Another day in work and I have not written in my blog for nearly a week. The letter of intent to retire caused a few surprises I can tell you! It is all over the job now but after 33 years I have been part of the furniture and many drivers and other members of staff have wished me well. It has been very touching to know so many wish me well for the future.
I have been asked about having a leaving do over our club and I will have a think about that. I am not a big club user as the disabled facilities are not that good, but I would like the chance to have a good send off. I will have a chat to the guy who runs the club and see what he thinks about it.
The weather has stayed damn cold again but I guess as it is still only the end of January it is what we can expect. More snow is forecast but hopefully not to much over this part. I for one can do without the damn stuff.
I also have another blog called ' On the Buses' about the years that I have spent working in the public transport industry. This week a writer based in Chicago wrote in saying that he had been reading the blog and was writing a book. A very small part would be based around a bus conductor in Cardiff and he wanted some advice on the routes that he would take and the area he would conduct.
For one I was thrilled that anyone had read the blog in the first place! And of course I send on all I could think of about the conductor and work back then.
Right it is time to close as I am off to work.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Retirement
Yesterday I put a letter in of my intention to retire early from Cardiff Bus at Easter this year. I have been thinking of it for some time but in the end as my wife is so ill I decided that it would be for the best. We might have to pull our reigns in a bit and the next three years will be a bit of a struggle but in the end I have to get out.
I have worked in one of most stressful parts of my firm for 22 years now and my wife has been gradually getting worse for the last 15 years. Something had to give and in the end it had to be work.
It is a very strange feeling though after putting in that letter. Part great relief and part great sorrow. The job itself I will not miss now as the stress is getting to me more and more. But I will miss the friends and fun that I have had over the years. We still have laughs every day and there is a great comradeship on the job.
However that is one phase of my life nearly over and it is time for the next. Lets go!
I have worked in one of most stressful parts of my firm for 22 years now and my wife has been gradually getting worse for the last 15 years. Something had to give and in the end it had to be work.
It is a very strange feeling though after putting in that letter. Part great relief and part great sorrow. The job itself I will not miss now as the stress is getting to me more and more. But I will miss the friends and fun that I have had over the years. We still have laughs every day and there is a great comradeship on the job.
However that is one phase of my life nearly over and it is time for the next. Lets go!
Wednesday, 20 January 2010
More snow in Wales
Well the forecast said so but luckily in Cardiff so far at least it has stayed away. Just rain and cold but at least we can get out in that. We both have appointments today in the same hospital, luckily two hours apart so hopefully mine which is the first will be well over before my wife's and we can get there on time.
I have a lump in my stomach called a lymphoma which is just a fatty lump really. I have had plenty of them over the years and not bothered with them. This one however is quite big and annoying me so I am going to see about getting it out. That should be only a day job and I will be home by the night.
My wife has had a massive sore on her foot for over three years now with no sign of healing up. She has regular appointments to see about it but today it is more urgent as the wound is very painful and I think infected again.
I have a lump in my stomach called a lymphoma which is just a fatty lump really. I have had plenty of them over the years and not bothered with them. This one however is quite big and annoying me so I am going to see about getting it out. That should be only a day job and I will be home by the night.
My wife has had a massive sore on her foot for over three years now with no sign of healing up. She has regular appointments to see about it but today it is more urgent as the wound is very painful and I think infected again.
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Starvation
At least the blood tests I have to have today are called starvation blood tests. I had not been feeling well last week and although the doctor could not find anything wrong he has asked me to have some blood tests today just to make sure everything was alright.
The receptionist told me that these tests would have to be starvation tests and I could not eat or drink anything but water after midnight. Did she have a small smile of satisfaction when she said that? Maybe is was just my imagination........
The only problem is that I have to be up at 2.30 in the morning to get ready for work and the tests are not until 9.30. Oh well it will be a long morning and there are far worse of people that me with far worse problems.
Those poor people in Haiti for one thing. It is OK for me to whine about not being able to eat for a few hours but these poor beggars have gone DAYS without food. There is thousands of tons of food there but it does not seem to be getting to the people that need it. Or is that just the way that it has been reported on TV?
The receptionist told me that these tests would have to be starvation tests and I could not eat or drink anything but water after midnight. Did she have a small smile of satisfaction when she said that? Maybe is was just my imagination........
The only problem is that I have to be up at 2.30 in the morning to get ready for work and the tests are not until 9.30. Oh well it will be a long morning and there are far worse of people that me with far worse problems.
Those poor people in Haiti for one thing. It is OK for me to whine about not being able to eat for a few hours but these poor beggars have gone DAYS without food. There is thousands of tons of food there but it does not seem to be getting to the people that need it. Or is that just the way that it has been reported on TV?
