Today is another Pre-Retirement Practice Day. This meant a leisurely start and breakfast with the Silver Vixen. After that the day just ticked over nicely. Early fog meant the lawns were very wet, and though GF had planned to give them the first cut of the year, it was clear that would not be practical. He will have to try again tomorrow.
GF was waiting for some information to send to the guys in Brazil, but in the end it took a mid-afternoon call to elicit the facts and get them sent off.
This didn't stop us from going out and taking a stroll round the local John Lewis store... GF had ordered a further component for the Sonos system, and had been informed it was now waiting in the store.
Back home the new speaker was installed in the Silver Vixen's refurbished hobby room, and before long was streaming radio to her whilst she continued the big sort-out that had been in progress since the new furniture was built last Saturday.
Friday, March 14, 2014
Thursday, March 13, 2014
Back in Surrey
It was a foggy start, which made the drive up to the wastelands of Surrey a little more interesting. Gorse Fox's current audiobook drew to an end, and a new one began.
The Surrey project was expecting an influx of new (contractor) architects and GF was there to meet them. In the end a meet-and-greet turned in to an all workshop (rather unexpectedly). Seems like we have a good bunch, and they seem to have been chosen well. We spent time talking about what was expected, working for Starfleet, the Gorse Fox described the process by which such projects are run. A German colleague then provided a briefing on the client and the project itself, at which point we brought in the project managers that the newbies will work with.
Overall - a good day.
Was please to see an old colleague as GF prepared to leave the building. GF stopped and had a chat about the good old days and various colleagues with whom we had worked twenty or so years ago. It was funny since he had been re-reading an old diary, at the weekend, discussing a business trip he had taken to New York and Chicago with some of those very people.
The Surrey project was expecting an influx of new (contractor) architects and GF was there to meet them. In the end a meet-and-greet turned in to an all workshop (rather unexpectedly). Seems like we have a good bunch, and they seem to have been chosen well. We spent time talking about what was expected, working for Starfleet, the Gorse Fox described the process by which such projects are run. A German colleague then provided a briefing on the client and the project itself, at which point we brought in the project managers that the newbies will work with.
Overall - a good day.
Was please to see an old colleague as GF prepared to leave the building. GF stopped and had a chat about the good old days and various colleagues with whom we had worked twenty or so years ago. It was funny since he had been re-reading an old diary, at the weekend, discussing a business trip he had taken to New York and Chicago with some of those very people.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
On Course
Well, strictly speaking, not on a course but the Gorse Fox is working at home preparing to give a course next week. He's on course to give a course. As he is not the author of the material, he is going through, slide by slide, writing up notes on each and making reference to particular examples. It's time-consuming, but necessary.
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
Travel - really?
Gorse Fox is liking this new role. He has just been asked if he could free up some time to go to Brasil and conduct a complex project review before the end of the month. No doubt there are a few hurdles to leap, and it may not happen, but at least there is the offer. That wouldn't have happened in the old job.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Concentrate
The Gorse Fox has been working at home today - it enables him to concentrate on a single issue at a time rather than receiving external interrupts all the time.
Living in Fontwell has the advantage that we are only 5 miles from the public recycling centre. This meant that during his lunch break GF had plenty of time to finish disposing of the junk from yesterday.
Good day all round - but nothing too exciting.
Living in Fontwell has the advantage that we are only 5 miles from the public recycling centre. This meant that during his lunch break GF had plenty of time to finish disposing of the junk from yesterday.
Good day all round - but nothing too exciting.
Change / Catch up
The Starfleet systems have finally caught up. They now reflect the fact that GF has transferred to a different division... even though he has effectively been working for that Division since the beginning of December.
This will probably mean a whole new portfolio of junk mail arriving each day... and he bets that the old junk mail will not cease quickly. (Indeed he has just read some this morning that implies his utilisation targets for the year would have increased by several % had he stayed put).
