Rhetoric...

What's the point of rhetorical questions?

After midnight and still not tired...

It's strange how your body clock doesn't seem to work as it should. I am sure it's down to diet and work and stress etc. which has a strong impact on this sort of thing? I remember the wost bout of insomnia though was when I was about 17, I couldn't ever get to sleep at a reasonable hour no matter how hard I tried. I think I drove myself to distraction in all the efforts I went to, from opening the window wide to ventilate the room and cool down a stuffy room, to exercising during the day to wear myself out, to not eating anything that may not agree with me.... you name it I probably did it and of course it was ironic laying there wide awake thinking of nothing more than how much I'd rather be asleep.
Now, several years on, I'm still no better - reflecting on anything and everything and not seeming to crack the code that is - just how the hell am I supposed to get some rest when my mind and body seem to have other ideas?! Does anyone have tips on how to beat insomnia?

Beer late at night...

Just had a Budvar Dark Lager... it wasn't that nice. I think it's quite a bit like Marmite either you like it or loathe it ironically it tastes much the same!

Reminding myself to keep blogging...

It's funny that I keep having to remind myself to keep blogging. I was never much of a diary keeper, I still struggle to put anything down to remind myself of what to do as I'm always too busy just doing it than worrying about planning and normally if I do set a reminder unless it's more important than the thing I'm doing, it gets ignored or rescheduled. I wonder if that's just me or if there's others out there who do the same?

Cotswolds - Blockley, Stow-on-the-Wold, Moreton-in-Marsh and Oxford - Ghosts!

I took my wife to the countryside yesterday making the most of the glorious sunshine and fine weather. We hit Oxford first and to be fair, it wasn't really much to write home about - it's funny how it's got such a great reputation but if you avoid all the main attractions, it's nothing special.
So as I was determined to have an injection of good ol' British countryside before returning back to London - I took a slightly less beaten path through the Cotswolds and visited a place I used to go to when I was young called Blockley. In all the time, it's not really changed all that much - still the peaceful sleepy village tucked away in the folding fields and just as spellbinding in its way as it ever was the very first time I went there.
I'm sad that the cottage my grandparents owned was sold but with none of their children looking to take it on, the legacy and history was flogged to the highest bidder and sadly it turned out to be a builder who knew a good thing when he saw it and changed the virtually unchanged property into what it is now. I'm sure it's making the new owners very happy and I hope they cherish it as much as we all did. I just hope the ghost hasn't been upsetting them too much! - but that's another story!

Anniversary and Birthday Bash

Had a cracking day on Saturday just gone with a big family and friends bash. It's funny how eating lots of treats still leaves you hungry for the right stuff.
The only thing that was a little upsetting was a contingent decided to turn up late then leave quickly, taking all their drink with them. But in fairness they didn't bring anything other than a weird mood with them and it was nice when things went back to how they were before they came!
Another thing, it's great how kids just bring such fun and energy to a party... so I don't see why a jelly and ice cream party gets such a bad wrap.

Funniest job interview ever - how not to do it.

I wouldn't normally stir things but sometimes the actions of others beggars belief... let me know what you think?

A colleague who had been promoted from telesales to field sales decided to not come to work for quite a while - effectively leaving my team in the lurch with everything to do. After giving him several weeks to come in and speak with the management and HR team to explain what was going on, there was still no progress (as he failed to turn up or even call in to say he was ill or anything) he was eventually given the sack.
I feel for him as he's obviously struggling but he didn't help himself in the way he was doing things and never went about it in the right way.
Anyway now you know the background, just when you thought he was history this happens...
A couple of weeks ago he boasted how he'd set himself up for a job with an old manager of his (and this was his reason for going AWOL). He then calls in last week saying he'd been to a second interview with a company for a job which I'd turned down and was hoping that I and two others at the office would give him a reference. In a bit of disbelief I was then told that he was needing a gleaming reference as the company he'd had an interview with were concerned over why he'd left so swiftly after being promoted and he had given the excuse that it was too tough - hardly what a future employer wants to hear from someone at an interview... so honest but stupid I think is the kindest thing to say.
Anyway, he calls up the day after and was put through to the Director who wanted to clear things up and from what I gather the call went roughly along these lines...
X - "Can I have a reference?"
D - "In light of the way you conducted yourself, I can only give you a factual one..."
X - "I am sorry for the way things went, I had several things going on at home and was wondering can I have my old job back?"
D - "To be honest, I think it's best all round if you moved on as the role's been advertised internally and externally."
X - "So can I have an application form then to re-apply for the job?"
D - "No."
X - "Can I have my old position in telesales back then?"
D - "With the greatest respect - I'm terminating this call..."