Five minutes to go...

My passport was guaranteed to be delivered by 12pm - it arrived at 11:55...
See you in New York ;0)

Nanny Sheila

Good news! My mum is staying while we are in NY and Pluto can stay at the only kennel he'll ever truly be happy in, his own home!! Well, less of a kennel and more of a fleece blanket affair but you get the idea. We've decided to get my mum an extra special present in the US as a big thank you. There is one small problem... we have to clean like we've never cleaned before. There goes the weekend!!
My partner finished our rather fabulous new coffee table yesterday. This is an achievement above and beyond normal flat pack type achievements, as the instructions were frustrating, and extremely difficult to follow. She's working on our new bookshelves today whilst I make like Miss Mop.
Yesterday was our leaving party at the Black Cap. The Cap folk know how to throw a good party but we did have to combine our send-off with the Eurovision song contest! What a load of...
I'm so glad Finland won. England's entry was SHOCKING. A joke perhaps, an example of post-modern irony, or a cheeky homage to the usual farce, sorry, fare of camp men, female sirens, bad dancing and 'English is definitely not my first language' lyrics? No. Just sheer crap. There was an interview with Daz Whatshisname before the competition, and apparently he could see himself winning. Which was funny because all we ended up seeing was him embarrassing us. He also had the audacity to slate previous entries and suggest that his was the first real chance we had to do well in the competition. Does he not realise the whole Empire / subjugation of half the world at one time has left people a little pissed of with us? No one wants to vote for us anyway but we really let them off the hook last night...
Anyway, despite all that (!) last night was quite fun and I got back very, very late. But I'm pleased to say, I was sober! Had a couple of wines and then went on to the soft stuff. Didn't want the whole of today to be a hungover blur...
Right well things to do - enjoy your Sunday!

Saturday blues

It's early. Well it would be late if it were a weekday, I would be late if it were a weekday, but it's Saturday and everyone with an ounce of sense should still be in bed. I however am blogging! And my day has started off pretty lousy. I'm deep breathing and trying to be positive but it 'aint working. Firstly the courier attempted to deliver my passport yesterday - no one was in. You know when they can deliver it again? Tuesday. The day we leave for the hotel. Apparently it's guaranteed before 12. We'll see...
This is particularly painful because I'm very organised and don't like trying to sort things out at the last minute - especially when I don't consider it my fault, but I should probably move on to the next thing that is pissing me off.
Going on tour with your rugby club is a proud event and each time tour members will get a one-off commerative piece of clothing; normally a polo shirt. So as is tradition, there is a Bingham Cup 2006, New York tour polo. EVERYONE who goes on tour gets one.

I won't be getting one.

The person that has driven the whole campaign to get the team to NY, the person that has raised hundreds and hundreds of pounds for the club, a club officer since 2004, and a former director of Bingham Cup 2004: all that means nothing apparently because my own team fucked up and didn't get me a polo. And actually that makes me a little pissed off. It's a little complicated but basically one person didn't bother to include my name in the tour list and there you have it. So we got through the team pack today with things like - wear your tour polo! And I thought, I can't! Actually when my partner found out she was hopping mad as well and saw it as a snub. But she is a little protective as all good partners should be.
Well now I've dumped all that on you... do I feel better? No not really. I have to go to the kennels today and that's also stressing me out. Oh dear, my poor girlfriend, I'm like a bear with a sore head! So I'll have to try extra, extra hard not to take out my sulks on her!
We have the Bingham Cup leaving party tonight. Hmmm, without a passport I may not be going! Without a polo, I'm not sure I want to do anything team related. Who knew we could attach such significance to a silly piece of clothing...

Flatpack

8 pieces of furniture arrived today. Unfortunately for me, they all need to be assembled. My partner seems really excited at the prospect, frankly, I'm a little daunted. I'm looking forward to the end result if that's any help?! I'm wondering if we can persuade the boys to lend a hand...
Pluto is a little clingy today which makes me wonder if he's feeling under the weather. He seems happiest lying on my feet which tends to restrict movement a little. He ate all his dinner and I'll be keeping a close eye on him.
I've managed to get lots of work done and get my hair cut and tidy up a bit. Actually I also packed my suitcase - 6 days before we fly. Is that really, really sad? Don't answer that. It started off as a logical thing to do. I wear a lot of t-shirts and was thinking, which ones do I want to take? As I have the luxury of having quite a few, I thought to save on washing I would just put the ones I wanted to one side and the ones I wasn't going to take, could be worn. Not only was this a sound environmental decision but by not using the washing machine my partner who is a little less organised, OK, anal than I am, could have a clear run when she needed to do her laundry for the trip. (Am I justifying this too much?) Well, after I'd done tops, I thought - what about trousers, and then underwear...
So apart from not having my passport, I have a suitcase of clothes and a pocketful of dollars and I'm good to go!
The passport office squeezed another £45 out of me this afternoon (on top of the £51 I paid previously) to "guarantee" my passport arrives in time. They were too polite to call it extortion and I was too desperate to call it robbery but hopefully that all important document should be arriving tomorrow. (Watch this space!)
Right I have to brace myself for screwing, thumping and banging later - for all the wrong reasons....

