This morning we got a community alarm set up in our house. It’s there for my dad seeing as I’m out every day due to work etc. Even though people keep an eye on him when I am working and out and about I still think this alarm is a good idea, peace of mind, also. Basically a small unit is set up in your home and you’re given a pendant to wear. If you have a fall or don’t feel well or need any emergency help you press the button on this pendant and you’re connected to an operator who you can talk to and then they can arrange appropriate help for you.

Haven’t heard anything on the job front yet, either. It’s getting ridiculous but my colleagues have told me to hang on in there, even if she does come back they don’t think she’ll stay.

My printer is driving me simple. I mean seriously. When I bought a Kodak ESP 5 a few weeks ago for £80, I thought I was getting a good bargain but it has turned into a huge disappointment and looks like it was a waste of money. First impressions were great. I managed to calibrate the printer. All ok. But then I try to print and the printer decides to throw a huge hissy fit. Everything is installed ok but it keeps saying the paper edge cannot be recognised and spits the paper back out. It’s the right paper, I’ve tried both photo paper and ‘regular’ normal paper but the printer is having none of it. If it’s not saying the paper edge cannot be recognised then it moans that the paper is jammed when it isn’t. Then it goes into a frenzy of ’sucking up’ the paper from the tray and destroying it as it flies back out.

It has successfully printed a few sheets of paper but 99% of the time I get bloody error messages and yesterday it drove me so crazy I switched it off, ran to my room and cried. I can’t say I was in a good emotional state yesterday anyway but this really did press all my wrong buttons.

I have contacted Kodak support but they have been as helpful as throwing a drowning man both ends of the same rope. Useless! I have made sure the paper is in the tray correctly. I have taken out the printerhead, all the ink etc and tried again. I replied to say I was still having trouble and they send me a message back saying “you claim that there is nothing wrong in the functionality of the All In One Printer and that is seen as a positive”. *sigh*

I haven’t touched the printer today. It just makes me so mad just thinking about it.

I know I said I’d post an update last night but I really didn’t feel like it, but I’ll write up a quick one now…

Family Life

Well I don’t know where to start, really. It would be my step-mums birthday today and I’m finding that alone hard to deal with. We were going to go to the cemetery today but we didn’t because the weather has been so appauling her grave is right up the top of the cemetery and my dad won’t be able to get there, so we’re hoping to go tomorrow. I come from from town this morning to see my dad with his head in his arms and his voice ‘hidden’ like he was going to cry. I asked him what was wrong, thinking it was to do with my stepmum’s birthday, but he said his ‘lady friend’ has asked him to marry him.

Oh yes, his lady friend. He told me not so long ago he is seeing someone else, and has been seeing her for 3 months, but neglected to tell me in worry of how I’d react. She is in her thirties and she is a nice girl but it did come as a shock and I am finding it hard to adjust to, not that I’m telling my dad that. I’ve given dad the impression I am perfectly fine with his relationship with her, but on the inside, I’m not as comfortable as I make out to be. It’s not so much the age difference, it’s the whole new relationship thing, I don’t know, maybe I sound selfish or something. Anyway to hear my dad say she wants to get married… it came as a shock. My dad hasn’t said yes or no, he said he’ll think it over. But today of all days! What a day to bring that up.

My mum hasn’t been in contact with me for a while. Did I mention she moved house and didn’t even tell me? I only found out via passing conversation with her boyfriend’s mum. We were just generally chatting (I see her at work quite a bit) and she said “… your mum sounds happy in her new house… ” …. wow, wow, woooow… hang on, she’s moved?? I’d have thought she’d have told me. So I contacted her and she said she has moved and gave me her address.

Callum and I are still going strong (and yes, I put him in family life because he is a part of my family!). We went to London last weekend to see some friends and we had a great time. We’ve been together almost 1 and half years now.

