As you can imagine, I've been very busy over the past few weeks and simply haven't had time to write.

It sounds like nearly everybody that was "overboard" is now safely "on board" somewhere. So, we should all have fatter bank accounts and a chance to put the past year behind us.

I've finally decided to get my three year old organiser sorted (it was that or get another!) I've got the screen & the battery replaced, installed a wireless LAN at home and got a wireless card for my organiser... so I can now surf the web from my bed!!!

Santa Claus didn't bring me these little toys - he always gets me the wrong stuff - so I had to rely on Santa Cruse. Santa did get me a travel smoke alarm and motion detector, so he's getting better.

I probably need to educate santa local helper for next year!

1. New (tower) computer with loads of bells & whistles
2. Computer desk and shelving
3. GPS - handheld or car mounted
4. new shortwave portable radio
5. DAB portable radio
6. new organiser
7. new car
8. blah
9. blah
10. blah

BTW you know I mentioned that I was helping my wife niece with the CV? Well, she got the job!

Having watched nearly every game of the World Cup Rugby, we decided to support the local team and when to a Saracens game. Not quite in the same league as "...35 seconds to go...", but quite enjoyable all the same.

Just before Xmas, I spent two days doing my "helping hands" thing - This is where head office staff are encouraged to spend a day or so working in the stores - I did half a day working on beers, wines & spirits and two days working fruit & veg.

It was quite nice to do something simple and watching how Xmas effects people. And the time of the yellow stickers is definitely worthe being there for.

Bob is looking forward to the end of his time... and counts down every day. He'll either walk straight into another contract or spend a couple of weeks "resting".

Well, enough of me.

After one or two complaints that I seemed to have stopped blogging, here's my latest blog.

The main reason for not blogging is... I've been on holiday!

Yes, I know that I've been to New Zealand & Cyprus and I've had plenty of "garden leave" to soak up the fine British summer. But, I figured I was due a holiday!!

We had planned to take three weeks, to drive over to southern Spain - staying at nice hotels on the way there & back - and stay at the villa that we've stayed in many times before. But this plan had to be amended.

So, we flew instead and only have two weeks with a couple of days in this country.

Flying Easyjet is very different from flying business class, but with the flight of 2.5 hours being far less than 36 hours, this seemed reasonable. I managed to hire a car over in Spain for about 200 pounds! - this is about a third of what I've paid in the past - and settled in to doing nothing for two weeks.

Have a look at my pictures - www.rogercruse.com

Finally, returned to England and just enough time to dump the bags, get a nights sleep, pack the bags and get off the Cornwall for few days.

I'd booked a couple of nights in Padstow (aka Padstein) staying at Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant which confusingly is a hotel as well.

If you haven't heard or haven't been to Padstow, then you need to realise that this is the Mecca for any lover of good fish and fine eating.

Mister Rick owns about 5-6 different eateries and there are other restaurants as well they have to provide good food to compete. All this is a small seaside village in Cornwall.

So, if you haven't tried Monkfish Vindaloo to haven't lived! Either get down to Cornwall or buy one of Mister Rick's books.

We also managed to visit the Eden Project. Again, get down to Cornwall and have a look yourself. Very interesting.

To wrap up on other news.
We've started to "do up" the spare bedroom, replacing the old double bed with two singles (very clever this, one bed folds under the other!) and re-arranged to wardrobes in preparation to replacing them with the fitted version.

I've been helping my wife's niece put together her CV - I'm an expert now.

I've upgrade my phone to a one that can take pictures... OK, I know it's sad, but I've got to spend my money somehow!

My laptop computer is still causing me major problems, so I'll be contacting PC Service Call again to resume the battle (new readers: my computer becomes unstable after 3-4 weeks and has been returned 4 times since February).

The neighbour's cat, Molly, is getting bigger and still visits nearly every day. She's confused about me not being here all the time, but makes up for it by staying longer on each visit!.

I've spoken to Dev in his new job - well done! - and offered to help him with his BO problem if he needs it.

Well, enough from me, keep looking...

Sorry that I haven't posted for a while, what with the new job and my computer being send away to be repaired (yet again!), I haven't been able to find both the time and a computer.

