suzyscottdotcom

I thought of a new way to update the diary, and a twist on the posting style of Busto aka thebustocrookes ...

… so, instead of a ten point random post, here’s what has happened to me over the last few weeks, in an A-Z format. It incorporates previous postings, and if you like it, I will do one as often as I can! I tried making it transport free, but there are a few posts to fill things up! Don’t forget, you can always see my latest transport pictures at http://pics.suzyscott.com and click on “Last” in the bottom-right hand corner. Tell me how you liked that, and I might manage to make it to 26 posts one day!

A is for Addenbrooke’s Hospital, who have cancelled one of C’s appointments for later in the year now twice, in each case moving further down the calendar. The same department also have ran into problems when I tried to change one of my appointments. I tried to change the date, after our plans for August had changed. So, I called, tried twice, eventually got given someone else’s direct number. I called, and got through on 2^nd occasion. With a very “how did you get this number” note in her voice, she promised to call me back. As you’ll see under C, it’s already been overtaken by a request to see a dietician – but, being in Hertfordshire, we have the unique situation of being referred to a consultant at Addenbrooke’s, and a dietician who works around from Lister Hospital…

B is for Barclays Cycle Hire, as TfL insist we call it. I liked Boris’s comments when it was launched – although these were not included in the press release! He said “I'm so thrilled to be announcing that Barclays Bank, after years of taking extortionate charges from me, is doing an amazing and wonderful thing,” he said. “I think there could not be a better sign of Barclays' commitment to this city, to the environment and to a wonderful means of transport.”

C is for Coeliac Disease. I’m slowly getting used to this being the resolution that I have sought for so long, and am getting used to everything involved. We went to a “Newly Diagnosed” event in Stevington, Bedford, on Thursday evening, which was well worth the time. I’ve got a dieticians appointment coming up later this month.

D is for Depression. I did get really down a few weeks back, but it’s forgotten, because I’ve been fine since.

E is for elaine4queen. We went into London yesterday (see P entry below). After lunch, we went out to Bethnal Green, meeting up with Elaine for the first time – and of course, her dog Poppet. We talked, and then we went out with dorg on a walk through Hackney City Farm and adjacent parks, before walking along the Regents Canal path to Cambridge Heath. From there, back to hers briefly, before going home – tired but happy. See all Saturday’s pictures here – including one of the Dundee Arms pub! (I did leave my memory card in the computer, thus meaning a few were taken on the cameras internal memory, and the rest on the Blackberry, which have came out well!)

F is for funding. Got a letter the other day… you remember I went to Charing Cross for one day last Summer, after waiting months and getting two appointments within days of each other? Well… I wanted to use it to get some follow-up assistance, and screenings, etc. They wanted to see the funding before seeing me – not from me, but from the relevant NHS trust. After all, I’d had the policy documents (obtained via Freedom of Information) that said they would… but these letters, for whatever reason, do not include the discussion. Sometimes I just wish they'd get on with it...!

H is for Helpline. Wednesday 30^th June was the last day of the current arrangement with the Ormiston Children & Families Trust’s tenure on the helpline – the only one of the original seven from the start on 1^st January 2003 – ending. The tender was lost to Partners of Prisoners (POPS) in Manchester… I wasn’t aware that the PFH brand and name cannot be transferred, so, it’s now going to be the Offenders Families Helpline… anyway, we had a fantastic “last Supper” evening, in the adjacent Milton Country Park. We were all given thank-you letters to show appreciation from our own boss, as well as one of the Ormiston directors. I took a few pictures, and you can see those here.

I is for iPod. Well, I had an iPod touch, and shortly after the original warranty expired, it started having problems with syncing and charing. Well, it was like the internal circuits had gone. Tried to get this replaced by the bank, under the extended warranty that comes with such. £25 excess seemed not too bad, so I tried taking it into the Apple Store at Cambridge’s Grand Arcade. I say tried, but it was the day after the launch of iPhone 4 (when everyone finds the bugs)… After waiting for 20 minutes to see someone, I explained what was wrong. He cut over me three times, trying to second-guess the problem (which doesn’t do much for my confidence!) So, I was then told to book an appointment… from the TV screens, the next one was another 3hours 20mins away, all to book a repair. Decided against waiting, and we stopped in a 2^nd hand store in Cambridge, buying a replacement (non-Touch) for little more than the excess, and a lot less than brand new. Well, it didn’t work, and we were about to take it back, when C got it to work on the MacMini... Apple have gone down in my estimation, certainly in their UK Retail business.

N is for National Express. I did have a run-in with a 787 driver on Wednesday after work. He took offence that I tried to pay for a £13.90 fare… with two tenners. I had no more change, I took that straight out the cashpoint. I’d planned to be home earlier, but I was working on some BSOG stuff. Anyway, we'll see what happens.

