mbernardi | Entries tagged with volunteering

Best news of the month my contract at work has been extended to the end of March 2014.
Second best news I realised that my season ticket alowed me unlimited travel between Three Bridges and Durrington by any viable route, which included the route via Horsham and Crawley. Which means I don't have to buy any more tickets to get to my weekly dance class.
Continued dancing with C & J on Tuesday evenings.
Strictly Come Dancing continued on to a excellent final just before Christmas, any one of the four finalists could have won and it was all down to the audience vote.

Leylands road (under the railway bridge), was closed for nearly a week and was somewhat resurfaced (at least where all the potholes had been).

Finally got my Kobo case from Clever with Leather in Brighton, went to the dentist and had two filling both on left upper side.

Weather started to get frosty, but mostly raining. (inc storms)

Saw Frozen at Worthing Cinema, which had a pixar feel to the Disney princesses. The following day saw THG: Catching Fire at a different Worthing cinema.
Saw The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug at my local cinema, which has now been totally refurbished. Very nice new seats. This was followed by Strictly Dance Magic where J joined me for a Christmas dance in BH.

Took a final day off and helped at Sussex Oakleaf re-customising a spreadsheet i'd setup earlier in the year. Then to last dance class of the year (which included drinks and nibbles). Got a card and plant from J!

Another storm with torrential rain meant I couldn't get to work on Christmas Eve, so was collected slightly early by my sister and dad.
Christmas Eve was a main dinner as S was working over xmas, there were guests (L&S's best friends) M & G. Played Harry Potter Scene It, my BiL and I were the best!
Christmas Day included morning service, present opening (I got a ticket to the Harry Potter Experience!!!!) then dinner. Uploaded the November instalment to LJ
Saw Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special followed by Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor. Read all evening

On Boxing Day read then helped prepare lunch, after which was taken home (one road still partially closed with a tree over half of it).

Back to work and very quiet even with half the normal staff, only on the phone for half the time.

New Years Eve caught the 17:17 to Crawley via Littlehampton and arrived at 18:29 J collected me and we got to St W by 6:45 in time for the food to start just after 19:00.
Good buffet meal, much dancing and an excellent demonstration by Ian Sharpe & Victoria Lawrence.
Then danced the New Year in and helped clear up the room.

Nearly up to date! Discovery of the month was that my return tickets to Durrington-on-Sea from Wivelsfield is the same as from Three Bridges, which mean travel to Crawley was reduced in cost.

Saw Thor: The Dark World and later in the month Gravity (really good) both at the Orion Cinema
First Monday in the month at the Earth & Stars pub for the Brighton SF Reading Group, where we discussed Man Plus. I only finished it just before the meeting.

Visited Sussex Oakleaf @ 54 Leylands Rd to discuss their needs for a spreadsheet, and provided help creating labels.

BTC had a presentation with food and drink in their new premises. I collected all my certificates (English Functional Skills still outstanding) It was good seeing my classmates some of whom had also got jobs (as had some who didn't make it).
Went to dentist again for a temp filling, proper filling next month.

Strictly Come Dancing was in Blackpool (a milestone event) during the month.

T-Shirt from Veronica Mars kickstarter arrived. Waiting for the movie with bated breath.

Visited parents, upgraded new laptop from Win 8.0 to Win 8.1, ensured MS Anti Virus was installed and running.

Bought my first season ticket TB to Durrington. This allows me to travel anywhere on permitted routes between these two stations (so I can go to Brighton, Haywards Heath and Three Bridges at no extra cost.)

Saw Dr Who: The Day of the Doctor (50th Anniversary edition) was very good, very timey wimey looking forward to the Christmas Special.

J got back from China, and we continued learning Samba, with a private lesson (at Copthorne Village Hall - J collected me at TB) to allow her to catch up on what she missed. This included Saunter Together, Samba and Jive.

Went to Strictly Social Dancing with Ian Waite at the Hawth which started at 8pm. Small dance floor but danced a bit did Ian Waite's Cha cha and jive Fit Steps routines (don't remember them now) and listened to Ian's Q&A until 10:20 for last waltz.
The following night was last end of month Saturday Social Dance at Crawley (New Years Eve being on Tue). We were able to do a bit of jive and a bit of Samba but need practice.