Of course, while I've been "off-line", the world and his wife have been having fun with the Blaster / SoBig viruses. I've been unaffected, until now!

Yep, I spend a couple of hours on Thursday night, trying to download the Microsoft patch while and the same time watching a steady stream of attacks going on - I was being hit every couple of seconds!

Anyway, after a loooonnnnngggg time, got it sorted!

I've finally managed to load pictures from the DSG Lifeboat - Rescue Party so you can see who was there and what they got up to.

I've also been paid by my new company - 5 weeks wonga - by cheque, so it was only natural to go shopping on Saturday to spend some of it!

Got a new phone - it's good that I still get my staff discount! - and we looked at doing up the spare room.

Another week and I'll be "on holiday" in Spain and Cornwall (don't ask!). Can't wait, I've been working flat out this year!

Enough from me... keep looking!

New job started on Monday... introduced to lots of people that I haven't got the faintest chance of remembering and I've been reading documentation.

Yes, documentation.

I know, sounds very odd, but what else am I expected to do...

The biggest problem I have is that it isn't flexitime... so it's start at 9 and finish at 5.

Personally, I prefer to start early and finish early...

There are two canteens, each is as bed as the other... so I need to get back into ignoring lunch time.

Still being pestered by agencies... so I'm slowly telling them I'm sorted.

Keep looking, it happened for me, it'll happen for you.

I'm home.

Didn't get much of a chance to access the internet in Singapore, so this is the final entry of the NZ bit. I'm back to a weekly update from now.

I'm in semi-zomby mode at the moment - it feels like I'm on a boat that's bobbing up and down on the water - it's sort of OK, but I won't be going too far today.

I've got to get some pictures loaded and check on the finances... busy, busy, busy.

Oh, and did I mention that I start my new job on Monday?

Enough...

The long journey home has started. I'm now in the Air New Zealand lounge at Auckland airport - they code-share with Singapore Airlines - after a long drive of two hours and a short flight of 30 minutes.

It's raining and, as I'm dressed for travelling and don't have anything warm, it's cold!

Managed to get my 34 kg of baggage on the short flight without any grief and even got these checked in through to Heathrow.

I'm either going to be a walking zomby by the time I get home or feeling as fresh as a daisy... what do you think?

See you in Singapore.

Well, I'm still in Ahipara. I'm using the Mark's computer.

Yesterday, went off to visit Gum Diggers Park - this an area where gum or resin from the Kauri tree was extracted from pits and used as a sealant on ships, etc before man-made alternatives became available about 75 years ago.

The Kauri trees are slow growing trees and live for over 2000 years. So, its at the opposite end for the scale to Lylandii. The trees grow very big and the wood is almost without knots, etc. So it looks great.

At the Kauri Kingdom shop they have used this wood to make furnature and even a spiral staircase.

Now, when I say a staircase I mean a staircase made from one piece of wood!

Last night, discovered that the local NZ brew - Lion Red - is potent are all!. So, remember this - don't drink more than twenty bottles of it!

Tonight we're going to the club-house and having a drink before an early night and the long journey home.

My wife tells me that my laptop has returned from being repaired (don't ask), so I'll need re-installing all my software before I can load anymore pictures.

enough

Busy weekend.

Been down to Whrangarei, Tutukaka & Piahia. Buying up nearly every T Shirt, diving the Poor Knights & eating pies respectively.

The Poor Knight dives were fanastic - plenty of life and clear blue water. OK, the water was cold (16C) and lumpy, but worth it. Definately, worth coming back to when the weather is warmer.

Managed to watch the All Blacks beat the Aussies in a typical NZ bar. Lots of people drinking and getting into the game. Being Kiwis there weren't as loud as an English crowd, but everybody had a great time. And the best thing was the Beer Sofa - there was a free draw to sit on the beer sofa and watch the game drinking as much beer as your want!

Now, that's something that needs to catch on!

New Zealand are into pies - straight meat pies, meat and cheese pies, curry pies, etc - Again, something that needs to catch on.

This is probably my last entry until I get to Auckland airport - yes, going home on Thursday to my new job!

After my trip into town yesterday, today was out of the Quad-Bike and a trip along the beach.

I probably need to explain that the "town" has a centre of a couple of streets and nearly everything you want can be purchased there. Or, to be more precise, everything you can get is there.

