Thursday, 24 May 2007

Fences and neighbours


Got to vent!
We are having a fence replaced at the back of the house. Approx 65metres. First panel goes up, neighbour around complaining about the concrete posts used to keep the panels up, the height of the panel, etc etc. The list is long! Main issue seems to be the asthetics of concrete posts. I explain the need for concrete posts (which are 4" wide) due to the wet clay ground and the poor drainage. To move things along we have adapted fencing at our expense to keep the peace. More work, more complaints. We adapt. More rework for contractor. Everyone happy. I wouldn't mind but i gave them details 2 months previously and everyone agreed! I have put up with abuse and some interesting language, but have remained calm (i know it's not like me!)
Funny part? The poor contractor who is doing the work got doorstepped by the wife of the neighbour today (who has been the worst offender during the past week). Guess what? She wants the contractor to put some fences with concrete posts. Go figure. The funnier part is the contractor is arranging a special high price to do the work as he doesn't like the way we have all been treated. Now that's funny!
You pay for what you sow!

Monday, 21 May 2007

Dark Nights!


Daylight starts about 5am and finishes around 9pm at the moment. Unfortunately, in a few weeks time, the darkness will last to later in the morning and the darkness will descend earlier in the evenings.
4 months and the christmas cards will be out in the shops :)

Sunday, 20 May 2007

Do Not Follow Sat Nav!


Are we becoming too reliant on technology?
In part of the south downs i visit regularly we have just had a new sign put up. Seems delivery drivers aren't using maps anymore. The paper map shows via colours and icons difficult roads. Alot of drivers are relying on sat nav and following blindly that seductive voice from the dashboard!
I think we might be seeing more of these signs being erected over the coming months.....but i'm not sure how effective they are as most drivers don't read roadsigns much these days!

Monday, 14 May 2007

Where has the time gone?

It's been a while as alot has happened in the last two weeks - mostly work. Time in paris chasing a big deal, 2 day leadership offsite, 1 day team building - which turned into me on the phone for 1/2 day and lots going on?

The trees?

We've had the tree surgeon in the back garden to take down the fast growing willow which was endangering various gardens and buildings! Now we look for a smaller evergreen to fill in the gap!

Tuesday, 1 May 2007

Another Day another ride


Another great day weather wise today. Finished work, dinner, then loaded the MTB onto the back of the land rover and headed down the road. 15 mins away is the start of a 10 mile disused rail track (thanks mr beeching) . Good surface for majority of the way, outbound has a slight include that goes for miles and miles so a bit of a slog, but managed to do 17 miles in 90 minutes tonight. When the sun went down (around 2030hrs) it was still 17C ! Another 1500 calories burnt. Just as well as i am on a 7am train into London to catch the eurostar for Paris. Back Friday!