This will probably mean a whole new portfolio of junk mail arriving each day... and he bets that the old junk mail will not cease quickly. (Indeed he has just read some this morning that implies his utilisation targets for the year would have increased by several % had he stayed put).
Sunday, March 09, 2014
The Deed is done
It may have taken all day, but the deed is done.
Working, like yesterday, as a team, Gorse Fox and the Silver Vixen have gutted the study, emptied the 10 remaining removal boxes, put up the new shelving units and moved the desks.
The old shelving has been taken to the recycling centre, and all of the cardboard boxes, and general junk has been loaded into the car ready for a quick trip to the tip tomorrow lunchtime.
Everything is plugged back in and the tested and everything has survived the upheaval.
(A bit bright aren't they?)
The old shelving has been taken to the recycling centre, and all of the cardboard boxes, and general junk has been loaded into the car ready for a quick trip to the tip tomorrow lunchtime.
Everything is plugged back in and the tested and everything has survived the upheaval.
Study
The Gorse Fox is about to rip his study apart and reorganise with new shelving units. This means a major shift around. Hopefully everything will go back together at the end of it!
Saturday, March 08, 2014
Withdrawn
The Gorse Fox has had to inform Tim Sherwood that he's not available for the game against Chelsea this evening. The dismantling of the old furniture, the building of the new, and the disposal of the debris at the local recycling centre, has left the Gorse Fox with tight hamstrings and insufficient time to get to get to the ground.
Besides which, he fancies a curry.
Besides which, he fancies a curry.
Power
800W Sabre saw did the trick.... though it frightened the blazes out of Jasper the cat - particular as it ate through wood and screws.
All done now - just need to shift the debris out of the way and start taking the new units upstairs so that they can be assembled on site.
All done now - just need to shift the debris out of the way and start taking the new units upstairs so that they can be assembled on site.
Engineered not built
The Gorse Fox is starting to dismantle the old furniture in the Silver Vixen's hobby room. It is clear the old book shelves came apart easily - the unit that the Gorse Fox constructed, however, looks likely to withstand a nuclear attack. No chance of dismantling. Only option is destruction!
Friday, March 07, 2014
An abundance of boxes
The men from IKEA arrived at eight o'clock this morning. Boxes emerged from the back of the truck and slowly the Gorse Fox's study has filled up with flatpack furniture for the Silver Vixen's hobby room and the Gorse Fox's future study.
He suspects this will be an industrious weekend.
He suspects this will be an industrious weekend.
Smirkle II
The Gorse Fox has contacted the team at the Scottish project to try an get an understanding of the challenges they are currently facing.
It is clear that they still have to deal with the general mendacity of those involved. It is clear that exec on all sides are making commitments without a full understanding of the impact (or even feasibility) of their statements. What amused the Gorse Fox most was the fact that it has finally dawned on them that GF was right (though they will never admit that). Regular readers may remember that last November GF likened their approach to a car manufacturer building and opening a showroom before working out where to build some cars (that they had yet designed). Well it turns out that is a fine analogy and they are now demanding the "car plant" be provisioned immediately.
Gorse Fox is so glad he is out of there.
It is clear that they still have to deal with the general mendacity of those involved. It is clear that exec on all sides are making commitments without a full understanding of the impact (or even feasibility) of their statements. What amused the Gorse Fox most was the fact that it has finally dawned on them that GF was right (though they will never admit that). Regular readers may remember that last November GF likened their approach to a car manufacturer building and opening a showroom before working out where to build some cars (that they had yet designed). Well it turns out that is a fine analogy and they are now demanding the "car plant" be provisioned immediately.
Gorse Fox is so glad he is out of there.
Thursday, March 06, 2014
Smirkle
That's a cross between a smirk and chuckle.
The Gorse Fox has been asked to look at a project and see if anything can be done to get it back on track. The reason for the smirkle is that the project in question is a certain Scottish project with which his is intimately acquainted - and who had steadfastly refused to take any of his advice when he worked on it!
