Lucky lucky lucky!

Just got back from a free lunch from my boss, in honour of my birthday and our new team member "J." Typically the team opposite were kind enough to come along too and celebrate one of their people's birthday. "C" is 30-something today.

Thanks everyone!

Peace of Mind

It's that day again, so to celebrate I took the morning off and got the spare wheel replaced on the Micra.

Driving around with a flat spare in the boot seemed quite a good way to tempt fate.

Apart from that it was nice to get some cards, calls, and e-mails and some expensive new heater components for Panne.

300

The 300 hold the pass

Another quiet week-end, although a trip to the cinema yesterday to see 300 woke me up a bit.

It's a fun film, ridiculous but faithful to it's comic book roots rather than historical authenticity.

And yet...

Some of the phalanx scenes looked and felt terrifying and true (see pic) and...

The 300's death cult convinced me, as did King Leonidas' skepticism about religion. "That's the last time I listen to the ravings of a drunken adolescent," he remarks after a trip to the temple to get the advice of the fortune-teller.

Quite so, sire

Too bad about the crazed decision to equip the 300 with non-authentic armour. Why? The real stuff you can see in museums combines beauty with function in a way that few historic or modern objects ever seem to do.

Murdered by the Israeli Army

Rachel Corrie - born April 10th 1979, murdered 16th March 2003.

Kindness

It's time to acknowledge the kindness of the team opposite.

Despite my having (offically) nothing to do with them, they constantly invite me to their lunches out, evenings out, and even their corporate fun day (today) which includes a river trip this afternoon.

I declined to join them but they still managed to sneak me into their free lunch just now.

It's so nice to feel appreciated, and included, especially when there is no incentive for them to do so..

Sadly there's very little of this cheerful comeradere in my own team - there are only five of us and two of them are introverted cottagers.*

* Yes I do know what the term means - I use it to describe selfish introverted miserable gits who prefer to 'work' from home.

Boredom

Boredom is being at your desk listening to two software engineers discuss their children while outside the most beautiful day of the year slips by...

Alone

A strange day back at work with my boss ill, my colleague H also ill, and colleague J working from home.

After a lonely week-end mainly spent covered in EP80 gear oil underneath the Micra, I was rather hoping for some company at work.

At least I can leave early this evening.

And the car is fixed.