Monday, 18 January 2010
Work again
Well it is 5.00 in the morning and another day of fun is about to start. At least for a change we have not got the bloody snow to contend with at the moment. We have had more than our fair share of that this year that is for sure and winter is nowhere near over yet.
Today I must get on to the C.A.B. to get that appointment about the benefits check. I could not go last week and I want to get it sorted and see what if anything I can claim if and when I retire this year. I have already made my mind up really to get out, but I have to get all the details before making that final plunge.
On Wednesday I have an appointment with a Miss S Hill to see about the small operation that I have to have on my stomach. I have this lymphoma that has grown quite large and uncomfortable and want to get rid of it.
Well that is it as I have to get off to work.
Today I must get on to the C.A.B. to get that appointment about the benefits check. I could not go last week and I want to get it sorted and see what if anything I can claim if and when I retire this year. I have already made my mind up really to get out, but I have to get all the details before making that final plunge.
On Wednesday I have an appointment with a Miss S Hill to see about the small operation that I have to have on my stomach. I have this lymphoma that has grown quite large and uncomfortable and want to get rid of it.
Well that is it as I have to get off to work.
Friday, 15 January 2010
Back to work
Well after that visit to the doctors yesterday I feel a bit of a sham. He could not find anything wrong with me (Thank goodness) but I still felt a bit rotten. However I have to take blood tests on next Tuesday to see if anything crops up. They will be starvation tests and I am up at 02.30 on that day so I will be bloody starving by the time they are finished.
The snow is starting to thaw rapidly today thank goodness so hopefully by tomorrow I can get my wife out for an hour or two. I think she will start to climb the bloody walls if she does not get out soon!
In work today I and some other supervisors had to take some 'psychometric tests'. These are designed apparently to check your communication skills. What a lot of old bollocks! I have been communicating with staff for 25 bloody years and one more test is not going to make a scrap of difference to me.
The firm have been bleating on for ages about saving money but they can afford this crap by bringing in an outside consultant to do this. It makes me spit. I could understand it if I was going for promotion but as all I want to do is retire it makes no sense.
The snow is starting to thaw rapidly today thank goodness so hopefully by tomorrow I can get my wife out for an hour or two. I think she will start to climb the bloody walls if she does not get out soon!
In work today I and some other supervisors had to take some 'psychometric tests'. These are designed apparently to check your communication skills. What a lot of old bollocks! I have been communicating with staff for 25 bloody years and one more test is not going to make a scrap of difference to me.
The firm have been bleating on for ages about saving money but they can afford this crap by bringing in an outside consultant to do this. It makes me spit. I could understand it if I was going for promotion but as all I want to do is retire it makes no sense.
Thursday, 14 January 2010
White out!
Well if have posted about the snow before then on Monday we had a white out! The damn stuff came down as if it was never going to stop. By the time I went to work on Tuesday morning it was deep and crisp and even!
Now to some who have had a lot more than us in South Wales then the five or six inches that we had may not sound a lot. But over here that causes chaos as the roads and vehicles and infrastructure simply are not designed for it.
Working in the bus industry we had real problems getting our buses on the road at all never mind on time. Many drivers living out of Cardiff just could not get in as they had a lot more snow further up the valley's of South Wales and were snowed in. Many made it as well and we did manage to make a basic service but the roads were quiet thankfully as people just stayed at home.
Today I am taking the day off sick as I have not felt well for the last few days. I have this strange feeling in the left side of my chest and do not seem to be able to do as much as I used to. I am going to the doctors today and try and find if there is a problem or is it just me being an old woman.
Now to some who have had a lot more than us in South Wales then the five or six inches that we had may not sound a lot. But over here that causes chaos as the roads and vehicles and infrastructure simply are not designed for it.
Working in the bus industry we had real problems getting our buses on the road at all never mind on time. Many drivers living out of Cardiff just could not get in as they had a lot more snow further up the valley's of South Wales and were snowed in. Many made it as well and we did manage to make a basic service but the roads were quiet thankfully as people just stayed at home.
Today I am taking the day off sick as I have not felt well for the last few days. I have this strange feeling in the left side of my chest and do not seem to be able to do as much as I used to. I am going to the doctors today and try and find if there is a problem or is it just me being an old woman.
Tuesday, 12 January 2010
The chair and a life change
Well after waiting for the social service lady in the end it was a waste of time. The various bodies that fund these things have said that they will not do so. The chair for my wife is said to not be essential to her needs or to mine.
The fact that it will stop me lifting so much and possibly getting a worse back and then costing even more in the end does not occur to them in these tight for money times. We have been given some details of charities that might help and as soon as the snow and ice melt I will check into that.
Today I am going to see if I can literally change my life in a big way. I have almost certainly made the decision to retire early this year but I just have to see if I can claim any financial help in doing so that will help pay my bills until my main pension comes through in three years.
