Right - so whats the plan!
Well, I have, in my infinate wisdom, decided that I am going to become a Professional Organ Player.
Yup.
A Professional Organ Player.
So Im going to change the direction of this blog now - and it will be a record of my attempt to break into what is a very hard, and quite bitchy, world.
Where are we at this stage? Well, I've got the organ (which is a big bit) and I've got the best possible teacher, Brett Willis, that I could possibly hope for.
Over the next year, I will update you on how my lessons are going, and how touring with Brett Willis is as well.
The next festival is the 13-15th Feb, which will be the first festival I have attended.
Wish Me luck .
Me thinks Im going to need it.
Best of British
Iain.
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
Saturday, 3 January 2009
Retirement is a long way off...............thankfully!
Today my yearly pension statement came through the post.
Its not good news. I am thank full that I am not close to retirement as my pension is now worth nearly an /8th of what it was this time last year.
And the main reason? A good third of the equity is held in overseas property. American property.
Great.
Thanks Mr Bush!
Best of British..........
Iain.
Its not good news. I am thank full that I am not close to retirement as my pension is now worth nearly an /8th of what it was this time last year.
And the main reason? A good third of the equity is held in overseas property. American property.
Great.
Thanks Mr Bush!
Best of British..........
Iain.
Friday, 2 January 2009
The Landlord returneth
Wow.
Its been a while.
Nigh on 8 months as it happens.
And what an 8 months its been. Where to start.....???
Well In a nutshell the last 8 months consisted of :
1) A promotion and move to Bournemouth to take over flagship pub within company (nice ;-) )
2) A nice pay rise
3) Organ Lessons begin with Mr.Willis (top pro organist in the country)
4) Wife says she's having affair with delivery driver.
5) Wife leaves for delivery driver.
6) I take time off work to consider my next move.
7) Wife comes home.
8) Wife leaves
9) Wife comes home
10) Wife leaves. Again.
11) I am suspended from work as money has gone missing in my absence
12) I am given Final Written warning and made to pay back nearly 2K
13) I am moved to a small pub so I can rebuild my confidence, Good idea!
14) Wife comes home again!
15) Wife leaves again.
16) 9K stolen from pub.
17) Im accused of steeling 9K from pub. Am Suspended. Again.
18) Am proven to have not taken money.
19) I quit job.
20) I move in with mother after 8 years.
21) I have no job.
22) I fall for a new lady friend.
23) New lady friend is with someone else.
24) Bugger
Oh, and I had bugger all to open on christmas day.
Still - It cant get much worse............
Best of British
Iain.
Its been a while.
Nigh on 8 months as it happens.
And what an 8 months its been. Where to start.....???
Well In a nutshell the last 8 months consisted of :
1) A promotion and move to Bournemouth to take over flagship pub within company (nice ;-) )
2) A nice pay rise
3) Organ Lessons begin with Mr.Willis (top pro organist in the country)
4) Wife says she's having affair with delivery driver.
5) Wife leaves for delivery driver.
6) I take time off work to consider my next move.
7) Wife comes home.
8) Wife leaves
9) Wife comes home
10) Wife leaves. Again.
11) I am suspended from work as money has gone missing in my absence
12) I am given Final Written warning and made to pay back nearly 2K
13) I am moved to a small pub so I can rebuild my confidence, Good idea!
14) Wife comes home again!
15) Wife leaves again.
16) 9K stolen from pub.
17) Im accused of steeling 9K from pub. Am Suspended. Again.
18) Am proven to have not taken money.
19) I quit job.
20) I move in with mother after 8 years.
21) I have no job.
22) I fall for a new lady friend.
23) New lady friend is with someone else.
24) Bugger
Oh, and I had bugger all to open on christmas day.
Still - It cant get much worse............
Best of British
Iain.
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Do people do it on purpose, or are they just utterly selfish?
We were offered a new pub some weeks ago. A move date was settled at the start of period 10, which was some two or three weeks ago.
We have been delayed, however, due to the complication that this particular business is a lock up site, and therefore has no internal accommodation. The 3 bedroom apartment, which is very contemporary and has magnificent sea views, does not allow pets, so that rules that out.
We were given a budget over a maximum of £1000 pm, and orf we trotted to find an abode. However, finding a 3 bedroom house (unfurnished) with a garden that allows dogs is quite a challenge. In fact, its near damn impossible in Bournemouth, where the majority of buildings are either hotels, B&B or student digs and apartment flats. To add to this, the pub has no parking, and it is extortionate to pay for parking down by the front, so the house needed to be within walking/cycling distance.
So, all in all, it was all adding up to be a bit of a ball ache.
But, as luck would have it, a house that met all our requirements (bar one : distance) would appear on the lettings market. A beautiful new build, detached with a big kitchen and a nice sized garden, and in a very nice upmarket area. And to help, fifty quid under budget. The agency told us that the property could be available straight away, as the landlords had other properties that they can move to.
Excellent. So, whats the next step, methinks? I rang my boss, who gave me a name of a lady who would sort all this out. We should be in a week.
Or so we thought.....
Lets make this easier:
Week 1 - Offered pub. I accept. Take over in 6 weeks.
