So that funding proposal I was working so hard on in October? We found out we got it today – good news for WAES’ reputation, bad news for my workload! I have been getting a lot of kudos at work lately for things coming out of my team, because we have to do a report to the Council every month and all the interesting stuff to them is the community work, as well as some other bits and pieces we’ve been working on. So this just adds to it! It’s a big 2 year project to get more mental health service users in to adult education, with lots of support.

France was good last weekend, story is pretty much told in the photos. The Sea Cat thing on the way over was AWFUL – I have never felt sick on a boat before, and although I didn’t feel like I was going to vomit, I just had this general terrible feeling through my whole body that was only soothed by closing my eyes. Thankfully it’s a short journey across the Channel. I’d prefer to do the tunnel but it’s more expensive.

We’ve changed plans and we are actually picking up Piper on Thursday next week – sooner than I thought. We were supposed to visit her on Wednesday night but unfortunately there was an overturned lorry on the A1 and it took us 2 hours to get about 1/3 of the way – so we basically had to turn around and go home instead. It was a shame – we have this dog but we don’t know her at all!

Having dinner with my cousin Paul tonight. He lives in Newcastle but he moved here from New Zealand around the same time I got here from Canada. He’s working temporarily in Kingston upon Thames so he’s taking the train in to meet us.

And tomorrow, lunch with my great Auntie Edith down at the seaside, bringing her Christmas gifts from my parents. Sunday is tea with Marks’ family. I think Thursday is going to be here before I know it. I’m looking forward to a rest from work after what has been a rather hectic last couple of months. I’ve had to deal with some line management stuff lately that has been particularly difficult and challenging. argh! Almost holiday time.

Standing on the white cliffs of Dover before we left, watching all the boats leaving like once a minute. 

The coast south of Calais and across to Dover 

Our lovely hotel in Wissant (well not lovely, bed and pillows sucked, restaurant was empty, but oh well it was one night for some cheap booze). 

Me and some WW2 bunkers on the coast. Yes impressed as usual with photo being taken. And it was really cold!! Near freezing! 

A Canadian soldier of the Great War – known unto god. Saw some Canadian flags around at memorial sites. 

Terlincthun British Cemetery near Boulogne, Pas de Calais. Commonwealth War Graves Commission, WW1 with some WW2 soldiers but no Canadians from that war. (I’ve met someone who works for them through Network Canada).

Mark has this habit of eating giant plates of seafood when we go on holiday which disgusts me to no end. Here it was crab and shrimp and all sorts. 

Us on the bumpy terrible rolling ride of the Sea Cat Hover Speed thing (though on the way back to Dover I felt much better) 

Off to France this afternoon. Taking the hovercraft ferry type thing from Dover about 4pm, arriving in Calais, and then going to Wissant (some small village) where we are staying in a B&B. Hopefully will find decent place to have dinner and then tomorrow will be massive wine and beer purchasing for wedding, as well as maybe a bit of sightseeing. We’re only staying 24 hours actually.



The weather’s good – yesterday it was like 13 degrees and raining but today it’s sunny and freezing! The good thing about really cold is that it’s often clear when it is sub zero. Actually I lie – it’s almost never sub zero here.



The day didn’t start off too well though – began just after 8am with a flat tire and ended up with me not getting to work till almost 10am because of a broken down Jubilee line train! Argh! Don’t they know how much stuff I have to do and I only have a half day to do it in? Will end up doing some work on Sunday I think. Work is just so busy lately, and I really can’t afford to take the time off to be with Piper in the next few weeks, so unfortunately I am going to end up doing a lot of work from home, and occaisionally going in for some meetings. At least it should mean that I will be able to take some extra time in January perhaps.



We’re going to visit Piper on Wednesday – it’s going to be hard to leave her there this time! But only 2 weeks and we get to bring her home. Everyone at work is ‘awwwwww’ing all over her picture below, which is now on my Desktop. Next Saturday we’re going to visit my mother’s Auntie Edith on the south coast near Hastings, and Sunday we’re having lunch with Mark’s aunt (who I’ve met many times), and his cousin who I still have not met even though I have almost known him for 2 years. Karen and her husband are having a baby in a few months so his maternal grandmother will become a ‘great’ which I am sure she is excited about.



And why I am writing on here when I have SO MUCH to do?? I am still a master procrastinator. Major skill that university gave me.