Working day

Public holiday over, it was back to work today. Gorse Fox headed across country, glued to his latest audio book. It is now at a stage that makes the thought of heavy traffic almost attractive as the narration starts to draw the threads of of the story, slowly, together. Arrival means the end of another episode and several hours wondering what will happen next.

Urban-cub took Silver Vixen and her mum back up to Buckingham for an appointment tomorrow with the physioterrorist... Then the plan is that she'll return to Sussex with us for while.

Inflation

Well, lots of stuff filled the public holiday. Top of the list were some pressing chores...GF needed to get some ironing out of the way so he could get his packing done for this week in Bristol.

Next it was back to Urban-cub's spreadsheet for an hour or so. The finished article is, without doubt, a new masterpiece and will, without doubt, be the basis of many further spreadsheets.

Silver Vixen and Urban-cub are heading off with Mother-in-Law Tuesday, so tyre pressure checks were performed and fluids examined. Then, diesel had to be procured for the GF's trip to Bristol.

Back inside Skype was tested on the iPads and proved to work fine, even with video. Unfortunately we couldn't get in touch with Cousteau-cub to have a long distance video-chat... So GF settled down with his book for the rest of the afternoon.

Literature

Gorse Fox was troubled. Several aspect of Urban-cub's spreadsheet had triggered a series of "what-ifs" in the mind. This meant that most of the morning was spent reading manuals and trying out ideas. Not exactly a holiday novel, but nevertheless it was fun and GF learned several new techniques that will come in handy.

Curiosity satisfied, GF returned to a good book. He has taken to listening to his audiobooks on the journey to and from the west country, but reading "Kindle" books on his iPad. This means that he has two books on the go at present.

Spreading

Gorse Fox spent a thrilling afternoon helping Urban-cub with some spreadsheets.

Living life on the edge!!!

Headlines

So we hit the front page of the local property paper

Schadenfreude

One of the last projects the the Gorse Fox was working on involved the design of an immense distributed data farm with significant performance characteristics in terms of response times and availability. Having worked on this for about 9 months, developing a design that was optimised for performance but trimmed to be competitive – some very dubious decisions were made by the client and Starfleet were pipped at the post by some Klingon enterprise.

GF hears through the grapevine that said Klingon enterprise is now having real problems delivering, and that their design is having major problems meeting the performance requirements.

That’s what happens when you make silly choices to save a percentage point or two of cost.

Sits back with a smug grin.

Karma.

Drifting off

There is a problem with the western section of the English section of the M4. it's not potholes. It's not weight of traffic. It's not even the proximity to Wales. It's the sheer unadulterated boredom of this 30 mile stretch between Swindon and Bristol.

Even listening to one of his audiobooks, GF finds this soporific. This week seemed worse than most so GF pulled in to a motorway service area for a 15 minute power nap. Refreshed, he drove on without trouble and without incident.

Goose

He knelt at the side of the table. "Hello, I'm Goose" the Gorse Fox responded "Of course you are" and Goose continued "I will be your waiter tonight".

Thus began another plate of ribs at TGI Friday at the end of a long day in the office.

Execs

So we are blessed with some executive intervention. As we have had so many Bank Holidays this month, could we look at working a couple of extra hours per week for the rest of the quarter.

This reminds the Gorse Fox about his 25th year in Starfleet, where he was graciously given and extra 5 days vacation... But was measured against the same number of working hours... So had to make up the difference. It is a sort of "here can you lend us a tenner" followed by "thanks, have a tenner". Almost no trace of cynicism at all.

We had another Exec "mandatory" call. As usual, late starting. As usual, a slide deck provided, but no real value added by the presenters.

GF has, despite all, had a good day. It seems that the Silver Vixen is making good progress with her Mother's recuperation and has had her walking round the garden. No pole dancing yet, but progress is progress.

Super injunction

Well, Ryan Giggs, who'd have thought it?

Wonderful quote in the BBC News saying how the new digital social media was making tone law look an ass. The Gorse Fox would beg to differ. The law has made itself look like an ass. The digital social media has just shone a spotlight upon it.

Now a few hints:

• If you don't want your private life splashed across the tabloids, don't do anything you would find embarrassing.
• If you think you can take on the Internet, you are seriously deluded.
• If you are a judge don't allow remedies that are only available to the super rich... The law should be available to everyone.

Now, go away and behave.

Travelling home

Leaving the hotel, Gorse Fox and the Silver Vixen headed across the Midlands to Buckingham and a visit with SV's family. Mother has had a new industrial hinge put in her knee and she is now recuperating. Bringing her down to Sussex gives her a chance to get some sun and some exercise on the flat... and gives some respite to the  Silver Vixen's sister who had been caring for her this last week or so.

Diesel

Apocalypse seems to be on hold. GF better fill up with diesel in the morning.

Harrowing

Turning away from the summit, the Gorse Fox headed back. He retraced his steps for the first half mile or so, and then diverrted off towards Sundial Farm where he picked up another path through some recently harrowed fields, past a small copse and through a disused and now overgrown quarry.

GF was soon back at the start point sitting on the boot lip of the car changing his socks and reflecting on a mighty fine walk.

Summit

Finally at the top GF was getting battered by the breeze, and had to chase his hat at one point. The summit was a maze of Neolithic earthworks ruined by the much more modern stone tower draped in telecommunications relays.

sheltering beneath one of the embankments, GF sat down for a few minutes to take on water, check the map, and decide on the route back. He also tried to post his blog, but despite the telecommunications relays, he was unable to get a stable signal.

Northern Edge

Once the climb was over, the top of the hill flattens out and you walk through well kept fields, and small areas of woodland. This was nice and easy after the ascent and gave a chance for the heart rate to slow down. 

Gorse Fox was having some slight problems with the map. Normally he prints highly detailed digital maps of his route at a large scale. This time he was relying on an OS Landranger map, which whilst very accurate and detailed, was at a significantly different scale. Hence GF was having problems judging distance.

Land ranger

Once the climb was over, the top of the hill flattens out and you walk through well kept fields, and small areas of woodland. This was nice and easy after the ascent and gave a chance for the heart rate to slow down. 

Gorse Fox was having some slight problems with the map. Normally he prints highly detailed digital maps of his route at a large scale. This time he was relying on an OS Landranger map, which whilst very accurate and detailed, was at a significantly different scale. Hence GF was having problems judging distance.

Hill or Mountain

GF stopped and chatted with another walker, well into his descent. He was a local who climbs the hill every weekend to set himself up for the week. He explain that the earthworks and tower at the top of the hill just push it to 1000 feet, and hence to being a mountain.

Vale of Gloucester

As the route climbed the hill, wonderful vistas opened up to west and south. This one is looking over the village of Bredon, with the silvery river running through and the Vale of Gloucester beyond. This village had always caught GFs eye as he headed down the motorway from Worcester. The picturesque setting, the river, the church spire... And yet could suddenly change as the river floods and the village appears to float above a huge lake.

Summit

Today's walk was not too challenging, but was nevertheless rewarding. GF found a nice parking spot at Woodmancote, changed his footwear, packed his rucksack and head up the slope. A couple of horse riders paused for a cheery greeting as GF was checking the map to decide on which fork should be followed.

Trouble

GF is having trouble posting his blog entries for today's walk. Hopefully, more later.