Mike's musings

Job time!

(backposting) After a morning visiting the beach (of course!), we headed off to the National Trust's Felbrigg Hall, although it took us rather a while to get there because Moo's phone satnav insisted that there was no main road between the cottage and Cromer, and that we had to take the back roads. So, we walked around the hall and went to see the donkeys. And there wasn't much reception. But just as we were about to visit the walled garden, I saw that I had a missed call. From the guy who, if they wanted me, would be my boss. So, I found a place with some reception, and phoned him. And they want me! What an enormous, enormous relief.

Once we got back home, I managed to get in touch with the HR person, and we sorted out the details. And then I had to find a flight, etc., etc..

I'm starting on Monday (next Monday!), and will be there for 2 weeks' training. Hard to be away for that long, but Moo understands completely, and at least we'll just have had a holiday. The name of the company of Appian, and they're based in Reston, Virginia. They do BPM (Business Process Management), which is pretty new to me, but they want me for my consulting and architecture skills and experience, which is great.

Labels: happiness, holiday, job, travel, work

A good day

That's all for now: just a good day. Oh, and I stopped for an accident, with my collar on, but luckily wasn't needed.

Labels: happiness, priest

A beautiful day, in lots of ways

Didn't feel too good to start with, but doing some ironing, and then some serious gardening, helped. In the sun, pulling up nettles and brambles - some time indoors, watching the Cup Final - outside again, doing the nettle and bramble thing - indoors - you get the idea. We barbecued for lunch, then we put the paddling pool out in the garden: all the things that you're supposed to do with kids, but you have to wait a while for them to be old enough to do.

Then the kids went to bed. Early. And we sat outside in the garden, reading the papers, drinking wine, eating crisps and cold, barbecued sausages, chatting and hardly being able to hear ourselves think because of the sound of birdsong. Moo's not annoyed or grumpy in this picture: she's just concentrating on the paper.

We went inside when it got too cold, after a fantastic day. And it's only May.

Labels: family, happiness, Moo

A good day

It really was.

Labels: happiness

Anniversary (and mensi-versary)

15 years ago today, Moo and I officially started going out. We'd known each other for a couple of weeks, and were getting closer, so we decided to "make it official". Moo was only in her first term at Jesus College (I was in my third year at King's), and it wasn't a move that was met with complete approval, particularly by her elder sister Jen (also a third year). In four months (to the day), we were engaged, though we kept it secret from pretty much everyone (including Moo's family) for nearly a year). We got married about 2 and a half years later, in King's College chapel, and haven't looked back.

Miri is also exactly 6 months old today. Crawling quite confidently backwards, sitting up (once placed in that position) unaided, two teeth, very chatty, very happy, and loves her little sister to bits.

Driving

Today, my brother Jim and I went to Silverstone (we stayed overnight with Alan and Chris, his parents-in-law last night), and did the Lotus Experience there. It was brilliant. What cars! We had a briefing, an initial 4 laps with an instructor, a short break, and then another 5 laps with the instructor (faster and more confident this time), a lap with the instructor driving (_much_ faster!), and then a quick debrief. I loved it - Jim preferred the lap when he was being driven - and I can really see the point. 100+ miles an hour round the track - braking _hard_ for the corners, beginning to get the racing line. I'd love to do it again. Then back home.

Labels: car, family, happiness

Smiles

It's not all bad here. Today's been a fantastic day: Miri (and therefore Moo) slept much better, and although Jo had me up in the night - and at 0500 - I got some sleep later on. It's been a beautiful, sunny day, and Moo and I went for a walk with Buster and Miri during the middle of the day. It all seems _so_ much more manageable with a bit of sleep.

The other thing is something that I meant to mention a few days ago: Miriam is now smiling. I'd forgotten what fun it is when babies start smiling at you, and the joy it brings to one and all.

Last, but far from least, Jo is very funny at the moment. She's asking lots of questions, remembering pretty complicated things from quite a time ago, telling stories and playing lots of imaginary games. And sometimes getting things a bit wrong. I took her for a walk a couple of days ago, and we were going past a barn. In the barn we saw several scarecrows, and Jo piped up: "look, Jesus on a cross!". Well, not really. But she knows about scarecrows - they're in fields. And she knows about Jesus on the cross - that's indoors, so...

Labels: happiness, Jo, miriam

Buster

Labels: dog, happiness