IN BRIEF

26.01.09

Second phone call to Matlock (first on 5.01.09) to ask why I haven't been paid. Long rigmarole of why my claim had been closed down. I now have to wait for them to reinstate me and give me a new payroll number. At the time I was hopeful this could be sorted without too many more 'tears', but nearly a month on and no further forward.

Jewellery Class in the afternoon went really well - we made a pendant using wire and beads. Back home to website duties.

27.01.09

Long chat in the morning to Chris about new initiatives for the website. Told of approach from someone in Gloucestershire with an idea of how to 'take' knitting into schools. Sounds good...

Card Class at Alfreton, tried the technique of masking in rubber stamping, but on the whole they didn't 'get it' which was disappointing.

Phoned Alpine Windows to get a quote for a new front door, they will send someone tomorrow morning.

28.01.09

Chap from Alpine Windows came and gave me a quote - the price was agreed and deposit handed over. I've seen this chap every January for the past three years, so it's like seeing an old mate. He's a motorbike enthusiastic (something I remember, but he doesn't) and so we have the same conversation about his bike and all Graham's bikes. He now has a Triumph - used to have an Aprilia. His wife also rides a motorbike - which is surprising as she works as a risk assessor...

29.01.09

Surveyor for the door was meant to come around 9.00am, but turned up at 10.00am  (he did ring to say he was running late). Again, he was very chatty and told me all about his poorly tooth (I'll spare you the details). 

He eventually left at 11.00am and I was free to first collect Graham's pills from the doctors and then drive part way into Nottingham, pick up the tram and meet Lucy for shopping etc. 

Catching the tram was brilliant - free parking and then for £2.70 return you get a 'smooth' ride into the centre. We had lunch at BHS - which seemed slightly odd, but I loved my turkey carvery with all the trimming for only £6.00. Lucy had a huge portion of fish and chips £4.50. Then we walked through the Broadmarsh Centre to the entrance of Nottingham Caves.

I remember visiting the caves with Graham when we first moved up to Derby. We went on the motorbike and the caves were only open on the third Sunday of the month for a couple of hours. I don't think they've changed much (?!), but they are interesting if a little lacking in the area you can visit.

After that, it was off to the Bead Shop to buy supplies for my workshop next week and then back on the tram and home. It would have been so easy, but some 'idiot' (who gesticulated that he was unable to hear or speak) decided he wasn't going to pay his fare, so the tram was stopped and he was encouraged to leave. 5 minutes passed and then 10 and then the police arrived and we all gave a huge sigh of relief that we could now continue our journey. Except by this time having been overtaken by a number of trams, we had now lost our place in the sequence of things and the tram was taken out of service and we had to get off and wait for the next overcrowded tram.

You never know whether to feel sorry for chaps like this one. One lady on the tram had remarked: "He's just playing up for attention" and how right she was - as he wound down the police car window and made to wave to his adoring fans - and we stood there in the freezing cold...

30.01.09

No Craft Class as it's now cancelled for the foreseeable future. 

Lots to do on the website and as we are planning to visit my parents tonight, lots of packing to do too.

Collected Lucy from the train about 4.00pm, quick trip to Morrisons for provisions and then off at 6.30pm, arriving at 8.30pm.