P is for Pride. As you will see from E above, we went into London yesterday, Saturday. This was the occasion of London Pride 2010, and we helped to set up the LLGS stall. Did a few hours there, then we went for lunch… then see under E for the rest of the day! . (I did leave my memory card in the computer, thus meaning a few were taken on the cameras internal memory, and the rest on the Blackberry, which have came out well!)
 

S is for syrups. After finding some Monin coffee syrups on holiday, bought a mixed case load via Udal Supplies… Well recommended, and all gluten free!

The last day of the month, Friday 30^th April, saw a day working on Helpline. In the evening, we went out to Harvester in Stevenage for a 37-month anniversary special!

Yesterday, Saturday 1^st May saw the plans change several times. It ended up that I was initially trying to resolve an issue with the new joint bank account. Out of all the changes that I made, one of the standing orders had been set up to pay in to the account, instead of paying it out. After visiting the branch in central Cambridge, we went over the road to Heffers for coffee at the Café Nero downstairs, and chanced upon a book signing by crime writer Leigh Russell. One signed copy later, we went on to Cambridge Laser for some hair zapping for us both. We then drove back to Royston, bought a few more things at Tesco, before continuing home.

Today, Sunday 2^nd May, is catching up with things! Being busy with work has been a good thing, but now it is nice to have some time to relax!

Happy May Day Bank Holiday weekend!

Further to my last post, it’s been a busy time of it in the last eight days.

Thursday 25^th March was a run from Royston via Centrebus Service 90 to Baldock, then Herberts Travel 391 to Stevenage. I’d not been on this one for  bit, and they had lost the contract (last day of operation to be 27/03/2010) to Cozy Travel. So, one last journey perhaps on a Mercedes 709D, and it does show how bus design has came on since the days of the Alexander AM (original)/Sprint (later – ones with raised blind boxes) design. From there, uno 634 fast to Hemel Hempstead, lunch, before Arriva 52 to High Wycombe, where it got rather wet. Arrived at HW with the rain pouring down, and piled on Woottens/Tiger Line 106 to Princes Risborough. Quick look around the town, before continuing to Aylesbury on Arriva 300. After this, waited for an hour before continuing on Service 16 to Bicester via parts of rural Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. From there, back home on an X5 to Cambridge, where C picked me up. It was a fun day, and you can see the pictures here.

Friday 26^th March was a morning on the Helpline, and it was originally to be my last, although a stay of execution has been granted for now. It was also a day of several purchases, some cuddly, some edible, some wearable, you get the idea.

Saturday 27^th March was an early evening on Switchboard, back home in time for a late dinner/early supper.

Sunday 28^th March ended up being a quiet one, aside from lunch out.

Monday 29^th March was a day working from home.

Tuesday 30^th March was a late evening shift on Switchboard, which takes me up past all the tallies to complete the minimum requirement for a trainee volunteer, which means I’ll be able to have a ratification interview over the coming weeks, to remove the word trainee from my title!

Wednesday 31^st March was our 3-year anniversary! We initially went out for lunch, although it wasn’t our fault, we ended up with a long wait, and inedible food. Never mind, onto Helpline, where it was intended to be our “last day” drinks. Although now it’s no-where near it, plans had still been made! So, after a last day that wasn’t, and a lunch that hadn’t been either, but we more than made up for it by visiting The Golden Curry on Mill Road, Cambridge. This is, of course, the restaurant that we attended three years previously, the day I fell in love with Caroline (and we visited then with auntysarah and the_local_echo ). After a really lovely dinner, car back home.

Thursday 1^st April has been a day at home, with lots to do!

I've been really busy over the last eight days.

Following on from my last entry on 8^th March, I have been mostly busy working from home. Exceptions were out at Switchboard on Thursday 11^th, working on Helpline on Friday 12^th, back out to Switchboard on Saturday 13^th before going out in the evening. Following all this, we were out in the car around Stevenage on Sunday. I have also been working hard around the house, and am currently in the midst of backing up the computer contents to remote storage - C got round the issue of it not working with external drives somehow, by getting it in another place!

I briefly mentioned earlier that the Prisoner's Families Helpline will still be operated locally for a further three months.

Friday 5^th March was a day working at Helpline. There is a slight glimmer of hope in a meeting being held on Monday 15^th to discuss plans, but beyond that, no-one yet knows what will happen, or how, with regards the transfer of the service. Back home in the afternoon, bought a few things in Cambridge to make dinner, and then prepared for Saturday. I took a few pictures in Cambridge, and you can see them here.