The beach is empty by UK standards in both directions for about one hundred miles, by NZ standards, it's a busy day with at least half a dozen people out there.

Anyway, the Quad-Bike takes a bit of getting used to, with your right thumb controlling the accelarator and your left foot to change gear. I managed to get a top speed of about 60 kph (about 35 mph) on the straight bits during the two hour trip there and back.

I've also booked my return flight to Auckland - there's only one flight a day from Kai Taia and that gets in too late to meet the Singapore flight - so, it's leaving at 08:30 on Thursday 31st to meet to 11:20 flight from Whangarei (pronounced Fangarai) to Auckland.

Enought from me, it's time for a beer!

I've been here three days or is it two?

During the day it can get quite warm, so it's T-shirts & Shorts, but as soon as the sun starts to set (about 5 o'clock) then it's jumpers and track-suit bottoms quick!

Managed to meet nearly everybody in Ahipara and consumed more beer than is probably good for me!

People are really friendly and are prepared to help in all sorts of ways such as using Anton's, the neighbour, car to go diving yesterday with A to Z Diving over at Whatuwhiwhi.

It wasn't the the deepest dive (only 12 metres), but it was my longest with over an hour. I was in the clean blue water, we managed to find two crayfish (lobster), but couldn't take some because their had eggs. The water temperature of 15C felt warm at first but after 45 minutes began to feel cold through my 5mm semi dry. So, I cancelled to 2nd dive and drove home with the heater going full blast!

My sister and I are planning to visit the Poor Knights where there's more life and a couple of wreaks - probably me and her my the time we leave!!.

I managed to find an internet cafe in Kai Taia and that's where I'm logging this. Also managed to get "free" access by selling my Compact Flash memory adaptor!

The internet access is via satellite, so while downloading to fast, uploading is crap! I'm trying to load a jpg and it's taking forever.

Well, I've arrived in NZ... they should do something about passport control - over an hour!

The Singapore / Auckland flight was sthe same as the Heathrow / Singapore flight. Good.

After 36 hours, I feel a bit tired and I'm probably a bit smelly.

Only another 3 hours and I can "freshen up".

OK, I'm now in Singapore Airport.

The flight wasn't as good as flying BC with Qatar Airlines, but it went quick enough.

The food selection was very good - separate courses served on proper plates (with plastic knives & forks!) - and the staff able to attend to everybody in real time (that is, no sitting there with a food tray from three hours ago!).

Singapore Airlines have their new SpaceBeds in BC. These almost fold down into a bed but don't go horizonal, you still have your head above your feet. Unfortunately, being six feet and five inches tall means that the legroom when the seat is fully extended is tiny. Probably OK for anyone under six feet, but a problem for me.

Now on the the airport.

Singapore airport is big. the Raffles Class lounge is also big probably bigger than the Virgin lounge at Heathrow, but again it's one room, divided into sections, but one room. And because of security the luggage lockers was out-of-bounds.

I've done my shopping - Radios, Cameras, gadgets, gadgets, gadgets! - OK. I've got a T Shirt and some stinky stuff form my wife, but the gadgets don't look to appealing, so I haven't gone mad.

It about mid-day at home and early evening here... time for a beer!

Hopefully, next entry will be from Auckland (only a 4 hour wait there).

This entry was meant to have been logged yesterday, but the stupid computer at Heathrow Airport wouldn't let me!

Heathrow Airport!. When did that happen?

After the job thing was sorted and a start date agreed, I realised I had another three weeks of doing what I'd been doing for the past months - waiting.

A few phone calls including permission from my wife and I was booked on the Friday flight to Singapore, the Saturday flight to Auckland and the Sunday flight to KAI TAIA where one of my sisters lives.

Now, as you probably know, I don't easierly squeeze into a standard economy seat and I've got a wheel-barrow lots of money... so it had to be BC (that's Business Class for all you charter flight people).

As I would be travelling for over 36 hours (excluding getting to Heathrow and waiting for the first flight), I felt that I needed the extras (business lounge, extra legroom, wifer seats, better food, blah, blah, blah).

So, where's my assessment of Singapore Airlines Raffles Class lounge at Heathrow -

Not as good as the Virgin lounge.

