Michael's Meanderings

On Friday there was a power cut which means that many IT systems were unavailable, and until power was restored four and a half hours later most of us were twiddling thumbs.

One of my colleagues, who I've worked with for 7 years was also leaving that afternoon and I really wanted to get away to say good by, so I had to fly through the Friday check-list once power was back. The leaving party was in the pub round the corner (in London there is always a pub around the corner) and I was able to get a drink to toast goodbye. I didn't sty long as I'm not keen on pubs, since I don't usually drink, and they are very noisy!

On Saturday I went shopping in the morning, as I need to visit a couple of shops that closed a mid-day (including the Post Office as I had to send my Dad a birthday card) It was a lovely day so there was no hardship walking to an from town. Saw Primeval on TV (in between the final of The One and Only)

Since going on walks with filkferengi I promised myself that since there was a nature preserve only a few metres from my door that I would at least had a look around. Well 20 years after moving here I finally visited Bedelands Farm. With the weather fine and sunny, though a bit crisp. it was ideal weather for a walk. Unfortunately I didn't have any walking maps so I did worry a bit that I might get lost, but despite this I did get back to my starting point just under an hour after I left. I'm not really sure WHERE I went but I did see trees, meadows, ponds (with ice glinting on the surface) moss and fungi! The only down side was a few places where the path turned into mud, a few wood chips would have done a lot of good. Next time I'm going to take a camera!

Just a recap, I work for a company Charityshare that provides IT services to 3 charities; The Children's Society, NSPCC and the Alzheimer's Society. The company is jointly owned by the three charities.

Over the last weekend the Alzheimer's Society moved it's head office 9in London, to new premises. As a result most of the Charityshare staff had to come in over the weekend. Luckily I was only needed on Sunday, but it was irritating having to get up at 6:30am on a Sunday, and of course the trains don't run reliably on weekends either.

I had to swap trains twice before I got to London Bridge and then walked along the River Thames and over Tower Bridge before finding the new office near St Katherine's Docks.

Spent the day sorting out PCs and printers with a break for lunch (Roast beef and Yorkshire pud and a pub a few minutes walk away).

Finally left and only needed 2 trains to get me home!