Saturday 6^th March was the 2010 Million Womens Rise – and Switchboard had a presence in Trafalgar Square! So, we went into London, had breakfat at Camino (near Kings Cross) before continuing. Lots of fun, although cold and a bit tired towards the end! We then continued to a Spanish resturant C liked the sound of in Portobello Road, so we went out west, but (as we went in spec) we didn't realise they were closed for a private party! So, back to town on a 23 bus, until we spotted Star Of Bombay on Westbourne Grove. Good food, although I was a little tired and didn't properly enjoy it. Cab back to Kings Cross via Edgware Road and Camden Town, before a ride back to Hertford North, for a rail replacement bus back to Royston. You can see the pictures that I took here - a mix of rally/march pics and some bus stuff!

Sunday 7^th March was a day to catch up and relax!

Monday 8^th March was mostly working at home for Woottens, and lots of work done on the Tiger Line page on Facebook, plus promoting the service changes from 19^th April. Happy International Womens Day all!

It's been yet another busy week, with little time to explain what's gone by. I used the phrase “it's like I have my foot on the accelerator” at the moment. The last nine days have generated a huge number of miles, lots of people met, and some unique moments and challenges.

Monday 8^th February Went into London to work an afternoon at Switchboard, and stopped on the way to drop off a card to the newly-engaged Malc & Ray (along with several timetables for Malc) – congratulations again! You can see a handful of random shots taken at Euston here.

Tuesday 9^th, Wednesday 10^th and Thursday 11^th February Working behind the scenes on forthcoming tours and visits for the Anglia Bus Forum and Dundee Area Bus Forum. Some interesting ones, and trying to build on previous years, by doing more.

Friday 12^th February Typically, having had three days at home, everything slid to the end of the week. I went into Cambridge to work on Helpline in the morning (they are still none the wiser as to the transfer of service at the end of March), before travelling to London, to work on Switchboard in the evening. A late night, but an enjoyable day.

Saturday 13^th February After a long lie, got up and prepared to go back to London, for another evening. This was to do a charity collection (or “bucket rattle”) for Switchboard. Basically, we were (mostly) dressed in pink LLGS T-shirts (hence the subject line!) and we went to 15 venues around the West End of London, and ended up raising £560 through donations, and got a huge amount of positive feedback from people we met. We had another wonderful evening, and another late night, but very enjoyable! Nabbed a few pics of the rattlers en route, which you can see here.

Sunday 14^th February In the end, a quiet one. Recovering from Saturday (see above) and preparing for Monday (see below).

Monday 15^th February Remember I mentioned in these posts (1, 2, 3) that today was the first day of new and revised bus services across The Fens? Well, I had an early start, and took a train to Cambridge, changing there for a Kings Lynn one. Said hello to Andy J at Kings Lynn Bus Staton, before I went on to start a day's travel on a Norfolk Green Explorer – starting with Solo 600 on the 46 to March via Islington (the Norfolk village, not the London borough!), Wisbech and Guhyrin. Managed to arrive through Wisbech in the midst of turmoil with one road closed one side, and diversions and delays. Never mind, made up the time after the diversion around Wisbech St Mary. From there, a quick changeover to refurbished Solo 602 on the new Service 34 to March Tesco, Benwick, and then back to March Broad Street, meeting Rob B in the process. After stopping for lunch at Bakers Oven (is this the one store not yet rebranded to Greggs?) and a quick browse in an adjacent bookstore/stationer, carried on with Andy J and Rob B on loaned-from-Stagecoach-for-six-weeks Volvo/PS 702 on new Service 56 from March to Wisbech, that replaced the top end of Stagecoach Service X9 from that day. After some snaps in Wisbech, and bumping into another Rob B, myself and Andy continued on Coasthopper-liveried Vario 415 on new Service 55 across the Lincolnshire boundary into Long Sutton. After crossing the road, we took Tempo 106 on Service 505 back to Kings Lynn. After that, some shopping briefly in Lynn, before taking the train to Cambridge, for a connection to Royston. We went out briefly, then back in, then back out, before settling for the night. It was a wonderful day out. The pictures really do have to be seen – do take a look here!

Tuesday 16^th February A productive day, including some catching up. Like this post, for example.

So, that is my story of the last 9 days.

On top of all that: something else good, that I can't quite tell you about yet. I promise to tell you when the time is right. Suffice to say, it's good!

On Thursday, I was working at Switchboard, followed by the Women's Group meeting into the evening, Got home at a similar time to Tuesday, having had a wonderful day of it! I could have stayed later, but I had a 1030 start on the Helpline the following day.

Since I got home on Friday, I've been feeling a little odd, and it has now continued into a cough/cold, sounding rather hoarse (not horse as I initially wrote on Facebook!) Well, it has developed into the same feelings as earlier in the month – wheezing, coughing and spluttering, coughing up gunk. My doc is off today, but I think my body is missing what it had earlier in the month! Saturday was a quiet one, and we went out for lunch on Sunday.

