That Bypass

My work life seems to revolve around Westbury Bypass at the minute, but enough talk about work..

Anna - why thank you, it is indeed a picture taken by me. It wasn't that red really - the long exposure has enhanced the colour. But it was such a clear night.

Anyway, I've had a busy couple of weekends in terms of social engagements - last Friday I was out with Hayley (plus James' new girlfriend, who was really nice), then the Saturday I was out with Jo et al - good luck, and hope you get the BBC job Jo!

Then last night I was at a St Patrick's Day party in Verwood, being held by NE ex-line manager Tony - the usual crowd were there (eventually), and a great night was had by all, though it was so sad at the end because I had to say goodbye to Alex, who is off to Alaska in a couple of weeks - sob! I'm going to miss you loads meine Picklige Freunde!

And Sat Nav is not all it's cracked up to be - trying it out last night (purchased by parents for use on holiday) it tried to direct me down a no entry street, and then proceeded to take me down the most pot-holed road ever. Still, I did indeed 'arrive at my destination'.

Oh, and being the Eurovision fan that I am, I got the show last night recorded - and was so glad that Scooch won. It is complete and utter twaddle, any lyrics in there at all? But I do feel it has the necessary campness and rubbishness to give us a fighting chance. Of course, that is without the politics of the voting - who have we ofended this year??!!

Moon pic

Nice one James

Yes, well, not impressed really....

But before that...

so the wedding preparations are continuing with my half-sister, she's now thinking of getting married in the Whitsunday Islands = extra costs - help!

Back to the incident...

Got a call from Hayley saying James wanted to know if we could come out on Saturday (the one just gone) - she said she could and that she would find out about me. Eventually she texted James back saying yes I could come - this was Saturday morning. She then got a text which really put her back up - basically saying that he hadn't made any plans as he was waiting for her text about me. He never got back to us. And I got ready and everything just in case - our nights out are usually last minute things anyway, so I thought I was being prepared - apparently too prepared. I did text him with no response that evening, so I gave up and went outside to watch the moon - was so cool wasn't it?! An excellent chance to use the tripod and lense - see pics!

But the following morning I received a text from James replying that he would have liked to have done something but that Hayley didn't get back to him in time. But the thing is he already knew Hayley was coming, he was just waiting for me - it would appear that going out with Hayley is not as good as with me - some friend he is!

Friday night etc

A great night on Friday saying goodbye to Pat - lovely meal at the Elm Tree which went on until 10pm, whereupon I went home, with the others going onto The Lamb (cough cough splutter - i.e. v smoky and yuck).

This week has gone really quickly, with big important responses taking up most of my time. Not that they are particularly exciting but anyway.

Yesterday I went to an entirely pointless and irrelevant seminar workshop thing on the AONB and roads - nothing really to do with planning roads, more to do with making them more in keeping with the AONB. Sort of interesting in parts but nothing to do with me at all - nice food though.

But the big news is that on Sunday my half-sister Eleanor (nurse in Oz) has announced her engagement (finally) to Kiwi Tom, which will most likely occur in November. This means more expense, but of course we're all really looking forward to it. The safari planning is still continuing, but now we have to plan another trip - that's four trips on the go at once (Easter break to Normandy Marshes, Italy summer break, Oz and the safari) - you know, we do love travelling!

More illness

I think it is like Fresher's Flu - the WWT have built up a selection of antibodies which they are resistant to, so I am having all their illnesses! On to my second one now, bet you all wanted to know that...

Anyway, went out last Saturday for a lovely meal in Salisbury with ex-Natural England colleagues- was an absolutely brilliant night spent in Kluedo.

The following morning, with an illness accelerated by alcohol (honest), I had to brave the car journey down to visit relatives in Dorset - with Dad driving (think rally-style) - was not particularly pleasant.

The pub meal we then had was ok, though I found an ash seed in my salad, which was again, not particularly pleasant, and not much of an apology either. Won't be going there again...

And then to this week, where Pat from Chalkhill Consultants (part of the Trust) would be leaving on Friday. Thursday was a leaving lunch, and then last night was his leaving meal at a Chinese restaurant in Devizes - a really lovely evening with everyone, I really feel I'm fitting in well, making friends etc. It's a shame my job is a bit boring at the moment, but we'll see when my new boss arrives (finally) on the 19th of March (3 months after the last one left).

Oh, and major congrats to Lil - getting married this Sept - so so SO jealous! See you in May m'dear!

Counselling

Quite frankly I have had enough of it - why is it whenever we go out in Salisbury some incident means that I become some sort of relationship counsellor. This, as my friends will know, is rather odd.....

