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CLP

Good luck with the photoshoot. I have one myself next Wednesday afternoon which I am really looking forward to and then some!

And please get Book II Tour Dates up on tinterweb so that Nic and I can book the day off and come and see you.

I'll gladly sign your copy of the Togs calendar for you (December, I belive!) if you will once again grace your green pen across the pages of your second tome.

Don't forget to say Cheese!

Deevs
x

Hurrah!

MTF.xx

Doh!

Morning Deevs, may I join you in the bad back club.(bbc)

Ouch, ouch, ouch!

I think it might have something to do with GDs new uni accomm being on the 12th floor and the lift being 'out of order!'

MTF, also 'out of order!'

MTF

Hop aboard, but take it easy as hopping can have a jarring effect on the lower lumber region.

Am considering some acupuncture at this moment in time!

x

Hello CLP & Everyone.

Good luck with the photo shoot sitting CLP but I hope you haven't got a cigarette in your mouth. You'll be in a whole lot of trouble if you do this today, how times change.

Hope everyone's OK

MM x

Chris

Good luck with the photo shoot, hope you enjoy it.

csn. xx

Hiya

Am very ignorant so had to look up said pic or Sir Michael!

Ooo very moody and classic Chris, look forward to seeing the finished article!

Have discovered a new fact this week.

It IS possible to hang wallpaper without calling upon any female in the vicinity to admire every piece you stick to the wall and it is possible to hang more than 2 pieces without requiring said female to make you a suitable beverage!

Amazing!

Seza xx

PS R2 is playing Live and Let Die, the music those new dancers - esp that Russian - had on Saturday-'Scuse me for a mo................

Hey CLP - best smile and all that! Fromage, mange tout mange tout!

SEZA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yey! Postie just been - thank you so much, you are a wonderful friend. Water is on for a baff after DD filum - now I will smell bootyliscious as well as being clean! What a treat.

MTF - ouchy indeed, 12th floor, hope GD managed to get some sleep last night with the roar of traffic rather than the lull of the waves!

right off to watch filum - will report back with Tuesdays lunchtime trivia later!

debs
x

PS from last blog
Hello MM, 3 puddy tats now then!

and Deevs, more intriguing now - photo shoot????

dish it!

debs
x

Can't wait for the second intallment!!! Likewise some notice about book signings!! Sir Tel signed his tome in the Waterstones in Chesham.........hint hint that would be very handy for myself and super bagpuss xx x x x

Have a great day y'all x x

I am also in back pain club - slipped disc with a chronic low back pain. A couple of brufen & a hot bath in the morning gets me moving!! The orthpods wanted to operate but NO-ONE is going near my back ta muchly!!

Sympathies to Deeva and Debs x

Afternoon Mister C Dot Evans & ALL 'ere...

Bingo Star Also 'ere...

CLP - WHATTA COINCIDENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

'ow many times 'ave a said yer look like Micheal Caine ter me & 'ere yer are doing a shoot for The Times... And am not talking the Porsche Carrera Cup racing driver one... No... Am talking international movie star... Not many people know that!!!!!!

Know what you ask??... That there's a well known MC racing driver!!!!!!

And an even bigger coincidence (although this coincidence is written in lower case.. so smaller although mean't as bigger) that yerv gotta photo of Micheal Caine 'anging in yer 'ouse when ave often mentione don the blog a think yer look a bit similar ter 'im!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CLP.... All you write above.... a like it & a like very alot ;))

Bye!

In fact 'er is a photo of Micheal Caine with Bing by Bingo >>>>>

Soz wrong Micheal Caine.... Although CLP could look EXACTLY like this if 'e drove a pink Porsche!!!!!!

Chris,

Deevs has already mentioned her impending photos...can't say any more...very hush hush you know...
Also we are having some photos framed which were taken professionally last year - of me, my mum and my son...
Looking forward to the new book. Almost went to Brum for your signing last year but had to work over and didn't make it, though this time hopefully we will!