Continuing training course at BTC in Eastbourne, as part of the course members of the group had to help organise an event to include food and presentation of certificates. I got to design and print the certificates! We also had mock interviews and I also worked towards taking Functional Skills in English and Maths at Level 2 (there isn't a Level 3 yet). I went to see The Wolverine at the local cinema in Eastbourne.

The first weekend in August the Crawley Juggling Convention returned to The Hawth. Did some club swinging and poi (did a bit of teaching there!). The Kettle of Fish show in the evening as always was excellent.

The new Doctor Who was announce on that Sunday!

Went Dancing on Tue and Wed throughout the month, and have given up on Fri due to knee pain. Note Crawley Library now has free WiFi and the rest of the county due to have this feature by the end of the year.

Saw Julie & Julia at the Hawth cinema after a celebration of food and drink.

At the BTC Award ceremony I was very surprised to receive one of four tutor awards. A very nice crystal block engraved with the details.
The Functional Skills Maths was a comprehensive online test, which I managed to pass with 86% However the English one included a presentation (I talked about how SF changed my life) and conversation (my mock interview was used). As this was a new course it needed an external review so I haven't got the results yet (Dec 13).

Saw The Lone Ranger also at the Eastbourne cinema

Defrosted new freezer for the first time, the old chest freezer retained all the ice as it melted, the new upright one not so much. Many rags and towels were needed to keep the floor mostly dry.

The Brighton SF Reading Group finally met for the first time in the Earth & Stars pub in Brighton. This was a MeetUp.com sponsored group, which had been mostly dormant until Paul Braizer took over! Decided how to run the meetings and choose books, first book chosen was edited by Paul "The West Pier Gazette and Other Stories". Due to meet on the first Monday of the month.

I continued to cut the grass (both front and back lawns), a novel experience.

Got a request for help from K at Sussex Oakleaf and confirmed that I was starting on Business Admin L3 course at Crawley college next month.

On Bank Holiday Monday there was a showing of Grease, in the open air, at the Burgess Hill FC ground, just across the road. It was originally planned for the previous Saturday but rain stopped play. I was very surprised at how many of the songs I could sing along to!

Managed to lose my phone so had to get a replacement and the old SIMM blocked.

Danced all the dances with J at the end of month Saturday Social in Crawley.

As usual went to Job Centre and Rewards on Tuesdays.
On the First Wednesday in the month I went to the Library Book Club discussion as usual, we had read my suggestion Naked In Death by J D Robb.
Dancing in the evening, on my own or with B (dance teacher) learnt new sequence dance Saunter Together
Doctor Who started a new series in this the 50th anniversary year.
On my birthday my sister collected me and then we all went off to dinner after which my parent decided to buy a new car!
The following day was my sister's birthday, we didn't go out but stayed in for a fish and chip supper. went home the following day. Dad took me which was amazing as the previous year he had been legally blind!
I continued to volunteer at Sussex Oakleaf, worked to help provide an internal audit of the organisation.
Had to visit dentist to get filling replaced.
On Tue 23rd went to dance class and then got a lift to the Crawley library for World Book Night event, with a quiz and free books. Got a bus to Three Bridges and then home.
Saw Doctor due to stye in my eye, very sticky eye cream needed to remedy this.
Went to London on 26th for an interview, also managed to visit The National Portrait Gallery for the fist time and Forbidden Planet Megastore. The interview was so limited in scope it could have been conducted over the phone, and I didn't get the job either!
I also started going dancing on Friday's in Haywards Heath in the Methodist Hall. (Where I had previously been taught in 1979!)
Went to see Iron Man 3 on the last Saturday in the month before going off to Crawley for the monthly social dance. Even without a partner I managed to dance a fair number of times, and had a good time.