Today, quiet one for me, C is back at work, but preparing for tomorrow. One bit of news though – I have got a letter from the OU with regards to being assessed again for T175, and it's to be in by 3^rd June 2010,with result expected early August 2010. At this time, that is all I have.

We were informed last night that the organisation that I've been doing voluntary work for, Ormiston who operate the Prisoners Families Helpline in conjunction with Action for Prisoners Families, have not succeeded in retaining the contract, which was up for tender. We believe that it has gone to our former colleagues Partners of Prisoners (or POPS) in Manchester, although there is nothing (yet) on their website.

So, what happened? Well, I better explain. As it stands at the moment, the National Prisoners Families Helpline was launched in 2003, using funding from the Big Lottery Fund. There were initially five partners around the country, although this was down to two – Ormiston near Cambridge, and POPS in Manchester, when I started in Aug 2007. Shortly after, the lottery funding ran out, and if I remember rightly, both partners dug out some money to keep the service going. From April 2009, the tender was offered to both partners to provide sole ownership of the service for one year, with funding from the National Offender Management Service, now part of the Ministry for Justice. A wider tender was offered from April 2010, open to all comers, and I think was offered on the basis of an enhanced service level provision, although we don't know if that will be proceeded with, or if they just wanted to get the cost of it. One way or another, the service will continue, but will be back in the hands of the Manchester-based group from April 2010.

My thoughts? Naturally disappointed, but I want to remember the good times that I've had working there, since August 2007. They have genuinely been a wonderful bunch to work with, and I've got close with most of them over the last little while. I will continue to provide the assistance that I can, until the last.

Yes and No. I’ve just completed training for London Lesbian & Gay Switchboard, so that is still new. The contract for the Prisoners Families Helpline is up in the Spring, but the tender submission has gone in, so fingers crossed! So, not looking immediately.

2. Will you be looking for a new relationship?
Nope – happy and settled in the one I’ve got!

3. New house?
Again no. I moved out of Dundee at the start of 2009, and I’m getting over that!

4. What will you do differently in '10?
Like Elaine, I have to say exercise.

5. New Year's resolution?
Don’t really make them – should I?

6. What will you not be doing in '10?
I tend not to rule things out, because you never know!

7. Any trips planned?
Yes – there will be, no definite plans yet.

8. Wedding plans?
Yes and no. We are engaged, but it’s more medium term than having anything planned.

9. What's on your calendar?
Medical appointments, birthdays, and voluntary work. So, more of the same.

10. What can't you wait for?
Christmas Day!

11. What would you like to see happen differently?
Last year, my confidence took a dent when I had a fall, twice in the same day, and I became a bit more of a house person. That’s starting to change.

12. What about yourself will you be changing?
See Q11, but also I would like to see those that we didn’t get a chance to see in 2009.

13. What happened in '09 that you didn't think would ever happen?

I became 30 – when I’ve felt low in the past, it did not seem possible. More recently, my little sister has had a child, making me an aunty!

14. Will you be nicer to the people you care about?
I usually do, but I will try to be as good as always. Can’t be perfect!

15. Will you dress differently this year than you did in '09?
My style has been evolving this year, which is good. Got my own wardrobe, as the clothes rail was starting to buckle under the weight!

16. Will you start or quit drinking?
I was prescribed olanzapine earlier in the year, and those said “Avoid alcohol”, I then tried one glass of wine, and I was on the floor! So, back to soft drinks only. But it is worth it, as those pills have stabilised my mood quite a bit.

17. Will you better your relationship with your family?
It’s good, but long distance. I’ve not seen them for a while, but wanted to stabilise things after moving.

18. Will you do charity work?
I already do – see 1.

19. Will you go to bars?
Probably slightly more than before, but not looking to pull.

20. Will you be nice to people you don't know?
I am usually nice to everyone, or I try to be.

21. Do you expect 2010 to be a good year for you?
Yes, I hope so!

22. How much did you change from this time last year till now?
Quite a bit. Apparently I am looking better than this time last year, which is a plus!

23. Do you plan on having a child?
No.

[someone ate question 24 and 25]

26. Will you be moving?
No – see 3.

27. What will you make sure doesn't happen in '10 that happened this year?
Not so much, but we have recently started yogic breathing, which is having an effect already.

28. What are your New Years Eve plans?
Quiet with Caroline, similar to Christmas.

29. Will you have someone to kiss at midnight?
I refer you to question 28… hopefully!

30. Wish for 2010?
Being able to continue our relationship, develop and maintain the charity work, keep the transport stuff ongoing (but delegating some responsibilities), and hopefully, be able to continue to feel better about myself.