OK, so what's the Virgin lounge like?

The Virgin lounge is mucher bigger with separate areas for TV, the bar, food, internet, etc. With additional facilities like a hair-dresser, shoe-shine, etc. And there have a running buffet with the times for the next serving of hot food clearly on display.

The Singapore lounge is one big area with the bar / TV area is the same and the food selection isn't great.

Still it's "free". That is, included in the price.

Remember most airlines share their lounges, so you don't have to travel BC Virgin to use their lounge. We travelled Qatar Airlines and that was excellent.

This entry is something like the entry I originally did at Heathrow.

Sorted!.

Monday went very well, I noticed one of two former employees in their visitors book. And yesterday an offer was made!

OK, OK, now what should I do?

Yes, that's what I think and I start in two weeks!

Also, earlier this week.

Attended a usergroup meeting in London. The heat & humidity on public travel isn't funny anymore!

The missing kitchen cupboard arrived - this is to box in the boiler that was replaced last year - and was installed on Thursday... this was prefectly timed as it gave me something to keep-me-busy while I waited on the outcome of the Monday interview.

When all the recent warm weather, I agreed with my wife that a Air Conditioning system would be ordered as soon as the job thing was resolved. Guess what I'm ordering today!

The MSN Group - DSGLifeboat - is proving to be a big success! With over half the possible members having signed up in less than a week and some interesting topics being discussed (Beer Festival, Pensions, Holiday Pay, Opportunities, etc).

I still hope to contribute to this BLOG (and the MSN Group) as they've been very useful forcing me to think about what I've been up to. Maybe with my new job there will be even more interesting things to read about?

Enough from me, keep looking.

Yet another busy week.

I've setup a MSN Group - DSGLifeboat - for all the boys and girls thrown overboard by DSG. I'm afraid that membership is resticted to former employees only... so you know how to join!

I've also been playing with a bit of html and javascript... so who knows, I could get a job in computing with these skills.

Managed to get to Hemel last Tuesday for a Curry with a few people. Best thing was not having to get up the next morning!

The worse day last week was Wednesday... went to see Bruce Almightly. What a load of tripe!.

I've been busy round the house and finally dug out the roots of an ivy plant. This was also the home of one or two ants... boy, did I have ants in my pants!

One of the things in the pipeline actually happened... expect the results by next Monday. Still waiting on the other things.

I've also been busy watching my collection of DVDs and Videos.

Enough from me, keep looking.

Finally managed to pick up my personal copy of HP5 on Monday morning and finished reading it at 02:00 Tuesday morning!

OK, I'd borrowed my wife's nephew's copy and read about a third of the book, would have read more, but he wanted to read it himself - some people!!

I had to "pull up" in the Borehamwood Half Marathon. Partly because of the heat and partly because my training had tailed off over the past couple of weeks. I'd realised that things were going well when my T-shirt was soaked in sweat after only 2 miles. I survived another 2 miles and then stopped running. Have a look at my running pictures to see that it wasn't meant to be.

Still, this meant that I could enjoy the BBQ afterwards a bit sooner.

Visited Reading on Wednesday, Milton Keynes on Thursday and Welwyn Garden City on Friday. With a few things in the pipeline for next week, things are starting to pick up on the job / interview front.

The final payments from Hemel have arrived and the bank accounts look very healthy, so I�ve identified some few more things around the home that I can get started on. Still want Air Conditioning for the main Bedroom, but this might need to wait until the job front sorts itself out.

Spend the rest of the week trying to get two 15 year old nephews - in Swindon and in Hitchin - to setup their own fotopic.net website. The Hitchin one has created his and even loaded a couple of pictures - see the links section on the right ==>. The Swindon one is still finding excuses!.

Oh, managed to change to font on this website... do you like it?

Enough from me, keep looking.

Oh No!

I ordered my copy of the latest Harry Potter in January from amazon.co.uk and, as usual, selected Hemel as the delivery address... doh!

Only realised this when I got an email telling me that it had been dispatched. Now, the earliest that I can pick up the book will be Monday as the post-room doesn't open over the weekend!

