British Grand Prix 2007!

How excited am I? Last night I booked tickets for the British Grand Prix! Silverstone, here I come!

The other two times I've been I've gone general admission. That's fun, but I always wanted to have grandstand seats on the pit straight, so this time, that's exactly what I booked. I used to go to testing quite a lot (and I discovered that they're having testing there in June so might just go again!), and most of the time they let you sit in the pit straight grandstand so I know the view is great. You can see straight down into the pit lane and even some of the garages. I doubt there will be a screen to watch all the action on the rest of the track, but that's okay. I never managed to find somewhere in general admission where I could see a screen without getting terrible neckache anyway!

Now I've just got to get on the phone and scream at the Silverstone booking office. I bought two tickets, and they've charged me twice for them! How rude is that?

It's All in the Attitude

For the past few weeks I've gone into work dreading having to deal with stroppy people and a manager who doesn't seem to know how to manage. I learned today that I've been going about it all wrong.

Yesterday had to have been the worst. The manager didn't listen to what I was saying when he asked me questions. I ended up arguing with someone working in a call centre in India. By the time I headed home, I had a splitting headache and a need to take out my frustrations on my DIY project.

This morning I told myself that I was going to have a great day at work, and guess what happened ...

My manager actually paid attention to my answers to his questions. He even approved my request for a couple of days holiday in July when I sent it to him and thought it was cool that I'm taking them off to go to the British Grand Prix. The garages and fleet managers I spoke to on the phone were all happy to send me the information I needed because I was pleasant and friendly. Okay, I'm always pleasant and friendly but I think my positive attitude came across down the phone.

Best of all, when I had to deal with the same call centre in India, I kept that pleasant and friendly manner when the stroppy cow at the other end started making threats. I kept my cool while she ranted and raved, and in the end I got the information I needed, and she finally realise that I was there to help her get the claim we were both working on settled. My co-worker who originally took the call (and passed it through to me because her blood pressure was rising) said that she couldn't have done it without putting the phone down on her. I think the thing that got to Jo most was when she told the other woman that she was through to the claims centre in Chesterfield and got the reply "Where the hell is Chesterfield?"

I learned another lesson today. Estate agents are total flirts. One of my fleets is made up of nothing but estate agents who keep crashing their cars or putting petrol in their tanks instead of diesel (do you realise how much it costs to fix a BMW after someone has misfueled it?). Compared to a stroppy cow in India they were a joy to talk to, and I got the biggest laugh when one guy was chatting me up when I knew he'd reported the claim after his wife crashed the car!

Work could become even more fun. They're trying really hard to hire new staff, but so far out of the last four people they've hired, I'm the only one who has lasted more than one day. Two rang up to quit before they even started. We were all asked today to pass on applications if we know anyone who might be interested in a job, and Donna has filled one out! How cool would it be if she worked there?

DIY Project

I'm so proud of myself I just had to post a picture. My DIY skills are definitely improving! I've never put up a curtain pole by myself, but tonight I did it!



Okay, I know. It's no big deal putting up a curtain pole. But to me it's an accomplishment because I'd been procrastinating. I'm usually crap at doing stuff like that. I almost gave up once tonight because I thought I was doing something wrong. A long hot bath gave me time to come up with an idea how to fix it, and it worked.

And yes, I did iron the curtains before I hung them. It wasn't until I saw the picture and saw the shadows in the creases that I realised it didn't look ironed. I am not taking them down tonight to re-iron though ... I don't want to start swearing again!

Now I've just got to figure out how to install the new light fitting in the kitchen ... Best get some help with that one. I wonder if my dad is willing to fly over to lend me a hand. Then again, after he put the ceiling fan up in the living room in 1980, it took almost 20 years for him to wire it in properly.

Happy New Year!

Well 2006 is a year that I definitely won't forget. It's brought many changes, and most of them have been changes for the good. For the first time in my life, I'm very content. That doesn't mean I'm complacent and expect life to be a bed of roses from here on out. Quite the opposite. I know there will be lots of downs in the future, but I know I can handle them. In a way I hit rock bottom this year with the lowest being in April and May, and I've come out on the other side smiling. There's no reason why I can't meet anything that life dishes out head on and keep smiling.

The most important change definitely has to involve the kids. At the start of 2006 all four of them were miserable. Malorie and Braden especially were suffering, being treated as slaves while I was trying to get to lectures and seminars and just get through my last year of university in general. Now we're in a new house with a new life. I was touched when Malorie told her friends that I've become more like a big sister to her than a mum. That didn't stop her from rebelling in November, but she had to learn on her own that life doesn't sort itself out just because you've thrown a temper tantrum.

Ricky and Jack are so much happier too. They're in a school that they like. Their old school was good academically, but they were treated as outsiders because of the small community. Now they're learning French, playing football, and involved in school assemblies. And they run back and forth between my house and their dad's constantly. The fact that Richard and I can sit down at the table for Christmas dinner together thrilled them to bits.

How am I celebrating bringing in the New Year? It's not exactly the New Year for me. That came in October with Samhain. But it's the start of a new calendar year, and while most of the people I know are out celebrating with their friends, I'm lucky enough to be at home with my two favourite little boys. (Braden is a big boy, and I wish he and Malorie were here too!) We've been playing board games and are getting ready to watch Little Britain. Right now they're feeding their faces yet again, probably celebrating the fact that they trounced me in the Game of Life.

I've told them that at midnight I expect big kisses from them. That brought a resounding "D'oh!" from the pair of them! But after midnight we're having a feast of bacon and fried egg sandwiches.

I can't even be upset that I can't drink tonight, seeing as how I've been "hired" as a taxi driver for the night by Richard and Donna. But I know who won't have a hangover in the morning!

I wish all of you a happy New Year, full of laughter and joy.

xxx