Late night, morning catch-up, evening activities

1. An unplanned late night yesterday when the rain became torrential and aimed downhill as quickly as possible... The neighbours all pulled together again, we put out sandbags and bailed out where we could, with the result that our houses were basically ok.  I spent a while mopping up the dribble of water coming in through our front door so that no real harm was done.  So my early night became 1:30am

2. I enjoy our Christmas Eve tradition at work of having a cooked breakfast together as a team.  And I was ready for it after last night's activities!  It was also nice to have a relatively relaxed morning before finishing at lunchtime; I need to keep my phone on while I'm off, just in case, but it's good to have some time off for a while.

3. My current (secret) knitting project is coming along well.  I've made a couple of mistakes that were just too difficult to correct, but only I would know they're there... I've enjoyed doing a slightly more complex scarf/shawl project this time and learned a bit about shaping and patterning - I hope the recipient will like it.

3b. I've painted my nails red :)  - because it's a Christmassy colour, and because I felt like it.  They're quite bright though!

Working it out

1. A slightly stroppy day (I just got out on the wrong side of bed I guess!) which I hope wasn't too obvious, but I was pleased to leave work on a positive conversation.

2. Making progress on the current BSJ, and I think I've worked out how to have a neater edge around the neck while still adjusting the shape.

3. A half day tomorrow... making up for extra hours worked last week.

Long day, tasty finish

1. An early start and late finish at work today... but it seems to have gone well.

2. British Summer Time means it was still daylight when I left at 7:30(pm).

3. Cheese and chutney on toast to finish.

Quick catch up...

I didn't do an awful lot on Saturday... I read P&P, went into town for lunch and the weekly shop, knitted while I watched the rugby (we lost of course), read some more, had tea, and kept reading until I'd finished the book!  It was about midnight by then, so I was pretty sleepy on Sunday (not helped by A coming to bed quite a bit later and unintentionally waking me up!)  I was very glad of the lazy day though, and I appreciated the luxury of being able to get lost in a book.

A was running the Sunday School so we were through for church in good time.  I felt prompted to read a bit from Isaiah 40 during the meeting; a quick summary would be: He's huge, He created everything, we can't even begin to understand or advise Him, and yet He takes notice of us.  Amazing!

I helped out at the local youth service which is run every other month by the organisation I've become involved with (NISCU).  It's great to see young people getting to know God for themselves - the message was about having a faith which sticks; life isn't always going to be easy but we can trust God.

And at work... we've finally got started on the production trial which refused to behave last week.  We'd lost 3 days' running time for an unrelated reason which was just so frustrating.  Today was our next attempt and, as I write, we seem to have finally started making the right quality.  There's still one reliability issue to deal with, but if we get through to tomorrow the spare part will arrive and we can fix that too.  It's been so encouraging to see everyone pulling together on this - I do enjoy working with my colleagues and the sense of family we have there.

Ending the week

1. A long week, without completing (or even properly starting) the activity we'd planned. There had been 2 long evenings so I was relieved we decided to postpone until next week and that I could leave early.

2. A relaxing bath before A came home. I enjoyed reading P&P by daylight for a change.

3. The prospect of a quieter Saturday to catch up.

Preparations and a nice surprise

1. A productive meeting at work - it lasted most of the day, but I think we got somewhere... and it was good to catch up with some colleagues who are based elsewhere.

2. Planning a weekend away for A's birthday in May. I think I have to be away on the day itself, but I hope a trip away can be special instead.

3. First housegroup of the year, and a lovely surprise present. Michelle had made bookmarks for each of us, with specially chosen bible verses on the back. What a lovely idea!

Improvements expected

1. So cold! ...and raining... and windy... but the electric blanket's on and tomorrow's forecast is dry :o)

2. Some fitting work I was asked to arrange in the lab might be possible much sooner than I expected.

3. We visited an elderly relative in hospital. She's so very frail now, but receiving good care and seems better than a few days ago.

Organising, exercising our privilege, tasty

1. I had a bit of an admin day at work today. It's always satisfying when I can feel I've made some sense of the questions I've been putting off. I just need my boss's signature to finish the main bit now.

2. We walked to the polling station to make our votes, and took the longer way home in the chilly evening. It's a strange election, for a post that may or may not be a good thing, but we're very aware of our privilege in having a vote at all.

3. Venison burgers for tea, with potatoes, peas and broccoli.

Catching up

1. We've had two visitors from our sister mill for a couple of days; it's been good to spend time sharing thoughts.

2. I knitted about 22 rows of the red leafy scarf while at triplet this evening: that's probably about 2"...

3. A was still up when I got home. It feels surprisingly strange to have a few minutes to catch up after 2 busy days.

Reprise, sunset and stretching

1. We were asked to repeat our presentation from 2 weeks ago for the CEO during his visit. I'd forgotten it already(!) but after a quick practice it went well.

2. The sunset was stunning as I left work this evening.

3. A new half-term for Pilates, so a new routine. There are a lot of stretches this time, and I think I'll feel it tomorrow, but I enjoyed the change.