What makes it worse is that I could have changed the delivery address at anytime up until Wednesday... when did I find out, Thursday. Oh well. It means that I can concentrate on the Borehamwood Half Marathon tomorrow (Sunday, the 22nd) and spent all next week reading it.

Attended the Data Warehouse Exhibition at Olympia. This was much smaller than is previous years and so I didn't stay too long.

This was a busiest week, with the fridge being cleaned out & given a good wash, the latch to the attic being sorted, both cars washed, the ivy growing near the shed was glued back and I moved the bedside lights on the new bedroom furniture.

So, you see, there' s still plenty to do.

Finally, have you tried Chicken with 30 cloves of Garlic? We had this dish at a Stinking Rose Restaurant in San Francisco - they motto, "We season a garlic with food!" - it sounds overpowering, but it's just fantastic.

So, turning from the shops with chicken and garlic, I decided to give it a swirl. Stick the cloves of peeled garlic in a pot, top up with pieces of chicken, oil & season (rosemary, thyme, etc) and put in a warm-to-hot oven for 45 minutes. Turn everything over and give it another 45 minutes. Deglaze a pot with some water and pour this over the meat. Serve with veg.

Sheila said she got one or two complaints the next day at work!

Not a dish to offer Kevin K.

Enough from me. Got to build myself up for tomorrow�s run. Keep looking.

Sorry, but I've been so busy that I almost forgot to post to this BLOG!

Last week was the last full week of the 90-day garden leave and also quite warm... so spend a couple of hours in the hammock!

My wife went off for a couple of days and left me "in charge". So, again, the hammock was in use while the sun was shining.

That is, apart from locking myself out of the house. I couldn't get hold of my wife and the neighbour who has a key had gone out for the day. As the door wasn't double locked, It took me about 20 minutes of messing about a piece of wood pushed through the letterbox trying to open the door.

Finally, went to see those wonderful people at the Job Centre. They have different coloured chairs to sit and wait depending on what you know to do. All a bit confusing, so I just kept standing until I was sorted. Booked my appointment and picked up an information pack. And the sum of �50 a week is almost mine!

Attended the launch of BO version 6 on Thursday and had an interesting conversation with someone who works for a small company that uses BO to analyse CRM data. My chance to see if there are any opportunities... No. He was also looking for work as are cutting back!

Did manage to speak to a few people and there is life out there!

On Friday, made my last appearance in Hemel. Really wanted to have loads of beer and cause a bit of mayhem. But, as usual, had a couple of glasses of orange & soda water and drove home.

I�ve also setup a Reject Club BLOG and invited the other rejects to subscribe. Go and have a look and let me know what you think.

Well, that enough from me, keep smiling, keep looking and don�t look down!

After so many busy weeks, last week was quite quiet.

Running on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Doesn't look too good for the Half Marathon in Borehamwood in two weeks time. I'm way behind in my running schedule. I'll probably still run, but my time won't be too good.

I don't know how many people know, but McJobs (aka EarthWorks, the people now developing the new branch system) are advertising for people. Ability to say things like "you got it" and "do you want fries with that" in an american accent a requirement. So, I applied. Strangely, they weren't interested.

Met up with Annette on Wednesday and attended Retail Solutions at the NEC. Not much to see, but a couple of Dixons people were about. Why?. I can't see Dixons investing in any new software / systems / people for some time.

Off to Swindon for a couple of days to see my little sister's new home. Boxes everywhere and plenty of dust!. Pictures in the "the Brant Family" collection.

So glad to come home. Finally, got rid of the ivy that's been growing at the front of the house. Cut by fingers to ribbons in the process.

And off to Kew Gardens today, so nice to see a garden that's neat and tidy.

Next week is the last week of garden leave. So Friday to 13th is planned for a together of the founder members of the Reject Club, a chance to say goodbye and probably hello to the next batch of Reject Club members. Well, at least we won't get made redundant by text message... or will they?

Enough from me. Keep smiling and wish me luck as you wave me good-bye!

Roger...

What a week!

It's so hot and sunny. I'm glad I'm not struck in an office!

Finally, and I mean this, finally finished the wardrobes - look at the pictures in the "Home" collection - now have loads of space. The glass for the bedside tables should arrive by Friday. The problem now, is that I can't find anything is because it's not where it used to be.

