I Don’t Like Mondays

except when they’re bank holidays of course. It’s that wonderful day of feeling like a Monday, yet it’s really Tuesday, and the weekend isn’t so far off.

Having said that the last two days have felt like Sundays, so it’s a bit of a trade off I guess.

Things are looking up at least: Heir No. 2 can now climb on and off the sofa without any risk to life and limb, Heir No. 1 has at least listened more over the weekend, and only got sent to his room on one occasion.

My brother-in-law brought his new fiancee round at the weekend. As per usual she is stick thin, and appears to dote on him. By my quick reckoning this is the 5th fiancee of his I have met, and that doesn’t include his first wife, who he was already married to when I entered his life. Only my good taste and manners prevent me from starting a book on how long this relationship will last!

Somewhat surprisingly he has yet to meet her parents, normally he follows strict tradition and asks for the daughter’s hand before proposing. Then dumps them a couple of months later, or marries them, then decides they want different things and dumps them. There’s at least one consistent strand there though.

To be honest I could probably write a whole blog about my brother-in-law, but it would be dismissed as utter fiction. Oh where would I start? The narcissism complex that he is getting treated for, the unparalleled climb up the corporate ladder without the benefit of a degree or even decent A level results? The sudden disappearance a la Reggie Perrin from his first wife, the illegal alien status of his second?

The fact that he “no longer needed the trappings of materialistic wealth to prove his own worth”,
shortly followed by the purchase of a Porsche convertible?

This may now be coming across as petty jealousy, and whilst I am about to deny that, it will not merely be a blanket denial. I know for a fact that I have something that he doesn’t and quite possibly never will have. I have so much love in my life, my wife, my children, my mother – all of it unconditional and so much more rewarding than any fast car or salary figure.

I hope that he will find what he is seeking, but somehow I feel that contentment and true happiness are going to miss him out. That will be a shame, because I firmly believe that everyone can enjoy life with the right outlook and attitude. Again I feel blessed.

I Don’t Like Mondays

except when they’re bank holidays of course. It’s that wonderful day of feeling like a Monday, yet it’s really Tuesday, and the weekend isn’t so far off.

Having said that the last two days have felt like Sundays, so it’s a bit of a trade off I guess.

Things are looking up at least: Heir No. 2 can now climb on and off the sofa without any risk to life and limb, Heir No. 1 has at least listened more over the weekend, and only got sent to his room on one occasion.

My brother-in-law brought his new fiancee round at the weekend. As per usual she is stick thin, and appears to dote on him. By my quick reckoning this is the 5th fiancee of his I have met, and that doesn’t include his first wife, who he was already married to when I entered his life. Only my good taste and manners prevent me from starting a book on how long this relationship will last!

Somewhat surprisingly he has yet to meet her parents, normally he follows strict tradition and asks for the daughter’s hand before proposing. Then dumps them a couple of months later, or marries them, then decides they want different things and dumps them. There’s at least one consistent strand there though.

To be honest I could probably write a whole blog about my brother-in-law, but it would be dismissed as utter fiction. Oh where would I start? The narcissism complex that he is getting treated for, the unparalleled climb up the corporate ladder without the benefit of a degree or even decent A level results? The sudden disappearance a la Reggie Perrin from his first wife, the illegal alien status of his second?

The fact that he “no longer needed the trappings of materialistic wealth to prove his own worth”,
shortly followed by the purchase of a Porsche convertible?

This may now be coming across as petty jealousy, and whilst I am about to deny that, it will not merely be a blanket denial. I know for a fact that I have something that he doesn’t and quite possibly never will have. I have so much love in my life, my wife, my children, my mother – all of it unconditional and so much more rewarding than any fast car or salary figure.

I hope that he will find what he is seeking, but somehow I feel that contentment and true happiness are going to miss him out. That will be a shame, because I firmly believe that everyone can enjoy life with the right outlook and attitude. Again I feel blessed.

I Don’t Like Mondays

except when they’re bank holidays of course. It’s that wonderful day of feeling like a Monday, yet it’s really Tuesday, and the weekend isn’t so far off.

Having said that the last two days have felt like Sundays, so it’s a bit of a trade off I guess.

Things are looking up at least: Heir No. 2 can now climb on and off the sofa without any risk to life and limb, Heir No. 1 has at least listened more over the weekend, and only got sent to his room on one occasion.

My brother-in-law brought his new fiancee round at the weekend. As per usual she is stick thin, and appears to dote on him. By my quick reckoning this is the 5th fiancee of his I have met, and that doesn’t include his first wife, who he was already married to when I entered his life. Only my good taste and manners prevent me from starting a book on how long this relationship will last!

Somewhat surprisingly he has yet to meet her parents, normally he follows strict tradition and asks for the daughter’s hand before proposing. Then dumps them a couple of months later, or marries them, then decides they want different things and dumps them. There’s at least one consistent strand there though.

To be honest I could probably write a whole blog about my brother-in-law, but it would be dismissed as utter fiction. Oh where would I start? The narcissism complex that he is getting treated for, the unparalleled climb up the corporate ladder without the benefit of a degree or even decent A level results? The sudden disappearance a la Reggie Perrin from his first wife, the illegal alien status of his second?