Several tomorrow's later...

Well a combination of tiredness and too much to do has kept me away from the keyboard. Lot's of interesting things have happened but I can't remember any of them! 7 days from New York and whilst I am incredibly excited I'm also a little stressed at the moment; my passport still hasn't arrived and the passport office are dragging their heels, and Pluto's digs still haven't been sorted. I THINK I have a kennel lined up all the way over in Essex. Good website, good philosophy on boarding people's beloved companions and not bad prices either. The plus side is that there are two walks a day which my little bionic boy definitely needs! (Incidentally he has his head on my lap as I type looking at me with his big liquid brown eyes and looking totally adorable!)
He was playing with a puppy the other day in what was, a truly incredible and fascintating encounter. Stan the puppy came running up to Pluto with absolutely no fear and trepidation. Pluto was surprised but joined in the fun. Stan was jumping all over Pluto and they were chasing each other at top speed. Eventually Stan's owner and myself stopped calling our dogs and let them play. Their interaction was fantastic. Pluto was the more dominant dog but was comfortable enough to allow Stan to dominate occasionally - an opportunity that young Stanley relished as he jumped on Pluto's stomach and clambered over his head. Eventually they were rolling around, exhausted from chasing each other but not ready to stop playing and I was so incredibly proud of Pluto's tolerance, responsibility and, his sense of fun. When Stan was beside himself with excitement, Pluto stopped and calmed things down. When Stan ventured too far, Pluto gruffled and Stan would trot back. He reminded me of an older brother putting up with a more energetic and slightly annoying younger brother! It taught me something as well. It taught me that we are doing a good job; that Pluto was happy and comfortable and the trust and love we have for him, he has for others be they human or animal. Only when you are truly strong can you ever be truly gentle. Sounds like I'm giving him too much credit? Maybe, but it's just another example in my opinion of how wonderful having a dog like Pluto in your life, is.
I'm working from home tomorrow which is just as well as my partner has organised several dozen items of furniture to be delivered! Our storage problems were overwhelming us!! I hope she's not expecting me to put them together, I struggled with the bar-b-q...
I will try and get back to blogging more regularly from now on - and may even try to do a couple of entries in New York....

I am still here!

Up to my eyes so will blog tomorrow...
:0)

Rwandan pants

Well I had a great weekend! My partner's plane landed safe and on time on Saturday and the boys were so lovely to get up at 5am and drive me to the airport. She did have to buy another bag with all the shopping she did, so having to get a train home would have been a nightmare. I got lots of presents! Including a rather fabulous pair of boxer shorts; tailor made in the loudest and brightest material I have ever seen. They practically glow through my jeans!!
We did virtually nothing on Saturday, both exhausted from travelling and early mornings, although I did make sure that I cooked nice meals and looked after her (didn't want her to regret coming back now, did I!) - we were in bed by 8pm! And not for the reasons you're thinking... we were asleep pretty soon afterwards!
Sunday was a little more active. We took Pluto for a romp up Crystal Palace park. That place is so nice and he had a whale of a time. Then we sorted out our under-stairs cupboard and our garden cupboard. She loved what I did with the garden thus far.
We are doing another car boot next Sunday so the corridor is full of stuff; even more so than when she moved in. We're trying to raise some more cash for NY - shopping!
The weather has broken - as every English person knew it would. It's still fairly warm, but grey and a little rainy. We are planning a camping trip to Cornwall in August so some sunshine around bank holiday would be very welcome!