So first weekend in February was Quarter Tone the 25th UK Filkcon held at the Ramada Grantham Hotel in Lincolnshire
This was it's usual friendly self and in fact the only convention in the ear where I stayed away from home.
As usual I signed bi-weekly at the Job Centre and danced with K every Wednesday
I also had to attend Job Club regularly at CDG in Crawley, this was mandated by the Job Centre but at least I got my travel costs reimbursed.
Also got my broadband upgraded to unlimited fibre, which was faster and unlimited (obviously) but not excessively fast. Also my website www.dendarii.co.uk was wiped and I didn't notice for a little while!
Also saw the ISS (International Space Station) travel over head for the first time.
Picocon 30 took place over the weekend of 16-17 and this was my last con of the year (away from home)
I even managed a short visit to the Science Museum to see the Turing Exhibit.
I continued to volunteer at Susses Oakleaf
I had to order a new TV, a reconditioned Toshiba (which has worked well all year), used it successfully with my Raspberry Pi
I had to return my kobo ereader for replacement as it had a fault on the screen. It was replaced at WHS (where I'd originally purchased it)
Last Saturday in the month the regular Social Dance in Crawley dancing with K.
Visited parent the following day, just for the day though.
On the last day of the month I retook my ECDL test and unfortunately the system crashed part way though so I didn't finished. Booked a date to retake the test again.

On the 2nd I went to the Brighton Centre to see "Starlight Express" with my parents, and sister and brother-in-law. I also booked for tickets to see The 40th Anniversary of the Rocky Horror Show at the Theatre Royal on Saturday 5th.
On Monday 7th I had an interview at Amey, at the time I thought I had the job but I was in error, so didn't return to Crawley.
I have been volunteering at Sussex Oakleaf and setup a number of Excel databases.
Signing on at the job centre every other Tuesday, visiting Rewards to work on my Advanced ECDL. I took the spreadsheet exam/test on the last Wednesday of the month and failed with 70% when pass is 75% ;-(
Also dancing with K every Wednesday, though for the 23rd the dancing was cancelled due to snow.
The last Saturday in the month is a Social Dance from 7:00 to 10:15 and danced all the dances with K.

I've been going to Rewards Training in Haywards Heath when ever I had to go there (or further north) and been working on my ECDL Advanced (spreadsheeet) module. ie when I have to sign on, or when I go dancing.

In the morning two Tuesdays back, my new dancing shoes arrived. They have a slightly narrower and higher heel than I'm used to, but fit well and are comfortable. Once I got used to them they were great to dancein. It was also my sign on day in the afternoon, (you no longer get a set time, its arranged in the previous meet, the day is the same though.) I then went to Rewards and spent time on learning about spreadsheets. I am actually learning new stuff in this module, unlike the standard ECDL where it was mostly refresher material. The following day was dance night so I stopped for more training early in the day. Neither partner turned up so I was danincing with the teacher duting my one lesson.

Friday I had a review with CDG in Crawley (got my train fair refunded), discussed job searching and made next appointment for the new year. I discovered the Crawley ASDA and bought some new clothes.

Fictionwise.com is closing this month, I've been buying stiff from them since Nov 2000 (though my last purchase was April last year). I tried to download ALL my ebook titles (all 576) and I managed to get most of them. I also hope to transfer them to the Barnes & Nobel Nook Books store but...

Last Monday I went to see "Rise of the Guardians" at the cinema. I originally went to see the early showing, but when I got there I realised I'd left my wallet at home and the change in my pocket was not enough to pay for a ticket ;( So home I went, but decided that I still wanted to see the movie so left again, with wallet, and hour and a half later. It was fun, though I do wonder if the Easter Bunny is a major character down under.

I also bought a Kobo mini ebook reader from WHSmiths. It was on special offer and I bought the last one in the store (it was just closing and the price was going up in the morning). It can read epub and PDF format and uses the kobo books store. However there is a simple web browser which allows purchased from elsewhere on the net. It wieghs about the same as my iPod but is twice the screen size. Uses eInk so a charge lasts a while.

Last Tuesday I visited the chiropractor, I must reduce my ipod use (especially in my left hand). It should be zero but... My thumbs do hurt, also my back has started to pain me intensely again.

Last Wednesday was busy. In the morning it was snowing as I went to training at Rewards in Haywards Heath. It was a light dusting and had all gone by lunch time. Then it was off to the Library for the monthly Book Club discussion. Two other people turned up so we decided to keep going. Then it was off to Crawley, I bought a new sheet at ASDA, there is nowhere locally to get bedding (without needing a car). Then dance lesson, K was there P was not so I didn't dance in the early lesson. It was all revision of the material we had been learning over the last year. including the new steps of the jive, and most of the sequence dances.

