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philglossop

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Blog Entries posted by philglossop

  1. philglossop

    Blimey 3 weeks!

    By philglossop,

    Day 21
    Still no smoking. Yet ironically feeling ruddy awful- certainly Thursday and yesterday. Developing a nasty cough- a good sign that the chest is clearing slowly.
    Having a quiet weekend at home- spring cleaning now. Smelt the bedroom curtains this morning- yuk they are coming down for a wash today.
    Now all I have to do is get Darren to paint the whole house. But he can do that next weekend!!
  2. philglossop
    Just come back off a little break in our new caravan. Been staying in Okehampton- lovely little site.
    Back to work tomorrow. Not looking forward to it - we had Job Evaluation results last Friday. I was lucky, my team not (they lost £4000 each). God knows what I'm going back to.
    Good news - still not smoking.
    New job perhaps????????
  4. philglossop
    Today is day 10 without a ciggie.
    Now moving into the 2nd phase of the relationship when you've split with something.
    I HATE EVERYTHING :lol: I will not give up on this mind.
    The only thing that's keep me going all day is the thought of the final of "Laddette to Lady". :lol: Well I need a laugh.
    Knee better- will try a short run tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
    Hows you Louby? Thanks for messages by the way!!!!
  5. philglossop

    Day 8

    By philglossop,

    I have been to the Doc's. No, still not smoking, but went for a training run yesterday for a 10k I've signed up for. And tore my hamstring behind by left knee .
    Doc thinks I'll be fine, just hope that it heals before 4th May.
  6. philglossop
    The world of Parking is changing. Currently Plymouth City Council works under the Road Traffic Act 1991- with Parking Attendants and Penalty Charge Notices.
    However from 31 March, it all changes with the Traffic Management Act 2004 coming in and all the legal wording changes. By the way, we have no option but to do this- its under orders of central government that we must do this.
    So everything has to be changed- all paperwork, rules, regulations have to be relearnt and rewritten. Parking Attendants will become Civil Enforcement Officers ( no we won't be reporting dog poopies). And we've only had 3 months to prepare for this.
    Actually we're doing really well, new PCN done, paperwork nearly ready to order, training organised (given we have 100 staff thats not easy to organise). Speaking to other councils, they haven't even started to think about this- and given that IF they don't do this, they cannot enforce come the 31 March parking could be in the news even more! For example, there is a council in the Midlands (same size as Plymouth) who rang me on Friday and asked what they had to do for the 31 March. When I told them what we've been doing for the last 3 months, you could hear the panic down the telephone. Espically when I warned them, that all the stationary had to approved by 6pm that same day (this was at 3pm!)
    Oh and feeling a tad shaky on the ciggies front today- but patch on and only doing the ironing and going for a jog later on.
  7. philglossop
    Day 7 - still no ciggies!!! :lol:
    Bit of a weird mix this blog.
    OK still no ciggies- no blips- bar Thursday night when I left work at 630pm instead of 4pm due to workload. No bus home- only the word "delay". So decided rather than run to Spar for "10 Richmond" and a lighter- I power walked home.
    Friday at work- manic ( darn Traffic Management Act 2004 changes on 31 March)- will explain on tomorrows blog!
    Today. Got new caravan. Again will explain tomorrow!
    But internet update.......... as a Eurovision Song Contest fan (well it goes with being gay!)- just go on to youtube or similar website and type in the following
    "Dustin the Turkey". His song is there as well. It's called Ireland Douze Points. See Picture below
    This is a puppet. With a rock song. Who will represent...................................
    Ireland. Now Terry Wogan will have to explain this one :lol: on the night!!!!
  8. philglossop
    Day 3
    No rows at work, only one before bed last night- when I lost my rag with Daz. And slept in the spare bed. Anyhoo
    Had a pointless course at work this morning on Equality. Now as a gay man I'm all for Equality but it's 2008 and I know things are soooo much better than they were in 1998. But the upshot of this course was to talk about life as if it was 1998 and not 2008? So I lost interest and looked at the duckpond by Plymouth Civic Centre and looked at Stan and Hilda (our 2 ducks) for 3 hrs with my puffer. Actually my puffer could have gone to places which puffers have never been before at certain points :lol: .....
    So back to the office and fired off a number of acid emails to idiot colleagues-who thought they could take the mickey.Well they did till now. My reward- a pint of cider after work. And NO fags.
    Oh and as a postscript for my Equality course loving tutor who loves dealing with Sexual Orientation? What did I have for dinner tonight?
    Faggots. Sorry, you can try to take the faggot out of the man (well you know the rest)
  9. philglossop
    No smoking day 2.
    Fine so far- actually really good.
    Monday in the Parking Unit is not a good day- phone goes none stop. The only blip I had was at 2.15 this afternoon with a "idiot" - I use the word for little eyes (get my meaning ) who wanted a permit for parking after getting a penalty charge notice. He had a go at me. BIGGGGG mistake. Mood turned blacker than the sky from a supercell from France. This was the conversation.
    "You want a beat message" -Me
    "Yeah- I can't get to your office. It's your fault mate" -him
    "Well I posted your permit- have you checked your neighbours (he lives in flat in a block)" -me
    "Nah can't be bothered" - me
    "Your car registration plate SIR" me
    Gives me car reg
    "Got a pen sir?" - me
    "Can't be bothered to get one" - him
    "Well I CAN'T BE BOTHERED TO GIVE YOU DISPENSATION..... S I R". -me (my team hiding at this point laughing! )
    " Your name mate" -him
    "Phil Durrant" - me
    "I'll report you and come and sort you out"- him
    "Thank you for calling" - me- drags out puffer and nicroette cartridge. I inhale deeply and think nice thoughts.
    And yes he came in to see us but my cashier calmed him down. Last week that would have been 2 fags and a cup of coffee. Today was a puffer, a bag of Dorittos(cold flavour) and some fizzy water!
    I feel a non smoker. Just! :lol:
  10. philglossop
    1st day of not smoking for us as well.
    So far, so ...........well ordinary. Done the ironing, watched Something for the Weekend, eaten a tin of mackeral, just going to have a cup of Bovril.
    Oh and an overwheling desire to kill other half. Mind u, he's in the corner gently rocking from shock (he was a much heavier smoker compared to me). Actually feel sorry for him.
    Going for a walk to take my mind off it later on today.
    520pm -a lovely long walk with the dogs on the River Plym throwing sticks into the water has done the trick so far. Not looking forward to work tomorrow. Will take and drink lots of water!!
  11. philglossop