The fact that he “no longer needed the trappings of materialistic wealth to prove his own worth”,
shortly followed by the purchase of a Porsche convertible?

This may now be coming across as petty jealousy, and whilst I am about to deny that, it will not merely be a blanket denial. I know for a fact that I have something that he doesn’t and quite possibly never will have. I have so much love in my life, my wife, my children, my mother – all of it unconditional and so much more rewarding than any fast car or salary figure.

I hope that he will find what he is seeking, but somehow I feel that contentment and true happiness are going to miss him out. That will be a shame, because I firmly believe that everyone can enjoy life with the right outlook and attitude. Again I feel blessed.

Life a bowl of cherries?

Problems on all fronts this week –

Work: the disciplinary thing rumbles on – meaning more meetings with HR etc.
We’ve also got two different sets of auditors in – all asking questions I’d rather they weren’t.

At home heir number 1 is not listening to what he’s told – then gets told off – the gets upset – the promises to listen and behave – then doesn’t listen – then gets told off etc. etc.

Heir number 2 has now learnt how to climb onto the sofa, and sits there looking very proud of herself. Unfortunately her skills do not extend to being able to get off the sofa, well without falling off anyway. I expect the lesson will be learnt quickly!

Heir number 3 under construction at the moment – next week we have a scan and should hopefully find out the sex.

Life a bowl of cherries?

Problems on all fronts this week –

Work: the disciplinary thing rumbles on – meaning more meetings with HR etc.
We’ve also got two different sets of auditors in – all asking questions I’d rather they weren’t.

At home heir number 1 is not listening to what he’s told – then gets told off – the gets upset – the promises to listen and behave – then doesn’t listen – then gets told off etc. etc.

Heir number 2 has now learnt how to climb onto the sofa, and sits there looking very proud of herself. Unfortunately her skills do not extend to being able to get off the sofa, well without falling off anyway. I expect the lesson will be learnt quickly!

Heir number 3 under construction at the moment – next week we have a scan and should hopefully find out the sex.

Life a bowl of cherries?

Problems on all fronts this week –

Work: the disciplinary thing rumbles on – meaning more meetings with HR etc.
We’ve also got two different sets of auditors in – all asking questions I’d rather they weren’t.

At home heir number 1 is not listening to what he’s told – then gets told off – the gets upset – the promises to listen and behave – then doesn’t listen – then gets told off etc. etc.

Heir number 2 has now learnt how to climb onto the sofa, and sits there looking very proud of herself. Unfortunately her skills do not extend to being able to get off the sofa, well without falling off anyway. I expect the lesson will be learnt quickly!

Heir number 3 under construction at the moment – next week we have a scan and should hopefully find out the sex.

Hatchet Man

Well things have escalated in terms of work, and I now am in the position of having to discipline a member of staff for failing to do their job properly.

Stage one is issuing a letter informing them of the need to attend a disciplinary hearing in a week’s time.

I am not looking forward to the reaction, but things may well get interesting.

and I’m not even getting paid for managing this person!

Hatchet Man

Well things have escalated in terms of work, and I now am in the position of having to discipline a member of staff for failing to do their job properly.

Stage one is issuing a letter informing them of the need to attend a disciplinary hearing in a week’s time.

I am not looking forward to the reaction, but things may well get interesting.

and I’m not even getting paid for managing this person!

Hatchet Man

Well things have escalated in terms of work, and I now am in the position of having to discipline a member of staff for failing to do their job properly.

Stage one is issuing a letter informing them of the need to attend a disciplinary hearing in a week’s time.

I am not looking forward to the reaction, but things may well get interesting.

and I’m not even getting paid for managing this person!

I just don’t know what to do with myself…

Another long delay between posts, partially work related, partially related to my attempts to start a different Blog. I wasn’t feeling comfortable with the direction this one was taking, but upon reflection and starting a new one, I’m back to try and make a go of this one.

Work is heading for meltdown – I’ve got so many deadlines looming that I really don’t know which way to turn. One of the major causes of backlogs and usurper of my time is now facing disciplinary procedures. In my last meeting with directors the lack of progress with tasks was unavoidable. Whilst I never like seeing people in trouble, this person has left themselves wide open to criticism and the chickens have most definitely come home to roost.

I’m actually feeling so frazzled at the moment that I know my home life is suffering. Normally when I get home from work I enjoy playing with the kids – their simple joys are a real antidote to work stresses. This last week however I have found it hard not to get annoyed at things that I would normally shrug off, or even join in with.

From my own childhood I remember my father wanting peace and quiet when he got in from work, and I resolved not to be like that. So far it hasn’t taken any resolve on my part, it’s come naturally: organising games for the kids, tickling them and reducing my wife’s stress levels has been a pleasure. I realise now, that I was naive to think that at some times it wouldn’t be necessary to make an effort to achieve these goals.

The more I delve into the world of Blogs the more I realise that I do have a pretty good life compared to a lot of people. Even when things get tough I manage to deal with them pretty well for the most part. And I know now that when things are bad I am able to realise it and change my approach and outlook accordingly. I feel truly thankful for this ability. Hopefully it makes my relationship with my wife and children all the better.

That’s something that I certainly don’t take for granted, and hope I never do.