Friday I was back at Sussex Oakleaf, while J was there first (she was not feeling too good) I did use my keys to open the other office! I finished off the address database and generated labels in a mail merge, and showed J how to do it herself (it's not that hard once you know how). I also fixed the wireless printer (both office printers had the SAME IP address, so would only work when the other one was off) and it now prints fine.

Just discovered Sir Patrick Moore died yesterday. Space just got smaller.

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Current Location: At Home

Two Wednesdays back BOTH K and J were at the dance lesson. Fortunately the teacher needed a partner so J stepped in. Last Wednesday only K appeared so no issue. Last Saturday was the last Saturday in November so the social dance was on in the evening. K and i both made it and we danced all the dances we knew (even the recently learnt quickstep. Next social dance is on New Years Eve party (all night!). K gave me a lift to Three Bridges station as it was on her way home, and it meant I got home 45 minutes earlier than otherwise. I've also ordered some new dance shoes (my current pair I got 33 years ago!)

"Learn to program: The Fundamentals" at http://www.coursera.org finished last week. the final exam took 3 hours! and I managed to get 85%, this meant my total mark for the course was 83.5% (the pass was 70%) this despite only getting 35% on my last assignment. So I'm pretty happy. I also bought a discounted ebook copy of the tutors "Practical Programming" and intend to take the next course in the subject.

I've also started to listen to audio books from audible.co.uk, starting with "Captain Vorpatril's Alliance by Lois McMaster Bujold" I've already read the book, but the audio edition bring it more alive (at least with a good narrator).

Last weekend I got a warrant from NS&I, as I've won £25 on the Premium Bonds. I can't remember if I've ever done so before but since I only have £26 worth that 104% over 50 years! I must remember to pay it in to my account.

My TV License was due this month so I have reluctantly subsidised the BBC, while they do produce some cool stuff (Dr Who, Sherlock, Strictly) £12 per month is a bit much.

I've managed to continue working on my ECDL Advanced (Excel 2007) module each week and am over a third the way through. Signed on at the Job Centre and am still looking for work.

As a result of being unemployed I have re-contacted Sussex Oakleaf and I'm volunteering with them again. Today was my first day back and it went less than perfectly. Due to issues with the IT equipment. First I had to get an account set up (I used a temp account all last year!) Then I had to use a VPN to connect to the central services on an ASUS Eee PC desktop. Finally got everything working and started creating an address database in excel.

Current Mood: accomplished
Current Location: At Home

So it's Chrismas Day and I have been catching up on my blogging, the last eight months have been extracted from my diary so don't have a lot of character ;-)

My volunteering at Sussex Oakleaf had a change, as the work I was doing for the Finance team had been completed, and they didn't have any new stuff for me to do for the moment. So I got re-assigned to another project at The Yews, first helping re-format some teaching documentation, then helping create some graphs in Excel.

I've been watching a fair amount of TV including Haven, Warehouse 13, Alphas, Bones, Fringe, The Secret Circle, Frozen Planet, The Mentalist, Rissoli & Isles (started reading the books too), Lost Girl, not to mention Strictly Come Dancing and it's companion It Takes Two.

What now appears to be my last book club meeting discussed "The Tenderness of Wolves" by Stef Penney, once again I haven't finished it, but I still have it on loan so I may do so eventually.

I took my duvet and under-sheets to the nearby laundrette to get them washed, while there, there was a short power-cut, but the wash cycle continued on power resumption. I then put all the washing in the drier (which was the main reason for going. If washed at home it wouln't dry before evening).

In the first week of the month I got an email from Deekay Recruitment indicating that there might be a job available for me if I was still looking. I replied in the affirmative and then the next week was sent a contract to start on 19th December in Crawley. This without any interview, just on the basis of my CV. I wasn't even told what the actual job was!

Since I still wasn't sure what the job was I signed on for the last time, and was told my next sign on day was 10 January 2012 due to the Christmas holidays. So I have to notify them before then.