GF better play the good Starfleet citizen and at least talk with the teams involved - but he has n intention of getting involved (at any depth) again.
The Gorse Fox has been asked to look at a project and see if anything can be done to get it back on track. The reason for the smirkle is that the project in question is a certain Scottish project with which his is intimately acquainted - and who had steadfastly refused to take any of his advice when he worked on it!
GF better play the good Starfleet citizen and at least talk with the teams involved - but he has n intention of getting involved (at any depth) again.
Wednesday, March 05, 2014
Surrey again
The Gorse Fox was in Surrey again today. Interestingly the project has finally got a new Programme Director - and it is someone GF used to work with back in the late 90s. It was nice to see him again and will be nice to have someone at the helm who can distinguish between a large muscular area at the bottom of the spine and a hinged joint in the arm.
Meanwhile the saga of the person unhappy with the appraisal ticks on. GF has been archive emails from each of his former team... typically about 40 emails over the year. Not this person, though. 385 emails in six months! Rarely has he come across a more joyless, and cantankerous individual who seems to revel in confrontation and offence even when none is there. Said individual was born in the wrong time. Said individual would have been better suited to being a shop steward in the 1970s.
Meanwhile the saga of the person unhappy with the appraisal ticks on. GF has been archive emails from each of his former team... typically about 40 emails over the year. Not this person, though. 385 emails in six months! Rarely has he come across a more joyless, and cantankerous individual who seems to revel in confrontation and offence even when none is there. Said individual was born in the wrong time. Said individual would have been better suited to being a shop steward in the 1970s.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
Out and about
So the Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen headed for Brighton. The Silver Vixen had an appointment to fulfil and the Gorse Fox killed some time wandering around the shops. Once back together we settled down for a coffee and plotted out the rest of the day.
First stop was JB's American Diner where we planned a light lunch.
This didn't quite work out. To start with, we headed the wrong way along the front before realising we had missed it and turned back. Then we settled down with the menu. Something light. Maybe a club sandwich? Would that be enough? We decided to have a starter.
Mistake. The starter was big enough that GF left half of his. When the club sandwich turned up, GF marvelled that one waitress could carry it alone. It looked as if it would need at least two people - or one person with a trolley. Silver Vixen had ordered the same and was finding it difficult to see the Gorse Fox over the top of hers.
Needless to say, we did not finish.
Next stop was Bersted Park and an opportunity to touch base with the developers of the new house. Clearly all is still going well and it was nice to catch up on all the latest news. We now know who our neighbours will be. Indeed, it turns out that we met them on one of earlier and spent quite some time chatting with them.
First stop was JB's American Diner where we planned a light lunch.
This didn't quite work out. To start with, we headed the wrong way along the front before realising we had missed it and turned back. Then we settled down with the menu. Something light. Maybe a club sandwich? Would that be enough? We decided to have a starter.
Mistake. The starter was big enough that GF left half of his. When the club sandwich turned up, GF marvelled that one waitress could carry it alone. It looked as if it would need at least two people - or one person with a trolley. Silver Vixen had ordered the same and was finding it difficult to see the Gorse Fox over the top of hers.
Needless to say, we did not finish.
Next stop was Bersted Park and an opportunity to touch base with the developers of the new house. Clearly all is still going well and it was nice to catch up on all the latest news. We now know who our neighbours will be. Indeed, it turns out that we met them on one of earlier and spent quite some time chatting with them.
Pre-retirement Practice
PrP continues today. The Gorse Fox and Silver Vixen plan to head across to Brighton.
Monday, March 03, 2014
Transfer
As you may remember, Gorse Fox is in the middle of a transfer. Whilst Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Spurs have shown no interest in his services, another Division within Starfleet has made him and offer. This is finally going through and within the next few days he should be part of the new organisation.
