So Far ... So Good

The first 9 days of the New Year have been proving to still be going well … it seems almost too well … something really bad has to happen before too long.

On the world of work I found out today my budget is increasing next year, it was a second bash with trying to get more funding, we were expecting to have a hard battle … but were surprised and got it without much pressure. Maybe all the programmes about the flooding over the summer that were on over the festive period have sharpened the mind on their own ‘What if’. Mind you the extra is already assigned to a project and that’s partly how we sold the increase. But I’m rather chuffed and happy, the money will still have to be spent wisely as it is now, but it does mean we shouldn’t get the situation where more major maintenance gets backed up with my books and works programme balancing act; which crossed fingers (and touching wood) means we won’t have any failures as most of the sea defences are nearly at or past their design life. The longer term plan has be twarped many times by legislation changes... which gets frustrating.

On the Personal side, after much hunting I’ve found a pair of long winter boots that fit me! It may seem a small thing, but when you’ve been hunting for so long (think 2005) and finally find a pair that ticks all the boxes (wide feet, high instep and chunky calves) its a cause for celebration! The pair concerned being worn today with a … skirt! For the record they come from Evans (home to many a wide fitting decent style shoe, i.e. not for 90 year olds like in Clarks), have lacing up the back (which is good for having them tighter at the ankle and wider at the calves) with a side zip to make them easy on and off once the lacing is sorted … somehow I’m in a size smaller than usual … thank Dr T for spying them when we were out shopping on Saturday. Added bonus of having a wedge heel means I get a bit closer to Dr T in height.

Then Space permitting that I’ll have a layout published in one of the Craft Magazines, and only at the second attempt. I’d decided with ‘Nature’ as the theme and an album of layouts 1 must be good enough, I submitted 2 and 1 got chosen. So maybe I’ll have another go if there is one that fits the theme well. Royal Mail better look after it, as its going Recorded Delivery to the magazine offices (for them to photograph it for the magazine) packaged up well so they hopefully don’t bend it!!!!

Only bummer so far is that being on a 2 day lag from Dr T’s cold I have already forsaken another 0 sick year .. as I succumbed at the end of my Lifebuoy run and went home instead of back to the office and was off sick yesterday afternoon. I was concerned about being safe to drive due to a head full of cold and not wanting to be more than a arm’s reach from a tissue … so I think that’s a good indication that work isn’t the place to be either. An afternoon’s rest seems to have done the trick as I’m feeling a lot better than before, and now I can be a good couple of feet from a box of tissues!

Dr T on the other hand isn’t faring so well … the stinky cold has now been joined with a couple of Migraines over the last few days from a usual headache free soul. Lets hope for peace in this household that its not made worse by Chocolate (as that would mean a very unhappy Dr T, he being the main Chocolate consumer in these parts).