I'm now able to get running again, and because the warm weather is finally here, without tracksuit bottoms & top. My running times are improving and my weight is down another half stone - that's about 1.5 stone so far - so, maybe doing the wardrobes is better than running?

My tomato plants have moved outside and the first three have found new homes - to Pam & Molly (the neighbour and her cat). The basil & coriander are still in the conservatory and growing well. So, in a few weeks, it�s tomatoes, tomatoes, tomatoes with fresh basil and coriander!

My daily routine basically the same every day - make my wife her morning coffee; check the internet & emails; walk with my wife to the news agent while she goes off to work; collect newspaper and stuff it into a small rucksack; do my morning run of 40 - 60 minutes; home by about 9 o'clock to recover and read the paper. Then after a shower, it�s back to work with more internet, emails, phone calls, etc. I tend only to eat fruit, but drink tea almost non-stop throughout the day. Then it�s shopping, cooking, cleaning (house, cars), washing or go visiting until my wife returns and asks me what I�ve been up to!

As Friday the 13th is going to be my last offical day, then I'm planning to go into Hemel - to return my staff badge - and say good-bye to the Reject Room. I'm hoping that other Reject Club members also put in an appearance and keep in touch.

Next week, is a trip to the Retail Solutions thing at the NEC on Wednesday with Annette and a trip to my little sister new home in Swindon on Thursday / Friday.

Enough from me, back to work, keep looking, keep smiling, keep going.

Well, I'm glad last week is over.

After my morning run on Monday, it was time to get the bedroom ready for the wardrobes being delivered on Wednesday. This seemed straightforward - empty this, move that - but to where?

Anyway, a day out on Tuesday - France to top up the drinks cabinet and to eat some a bit of horse. And again, where to put these cases of wine and packs of beer?

Wednesday arrives and so do the flat packs. Yet again, where will all this stuff go? The house is overloaded and nearly every flat area has a box on it. In the afternoon, it's time to start putting things together - start slowly and simply with a set of drawers. Then, it's off to the DIY store to get a cordless screwdriver as my sister still has mine and she probably won't be able to find it.

Thursday starts with the construction of two wardrobes and bridging units to span over the bed. New day, new problem. How to support the bridging units while trying to build them? And continue with various cuts and scratches to my hands and my back starting to ache.

Friday afternoon and things are taking shape, the wardrobes and the bridging units are securely in place, the house would probably collapse could fall down and this stuff will wouldn't move!

Friday evening and it�s me giving a talk about scuba diving to a Scout group in Hitchin. I only expected a dozen scouts and a � hour chat about the diving and my equipment, but there were twenty scouts and I spoke for over an hour!

Finally, the weekend and time for the cosmetic parts of the wardrobes � door handles, cornices, plinths, etc. Nobody had warned me how time consuming this would be!

At last, time to clear away the packing material with a trip to the tip. And my wife�s sister wanted the old wardrobe. I had to dismantle and then re-assemble this thing to get it up the stairs!

So, as you can see, I�m glad that last week�s over. Time for my scratched hands and aching back to heal.

Enough from me, keep looking, keep looking.

Last week was, yet again, another busy week.

My housework continues to improve... I can now tidy the Kitchen and run around with the hoover... who said I couldn't be domesticated?

My running is getting back into it's groove with the problems with my left ankle appearing to subside. So, I'm now concentrating on improving my speed and I'm able to do a six mile run in under an hour.

Another meeting of the Reject Club this week with the IT Recruitment Fair on Thursday. Attended by Pete M, Jo, Debbie, Dev, Maurice, Annette and myself who all got to see the half dozen agents that Pauline had invited in. I also noticed one or two non-Reject Club members speaking to these agents as well!

My sister in New Zealand phoned on Friday and she may be moving to Hong Kong. So, anybody fancy a cheap trip to the home of SARS in a few months time?

My tomato plants are now almost ready to be moved outside - I'm glad I've held back from planting them out with those hail-stones on Thursday.

Next week is a big week with a day trip to France to re-stock the drinks cabinet on Tuesday and the components of the fitted bedroom arriving on Wednesday. Looks like I'll have a busy few weeks...

That's it from me.... what have you got to do? That's right, keep looking forward.