A by-product of the transfer is that he no longer has to worry about being a manager for a number of professionals. His access to the sensitive HR systems has been revoked, and his old team have been scattered to new managers. Some residual responsibilities will peter away over the next few weeks. As much as the Gorse Fox cared for his team, he is not sorry to lose the extra responsibilities.
A by-product of the transfer is that he no longer has to worry about being a manager for a number of professionals. His access to the sensitive HR systems has been revoked, and his old team have been scattered to new managers. Some residual responsibilities will peter away over the next few weeks. As much as the Gorse Fox cared for his team, he is not sorry to lose the extra responsibilities.
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Controversy
Whilst the Gorse Fox and Jasper awaited yesterday's return of the Silver Vixen, the door bell rang. Jasper scurried to the top of the stairs and watched and GF opened the door to nice lady clutching a handful of car stickers.
There is to be a public meeting to consult on the development of new houses nearby. Would the Gorse Fox put a "NO" sticker in his window. The Gorse Fox paused, smiled and entered into a debate.
The Gorse Fox discussed each of her points and commented that he wished her campaign well, and was encouraged by the community involvement that it engendered - but could not support the proposition. She then said that what was needed was someone like the Gorse Fox on the Planning Committee of the District Council.
The problem is that planning decisions are so emotive as they change the perceived quality of life of those affected. In practise GF suspects that in most cases this is really just a period of adjustment and adaptation - but people do not like change. They do have to realise, however, that people need homes and we have an ever growing population - and the fragmentation of families means that we need disproportionately more homes than the population growth would suggest, traditionally.
There is to be a public meeting to consult on the development of new houses nearby. Would the Gorse Fox put a "NO" sticker in his window. The Gorse Fox paused, smiled and entered into a debate.
- With the change in the make-up of the family and the migration of people to the South, and continued immigration - people have to live somewhere.
- The Government have imposed house-building targets on the Regions, and the Councils have to comply.
- Given these two imperatives - and the extensive building that is already under way elsewhere in the District, why should the houses not be built here?
- Fontwell has the advantage of being on the intersection of the A27 and A29, and has a nearby railway station at Barnham
The Gorse Fox discussed each of her points and commented that he wished her campaign well, and was encouraged by the community involvement that it engendered - but could not support the proposition. She then said that what was needed was someone like the Gorse Fox on the Planning Committee of the District Council.
The problem is that planning decisions are so emotive as they change the perceived quality of life of those affected. In practise GF suspects that in most cases this is really just a period of adjustment and adaptation - but people do not like change. They do have to realise, however, that people need homes and we have an ever growing population - and the fragmentation of families means that we need disproportionately more homes than the population growth would suggest, traditionally.
Saturday, March 01, 2014
Quiet Saturday
The Silver Vixen was out with her coven (as she will be tomorrow, also). There was a regional event at Chichester - so they all headed off for their jamboree.
Gorse Fox made use of the time with a trip to Rustington and a look at the Mini garage. Once back, laden with the appropriate brochures, GF started to put together a comparison of the vehicles that have made it to the short list. As you so often find, when doing these comparisons, it can throw up some surprises. Ostensibly the Honda Jazz looks like a great little car, but seems to attract an insurance rating of 17, whereas the Toyota Yaris and Auris only attract a rating of 7 or 8.
Whilst there is a clear leader in the selection of the main family vehicle - the small run-about is proving a challenge.
Gorse Fox made use of the time with a trip to Rustington and a look at the Mini garage. Once back, laden with the appropriate brochures, GF started to put together a comparison of the vehicles that have made it to the short list. As you so often find, when doing these comparisons, it can throw up some surprises. Ostensibly the Honda Jazz looks like a great little car, but seems to attract an insurance rating of 17, whereas the Toyota Yaris and Auris only attract a rating of 7 or 8.
Whilst there is a clear leader in the selection of the main family vehicle - the small run-about is proving a challenge.
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