The Citizens Advice bureau is open this morning and it is first come first served. I have got time off from work to see them so I will be going early hoping to get seen today. I just need to see what help is out there or in the end can I hang on to the house for three years if worst comes to worst.
We will see but it will take a lot to keep me in work now as my wife needs me home and my son needs to get back to the workplace after being home for all these years.
The fact that it will stop me lifting so much and possibly getting a worse back and then costing even more in the end does not occur to them in these tight for money times. We have been given some details of charities that might help and as soon as the snow and ice melt I will check into that.
Today I am going to see if I can literally change my life in a big way. I have almost certainly made the decision to retire early this year but I just have to see if I can claim any financial help in doing so that will help pay my bills until my main pension comes through in three years.
The Citizens Advice bureau is open this morning and it is first come first served. I have got time off from work to see them so I will be going early hoping to get seen today. I just need to see what help is out there or in the end can I hang on to the house for three years if worst comes to worst.
We will see but it will take a lot to keep me in work now as my wife needs me home and my son needs to get back to the workplace after being home for all these years.
Monday, 11 January 2010
Wide awake
Well another day and at 05.00 in the morning I am wide awake on my day off. I say wide awake but really it is more that I just cannot sleep. So on to the internet and check the mail and write in the blog and so on.
I don't know why I bother as no-one reads this stuff anyway but it keeps me from being bored and I can always look back over time later on and see what was happening in my life at the time.
Once again we are stuck in as the damn car just will not get out of the parking space that it is in. I will have another go later today but I have had no success so far as the roads are so iced up.
We have someone coming today from social services to see us. I have applied to get a chair for my wife that can assist her in getting up and down. That will help me as I will not have to do the lifting so much. I applied for this about two months ago but we have heard nothing so far. I phoned a few days ago and all of a sudden this person is coming over. I think that the last application got messed up and they are putting it in again. I will put more about this in my next blog.
I don't know why I bother as no-one reads this stuff anyway but it keeps me from being bored and I can always look back over time later on and see what was happening in my life at the time.
Once again we are stuck in as the damn car just will not get out of the parking space that it is in. I will have another go later today but I have had no success so far as the roads are so iced up.
We have someone coming today from social services to see us. I have applied to get a chair for my wife that can assist her in getting up and down. That will help me as I will not have to do the lifting so much. I applied for this about two months ago but we have heard nothing so far. I phoned a few days ago and all of a sudden this person is coming over. I think that the last application got messed up and they are putting it in again. I will put more about this in my next blog.
Sunday, 10 January 2010
The long winter
It is going to be a very long winter this year. It is only January and the snow has been around for a month now and is still around. That is very unusual in this part of the world as we usually get some snow in late January and February if at all. Mainly in the UK it is in the North of the country.
I have this weekend off and normally we would try to get out somewhere if only just to the shops or to see Mary's mother or my mother. This weekend we cannot get out at all. For those who do not know us, Mary is disabled and has to use a wheelchair to get out. The car is stuck outside the house as I cannot get it of the ice and pushing a wheelchair in these conditions is hopeless.
This little blog is not meant to be a full on moan session but just to put into perspective for those who enjoy the snow what it is like for others who do not find it so much fun.
I have this weekend off and normally we would try to get out somewhere if only just to the shops or to see Mary's mother or my mother. This weekend we cannot get out at all. For those who do not know us, Mary is disabled and has to use a wheelchair to get out. The car is stuck outside the house as I cannot get it of the ice and pushing a wheelchair in these conditions is hopeless.
This little blog is not meant to be a full on moan session but just to put into perspective for those who enjoy the snow what it is like for others who do not find it so much fun.
Friday, 8 January 2010
A weekend off
Well thank goodness for the weekend off that is all I can say! It has been one of the busiest weeks I can remember for a long while. Due to the heavy amount of snow that we have had I have been working flat out.
I work, for anyone that does not know for the biggest local bus service in Cardiff, South Wales. We have about 550 drivers and many of them come from way outside Cardiff. They cannot get a job where they live and we need staff so we employ from a long way outside the area.
The upside is that we get good staff who need a job and give good service. The weak side is that when the snow and then ice comes down the valley areas of Wales get heavily blocked with snow and do not get cleared easily. They therefore cannot get in to work and as it is a major part of my job to get buses on the road when staff fail to arrive it has been to say the least bloody busy!
However, once a month I get the long weekend off and this is it. I am glad of the break but now I have to get my wife out of the house. It is not easy in the snow as anyone who has tried this with a wheelchair can understand.
Well that is it for today and if anyone does read this do me a favour and drop a line or put a small comment on it. I would just like to know that it has been read at some point.
I work, for anyone that does not know for the biggest local bus service in Cardiff, South Wales. We have about 550 drivers and many of them come from way outside Cardiff. They cannot get a job where they live and we need staff so we employ from a long way outside the area.