Yes, Jo came home for the weekend, and we decided to go out in Salisbury. Well one member of the party had just split up with her boyfriend ("I love him" - of course), and kept wanting hugs from the boyfriend of another member of the party, which caused a certain amount of friction. This possessiveness (she will admit that she is) + alcohol (copious amounts) = me running around after the latter person trying to get her to get in a taxi and go home.

We left the club at 12.30.....in the taxi at 1.20......

what fun

Anyway, apart from that it was nice to see the old crowd again. I haven't really been up to anything much, and am still faintly ill, though not nearly as bad as a couple of weeks ago.

I'm sure you all wanted to know that.

Bleugghh

I'm ill- yuck.

Anyway, my life keeps plodding onwards. Nothing much has happened really.

Oh, I suppose I should update you on the birthday celebrations - well, basically, quite a few people turned up (which was very good - thanks workmates past and present!), and once they had found Kluedo (random bar) they decided to stay put, despite the unisex toilets (one incident springs to mind - Tom was quite chuffed though!). So I left them to it and, with Steph and Hayley, partied until the early hours of Sunday at The Chapel. Twas quite a good night.

Since then I haven't really done much at all. This week was hardly notable apart from a couple of meetings featuring nutters and arguments, and my illness. I've got a really really REALLY bad cold - never had one like it. There were a few times I thought about not coming into work. But I made it - however, I was scheduled to go out into Soton tonight, now not going to happen.

Oh, and lots of spare time is currently being devoted to researching safaris, for the Rose Family shall be touring the plains of Africa next summer 2008 (possibly with Hayley too- extra cool!).

Just thought I'd keep you posted on any developments in my exciting life...

Birthday thanks

Thanks to everyone who sent a card to me for my birthday - whether electronic or by post, they were all really appreciated!

I had an OK day, not too bad really, despite having to work! I got my new tripod, which I'm well excited about, as well as perfume and some more jewellery - "the jewellery box cannae take anymore"!

It was so nice to receive a phone call from Margaret in Oz this morning, though I was left slightly envious of her lifestyle - hopefully I will visit once finances have been sorted (i.e. student loan paid back!).

Tonight I'm off out into Salisbury again, but this time with a load of workmates as well as the usual crowd, so it should be an interesting night...

New Year was a quiet affair at Hayley's with Will also joining us - it made a change from going to the Chapel or watching Jools at home - very pleasant indeed!

Oh, and party announcement: Parents are going away the weekend of the 9th of Feb, so I will be having a sci-fi themed party - consider this an invite to all my friends (further details will follow)!

A comparably-average Christmas

Well it's all over - always so quick.

The visit to Grandma wasn't too bad actually - she was on quite good form, and only mildly rude and offensive to Dad and Minority groups, so it wasn't too tedious.

Christmas Day itself went well - dinner was delicious (Peking Duck, drunken prawns, crispy beef, crispy wontons, money bags etc etc!) and not much activity was had by all!

My new camera lens is proving to be most excellent, though I think I will need to take both lenses out with me all the time now - more baggage! Asides from that I got exciting things like a torch, pop-up bin and windscreen cloth for my car - whoohoo!

On Boxing Day we went to my Uncle Tim's in Frome, which was ok (sadly better than last year as my cousins weren't there - tis a shame I feel this way...), which was pleasant enough.

I do have to confess to be bored quite a lot of the time this festive period - I need to go back to work I think!

Anyway, we went sales shopping in Salisbury the following day, with the next day given over to walking at Blashford Lakes (trying out my new lens!) and clearing up the Xmas refuse piles!

Today I have just got back from shopping with Hayley, where my objective of buying some more trousers failed spectacularly when I bought some expensive new boots, yet another skirt and yet more jewellery - I think I have some sort of compulsive disease! I most excellent day though, but no more clothes now! Come on Charlotte, you can do it...

Only a few more days until back to work - quite frankly I'm looking forward to it (maybe not the early start...or the late finish....or being in Devizes....or being sat at a desk all day.....)!

It's almost time!

The present pile under the tree is a strong lure, the food preparation for the many Chinese dishes for tomorrow is under way, and we've been raiding the countryside for our table decoration, which can only mean Christmas!

I finished work on Thursday, after very little work was done, and the biodiversity team lost a game of sprout subbuteo to the education team. Every year apparently, the fundraising team put on a load of silly games in their offices, such as the aforementioned sprout-based game, and table football with broken handles - very amusing indeed!

Friday was spent doing the Christmas shop - what horror! And then last night I went out into Salisbury with Hayley's friends again, for an evening of being groped in the chapel by 18 yr-olds - the air was thick with testosterone. Despite this, 'twas a great night, and a good way to see in Christmas Eve. Now I am extremely knackered, which should mean that I can sleep soundly ready for tomorrow morning. But before I get to that stage, I have to go and visit Psycho Grandma - great...

