The first was a local newspaper review saying how wonderful the place was.

The second said in its entirety:

“This Area Closed Due To Private Party.

Sorry For Any Incontinence”

It really really did.  I have a photo on my phone of it (just can’t get bluetooth to work to get it on here grr).

“This laser works at a frequency of 1.9 microns”

Anyone fancy teaching the writers any basic physics?

First is a set of instructions for an electronic kitchen scale.  There are lots of examples but the following impress me:

“After finishing the setting. Press “MODE” then repristination.”

and

“”press “Mode” all the while. The second will twinkle.”

and

“After finishing.  No operation within 60 seconds, the system will enter the mode of the time.”

The other thing was a menu posted through our door.  A high quality thing in many ways but there are plenty of oddities starting with “Pasta’s” and “Salad’s” (but not “Appetiser’s” oddly – they got that one right).

And they put “paninis” down.  But right under there is a lovely bit of blurb:

“Create your own Yimmylicios Panini!”

Marvellous.

Itunes suggested I update my OS for my iPod.  Clicked ok then.

So it downloaded something and now my iPod doesn’t work.  At all.

All it gives me is a screen which is a graphic representation of “plug into iTunes”.

I plugged into iTunes.  This led to a message saying “You need iTunes 9.2 – please download.”

I did.  It didn’t work.

This happened last time I updated iTunes.  I got past it by uninstalling it and then reinstalling the newer version.  I did this again today.

Apparently there’s a program I’ve never heard of that isn’t there and for some undecipherable reason this means that I can’t install iTunes new.  This is something called “Bonjour”.  I’ve never heard of it before, it seems to do nothing beyond screwing up installing iTunes, it’s sat in my program list when I try and uninstall it but won’t uninstall.  It also doesn’t appear on any searches of my files despite it being sat there in the list of programs.  And as it’s nowhere to be seen I can’t even manually delete the thing. Words not suitable for family newspapers are passing my lips.

So I’m left with a useless iPod telling me to plug into iTunes.  And an inability to get iTunes installed.

I bloody love computers!  Apple and MS have caused me no end of bloody trouble this week.  Where they get off on letting us know how bloody helpful their products are and how we can’t live without them I just don’t know.

Pile of shite from both of them and a plague on both their houses.

Laptop had 2 updates recently.  First was a windows update, second was an iTunes update.

I tried booting it yesterday and got an error.  So Windows reverts to a screen with 2 options.  1 is start normally which takes you to the Vista loading screen and never gets anywhere – eventually it brings you back to the options screen IE back where it started.

Option 2 is Windows Repair – which does nothing.  Literally it takes you back to the options screen immediately.

This leaves me unable to boot my computer.  I have no Vista disk since MS feel that me having a disk to be able to help with this sort of thing would be a bad idea.

I only really need the access to get to my files.  I have loads of photos and documents I don’t want to lose.

Can I get a disk of Linux or Windows from somewhere that will give me access to the system to get the files off and onto my external harddrive?

Any hints or advice appreciated.

Cheers.

Oh and while I’m at it does anyone know why my iPod’s iTunes store doesn’t work?  Whenever I search for something it switches to the home screen.  So at the mo I can’t download podcasts from the iPod or my PC.

I started there on 1st April 2002, a notable day really.  I don’t think I’m exaggerating to say that Willowbrook is basically where I really learned what physio is and how to do it properly.

In my time there I’ve worked with a number of folk but the core team of staff has stayed pretty static.

The room was really too small for 2 staff to be there at the same time, the heating was all over the place and the car park is a pain (those 2 “spaces” aren’t actually “spaces” they’re places to walk through, that’s why your car is touching both cars to your sides!)

But the people were what counted.  I’m going to miss them.

I’m not actually leaving the team, just that site.  We work across the city so I’m going to be in Leicester some more,just I’ll be working over on the west side.

Strange feeling this evening.

When I arrived the tent was already spread out ready for me.  The thing claims a 45 minute pitch time.  It took us over an hour but I reckon this will be much reduced next time round.

I then discovered that I needed a spanner for the gas connection.  But apart from that things went quite well.

Saturday saw me driving into Ashbourne for a photo-shoot of all things.  The new clinic I’m at is moving into swish new premises and the owner wanted as many staff to show up for the mandatory staff group photo in front of said new swish premises.

Got there to find a huge skip in front of the building and a fretting boss.  Luckily the photographer was a dab hand at this sort of thing and managed a decent few pics whilst avoiding dodgy skips and various other building remnants.

After the group photo (where I unfortunately got to stand right in the middle at the back cos I was tallest) we all had to do individual face shots.

Not a great thing for me is having portraits done immediately after getting up at a campsite after a reasonably unrestful night’s sleep.

But hopefully this points to me being a bit more than maternity cover (as I currently officially am).

I briefly shopped in the town discovering such delights as “Vampire Relish” and a Waitrose.  It’s quite a wealthy place.  At the local car park I parked behind an Aston DBS and a v swanky Jag.  My 03 Avensis really bringing the tone down.

Later that day P, C, D and d showed up for chats and games and barbie and beer in the campsite.  Fun was had.  We also discovered that kites don’t fly when it’s not windy. And I burnt, badly.

Sunday was rainy.  I woke up to rain and spent the morning worrying about decamping with a wet tent.  Luckily the rain stopped for long enough to get the thing down dry.  Pretty much as soon as it was down the rain started again and then didn’t let up.

This was a great shame as 2 family’s worth of friends showed up to join us for fun and frolics.  Ah well.  I did discover that kites do fly when it’s windy tho.

The campsite itself was ok.  Decent enough showers, a bit close to the road mind (and the on-site shop was appalling – v limited and not best friendly) but worth the entrance money.  Lovely views.

At least we figured out what to take and what doesn’t need to come with.  Next time will be a longer, more distant trip.  Maybe Norfolk would be nice.

Have fun.

I do wish all discourse could be conducted in the same manner.

One such course was this morning.  Odd thing it was.

In these days of belt-tightening there were no fewer than 3 presenters for the course, and no more than 6 or 7 participants.

One of the presenters started off and was a good speaker; she should be, she’s a manager.  At one point she handed over to a young lady (no more than 17 or 18 I’d guess) who was visbly nervous.

This young lass stood up and started to speak very quietly.  I was expecting a “speak up” from the crowd but, before anyone had a chance to say it, the lass just clammed up.

She looked nervously at her feet, made as if starting up again and then stopped again, more looking at her feet.

Silence for a bit.

The first presenter stepped in with “It’s her first presentation, she’s a little nervous”.  And asked her “Are you ok?”

The reply came back in a slightly more firm “Yes, I can do this.”

She couldn’t.

The refrain “I can do this” was repeated lots of times before she began shaking.  At this point the manager stepped in and ushered her back to her chair. 

The rest of the session was taken by the manager.

Now I see the point of the young lass having a go.  I’ll admit to being surprised by that level of nervousness; I suppose I’m used to physios standing up and teaching in front of large groups.  Poor girl.

So yes, good idea for the manager being there.  Nice idea to have a younger staff member present to have a go at presenting.  But at no point was there any indication of why the 3rd HR staff member was there.

As far as I can see a total waste of money.

Oh yes and why are they bothering to update me on the trust’s recruitment policy anyway, there’s a recruitment freeze on!

Spending money everywhere except where it’s needed!