Nic

Good day everyone, very nice inbetween the showers today but boy are those showers heavy, it's actually bouncing off the ground and extremely noisy on the office roof.

Good luck with the photo shoot CLP, I hope that cigarette isn't lit.

Nic - I remember Deev telling us about her photos a while ago, sounds fab, I'm sure she'll love it (you too I would imagine).

Hope everyone is having a good day.

X

Gail.

Hiya

Debs, you're welcome! (she won't see that yet, she'll be splashing in the bubbles!)

Just seen a message from Ali B on t'other side to say she's arrived safe.

Seza xx

I saw that too Seza - fantastic news!

So, now ..... had a chat with the photographer earlier today. Basically between now and next Wednesday I have to look after myself, pamper myself, eat healthily and TRY not to bite my nails. That will be the real toughie!

What's the CLP "pre camera" diet again?!?!?!

;-)

Deevs
x

hiya

thanks for the hugs and thoughts everyone - its been really apprecaited.

Well its gone really badly and I'm pretty much in, or near to, tears all the time, and trust me i'm not that an emotional person so.......

I have decided to resign, without getting a new job, just so i can leave

I know thats a risky stragegy, esp in the current climate, but thast what savings are for and I hate being here with every inch of my body!

Wish me well please - and if you know anyone who needs an accountant pls let me know

Baggy x

{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{hugs baggy}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Baggy

I'm sorry that you have been forced into that choice, but I believe you will find something better, as someone of your talent deserves.

A

Baggy

Given your recent experiences at work, I can only applaud you for takign that course of action.

Have a wee bit of time out - even if it's only a week or two - and then get back in the saddle. A new job is just around the corner but you need to get your head sorted first, and put your current situ well behind you.

Take care, and look after yourself.

Deevs
x

Good luck Baggy, I know you don't normally do hugs but here's one anyway - {{{{Baggy}}}}

X

Gail

Baggy, I'm sure you have only given us a glimpse of how things have been for you at work and from that, we can see that you have given this your all and tried everything you can

Sometimes things just aren't right and this sounds like it is one of those times

See you soon

Seza xx

Good afternoon bloggers from a now sunny Manchester!
Baggy,
So sorry to hear about your situation. Being miserable at work is just not good, and certainly not considering the number of hours we have to put in there.
If you do accounts, have you thought of becoming self employed to do books for small businesses? The reason I say this is that a friend of mine was in a similar situation a couple of years ago, and she set up on her own and is now going great guns! Mind you, she does put in lots of hours and does a lot of evening work too. VAT time is always a nightmare for her - but that having been said she LOVES being her own boss. Just a thought :)
Hope everyone else is OK - bad backs and good ones!
Will try and pop back later!


Jox

Baggy, Big hugs to you, that's a very brave thing to do and I'm sure it will bring the right thing along for you. Take a break and recharge your batteries for awhile and go out and get the job that is worthy of you

Darce xx

Seza, ahh yes, I am very fragranced now! (wafting around the house)

Baggy, you have to do what you have to do in your life, if you have tried your hardest, taken a balanced view, have funds and personal support then you are doing the right thing.

Agree about just taking even a week of "me" time before you charge onwards and upwards tho.

Great news about AliB!

Now about absent friends, where is my evil twin??? Crumpy - you out there lovely???

debs
x

PS dont all rush to watch Love me or leave me - twas OK, based on a true story, but boy, did Doris Day have an awesome figure in the filum!

PPS

Anyone want a stroppy teenage girl for a week or so

she is like so doing my head in nthat!

argggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Clodagh - I'll swop with Renee anyday right now!

debs
x

Afternoon all,

Dear Baggy, I am so sorry to read you post. I would like to send you a real “BigUn” {{{hug}}} xxx

It is always sad when working relations come to this result and a sensible compromise cannot be reached. I would like to offer you this as food for thought. You are resigning due to impossible working conditions please consider getting some professional advice on the matter of “Constructive Dismissal”. I feel from reading your entries on here, which could even be used to help construct you case as accurate dates and times of events that have brought you to this horrible conclusion. If I were you I would not think of taking the action for the financial reward that may or may not come your way more to ensure that your employer gets the message that they cannot treat good people in this way and think that it is right to do so in 2010.