After my Watford 10k run, I was looking forward to my name appearing in the Watford Observer on Friday. But... It wasn't there!

I contacted the organisers who apologised and said they missed me (and a few other people) and are reviewing their procedures. So, for my �10 entrance fee I got a medal with the wrong date on it and a drink half way round the course.

Oh well. Better luck on the next event.

BTW I�ve picked up a small problem with my left ankle and while I�m still training each day, I�m ducking out of the Codicote 10k run. So, don�t rush up there to see me because I won�t be there.

And I�m still determined to do the Borehamwood Half Marathon on June 22nd � the day after Harry Potter 5 is released.

Tuesday was the date for the first meeting of the Reject Club. This went quite well, with attendance from Ras, Annette, Dev, Debbie, Barbara, Marilyn, Bob and myself. We discussed where people were applying to and what they had been doing.

And we managed to discuss how terrible the company has treated us and what various people are doing about it.

Personally, I think this is too backward looking and the company is doing the best it can. Sure, it could do a lot more, but equally it could be a lot worse and still technically be doing everything that it legally has to do.

The neighbour�s cat, a 6-month-old black thing called Molly, has started to laze around on my car. Not only that, she was chewing the aerial when I was her and then started to roll around almost laughing at me!

It�s bad enough that she sits outside the Conservatory waiting to be invited in� now the car.

That�s enough from me� don�t forget keep smiling and keep looking, forward naturally.

Having just completed the Watford 10k run this morning, I'm feeling a mixture of elated, tired and slight drunk... well, you need to replace the liquids!

Managed to see Nick before and Anthony after. If I missed you or you missed me, then why not look for me on the Codicote run?

After my trip to Swindon last Sunday, I then spent a few days with two of my sisters in Weymouth. This didn't help my training but did give me some time to relax.

All's going well on the CV / leads / interview front. With a couple of "chats" with a well known travel company and an even better known supermarket chain. Plus further input from Shirley. I've also organised a get-together of the "Lifeboat Club" for this Tuesday morning. So, if your not too busy come and say hello... down on the ground floor East in the main building at about 11:00.

Not much to report, but don't forget - let's keep busy out there!

Now that Easter's been and gone, it's time to get working...

Another busy week, so busy that I didn't have time to visit Hemel.

My running continues to improve, up to 40-45 minutes each day with the first objective - 10k run in Watford on Monday 5th May - in less than 10 days. So, if you not busy that bank holiday monday, dig out your camera and try to find me!.

Then there's another 10k run lined up for Codicote the following Sunday. Same rules - not busy, find camera, find me!

Sheila's been off on a two day training course, so I was in charge while she was away. So, I left the running until later than normal and ended up running in the heat of the mid morning sun on a warm day!. Won't be doing that again.

Finally decided what to do... the bedroom!

We've been talking about finishing the main bedroom since we had the extension build back in 1995. Now, eight years later, I've ordered the bedroom furniture from Wickes and will start installing it when it's delivered in 4 weeks.

As for the job front, spoke to a couple of agencies and went to see Shirley. She's helped me re-work part of my CV and offered lots of practical advice that I can't go into here. But a big thank you to her.

Well, that's enough from me. Don't forget, down look down...

After all the sunshine, this week was taken up with getting my hammock out of the shed and giving it a pre-season checkout. Yeap, ready for the summer!

I'm re-visiting Harry Potter at the moment by listening to Stephen Fry doing HP1 on CD in the car, HP2 film on video (promised myself that I wouldn't buy another DVD until the job thing is sorted, so this was borrowed!) and more Stephen Fry with HP3 on mp3 in the hammock!

I'll probably finish HP4 on mp3 in the hammock in time for the HP5 book in June.

Running continues, with the warm weather it's been more important than ever to get out each morning before it gets too hot to run. So, if you�re driving through Borehamwood and see an idiot plodding down the road wearing Ray-bans... that's me!

Went over to London Zoo yesterday, the Zoo's looking good, with new & re-furbished buildings everywhere, even though the bigger animals have moved out, its still got it!.

Things are starting to move on the CV / leads / interview front, with a mock interview planned for next week and agencies asking me specific questions about my CV. So, if all goes well, I should be able to avoid much of "house work" that my wife has lined up.