S-L-O-W

Question: How slow is this week going?
Answer: very

The ordeal is made even worse, when there is very little work for me to do. Instead, I am having to resort to tidying my office, something I had planned to do from the offset. The filing is now almost sorted, but the shelves are a whole different story!

Last night was a little soiree held by my parents, consisting of a rolling buffet of food Dad had spent all day cooking - utterly delicious as always. Also present were Carol and Dave (him on top form, a lesson in how to be as offensive as possible, but hilarious nonetheless!), George and Caroline from next door, and Gerry and Jenny Sword from around the corner- great to see them again after all this time. Jo, I do hope they weren't put off any such events in the future by non-PC comments!

Today at work was especially quiet- you do get the feeling that you are the only one there - on the ground floor at least. And normally I have to get someone to move their car so I can go home, but not today.

Come on Christmas- saying that, we spend so much time preparing and waiting for it then it is gone so quickly!

The Countdown Begins

If I hear one more Christmas song I swear I am going to scream...

I do actually like them, but the same CD is constantly played throughout the house, especially when I come home from work, so it is driving me up the wall just slightly.

Anyway, more updates on my exciting life...

This week consisted of trying to find enough work to do (relatively quiet on the planning front at the moment), until Wednesday when it was the Rivermead Xmas Work Party. This is a practical conservation day involving all the staff, apart from the senior management who were on reception all day! It was great fun - I was leading on the bonfires with Sarah, which involved much flapping of cardboard to try and get them going. The potatoes we tried to cook in the embers failed to utterly, so we had to wait another hour, but we didn't mind. The hedgerow some people planted will have to be dug up again, as they planted it on the wrong land (thanks Swindon Borough Council) - somewhat dispiriting.

Then Friday was spent out at Langford Lakes, and touring a few sections of the Wyle as my induction continued - I have now almost finished finding out what other people do!

Last night was the Graduates Christmas Party at Southampton, which was very nice indeed. The entrance had the most enormous and scary Father Christmas ever, with a string quartet to greet us as we walked down the red carpet. We bumped into Leigh (drunk as ever!), Dave (ex-housemate, still the same if you know what I mean...), and Ellie and Rupert from the ES BSc (they graduated a year before me), which was a bit of a surprise.

I am now very knackered, and still haven't had much time to sit down - why is Christmas such a busy non-relaxing time?

Pics!

Blofeld at the WWT Xmas Party.

People's Front of Judea (Rob); Migrating coconut (Alex), dead parrot (Emily)

A few random photos of Chris's 30th

Ooooh, get me with my social life

It all started with my (now ex) boss Amanda's leaving meal in Devizes last Friday, which was a good opportunity to bond with colleagues, and was a very nice evening indeed.

Then on Saturday was the long-awaited Medics Revue: "Hairy Proctor and the Urologist's bone"!!! Not nearly as good as last year (only limited input from my brother this year), but some memorably-disgusting songs!

Following on from that was the work Christmas Party. This year a Bond theme was chosen with hilarious consequences - I'll be putting some pics up shortly.

Friday saw Amanda actually leave, which was very sad, but I've only known her for a short time.

And then last night was the extravaganza that was my Monty Python themed Christmas party of 4 people. A truly pathetic turn out, but we all had great fun. Pics of then going up soon too! Special mention must go to Rob from WWT who only having known me for just over a month came in costume, got slightly sozzled, and proceeded to fall asleep on my sofa! Excellent.

I swear I was still drunk when I got up this morning!

What a weekend

You know when you have everything planned, and you somehow end up on a Sunday evening with a feeling that nothing's been achieved? Well I have had one of those!

I just don't know what I've done with it all. Still, at least it has had a meaningful ending, with Hayley, Claire and I finally finding time to meet up for an extra-long gossip in Salisbury. Rain stopped our walking plans, but we have now thoroughly updated each other on our lives (nice one Hayles), it was so good to be together again, just like old times!

Still some time left to do something constructive...

How times flies passed!

Now in the middle of my fourth week, so much has happened and I've been so busy it's dificult to know where to start!

The late night AGM went really well, and I even got to have a long chat with Chris Packham about the lack of under-25 interest in conservation. Very nice man indeed!

Then I went to Chris from Natural England's birthday do at Jongleurs, which was an amazing night, and so good to see all the old crowd (though Leigh was an exception - naughty!).

Last week saw me continuing to try and keep up with casework, whilst trying to find time to go up to York for the ALGE conference. This was very interesting, and York is beautiful, but the train journey back down was horrendous, as I missed my connection in Bristol and ended up calling my Mum out to collect me as I was stranded! Oh well.

Then on Saturday Jo came back for the weekend, so we all met in town for a good chat and a few drinks. It was cut slightly short, by certain members of the party having a lovers' tiff, but hey!