I applaud your bravery to resign and wish at times I had exhibited similar courage. Bless you xxx

Keep smiling all

Keith
xxx

Keith

That's a lovely message to Baggy, and thank you for your recent support and advice with my "situation". I am glad to say that my situ is resolved. Sort of!

x

thank you everyone xx

Baggy

I would agree with Keith in that there does appear to be strong evidence for constructive dismissal.

I've been in a similar position and also been to an employment tribunal. I found that this was helpful for me to explain to prospective employers the reason for leaving the last position.

Hope you also take Deev's advice about time for you, you need it after what you've been through.

A

Baggy

It is disappointing that in 2010 you have had no choice but to resign but I think that by making that decision you have shown that you are a truly strong person and better than those you have been working with and applaud your courage for choosing to take control. I send you the most almighty pat on the back and know that you will find that perfect job.

Sometimes you dont appreciate it when you are on to something good and the rest of us should really count our blessings that we are not having to go through what Baggy has.

Have a good evening everyone from a fellow lurker.

GBB

PS Baggy, want a hanky? :-)

That's what i'd need if I was feeling emotional and so many peeps were so nice to me!

Such a wealth of support and practical advice, good here innit!

Seza xx

Baggy

Big hugs to you, take care.

csn. xxxxxx

Baggy.

Don't forget 'as one door closes another one opens'. Things can only get better from now on .

It's not good healthwise to hang onto something which is not right.

MM xxx

Baggy, you have made a very brave and wise decision. Our working career takes up a large chunk of our lives, you deserve to have at least some sort of job satisfaction at the end. It sounds as though your employers have overloaded you with work and refused to support you when you tried to point this out. Trouble is, they will only realise how hard you tried once you've gone. Good luck with your job hunting and more importantly keep taking care of yourself. Keith has a very good point (#29), might be something you could pursue.

Mcw x

Evening each

Really looking forward to the new book Chris - Amazon here I come!!!

Baggy me dear - sounds like you've made the right decision, well done. And lots of good advice on here, specially Keith's. You might not feel able to do it right now, but bear it in mind.
Dozy: belated congrats on the bike ride and well done to Mr. D with only one pedal!!

Deevs: can't wait to see the photies

Debs: so glad you've had a bath at last.

Been bloomin' windy up here in Fife today.

xxxxx

Hi Annie, hope your feeling better now.

csn. xx

Evenink all

Tea prepped, ironing done so a bit of tinterweb time whilst the fella is round at his mini-me's.

Ahem ... Annie, I really don't think the photies will end up on Facecloth. They are more "for Nic's eyes only" if you get my errrrrrm drift! ;-)

Hump Day tomorrow - huzzah!!!!

Deevs
x

ps Seza, I know what you mean about hankies. I was a bit like that after the blog shennanigans of last week x x x

S'ok Deevs, I've got lots of hankies! Any time you need one!

Annie, I've just had to order CLP's book too. Sainsbugs couldn't use my card for my order so I had to do something to check that it still worked!

Seza xx

Am feeling much better CSN, although the cough is back.

Deevs: Right, gotchya!

Seza: I have to check my card with Amazon on a regular basis. Think I told you I was getting a Kindle as a present - can't wait and Chris's book will be the first one on it.

xxxxx

If you buy the book "elsewhere", can you still take it to a signing event for CLP to sign? Or do you have to buy it from the bookstore hosting the signing?

May hold fire until any signing dates are announced, then if none by CiN, buy it and take it to R2 as we did last year (where I totally embarassed myself by saying something really rood when meeting CLP for the first time - oops!)

Deevs
x

Haven't a scooby Deevs, but I'm sure Gill will know.

You? rood? Never.

xxx

Annie, she was, too, rood!!! I hearded her!

