Elliot's First School Photo

At least he's not gurning for once.

But who's reading my blog in Thailand? Curious.

Have you noticed the nifty GeoVistors link over there on the right? I can see you...

Oh, The Pressure...

Marguerite said...
I know blogging isn't as much fun when it's not done on the company dime (not that *I* would know anything about that), but don't keep us hanging! Haven't you made any baskets with Latvians, either literlly or metaphorically, since you left work? Those of us who are still working in offices desperately need a diversion, lest we have to start doing whatever it is we're paid to do. Which would just be a shame.

Actually, I am still in an office, training hard, making friends, and generally making an effort to fit into the corporate thing. As offices go, this one (and I'm not naming it lest I get threatened with imprisonment or castration or both) is wonderful. Not only can I see my house from my desk (which I may have already mentioned once or twice), but they give us a basket of fresh fruit...lots of fresh fruit...every day, free juice and fizzy drinks (which are the devil in liquid form), we've got a foozball table and a pool table, I'm being paid a living wage for the first time in my life, and to top it all off they're all so frickin' nice. I've never been made so welcome in a job before now. These people actually socialise after hours and on weekends together. Today we had a party and everyone dressed up as a national stereotype. A World Cup thing. I'm glad there are no Angolans in this office or we'd be in serious trouble with the Equality Minister. Luckily, I started too late to be allocated a country, so I went as "a people" (which happened to be my Halloween costume when I was 2). But they made sure I fit in by sharing their sombreros and digeridoos and Maradona wigs and burkas.

Which is why I feel so guilty.

Because I've pretty much made the decision to move to Cloughjordan sooner (as in before 1 September) rather than later (next summer). This is for two reasons: 1) the shop really does need to be open full time if it's going to work 2)while I'm sitting here trying to train up on the intricacies of contract compliance, I'm thinking "Has Tommy got those lights up yet?", "How are we going to persuade the EHO to let us away without a second toilet?", "I must get that form to the bank.", "Duckegg Blue or Jersey Cream?", 3)We need to dedicate more time to getting the shop open and 4)We would probably need to open full time before next summer anyway, and Elliot should start school at the beginning of term and not halfway through the year. So that's 4 reasons. And probably more besides. How am I going to tell these nice people that I'm going to drop them in it? When do I do it?

Also:

1) Is this going to work?
2) Am I doing the right thing?
3) Will I ruin my life and Elliot's by giving up beige security for technicolour adventure?
4) What if I can't get a mortgage for the build? Self-employed in a start-up? Don't want to know you.
5) Why can't I be one of those people who loses their appetite when stressed? I bought a jar of Green & Black's organic chocolate spread "for Elliot" on Saturday. It was gone before he got home on Monday. But Eileen assures me that as it's organic, it must be good for you. I won't mention the hundreds of other things that are good for me that I've consumed over the past few weeks.
6) How long before the shop opens? We're stuck in bureaucratic limbo. I could be living off the savings for months.
7) Can I get the dole even though I'm leaving a job of my own accord and though I have savings (reserved for the build)? Unlikely.
8) What if we never open?
9) What if we open and nobody comes?
10) What if we open and lots of people come and we sell out of everything before we get a chance to restock?
11) Am I doing the right thing?
12) I already said that...but it's on my mind a lot.

And now the indigestion has flared up again. Must find something to eat.

It's Too Darn Hot, It's Too Darn Hot, It's Too. Darn. Hot.

I have lots to report from the last few weeks, but I'm too hot and cross to bother. It hasn't rained in weeks. And no, I'm not happy when it rains. I'm not happy when it doesn't. But there is a very pleasant middle ground which is eluding us all at the moment.