - certainly hope so....but need to remain realistic.
Thought for tomorrow - gossip: hearing something you like about someone you don't.
Wednesday 30 September 2009
New York New York
Five weeks today and we will be in New York. Reason for the trip is to see Bruce Springsteen - two shows at Madison Square Garden. This is our second trip to the USA - last time was in 2003 for my 50th birthday - we went to Washington DC - really enjoyed it, much underrated and well worth a visit. Especially now that Dan Brown's latest blockbuster is set in the US capital and Capitol.
Also Jayne (my better half) had a really really bad health scare earlier this year and now is the time to do those things that we really want to.
So I thought I might start to write the occasional blog and set down what's on my mind at the time.
I m feeling pretty down and not motivated about work at the moment. Been told that me and my colleagues are to lose our jobs - the work we do is being privatised next July. So we have to start looking for other jobs but to be honest I hope I can get a financial package and leave. So this will be a recurring thread in my "occasional" blog.
Jayne has been out playing with our new digital camera - she's really the techie nerdy one in the relationship!!
One final thought for today - DON'T BUY THE SUN anymore. What a fickle newspaper - I really don't think that it shapes or influences public opinion at all - it just jumps on the bandwagon. I believe a newspaper should have a set of values reflected through it's editorial and reporting and champion those values.
Right I think that's all for now - and so time for bed said Zebedee.
Also Jayne (my better half) had a really really bad health scare earlier this year and now is the time to do those things that we really want to.
So I thought I might start to write the occasional blog and set down what's on my mind at the time.
I m feeling pretty down and not motivated about work at the moment. Been told that me and my colleagues are to lose our jobs - the work we do is being privatised next July. So we have to start looking for other jobs but to be honest I hope I can get a financial package and leave. So this will be a recurring thread in my "occasional" blog.
Jayne has been out playing with our new digital camera - she's really the techie nerdy one in the relationship!!
One final thought for today - DON'T BUY THE SUN anymore. What a fickle newspaper - I really don't think that it shapes or influences public opinion at all - it just jumps on the bandwagon. I believe a newspaper should have a set of values reflected through it's editorial and reporting and champion those values.
Right I think that's all for now - and so time for bed said Zebedee.
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