Deevs, S'ok this time you can be a calm, collected, sophisticated laydeee!!

Hope your arrangements for CiN include a personal visit from the man himself! ;-)

Seza xx

Really Seza? Spill the beans.

xx

Annie, she did say a rood word, just cos Mr CLP knew who she was!

She was all shocked, she was!

xx

LOL!!! I will NEVER forget that .....

Annie, basically, Chris came up to the phone room to say Hi to us 4 bloggers. He started with Baggy, had a chat, did real name then blog name, signed books etc. Then he progressed down to Seza (who was sat next to me). Again, blog name/real name etc, a bit of huggling, signing ... then it was my turn. I said something like "Hiya! I'm Cheryl th....." at which point CLP went something along the lines of "I know who you are ... Deevs!".

In total and utter shock, I then greeted Our Hero with the immortal words "Oh **** you know who I am" (began with effffff) to which he fell about larfing and said "of course I do baby!"

Yikes!!!

What a lovely chap he is tho!!

x

Ah bless Deevs - I'd have done exactly the same!

I was having a conversation about rude words with gorgeous little boys recently when the 8yr old leaned confidentially into my side and whispered 'Gran, I don't actually know what the fword means'. Well, thank god for that!!!!

xxxxx

Deevs
If you have the receipt from the store where the signing is it is acceptable, especially as places like Smiffs do bargain prices on release then change them regularly

{{{{{{Baggy}}}}}}

later chucks
Tiggs xxx

LOL Annie! I was raised in a pub (explains a lot actually!) and it had quite a young demographic, bikers etc. I can clearly remember asking my mum what the Fword meant, only to be told it's a bad word and I should never say it again ever never!!

Nic's little one makes me laugh. His definition of "rude" is anything to do with trumping, swearing, me and his dad sneaking a quick kiss when we think he's not looking. He's not yet equated "rude" to being rude to another person, bad manners, cheekiness etc. So if I ever say to him "don't be rude to people" he gets really confuddled!!

x

Cheers Tiggs!

Right, time to finish cooking tea and open the vin rouge for The Master Of The House!

;-)

See you all in the morning.

Deevs
x

Deevs, enjoy your tea

Hi Tiggs, haven't seen you for ages

Seza xx

Hi all, finally got here...my family have gone into overload with phone calls and offers to visit, which is absolutely lovely, but am now not sure if I'm coming or going!!

Or to be honest, who is going where when, and who is coming here...just hope I haven't got my Mum, and her ex here at the same time...LOL!

{{{Baggy}}} I think you're doing the right thing, and definately think that Keith's advice is excellent...! I will listen out, still have some contacts down your woods!

Well, I'm heading off to that tweety thing/±«Óătv sport website, as that's the only way I'll find out how the Mighty Spurs are doing...

JG x

Now I feel physically sick...Poor Valencia...!!!

JG x

Evening all! greetings from a wet and windy cornwall! quite a bit of horizontal rain here tonight!! was almost tempted to light the fire, but not quite!

enjoying last night of peace and quiet - Mr CG has been on a course since Sunday night so once the kids are in bed its just me! a friend of mine hates it when her husband is away, but I quite enjoy some time to myself! Is that weird of me?

Baggy - I can only agree with what the others have been saying - I know we all need to earn some money to live on, but frankly any job that makes you unhappy like that is never worth it. Definitely do what Keith has suggested about some advice on constructive dismissal - some solicitors offer a free initial interview just for a preliminary chat.

All the talk of rude words reminds me of the story of the little boy who went on a school trip to a farm. When he got home he was telling his mum what they'd seen "we saw ducks, sheep, pigs, chickens - and f-ers." his mum was a bit shocked and asked what he was talking about! he said "well the lady called them heifers but I knew what she meant!!" (you might have to say it out loud!!)


love CG xx

lol CG - love the little boy's farm trip!

JG, phew, sounds like you need one of those booking diarys!

Seza xx

Seza, they are over-powering me with kindness, which is lovely!! But if I have one more offer for the w/e Mr JG is in NYC...