Blue is the colour

I won't tell you what the weather is like for the umpteenth time, lol! But I'm wearing shorts! For overseas readers (do I have any readers?!) you might be forgiven for thinking that English weather is always this nice. It's not. Which is why we tend to bang on about it when the sun has indeed, got his hat on...
Tomorrow we pick up my partner from the airport. I'm very excited, but also quite conscious that I have to Hoover. The boys have invited me for a bar-b-q tonight so time is a ticking. I hope my partner is looking forward to seeing me as much as I am her.
Here's a question for you, is buying a pair of jeans that fit really well, the best feeling ever? I bought a pair yesterday and quite literally it was 50 / 50 as to whether they would fit at all - let alone fit well. It was a rash impulse buy that went along the lines of, I can always bring them back... They fit great and - I think - look great and it's been a very pleasing day as a result.
It was local elections yesterday and yesterday I worked for a Labour administration (the day job is local authority). Today, sadly, it's a Tory administration. Don't get me wrong, Labour have fucked up royally recently and deserve a damn good spanking but I remember Section 28 and some of the vile party-sanctioned diatribe about gay people that came from the Conservatives. So I will continue to do my job to a high standard but I doubt I'll be making any friends with my new bosses. Oh that's right, they don't want to be friends with my kind anyway...
David Cameron (Tory leader) did have a point when he said, vote for anyone but the BNP. That was perhaps the smartest and most interesting thing I've ever heard a Tory say. I don't mind losing a vote, but just don't give it to fascists. Unfortunately I don't rate some Tories higher than fascists but I believe he is trying to be progressive and make changes for the better - and that is what democracy is all about. And if you could, but didn't vote yesterday, shame on you.
Anyway, the missus is back in a matter of hours, I'm drinking wine and looking fab in my new jeans. All in all, it's not been a bad day...

Long shorts

I'm wearing shorts. In public. (Warning, potantial for seeing the merest glimpse of Allison's legs in the SE26 area...) They are long shorts; previously a pair of combats that were too long, ironically enough. But it's a hot, sunny day and needs must when the mercury shoots up. The dog and I have just had a great walk - we stayed out for ages, he played with a dog called Blue and then we visited the dry cleaning lady. He came back drank a bowl of water, found the coolest part of the house and is now sound asleep. He got complimented on his (good) behaviour twice today so no doubt he'll be a little shit on his walk this evening - nature likes balance.
I took my passport photos yesterday and whilst it is generally accepted that no one ever looks good in these things. I look truly dreadful. I look like I should have numbers underneath the picture; I believe Charlize Theron played a similar character in a recent film... anyway, I'm doing them again today. How vain, but a passport is for ten years not just for Christmas.
I've already done a fair bit of work this morning and this afternoon will be doing my work plan for 2006/07. How, I wonder, will I be able to persuade my bosses that international travel is necessary for a press and information officer based in West London?! I like a challenge but this I fear may be Mission Impossible...

I can't, but I will.

I can't tell you how lovely the weather was today. Except that I can of course, and as a writer it's the least I should be able to do. As soon as I got home, I changed into a t-shirt and grabbed the dog for what was a very pleasant walk. I do hope our inclement English weather hasn't peaked too early...
We did hear some sad news. Bella the 11 year old Alsation passed away during an operation over Easter. We met her owner today and she is still understandably very upset. I had to have my last dog put down after a sudden onset of lung and heart problems that seriously affected his quality of life. I could still hear him around the house months after his death and it's truly heart wrenching to unlock the front door and instead of an over excited greeting, to hear nothing but silence. The dry-cleaning lady used to know Bella in her prime when she ruled the park! When I knew her she was an old lady, content to have people come to her and to amble around enjoying the sunshine and the companionship and love of her owner.
Pluto got a long hug when we got home and now I think I'll end the day with a glass of wine and some crime drama TV (it's my weakness!).

Iron lung

This morning was cold (in a good way) and bright. The dog – another night no barking; radio 2 may very well be my saviour! – was full of beans on his walk and we managed to stay out a little longer. This week is going to drag, I know it. The last week before my partner returns and already this day is going backwards. I have to be honest, the first two weeks flew by and apart from occasionally feeling a bit sorry for myself, the dog and I coped admirably. I can't wait for her to return though; there is a depth and sorrow to missing someone you really love that is hard to explain - even to yourself - no matter how practical and resourceful a person you might be.
(Incidentally last night, I received the text I had been waiting for all day – my partner and her friend were in Uganda and at the hotel, which is apparently very nice.)
I’ve just booked my travel insurance for NY. As an asthmatic I suffer from discrimination. Despite having well controlled asthma and generally being in fine fettle, most travel insurance precludes pre-existing conditions. Which is really bloody helpful because if I do get ill, there is a strong chance it would be asthma related no matter how well controlled my condition is. Anyway, Asthma UK and Heath Lambert insurance company have teamed up to offer insurance for dodgy lunged individuals like myself and I have to say, the premium seemed really reasonable (over £11 cheaper than M&S and M&S were offering an online discount!) So that’s one more thing off my list – and quite an important thing to. Can you imagine the horror of being in the country with one of the most expensive healthcare systems in the world, needing medical attention and being told, sorry, you’re not covered…
Anyway, I just need to get the photos done for my new passport – stare for the camera; no smiling, or gurning please – and then all that is left is to sort out boarding for Pluto.
I've also just finished another big work project so not a bad day all told...