I've also been going walking with Hayley every Sunday, which is a brilliant chance to exchange gossip. A shame Claire can't join us - she must have so much to talk about - come on Claire!

And so far this week I've been in solid meetings all week, mostly lasting 3 hours and all lasting at least 50% longer than they should. This makes me mad, but I do think that people like meetings, to save them from doing real work - am I alone in this thought?

Finally, it looks fairly likely that I will be getting a Planning Blog for the Trust, so when that's sorted I'll put a link on here for any of you interested. ....Don't all shout at once!

Into my second week already!

Time has gone so quickly, but I'm enjoying every moment. It's so much harder than my previous job, so much more to learn about with the wider remit of the Trust. And because they haven't filled this post for the last 2 months, there is a massive backlog of work to sort out!

The weekend was also busy - on Saturday I went with my family into London for the ICount climate change event in Trafalgar Square. We were actually really disappointed by it- poor publicity from WWF (no big banners with the panda on, though the Trusts had one!), and the presenters were rubbish. The speakers were drowned out by the march, which I have been told was great fun, and it did look amazing, but WWF weren't taking part - again, rubbish!

There were some right weirdos in the crowds though - one woman walking through louding proclaiming the entire event as pointless as God will come along and there will be a second creation, destruction being part of the world apparently. Bizarre.

We got bored and left early, as the power had just cut out (such a shambles) - the lure of retail therapy was too strong I'm afraid! In a way I wished we had stayed, as K T Tunstall and Razorlight were on later, but that's not really the point of the event is it? And only 25000 people turned up, out of a population of 60 million. Hmmm.

So now back to work, with the morning off in preparation for the late night AGM (finishes at 10pm!), and with one of my Childhood idols Chris Packham making a speech, should be an entertaining evening. I am finding myself fitting in here just fine!

First couple of days

So far things have gone well. My boss keeps throwing more stuff at me, which is somewhat overwhelming, but quite a lot of it is really interesting, so I don't really mind!

I've already done one response about the extension of Westbury Quarry, and I'm now going to a meeting in Trowbridge about it next week, which should be cool. Today I've been working on producing some guidance to Local Authorities and Parish Councils on the new NERC Act, and am taking the lead on a big proposal to create a new stretch of canal - not something you find in Hampshire - one of the little differences between the counties!

The people all seem very nice, though there are far too many of them to remember - about 70 in all! I'm also going to the AGM next week, where Chris Packham is the guest speaker - my childhood idol! I know they always wheel him out in Hampshire, but I always miss him, so hopefully this time it will not be the case!

Of course I will keep you posted on all developments re: job!

Last week and new job

My last week at Natural England went very well. I was training up the new RDS people in casework, and getting them to do some responses, and they seemed to enjoy it, though I'm not sure quite how productive they'll be this week!

Friday I went out with Rachel, Val and this RDS person called George to have a look at some casework in action, which was really interesting. Alex had been away all week in the Lakes, so she missed out on the big cake I had bought, which went down a treat when we got back! It was really sad to say goodbye, and some tears were shed, but I will see most of them quite regularly as they are now firm friends.

Friday evening also saw my parents depart for the Cotswolds, so I had the house to myself. I had originally planned a party but no-one could come. Instead, I cooked for Rachel and Grant and Alex, which turned out remarkably well, before watching The Holy Grail - I had carved out a pumpkin as a grail-shaped beacon! It was a thoroughly nice evening and I'm sure we'll do more in the future. I'll see them again in a couple of weeks anyway for Chris's birthday.

So my new job starts tomorrow, and I'm really looking forward to it. How will Wiltshire planning differ from Hampshire? Time will tell...

Update!

Do you remember the WWT malarky? Well the second interview was today, and I felt it didn't go so well. They asked me to prioritise 5 pieces of casework and say what you would include in the response to the top two. I thought I'd done OK until they said that in Wiltshire we do this, here we do this etc etc.

However, despite them saying they would get back to me tomorrow they in fact phoned me at 3pm to say that (fanfare please) I have been offered the post! Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So as of the 30th of Oct (1 week notice - one good thing about being on a temporary contract!) I will be the new Planning and Policy Officer for the Trust! I just can't believe it.

Obviously I will be very sad to leave the wonderful people at NE but the call of a permanent job is too strong...

On another note, Mum and I went down to see the deer on Sunday, but alas the rut had finished. Despite this we did see several fallow deer and one young red deer stag madly thrashing the conifers for a hind, so that was nice.

Oh, and though I'm still doing the training for the new people next week, I have lost two members (one has a broken wrist and the other has been seconded to another department until Xmas) so it all feels slightly pointless, but it will look good on my CV!