Friday, January 2nd is a somewhat wasted day in the office ... Japan has a public holiday for New Year (I work for a Japanese company) so there's not a lot coming from there, and people are still on the 'finding it really hard to get motivated' effect from the Christmas/New Year break. Me, I firmly fall into the 'firhtgm' camp, so have spent the morning reading old blogs from those in my 'Buddies Who Blog' list ... And in Christi's blog I found one which I plan on ripping off ... So :
What were you doing 10 years ago?
January 1999, I was a married man of 20 months and a father of 8 months ... Mia, Charlotte, George the retreiver and I were living in our 2nd house in Tilbury, Essex - a 3 bed end of terrace house. Tilbury was (And I'm guessing still is ..) a bit of a dive, but we bought the house there because it was cheap! £46,500! Our plan was to live there for 4 years maxium and then go somewhere a bit more upmarket, and the plan worked!
The picture is a bit of a cheat, as it was taken on April 4th, 1998, the day after Charlotte was born so slightly over 10 years ago. Charlotte looks like she's down 15 rounds in the boxing ring, a traumatic birth and caesarian giving her that look. My long hair and the not-visible-in-photo ear-rings soon went as little baby hands would grab them.
The yellow polo shirt (Fila if I remember correctly!) came from Costco if anyone cares ...
5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Dark chocolate, but I try and steer clear of it ...
2. Cola Cubes (Which again I try and steer clear of ..)
3. Bombay Mix. To my US based friends it'sthe name used in the UK for a traditional Indian snack known as chiwda or chevda (चिवडा) in India, or chanachur in east India and Bengal. The English name originates from the city of Bombay, now called Mumbai (And incidentally where my Dad was born!) It consists of a variable mixture of spicy dried ingredients, which may include fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, corn, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, and fried onion. This is all flavoured with salt and a blend of spices that may include coriander and mustard seed. (Wikipedia is your friend)
4. Marks and Spencers milk chocolate tea cakes (and again I try and steer clear of them).
5. Dorittos and salsa dip.
5 jobs I've had:
1. Saturday job at Gants Hill library. Absolutely hated it, especially as I used to go and see Spurs play a lot then and my library shifts always clashed with when Spurs were at home. I had to get a special permit from the council to allow me to work (As I was under 16), and could only work 4 hours every two weeks. Working in the library took away some of the magic I used to experience when I used to go there as a child, but I'm rediscovering that through my 2 daughters.
2. One Stop corner shop. Round the corner from my house, and for the late 80's and early 90's was a unique corner shop in that it wasn't owned by Asians! I loved working there, earning the princely sum of £15 per day. Trips to the cash and carry were the highlight, and I'd have competitons with Chris (The owner of the shop) over who could carry the most trays of soft drinks or beers in at one go. I worked there until I got a proper job, then handed the person over to my mate Lloyd.
3. MIS, The Salvation Army. My first proper job, working for the IT department at the Salvation Army. My Dad pulled a few strings and got me in (Or so I believe!) and I spent the next 4 years there. Hated it with a passion at first, but then as I got to understand what the buggeration I was supposed to be doing things got better. I used to work stupid hours mind ...
4. NLD Sound and Light. I moonlighted for NLD whilst working at MIS, doing the lights for fashion shows and nightclubs. When I came back from America, I'd often work for NLD to ensure I had some money ... 10 years later I'm using the skills acquired with NLD, and putting them to use at the girl's school for their school productions! The Head's husband was impressed with the lighting show I did with 3 colours and 3 buttons.
5. Camp Kuratli at Trestle Glen. The summers of 1993/94/95 were spent in Boring, Oregon (The noun, not the adjective). In 1993 I was one of 8 boys counsellors, and frankly the worst ... I had no idea what I was doing, nor did I know how to control and look after a cabin of boys aged 10 and under. At the end of the Summer I moved onto the maintenance crew and got to know Hayden, the camp caretaker (Who was from England). I made a lot of good friends there (And am still in contact with the majority) which meant when I was called in the April of '94 by Hayden to see if I wanted to go back I jumped at the chance.
In '94 I was there for 6 months, 3 before the Summer started, and then 3 for the Summer Camps. The first 3 months were great (Even if I did crash the camp truck in the picture into not one, but two basketball posts!), but the Summer was dire ... Completely different set of staff from the previous Summer, and a whole new mentality - fortunately for me I was maintenance director so could keep out of the way all Summer and avoid the program staff who had taken an instant dislike to me.
I didn't plan on going back in '95, but decided on the spur of the moment to go and as I was unsure of who would be out at camp arranged for two friends from the UK to come with me. That summer I was 'Special Ed', and had a fantastic time .. Still miss the place.
5 habits that I have:
1. I bite my nails. Every now and then I try and grow them, but then get fascinated by the white parts that grow and am forever cleaning them. I then normally get stuck on a train for ages, so end up biting them.
2. Talking to myself. If I'm alone, be it in the car or in the office out of hours, I'm forever talking to myself. First sign on madness apparently, but I find it helps me concentrate.