Work life

Errrrrrrrm…. well, my contract should have been up 8th August but I’m still working full time as the decision about the job share hasn’t come through yet from the ‘top bosses’ and I’m just taking it week by week now. The girl I’m covering for should have returned on the 11th but she doesn’t want to work full time so she’s been taking leave. It’s week by week. I should hear back next week (well, I should have head back last week…). My boss can’t do anymore, it’s the continuation of the waiting game! It doesn’t look good though, from what my boss has said about the council and fact that the girl I’m covering isn’t willing to cover me if I’m off on the sick or on leave… the council may well not accept the application for a job share, as it’s not 50-50. I hate being left haning like this, it’s really unfair.

Red Cross

Well I did a few shifts at the Eisteddfod last week and it went well… my fave was covering the concert in the Pavillion, it was a music concert and I met Cerys Matthews However, by the time Monday got here I was totally exhausted. The last week really caught up with me.

Sorry everyone for lack updates recently. I’ve been real busy and tired, amonst other things. I am going to work real soon (yes, I’m still in the job…), but when I come home later I’ll type up a real post. Bye for now!

I was up at 6am today, left the house at 7am to get to the Eisteddfod and yes, I had to drive all the way to the actual grounds. Siiiiiiigh. I hated doing that but it was actually really easy to find. Parking was alright, surprisingly. We got there at about 8am and had a coffee or two… or three… and hanged around until about 9:45 then we were allocated positions and radios etc. Red Cross with St. John’s, and I was partnered with someone from St. John’s. It was really cool.

It was also really good conversing with so many totally Welsh people. Everything was Welsh and everyone spoke Welsh, not many people from where I live speak Welsh so it was a lovely change of atmosphere. Here’s a link about what the Eisteddfod is if anyone is interested:
http://www.eisteddfod.org.uk/english…nt.php?nID=149

I left the grounds at 1:30, got home just gone two. Sat down for a bit and got ready for work then was in work for 3pm (dad pretty much kicked me out because his lady friend was visiting). Work was ok I guess.

So, I’m pretty tired tonight. I’m going to put a load in the wash, go to bed an set my alarm for 1am to get up and put the clothes in the dryer, then go back to sleep (or try to) until 7am, work at 8am - 3pm then I’m at the Eisteddfod tomorrow evening from 5:30pm - 11:30pm. I doubt I’ll be online again properly until Friday evening…

Ok well thinking about it, maybe it was totally ridiculous of me to put my name down to provide cover tomorrow and thursday. I will need to get up early tomorrow and looks like I’ll need to drive to a fellow volunteers house in Cardiff, leave my car there and we all jump into the ambulance and we go there in that one vehicle. I’m providing cover from 8am - 2pm then I’ve got work from 3pm - 10pm. Then, on Thursday, I’m working 8am - 3pm, then providing cover from 6pm - 11.30pm. It’s just, I really enjoy being with the Red Cross and this is a major event and being Welsh, also, I’d love to be a part of it somehow.

Anyway, I’ve just got back from ASDA, and now I’m watching House M.D. It’s pretty sad, isn’t it? I mean, I only need to watch the first 3 minutes of an episode to see who the characters are and the main ‘patient’ and I know what the storyline is and how it ends, because I’ve watched it so many times. I just love it.

Hey!! Yes… I’m still here. Sorry, just been really busy and all that. Well, I went to Callum’s this weekend for his Birthday. He turned 18. He’s a man now and has the legal right to go out and get drunk if he chooses to do that!

I’m still in my job. Kinda. Well, my contract ends on Friday but haven’t heard back about the job share yet… so, this time next week, I could be casual, temp or permanent.

Providing first aid at the Eisteddfod on Wednesday and Thursday. It’s one of the largest culture festival in Europe and it’s something huge in Wales and it’s estimated 160,000 people per day will be there. It’s held in Cardiff this year - literature, music and performed for 7 days and the British Red Cross and St. John’s are providing first aid cover, and we’ll be working together. It’s the biggest event the Red Cross has been a part of for a while.

Anyway I’m going to bed. Bubye for now!