Lights, camera...

In the finest tradition of Bank Holiday's, it's been pouring with rain! Although the sun is bravely attempting to make an appearance. In fact, last night, I feel asleep to the rain (and NO barking!) which was lovely.
On our walk this morning, the air was really fresh and the birds were in fine voice. Two Blackbirds were having a scrap - sibling rivalry one suspects and a Coal Tit and a Robin were dancing around each other, dipping and darting, jumping from one branch to another - both tiny but very robust. No doggie friends for Pluto to play with, but he enjoyed the exercise nonetheless.
Spoke to my partner again last night - she had to be up at 5am to get a bus to Uganda which would take approx. 8 hours. 2 hours of which are for the border crossing alone. OK, I'm not a fearful person normally, but why did the words border crossing make me so nervous when she said them? Maybe I've watched too many stupid films... Anyway, I'm looking forward to getting a text when she's at the hotel tonight. I set my alarm for 4:15am (5:15 there) to wish her a safe journey. Daft I know, but it would have made her smile and I fell straight back to sleep.
Yesterday and today I've spent fairly quietly; pottering round the house, watching a couple of DVD's (probably the same ones that make me nervous about border crossings!!) Unbelievably I'm still really suffering with my shoulder so I will be phoning the doctor's tomorrow to get an appointment ASAP.
Saturday I went to the rugby but the other team had cancelled the game. This could have been a disaster because I had organised a photo shoot, but the Chairman had asked players to turn up for training - we have a 7s competition today. 17 players did turn up, as did over half a dozen supporters. So the photographer managed to get some great player shots after training. He was from Zuma Press International - the largest independent photo agency, who primarily market to the US. Basically, the shots that Gerard took were sent to Zuma's HQ in California, where they will start to push them to all their major clients, including the San Fran Chronicle, the New York Times etc. Apparently there is a lot of US interest in the Kings Cross Steelers going over to NY to compete in the Bingham Cup. And the Bingham Cup itself is getting a lot of attention because Alice (Mark's mum) has just finished giving evidence at the hearing of one of the terrorists and there is a new film on release as well, in which Mark (Bingham) features prominently. That will be a hard film to go and see. Believe it or not, I never met Mark and yet when I worked on the Bingham Cup 2004 which was held in London, I had this weird feeling I was working for him and he knew it - that somehow he knew what we were all doing and that he thought it was a blast!
I also got on very well with his mother and former partner and when we went to San Fran we went for a drink in the bar in which he used to hang out and where they proudly hang his picture from the wall.
I'm looking forward to the tournament in NY and the host team deserve all the success in the world because they are a good team and a nice bunch of guys, but honestly, I think there are a few things they should be doing differently: there are no shower facilities at the pitch, no secure storage, an unfamiliar playing surface, lunch is a sandwich, crisps and a piece of fruit - that should be a snack bag! Would it be so difficult to do masses of hot, cheesy pasta (for example) for all the players? Remember you are talking about grown men who are playing a full contact sport for most of the day. They need carbs and plenty of liquid. Getting to the Island itself will be a bit of a work up. And people on lower incomes are saying, they can't afford to eat at the hotel. (The hotel is expensive - it's a good deal considering it's a public holiday weekend, but it is still expensive, my partner and I are not staying there.) So that means getting up even earlier to go get breakfast and then head on over to where the tournament is taking place...
Anyway, it's so easy to criticise and seemingly churlish to do so before we've even landed, but we had to send someone over to NY the other week just because things had still not been sorted and we had a responsibility to get information to our players. I have to be careful what I say anyway, as one of the organisers of the last BC I don't want to be seen as being disrespectful or dismissing another team's efforts. Well, I've waffled on for long enough and I haven't even had breakfast yet!