Actually, am thinking of playing them all of against themselves, and spending the long w/e with just me and that stoopid dog!

But that would be mean!

JG x

oh no, JG, like I said earlier, there's something nice about a few days to yourself!!

CG xx

CG, I have 8.5 days hol to use up by the end of the year, and no-one wants to go anywhere with me, so trying to use it up with folks coming here, but getting complicated now!

Am trying to do long weekends, so I don't have the increasingly awful journey to do, and will have to go to bed earlier! Having said that, I am covering the phones until at least 5pm tomorrow, so will have a 25 min queue for the toll bridge to get home...Grrr!!

JG x

oh i SEE! can understand now how it is confusing!! think maybe Seza is right re date book!!

hope tomorrow's not too hideous!!

cup of tea anyone?

CG x

JG Wish I had that much leave left. I have managed to use almost all mine up. I think I need to work it out better with Mr Seza - he still has lots he need to use up!

Better planning needed I think!

Night All

Sweet Dreams

Seza xx

Night everyone

Sleep well.

csn. xx

Thank you everyone for your kind words - so today is the day i resign from one job without having a plan b - wish me luck!

xx

Morning All,

Chris - that is a very cool photo and knowing your love of Michael Caine - must be quite a big day for you.
Look forward to seeing the results.
Can you let us know about the book signings asap, as ideally, I would like to get to one a little closer to home than Glasgow this time. Not that it wasn't worth visiting Glasgow as I got to meet Chrissie, Mary and Dreamy....

Baggy - I don't have any advice but would ask that you get another job in London so that I can make up for the lack of breakfasts lately.
I have to agree with everything that has been said above and would add that if we needed anyone, you'd be first on the list.
You will be an asset for any company that expects a sensible amount of work to be completed by one person and you are (as I have said before) extremely employable.
Good luck with the job hunt - I'll keep my ears open x

Rips

x

Dear Baggy,
We have never met - I only feel that I want to join in the rest by saying good luck, particularly today. I hope they realise what (or should I say who) they are losing! Their loss, your gain as I am sure something else will be just arouind the corner.
To everyone else good morning from an extremely blowy Manchester!
Catch up later,

Jo x

Thanks Rips and Joran, the support has been amazing!

Morning troops

Tired Deevski reporting for duty. Why did I wake up at 4.10 am and then not go back to sleep? What was THAT all about!?!?

Baggles, good luck sweetheart. As ever, you know where I am if you fancy a gab.

My boss has just arrived in the office and I'm thinking it's a hard hat day today. Glad I'm actually doing the extra cover on reception as it keeps me out of her way!

Right. Is it home time yet!?

Deevs
x

Morning all. Baggy, hats off to you for making this decision. Be happy that you've done the right thing and make sure you leave the building with your head up, a smile on your face and a toss of the hair over the shoulder. Who knows what's around the corner for you - exciting times! As I said on here before, I had a complete career change in my thirties and it was scary, challenging and the best fun I'd ever had.

See y'all later.

Love Barmy xx

Morning darling bloggers!

Just checked smiffs and w@terstones and no news of signing dates for our esteemed CLP yet, as I'm still confined to sofa I will take on the responsibility of "signing monitor" if you like and keep my internet eyes peeled

So today is day 3 of the MGM filum at lunchtime extraviganza - today it is The Band Wagon, I will report back!

Baggy and Deevs - good luck at work today for different reasons!

back in a bit
debs
x

PS - the book - Memoirs of a Fruitcake is released on 14th October - so if CLP is doing signings it will be in the weeks that follow - I would expect!

debs
x

I don't want to put the dampners on the book signings, but I seem to recall CLP putting on Twitter a few months ago that he wouldn't be doing a tour this time around :(

Baggy, good luck today hun, and whatever you do, take a bit of time out first!

Joran, yes it is a bit blustery isn't it...loads of twigs and small branches lying around in inconvenient places this morning (i.e. the middle of the road!)

Hope everyone has a good Wednesday.

JG x