3. Sarcasm. I'm incapable of not using it ... And if I'm not being sarcastic, I'm joking around. I think it's my defence mechanism, as it takes a lot for me to be comfortable with people. Admittedly it does get to me when I'm expected to crack a joke or make a comment, and I'm just not in the mood.
4. ... I use ... way too much when writing.
5. Drumming on the desk. I am the Keith Moon of finger drummers, and can find a rythmn in anything. The fire alarm test at 4pm on Friday at work can lead to a major finger drumming workout.
5 places that I have lived:
1. Ilford, Essex, UK. Grew up in Gants Hill and spent the first 20 years of my life there. Valentines Park was my stomping ground, I could happily disappear over there on my bike for the day. I loved the lakes, the 'maze', and the budgie enclosure that my Mum would take me to after playschool.
2. Boring, Oregon, USA. Camp Kuratli was in the middle of nowhere, but it did have good bus routes! Clackamas shopping mall was the single break day place to go .. Or if you were adventerous (And in my case, in need of guitar strings) then you'd head for Portland (And in my case, Apple Music!). I love Portland, and would love to go back. The hours spent in Powells ("The largest book store in the world!", or so it said) reading the imported UK magazines. Walking along the river front, or just exploring the city. I will go back.
3. Church Langley, Harlow, UK. Mia and I bought our first house there, a small 2 bedroom place with garage on the other side of the street. Church Langley was a new development and was surrounded by fields leading down to a water tower andf the M11 motorway - sadly the fields now have houses on them We acquired George the retriever whilst there, and it was when walking him on a field-soon-to-be-turned-to-houses that Mia came and met us clutching a positive pregnancy test. The neighbours were arseholes though, which is why we moved.
4. Hoxton, London, UK. The parents of one of my bestest UK friends (Hi Dawnie!) were the officers in charge of Hoxton Salvation Army. The centre had two flats and as we were in between house having moved from Church Langley and waiting for Tilbury to be ready, we moved into a flat. This was Charlotte's first home, though we moved when she was about 3 weeks old. Weirdly, I worked 15 minutes walk away yet was still almost always late!
5. Manningtree, Essex, UK. Where we are now, and I love it! River 2 minutes one way, fields 2 minutes the other, London an hour by train, and Ipswich Town Football Club 20 minutes door to door!
Thanks Christi for the idea, and I bet you're all glad (I say all, but I know only Andy ever reads my blog!) that today is a really slow day at work.
Oh, and 10 years on from January 1999, this is how I am now ... The baby is a bit bigger, and has gained a sister. I'm fatter and have less hair, and sadly George is gone but we have Jackson the Lhasa Apso.
What were you doing 10 years ago?
January 1999, I was a married man of 20 months and a father of 8 months ... Mia, Charlotte, George the retreiver and I were living in our 2nd house in Tilbury, Essex - a 3 bed end of terrace house. Tilbury was (And I'm guessing still is ..) a bit of a dive, but we bought the house there because it was cheap! £46,500! Our plan was to live there for 4 years maxium and then go somewhere a bit more upmarket, and the plan worked! The picture is a bit of a cheat, as it was taken on April 4th, 1998, the day after Charlotte was born so slightly over 10 years ago. Charlotte looks like she's down 15 rounds in the boxing ring, a traumatic birth and caesarian giving her that look. My long hair and the not-visible-in-photo ear-rings soon went as little baby hands would grab them.
The yellow polo shirt (Fila if I remember correctly!) came from Costco if anyone cares ...
5 snacks I enjoy:
1. Dark chocolate, but I try and steer clear of it ...
2. Cola Cubes (Which again I try and steer clear of ..)
3. Bombay Mix. To my US based friends it'sthe name used in the UK for a traditional Indian snack known as chiwda or chevda (चिवडा) in India, or chanachur in east India and Bengal. The English name originates from the city of Bombay, now called Mumbai (And incidentally where my Dad was born!) It consists of a variable mixture of spicy dried ingredients, which may include fried lentils, peanuts, chickpea flour noodles, corn, vegetable oil, chickpeas, flaked rice, and fried onion. This is all flavoured with salt and a blend of spices that may include coriander and mustard seed. (Wikipedia is your friend)
4. Marks and Spencers milk chocolate tea cakes (and again I try and steer clear of them).
5. Dorittos and salsa dip.
5 jobs I've had:
1. Saturday job at Gants Hill library. Absolutely hated it, especially as I used to go and see Spurs play a lot then and my library shifts always clashed with when Spurs were at home. I had to get a special permit from the council to allow me to work (As I was under 16), and could only work 4 hours every two weeks. Working in the library took away some of the magic I used to experience when I used to go there as a child, but I'm rediscovering that through my 2 daughters.
2. One Stop corner shop. Round the corner from my house, and for the late 80's and early 90's was a unique corner shop in that it wasn't owned by Asians! I loved working there, earning the princely sum of £15 per day. Trips to the cash and carry were the highlight, and I'd have competitons with Chris (The owner of the shop) over who could carry the most trays of soft drinks or beers in at one go. I worked there until I got a proper job, then handed the person over to my mate Lloyd.