Good as new

1. We wore pink to work today to raise money for Breast Cancer research. I found a cerise cardigan I've not worn for some months... I liked the feeling that it was something new (and it seemed to fit better than before too!)

2. I enjoy the good-humoured camaraderie with my colleagues. We take our work seriously but there's still time to laugh.

3. I went for a walk after work this evening, to try to persuade a sciatic nerve to stop complaining. I felt better for the fresh air and exercise. It's been a crisp, cold but sunny day.

Remembering, refreshed, identity

1. I've actually been using some of my degree this week! Refrigeration cycles on Monday, CHP systems, electrostatic precipitation and surface chemistry today. Although, when I say "using" perhaps I should really say I've been stretching my memory back 20 years to try to follow what someone else is saying. I still think it counts anyway...

2. I was feeling very tired and sleepy today after some late nights, but after a short lie down I perked up enough for the meeting this evening.

3. An interesting meeting... encouraging news on the church plant, and helpful reminders that our identity is from God first - any other labels (job, roles, relationships) have value as God-given but don't take that priority in defining us.

Confidence, clearing the piles, moving forward

1. I gave two very different presentations at work today: one to the production crews returning from their rest days, encouraging them to pay attention to product quality (20 mins); and one to our top bosses, explaining our approach to quality monitoring and improvement (10 mins). I think both went well (as far as I could tell!) and I was slightly surprised that I wasn't really nervous... my two colleagues were pacing the floor before the 2nd presentation, but I quite enjoyed it. What a difference from my student presentations!

2. I'm finally making some headway in my to-do list. Last week was so full of meetings I couldn't really think, but today was a bit quieter. Maybe I'll even clear some of the piles of paper on my desk!

3. Support group meeting for the schools workers today. It's great to hear how well things are going, and our two new primary workers are making quick work of figuring out their goals and creating opportunities. I'm enjoying getting to know people a bit better too.

Encouraging: in work, at schools, good friend

1. I've finally put together my part of the presentation to our top bosses tomorrow. When I left for home the pc was behaving... so I'm sure it'll still be working in the morning!

2. Encouraging to read the reports from our schools workers before the support group meeting tomorrow evening.

3. A lovely chat with a good friend to finish the day (who might even read this now that she knows I'm blogging again ;-) )

Progress: at work, exercising, and knitted

1. Interesting discussions during this morning's meeting; although that did mean we over-ran by an hour and a half!

2. Pilates was hard work but much better than last week. I like the weeks when I see an improvement in what I can do.

3. The crocodile scarf is growing again after I ripped it back at the weekend. I've added about 32 rows without shaping so I hope it will be a more sensible length now. If I do another I can always make it longer for the older boys...

Satisfying

1. An activity I needed to set moving is already active; It turns out I only need to direct it a little, which was an encouraging end to the working day.

2. I made a chorizo and lentil tagine this evening - one of our favourite meals.

3. Catching up on The Great British Bake-Off... They were baking pies: some disasters, some triumphs, and a feeling of comradeship despite the competition.

Back on the road again

We set off at silly o'clock this morning (5am) but the journey has been fairly smooth and uneventful.

I had a couple of hours after checking in to the hotel to myself, so I've bought some Swedish coffee to replenish our supplies.

Dinner together with the group before tomorrow's meeting. It's been nice to catch up with a few people and to hear encouraging feedback about how we're working and cooperating with our colleagues. It's certainly not all my doing, but I know I've influenced it and that feels good.

Back to work after our fun adventures

The start of a new week:

• I've got through part of the email mountain... I think I've seen the critical ones anyway.
• Catching up with my team after all our times away
• one child ill, another much improved... I think no news is good news for the others.
• sorting out the admin stuff which goes with being a manager.
• stayed late to finish a couple of urgent items.

• feeling the effects of Saturday's late night though. Definitely not as alert or patient as I'd like!

• very pleased to hear my gran sounding much brighter on the phone this evening - a welcome change from recent weeks

• and I didn't switch the TV on this evening! I caught up with some missing blogs instead.

Back in Berlin

... this time for work.

I'm here to witness a printing trial, then I fly back to Newcastle on Thursday ready for our hols!

Blessings:
- a slightly relaxed start to the day. I finished both sets of packing, checked emails and did most of the washing up.
- traffic was fine on the motorway and the patches of heavy rain were mostly short.
- I've almost got my bearings in Berlin now so didn't get lost on the way to the hotel.
- I met with my colleague and customer for a tasty meal

...time for sleep!

Repairs, keen, atmospheric

1. Two windows (one properly broken, the other with a broken seal) and our front door (gradually cracking up in the sun!) have been replaced.

2. Our two summer students are working out well. Both are enthusiastic and intelligent, which makes it a joy to work with them.

3. The clouds were brooding around the fells as I drove home from Keswick this evening. There was still enough light to make them bright white as they nestled in the valleys and sat on the tops. A striking contrast to the dark fellsides.