And finally....

And so the waiting is finally over...today I received details of when, where and how for my new job. The big news is that I won't be going until 27th February now - I thought I was going next week, but they've moved the training back. So, next week I'll be heading down to the office in Slough (David Brent country) for a few days to get acquainted, pick up my laptop, phone and stuff, then I'll be back working from home for a little while.

As for the trip to the states, I'll be flying from Manchester to Chicago (duration 8hrs 30!), from Chicago to Denver (duration 2hrs 32), then from Denver to Bozeman (duration 1hr 41).
So that makes a total time in the air of 12hours 43 mins. However, as I have to wait around for connections, my total travel time will be 18hours! I'm going to feel a bit frazzled by the time I arrive I think.

While there I'll be staying at the Microtel Inn Bozeman, which looks fairly basic (unless they are kind enough to give me a suite - which looks a lot nicer!). Although I have seen somewhere that they all have wireless net access, so I'm hoping that's true. Think I'll need that lifeline being away from my family for 3 whole weeks.

The new arrival

Still nameless but sleeping peacefully, my new nephew is just perfect.

Update (31/01/05 8:30am)

...and finally he has a name: Alexander Jack Ward

2nd Update (31/01/05 7:00 pm)

Due to some kind of "mix-up" it appears that he is actually called Daniel Jack....for now. If there's any further change, I'll be sure to let you know!

Waiting over at last (almost)

Well, at last, the longest wait is over. Kathryn had a baby boy at around 1pm today. Weighing in at 8lbs 13oz, he was not about to give up his lodgings easily and took quite some persuasion to come out. But come out he did, and I am now officially Uncle Richard in my own right (I inheritted lots of nephews & neices when I married Lisa!)....and a very proud Uncle I am. Unfortunately, making decisions is not something Kathryn and Sam have ever been good at, and this extends to chosing a name...up until 3 weeks ago they have a "shortlist" of 16 names for boys - and as I write they have still not decided. Hmmmm.....must have words I think! Needless to say I am overjoyed. They have waited so long for this to happen and I'm just totally thrilled now it has. The trouble now is finding the time to go down to see them (they live near Bedford). Going away on the 7th means there's not much time for me to see them all, so it could be a quick dash down next week. Hopefully they'll have a name by then!

And the wait was also finally over for my car - picked it up today at last - a Citroen Xsara Picasso. Just right for all the kids and very nice to be back in an MPV again.

Still no more details of my job however, but hopefully that will come on Monday.

Waiting...and waiting...and waiting....

I hate waiting....

I've been waiting over a week to get my new car.

I've been waiting over 6 weeks to find out just what I'm doing when I start my new job.

I've been waiting 9 months and 2 weeks for my sister's baby to arrive.

It's getting silly now and I'm fed up :o(

New look

Hi, yes this is the right place! I just felt like a bit of a change, so here's the new look "What's The Buzz?". It's a bit brighter than the old one, but still the same old stuff.

Enjoy!

More JCS galleries

Found a couple of new JCS production galleries for your perusal.

This one by the Cheltenham Operatic & Dramatic Society looks pretty impressive (apart from Mary, who looks soooooo wrong next to the Brad Pitt-lookalike jesus). Oh and it seems they also employed Lilly Savage as Herod.

This one from CAMUS Productions ("Over 37 years of musical theatre for the people of North West Surrey") is quite bizarre...quite largely because Jesus looks remarkably like a girl. Hmmm...an interesting interpretation! Seems like they took inspiration for much of their staging and costumes straight from the DVD as well...not sure if that really worked very well. See what you think.

This is quite a large gallery, including rehearsals and back-stage stuff, from the Basingstoke Operatic Society. Looks like they had fun.

A busy time ahead

Looks like my 3 weeks in montana is going to be all work and not much play...

Got my itinerary through the other day - 8:30-5:00 every day filled with training, demonstrations, lectures, workng lunches, shadowing..... And the scariest bit - "Evening Assignments" and "Weekend Assignments"!!! OMG! I'll be shattered by the time I get home I reckon.

I'll be flying from Manchester...hope to get my flights and hotels confirmed on Monday. Then it will all seem very real. Only 2 weeks to go and I still can't quite believe it's gonna happen!

JCS flashback

It was nice to see a flashback to last November in the paper the other night. There was a piece all about the charity concert that our very own Peter Finnegan is headlining, alongside the photo of Pete, Caroline and Myself (where we're trying not to giggle!).

The concert is on 4th February at the Waltham British Legion and is in aid of the Dr Mack equipment fund. Peter will be joined by other local singers as well, so please go along and support them, it's for a very good cause.

You can get your tickets from Peter Hogarth and Sons, The Kings's Head at Waltham or the British Legion at Waltham.

Born again...

It's a miracle. After a near-fatal problem with my Blogger template left the site empty for a while, it has now been reincarnated, using a slightly older backup version. Hopefully it won't happen again.

Top weekend in the woods

Just had a fantastic time at Center Parcs at the weekend. We haven't been for a while and I think I had forgotten how relaxing it is. It's hard to believe that somewhere only just over an hour away can feel like the most tranquil and peaceful place. We had such an amazing time, the kids loved it and all got on really well. We went swimming, bowling, played table-tennis, went for long walks in the forest. And my sister and her husband came up to see us for a day, which was a really nice surprise. All in all a great weekend. If you've never been, I would really reccomend it.

Finally - my official job offer arrives

At last I got my official job offer through yesterday. I had had several emails and phone conversations saying that I was being offered the job, that the letter was "in the pipeline", but nothing was forthcoming. However, I finally got the emailed copy of the paperwork through yesterday, with the printed version to follow shortly. So I took great pleasure in writing my resignation letter to BT this morning and sent that off - a very nice feeling!

As of 7th February I shall officially be employed by RightNow Technologies. I don't hgave any more details of my trip to the States as yet, but presumably that will be the first thing I do. Now it's all a bit scary! I've got to buy a car, coz mine is a company one, which I always hate doing. And the countdown is now ticking to my 3 weeks away. It's so exciting, but I'm so going to hate being away from my family for so long. I just hope I have a decent mobile reception and internet access where I am, or I'm going to be totally lost!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to you all. I hope your 2005 is a great success and filled with happiness.

Here's to an exciting 12 months!