Having said that, I am starting to prioritise these tasks and I'll sort out the wobbly fence over the weekend. (This sentence added in case my wife reads this!)

Well, that's enough from me. Don't forget; let's keep busy out there!

Yet another busy week - I'll be glad to get back to work and have a rest!

We've only just returned after a weekend away to see my brother-in-law who lives near Manchester. We went to the local theatre on Saturday to see an interesting play called "A Load Of Old Women And A Bit Of A Slapper". This was well supported and enjoyable, With it's title it reminded me of the Branch Programme!

The running each morning is begining to show some early benefits - I've lost about a stone in weight and I'm starting to enjoy it. This past week, I've upped my running to just over thirty minutes. So, I'm well on target for the Borehamwood Half Marathon as long as the weather stays good and I don't have any injury problems.

After all the beer of the weekend, tomorrow's run got to hurt!

I've managed to reduce the agencies I want to deal with down to three, or maybe four, depending. I'm sorry to say that I'm still unimpressed with the agencies I've reviewed so far. I feel that recruitment agencies and estate agents are probably attend the same finishing school...

I didn't manage to visit any last week as planned - I couldn't find the time!!. But, I did send my CV to two agencies.. one advertising a vacancy in Ireland that sounds fantastic and the other looking for people in Surrey that sounds interesting as well.

I'm assuming that everybody has watched the news footage from Baghdad? Well, being home all Tuesday afternoon meant that I didn't miss a thing. Much better that simply watching the high-lights.

On Wednesday, my external hard drive arrived, so I had some fun installing that and securing the data from my internal hard drive. NB my computer isn't working too well and I'm still needing to re-built it on a regular basis. And I can't afford the time to waiting for it to be repaired / replaced.

Well, that's enough from me. As ever, keep busy, keep running and don't look back.

Roger...

This week has again been busy with the 2 day "Self Marketing" course taking up much of my time. Both in terms of the course itself and the stuff it teaches you. I now understand what a CV really is!

I've also started on the long list of things my wife's always nagged about - tidy up to shed, fix the hoover, etc. I've also started running again, every morning!

By the time I'm back in full time employment, I'll be as skinny as a rake! Seriously, as I did the London Marathon twenty years ago I thought that I could at least aim for the Borehamwood Half Marathon in June.

So, if any body would like to sponsor me - the money will go to my Lifeboat fund!.

I've spoken to a couple job agencies, and while I want to stay positive, they don't inspire me. I refused to supply my CV to one agent because I felt he would simply blast it out to every company on his books without thinking. I personally feel that I'm better off contacting selected companies directly. But, I haven't given up completely and intend visiting an agency or two next week. More next week.

Have you heard about the "eviction" problem on Wednesday. No?

During the 2 day course, Tracey appeared at the door to say that she'd booked the room for an important meeting and could we - all eleven of us - leave. Strangely, nobody moved. Tracey caused a bit of a fuss before going off in a huff.

Well, it cheered us up.

More family visits and a phone call out of the blue from a cousin about work at the bank he works for. He sent me a list of the IT vacancies and a contact name. Something worth following up.

Anyway, keep busy, keep looking and never look down!

Roger...

Well, that was an exciting week!

As I've been saying to everybody who's asked, I'm not upset, angry or anything.

I think John O was a bit surprised that I didn't explode when we told me on Monday. But I had an idea when I realised that he wanted to see me at 08:30 and he's never in that early...so I'd cleared my desk before I went to see him!

Not having filled in a CV or going to a job interview for 12+ years, means that I don't want to rush in to the anything without brushing up on my interview skills.

And to my surprise, I got my first CV draft done by Wednesday - not bad really as I had to rebuild my home computer and see / talk to family and friends, etc

I've already had a couple of people give me feed-back, so I think I've done well.

My wife, Sheila, and I have discussed the options available to me and we've agreed that if I can't get an IT job my October then I'll become a Postman. And if that's the worse that can happen, I'm not worried.

I've spoken to loads of DSG people and I think they have a bigger problem - will they still have a job after the 16th June? - at least, I'm through that one.

Anyway, I've got things to do... Keep busy, think positive, keep looking, move on.

Roger...