    Interviewing

    By philglossop,

    We all feel nervous when we have a job interview. The thing is being on a panel of people doing the interviewing isn't much fun either.
    You have 10 set questions for a council job in Parking. Most are fairly standard- but you get the same responses time after time- hence you end up concentrating looking for the unique things the person says. So you come out having done the interviews feeling like you've gone 10 rounds with a boxer. And remember, the interviewee only goes through it once. Yesterday I had 5 people to see.
    Hence, the next time you go for an interview, remember, the interviewer will have to do the following.
    1) Concentrate harder than Lewis Hamilton on a Grand Prix for up to 8 hours.
    2) Miss any lunch, as interviews generally clash with a lunch break
    3) Think they've found the person only to be blown away by other person
    4) Try to remain fair at all times - even if by the end of the day, you've got a banging headache
    5) Will have taken enough Vicks to stop the cold they have getting worse by the minute.
    Therefore, I hate Interviewing. But telling a colleague they've been promoted after 3 years of hardslog is an excellent feeling . So it's not all bad.
  13. philglossop
    I am 34. Some friends have commented "you made it". One added "just"
    I got
    Various birthday cards on parking - including a parking attendant issuing a PCN to a Dalek (OK I work I'm the Senior Parking Officer for Plymouth City Council )
    Peter Kay Book
    Michael Palin Book
    Video I Pod (for the bus to work to play my TV clips) (Note I may work in parking but even I think £29 per month on the bus is stonking value for money compared to £4 per day :unsure: )
    Socks
    New tie (Red and Black - finally my Mum discovers fashion after dressing me in home knitted cast offs for the first 10 years of my life )
    2 pairs of work trousers. (Mum has good idea but thinks I'm a stick insect. At least they aren't home knitted. They will go back to the shop for "resizing" )
    1 free pint from my landlord (this is a 1st. Well since 25th December)
    I am now merry. Thanks to Lady P and Louby for the congrats
  14. philglossop