I had a morning of admin at Sussex Oakleaf and was able to to provide some final assistance, but then had to say I wouldn't be back, at least for a while as I'd got a job! Thought they were sad to loose my expertise, they were happy that I was soon to be employed.

I also notified CDG as I had an appointment at their new office (they had moved in early December).

Last weekend I went to see Puss in Boots in 3D followed by Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows at my local cinema, both fun in their own way.

So on Monday morning I got a weekly season ticket to Gatwick Airport and then walked in the cold morning to the Amey office where I discovered that there were 15 other people starting on the same job at the same time. It was a new project relating to the administration of railway inspection! But we didn't actually find out what the job entailed until Monday lunchtime.

The first two days were mostly training then we started report writing. By the end of the week I'd just managed to complete 25 reports! On Thursday I started to suffer from a cold/flu despite my flu shot.

We were let out early at 3:30pm and I then took the bus to Crawley, where the traffic was jammed, and it started to rain heavily with strong winds. My umbrella blew apart! Then train to get picked up by my sister then on to her home!

This is the first time I've had a short term contract and/or worked through an agency. I wonder how I'll cope!

Started volunteering at Sussex Oakleaf a small charity based in Haywards Heath. I was involved in designing Excel spreadsheet version of paper forms.

The following Monday I finished the first module of Principles of Business & Administration, the test for which was computer based and I passed. This meant the end of term so the next module started in mid September.

The next day a Sky engineer came to replace my Sky+HD box, as this model was faulty and had to be recalled. So I now have a shiny new box which is smaller and likely to last longer.

Given that I wasn't going to get to London for a Book Club meeting, I decided to see if there was any thing locally, and discovered there was a group that met on the first Wednesday of the month, in the library at 2pm in the after noon. The first book I tried to read was "Birth of Venus, Love and Death in Florence by Sarah Dunant.

I discovered that the Jay Miller's Circus was visiting Burgess Hill in the middle of the month and went to see the matinee, which was a good plan as it was a very small circus.

This month's major movie was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2 in 3D which was a very bad idea as the film was dark enough as it was, wearing sunglasses only made it darker. This was followed the following week by Cars 2 which had a wonderfully character voiced by Michael Caine. At the end of the month I also saw Captain America, not being invested in the character I approached it as just another movie and found it surprisingly good.

Next haircut was due at the end of the month, it's quite odd going to the hairdressers (even if I have managed to get a student discount occasionally) since I hadn't had a haircut in months if not years previously.

Out of the house at least twice a week on Wednesday for ITQ training (as I don't have Office 2007 at home) and on Fridays at Sussex Oakleaf.

Since I haven't blogged since October I though I'd leave an end of year place holder until I can find last year's diary.

So nearly a year later (7 January 2012) I've found my 2010 Diary and as a resolution, will update more often.

Was assigned a Personal Advisor when I signed on at the Job Center. Sally had been dealing with my case since the beginning but now it's official. During this period I have been using a paper based record of my job searching.

My TV License had to be paid for and cost £145.50. Signed on to to do-it.org to look for volunteering options.

Visited the dentist and got the permanent filling installed at a cost of £100.

Started watching Strictly Come Dancing. The final was on 18 Dec. I actually phoned the bbc and voted for Pamela and James.

Brian from Home Learning College came to talk about courses. But I couldn't afford them.

Went to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 1" at the cinema.

I started reading the webcomic "Digger" (http://www.diggercomic.com/) A wombat, a dead god. A very peculiar epic.

It snowed at the beginning of December, and I decided to trek through Bedelands Farm, in the nearly foot deep snow. It was very memorable, but a had slog where walking where no one else had been before.

Got the old PC from my parents/sister up and running Windows XP took over 3 hours (I could have used Linux and got it working in half an hour but I wanted to be able to use Windows, to keep my skills up to date).

A few books arrived from Amazon, I read fanfic, and walked around Bedelands without snow.

Spent Christmas at my parents/sister's family. This was followed by my sister and brother-in-law's silver wedding anniversary. We all went out to dinner/lunch at the Tollgate, Bramber. I then went home.

This wraps up 2010, in which I lost my job and my sister celebrated 25 years with her husband!

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