3. MIS, The Salvation Army. My first proper job, working for the IT department at the Salvation Army. My Dad pulled a few strings and got me in (Or so I believe!) and I spent the next 4 years there. Hated it with a passion at first, but then as I got to understand what the buggeration I was supposed to be doing things got better. I used to work stupid hours mind ...
4. NLD Sound and Light. I moonlighted for NLD whilst working at MIS, doing the lights for fashion shows and nightclubs. When I came back from America, I'd often work for NLD to ensure I had some money ... 10 years later I'm using the skills acquired with NLD, and putting them to use at the girl's school for their school productions! The Head's husband was impressed with the lighting show I did with 3 colours and 3 buttons.
5. Camp Kuratli at Trestle Glen. The summers of 1993/94/95 were spent in Boring, Oregon (The noun, not the adjective). In 1993 I was one of 8 boys counsellors, and frankly the worst ... I had no idea what I was doing, nor did I know how to control and look after a cabin of boys aged 10 and under. At the end of the Summer I moved onto the maintenance crew and got to know Hayden, the camp caretaker (Who was from England). I made a lot of good friends there (And am still in contact with the majority) which meant when I was called in the April of '94 by Hayden to see if I wanted to go back I jumped at the chance.
In '94 I was there for 6 months, 3 before the Summer started, and then 3 for the Summer Camps. The first 3 months were great (Even if I did crash the camp truck in the picture into not one, but two basketball posts!), but the Summer was dire ... Completely different set of staff from the previous Summer, and a whole new mentality - fortunately for me I was maintenance director so could keep out of the way all Summer and avoid the program staff who had taken an instant dislike to me.
I didn't plan on going back in '95, but decided on the spur of the moment to go and as I was unsure of who would be out at camp arranged for two friends from the UK to come with me. That summer I was 'Special Ed', and had a fantastic time .. Still miss the place.
5 habits that I have:
1. I bite my nails. Every now and then I try and grow them, but then get fascinated by the white parts that grow and am forever cleaning them. I then normally get stuck on a train for ages, so end up biting them.
2. Talking to myself. If I'm alone, be it in the car or in the office out of hours, I'm forever talking to myself. First sign on madness apparently, but I find it helps me concentrate.
3. Sarcasm. I'm incapable of not using it ... And if I'm not being sarcastic, I'm joking around. I think it's my defence mechanism, as it takes a lot for me to be comfortable with people. Admittedly it does get to me when I'm expected to crack a joke or make a comment, and I'm just not in the mood.
4. ... I use ... way too much when writing.
5. Drumming on the desk. I am the Keith Moon of finger drummers, and can find a rythmn in anything. The fire alarm test at 4pm on Friday at work can lead to a major finger drumming workout.
5 places that I have lived:
1. Ilford, Essex, UK. Grew up in Gants Hill and spent the first 20 years of my life there. Valentines Park was my stomping ground, I could happily disappear over there on my bike for the day. I loved the lakes, the 'maze', and the budgie enclosure that my Mum would take me to after playschool.
2. Boring, Oregon, USA. Camp Kuratli was in the middle of nowhere, but it did have good bus routes! Clackamas shopping mall was the single break day place to go .. Or if you were adventerous (And in my case, in need of guitar strings) then you'd head for Portland (And in my case, Apple Music!). I love Portland, and would love to go back. The hours spent in Powells ("The largest book store in the world!", or so it said) reading the imported UK magazines. Walking along the river front, or just exploring the city. I will go back.
3. Church Langley, Harlow, UK. Mia and I bought our first house there, a small 2 bedroom place with garage on the other side of the street. Church Langley was a new development and was surrounded by fields leading down to a water tower andf the M11 motorway - sadly the fields now have houses on them We acquired George the retriever whilst there, and it was when walking him on a field-soon-to-be-turned-to-houses that Mia came and met us clutching a positive pregnancy test. The neighbours were arseholes though, which is why we moved.
4. Hoxton, London, UK. The parents of one of my bestest UK friends (Hi Dawnie!) were the officers in charge of Hoxton Salvation Army. The centre had two flats and as we were in between house having moved from Church Langley and waiting for Tilbury to be ready, we moved into a flat. This was Charlotte's first home, though we moved when she was about 3 weeks old. Weirdly, I worked 15 minutes walk away yet was still almost always late!
5. Manningtree, Essex, UK. Where we are now, and I love it! River 2 minutes one way, fields 2 minutes the other, London an hour by train, and Ipswich Town Football Club 20 minutes door to door!
Thanks Christi for the idea, and I bet you're all glad (I say all, but I know only Andy ever reads my blog!) that today is a really slow day at work.
Oh, and 10 years on from January 1999, this is how I am now ... The baby is a bit bigger, and has gained a sister. I'm fatter and have less hair, and sadly George is gone but we have Jackson the Lhasa Apso.
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