The upside is that we get good staff who need a job and give good service. The weak side is that when the snow and then ice comes down the valley areas of Wales get heavily blocked with snow and do not get cleared easily. They therefore cannot get in to work and as it is a major part of my job to get buses on the road when staff fail to arrive it has been to say the least bloody busy!
However, once a month I get the long weekend off and this is it. I am glad of the break but now I have to get my wife out of the house. It is not easy in the snow as anyone who has tried this with a wheelchair can understand.
Well that is it for today and if anyone does read this do me a favour and drop a line or put a small comment on it. I would just like to know that it has been read at some point.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Snow again!
Where does all the bloody stuff come from? In this part of Wales we do not get a lot and that normally until late January or February. We could have more of the damn stuff yet to come this year.
Our car is stuck outside the house and I have to get the bus in to work today and yesterday. I do not want to but to be honest the world could do with one less car in the ice today.
Time to close as I have to leave for work. It is 3.00 am and freezing bloody cold so I need to put plenty of layers on.
Our car is stuck outside the house and I have to get the bus in to work today and yesterday. I do not want to but to be honest the world could do with one less car in the ice today.
Time to close as I have to leave for work. It is 3.00 am and freezing bloody cold so I need to put plenty of layers on.
Monday, 4 January 2010
Another cold day
Well here I am at nearly 05.00 in the morning getting ready for another days work. And it is still bloody cold! I have given up turning off the central heating as when I do the house is like a fridge in a couple of hours and it takes ages to get warm again. I am afraid the planet will have to take care of itself for a few days.
Work was once again very busy yesterday. To busy for a bloody Sunday. This is supposed to be the quiet day when we can relax slightly but once again problems reared there bloody head and I had to sort it out.
Yes that is my job and to be honest I am as good as anyone and better than most at doing it, but these problems ( and it is not worth while putting them here) should not have arisen and there will be major comebacks over this one I think as we could lose a valuable contract over it.
Work was once again very busy yesterday. To busy for a bloody Sunday. This is supposed to be the quiet day when we can relax slightly but once again problems reared there bloody head and I had to sort it out.
Yes that is my job and to be honest I am as good as anyone and better than most at doing it, but these problems ( and it is not worth while putting them here) should not have arisen and there will be major comebacks over this one I think as we could lose a valuable contract over it.
Sunday, 3 January 2010
More work and snow
Well another Sunday in work, but I do not really mind them. They do tend to get busier than you would think though as the bloody phone never stops and the only silly bugger to answer it is me!
The snow has come down a bit overnight again, but only a thin layer. We have had many staff who live only 20 miles away that just could not get in or had to dig out there cars to get here. I have had enough of this white stuff this year thank you.
We normally only get it in late January/February in this part of the country so we probably have some more to come.
Oh well it is time to close this and get off to work.
The snow has come down a bit overnight again, but only a thin layer. We have had many staff who live only 20 miles away that just could not get in or had to dig out there cars to get here. I have had enough of this white stuff this year thank you.
We normally only get it in late January/February in this part of the country so we probably have some more to come.
Oh well it is time to close this and get off to work.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
2010
Well it is here at last and as I am back to work today at 3.45 am the year has well and truly started again. I intend if at all possible to make this my last year working for my present company but I will have to check out the finances of early retirement.
Last night was once again bitterly cold and snow fell in Cardiff. Not a lot but of course it froze immediatly so it is all ice. The roads have not been gritted as it was not that much so I hope that it will not be to bad driving to work.
Well the time is 3.00 and time to get ready to go.
Last night was once again bitterly cold and snow fell in Cardiff. Not a lot but of course it froze immediatly so it is all ice. The roads have not been gritted as it was not that much so I hope that it will not be to bad driving to work.
Well the time is 3.00 and time to get ready to go.
Friday, 1 January 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Well it is officially here now. 2010 that is. Will it bring the peace and happiness that the majority of the world wishes for? Will it hell! We will have the same old wars and the same politicians trying to make a mess of things. Nothing big will change this year the same as nothing big changed last year or the year before that.
Technology will move on rapidly again and more new must have things will come out. We might get further out of recession but I would not put money on that. There will be the usual disasters that could have been avoided and those that could not.
People will pass away and others will be born that will eventually rule the world or at least have a great say it it. Is this blog a dull missive? I don't think so really, it is just a small dose of reality from someone who has seen a lot and knows that in the end not a lot changes.
From the small man I wish all the small people a happy 2010.
Technology will move on rapidly again and more new must have things will come out. We might get further out of recession but I would not put money on that. There will be the usual disasters that could have been avoided and those that could not.
People will pass away and others will be born that will eventually rule the world or at least have a great say it it. Is this blog a dull missive? I don't think so really, it is just a small dose of reality from someone who has seen a lot and knows that in the end not a lot changes.
From the small man I wish all the small people a happy 2010.
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