    34 tomorrow

    By philglossop,

    Tomorrow is my birthday.
    I will be 34.
    I asked Darren "How did I get to be 34?"
    He replied "You should have been drowned at birth!" :unsure:
    With some of the things I did in 20's maybe he's got a point.
    At least I'm off work tomorrow. Good ole Flexi
  17. philglossop

    The things you do

    By philglossop,

    It's been really busy at work today- lots going on,and I knew I was going to be late. So I rang home with a order to Darren
    "I want burger and chips for tea (comfort food) and I fancy a glass of wine (for glass read bottle)"
    The thing is it's January and 5 1/2 weeks since payday and still 1 week to go. Bless him the burger and chips not a problem (well we are all chavs on occasions ). But the wine. More tricky.
    So As I type this- thanks to the £2.67 found down the back of the sofa is a lovely glass of cider. Well wine would only lead to a hangover........ :unsure:
  18. philglossop
    Today I have spent the day producing 200+ resident parking only permits for residents of Plymouth.
    Following events in Southway- that seems and is totally pointless.
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7176369.stm
    My thoughts are with the parents of the girl killed today.

  20. philglossop
    Our main TV died on 15 December. Darren was so upset as he had bought it 9 years ago. It was his baby. 8P
    The TV we were given to get through till 31 January (pay day) also died today. It was so old it remembers ATV/Westward and Southern TV.
    So we went to Cash Converters and have a Sony 28" widescreen now for £71.00.
    I am starting a new TV fund. The 82" screen from the pub will do for a good film only. The bulbs are £150 each. In a pub fine, in our home No!!!!
    Will it snow. In Plymouth. No chance
    But fingers crossed
  21. philglossop

    New Year

    By philglossop,

    Well this is it, my last blog of 2007. Its been an awful year in parts and even with the civil partnership in July, 2007 is not a year I'll look back on with fondness.
    But it's New years eve, a nice bottle of Merlot (8.99 a bottle- gulp I'm more a bottle of house red at 2.99) and a bottle of shampoo for midnight. Yup, we can't even face a night out. So home, Graham Norton, Harry Hill, Nick Knowles ( ) and my husband ( )
    2008 - it's going to be great. I get that feeling!!!!
    HAPPY NEW YEAR NET WEATHER BLOGGERS!
  22. philglossop

    Wembury

    By philglossop,

    Some 5 miles from home and very close to where I grew up, is Wembury beach. It is owned by the National Trust and the perfect spot for dog walking in winter. Sadly you aren't allowed to take the dogs there in summer. But it was a lovely cloudy crisp December day. All my cousins in Sheffield and Chesterfield love this place- so if you've never heard of Wembury- here it is.
  23. philglossop
    Firstly we are not Chav's, but my Mum decided to put the chip pan on by mistake when cooking the veg yesterday. Hence it caught fire between the starter and the turkey.
    I did the normal manly thing. I took it outside screaming "fire". No damage, but a good story to go back to work with.
    "How was your Christmas?"
    "Fine bar the chip pan fire on Christmas Day................"
    I have threatened my mum and Dad with a care home as a result.
    My mum later claimed she didn't want bath salts but a new MFI kitchen!
  24. philglossop
    I will never go to Asda 2 days before Christmas every again.
    Unless it's for a bottle of Baileys or similar Irish Cream drink which makes you feel rather mellow after one glass.

    I have to work tomorrow. This could be interesting. I still have red wine!
    Christmas is looking goooooooooood
  25. philglossop

    A door closes

    By philglossop,

    Last night during a fab party at our pub, both Darren and myself made a big decision. We decided to close the pub down. It was a wedding present from our partnership in the summer.
    We have broken even- but the rent and cost of stock have hit hard. The smoking ban has hit harder. Since 1st July the 3 pubs in the area around us have closed, as they didn't have the courtyard like us. But with 2 weeks to Christmas,even the amount of customers have dropped below the "normal" level. Hence at 11pm talking to my oldest mate Rachel of 14 years I looked at her and said "don't lie to me, it isn't working is it?". She responded with a kiss and hug and said "No". Yes we could have borrowed to survive, but it that worth it? Debt and stress when it's quiet in January and February?
    So with pride hurt we walk away. As I played on the juke box last night the Walker Brothers song- No Regrets.
    Theres no regrets
    No tears goodbye
    I don't want you back
    We'd only cry.
    But as a door closes a new one will open- of that I'm certain.
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