Week 2 - Start looking for accommodation. Takes bloody ages.
Week 3 - Still looking.
Week 4 - Find House. Agency informs us that other people are interested, so we need to get £200 holding fee on asap. Ring my boss, and he gives me number for a woman ( who will be known for this story as Jane) who deals with this sort of thing. She in turn, gives me an email address to write to. This I duly do, and sit back and wait. Two days later, the letting agency inform me that no-one has been in contact, and if they don't receive the holding fee by the end of play that day, they will go with some one else. So, I ring Jane who gives me the direct number to the company that deal with all the lettings for the pub co I work for.
I ring the woman, only to be told that she is no longer on my account, and that a new woman ( Freda) would help me, and could I explain ever thing to her.
*getting a little impatient now*
Week 5 - Holding fee is paid and paperwork is going through.
Week 6 - Should be moving in this weekend, however, no-one has been in contact.
Week 7 - Ring letting agency. They explain that they can not get hold of Freda. I ring Freda, and am told she is off sick and that she has not left any information about our account.
*getting a little more impatient*
End off week 7 - Freda returns ! Huzzah! Speak to her, and she tells me that she can not get hold of anyone at the letting agency. *sigh* Ring letting agency. They tell me that they can not get hold of Freda. *bigger sigh* (at this point I'm getting dizzy from the big circles I'm going round in)
They finally sort out their Com's probs and all paperwork is complete. We pack almost everything into boxes.
Week 8 (current week) - Letting agency inform me that the move will be a week later (already 2 weeks late now, despite the property being advertised as ready asap) as the landlord can not move out just yet.
End of week 8 - receive email from letting agency. - Dear Ben, the landlady now is stating she can not let the property completely unfurnished. She needs to leave all the wardrobes, Chester drawers and dining room set behind. Is that okay?
So after 8 weeks of being offered a new pub, three weeks of house hunting and two weeks after we are meant to have moved, we are still stuck where we are and still have no move date.
And to add insult to injury, we are living out of boxes.
*sigh - sob - sigh*
Best of British
Iain.
We have been delayed, however, due to the complication that this particular business is a lock up site, and therefore has no internal accommodation. The 3 bedroom apartment, which is very contemporary and has magnificent sea views, does not allow pets, so that rules that out.
We were given a budget over a maximum of £1000 pm, and orf we trotted to find an abode. However, finding a 3 bedroom house (unfurnished) with a garden that allows dogs is quite a challenge. In fact, its near damn impossible in Bournemouth, where the majority of buildings are either hotels, B&B or student digs and apartment flats. To add to this, the pub has no parking, and it is extortionate to pay for parking down by the front, so the house needed to be within walking/cycling distance.
So, all in all, it was all adding up to be a bit of a ball ache.
But, as luck would have it, a house that met all our requirements (bar one : distance) would appear on the lettings market. A beautiful new build, detached with a big kitchen and a nice sized garden, and in a very nice upmarket area. And to help, fifty quid under budget. The agency told us that the property could be available straight away, as the landlords had other properties that they can move to.
Excellent. So, whats the next step, methinks? I rang my boss, who gave me a name of a lady who would sort all this out. We should be in a week.
Or so we thought.....
Lets make this easier:
Week 1 - Offered pub. I accept. Take over in 6 weeks.
Week 2 - Start looking for accommodation. Takes bloody ages.
Week 3 - Still looking.
Week 4 - Find House. Agency informs us that other people are interested, so we need to get £200 holding fee on asap. Ring my boss, and he gives me number for a woman ( who will be known for this story as Jane) who deals with this sort of thing. She in turn, gives me an email address to write to. This I duly do, and sit back and wait. Two days later, the letting agency inform me that no-one has been in contact, and if they don't receive the holding fee by the end of play that day, they will go with some one else. So, I ring Jane who gives me the direct number to the company that deal with all the lettings for the pub co I work for.
I ring the woman, only to be told that she is no longer on my account, and that a new woman ( Freda) would help me, and could I explain ever thing to her.
*getting a little impatient now*
Week 5 - Holding fee is paid and paperwork is going through.
Week 6 - Should be moving in this weekend, however, no-one has been in contact.
Week 7 - Ring letting agency. They explain that they can not get hold of Freda. I ring Freda, and am told she is off sick and that she has not left any information about our account.
*getting a little more impatient*
End off week 7 - Freda returns ! Huzzah! Speak to her, and she tells me that she can not get hold of anyone at the letting agency. *sigh* Ring letting agency. They tell me that they can not get hold of Freda. *bigger sigh* (at this point I'm getting dizzy from the big circles I'm going round in)
They finally sort out their Com's probs and all paperwork is complete. We pack almost everything into boxes.
Week 8 (current week) - Letting agency inform me that the move will be a week later (already 2 weeks late now, despite the property being advertised as ready asap) as the landlord can not move out just yet.
End of week 8 - receive email from letting agency. - Dear Ben, the landlady now is stating she can not let the property completely unfurnished. She needs to leave all the wardrobes, Chester drawers and dining room set behind. Is that okay?
So after 8 weeks of being offered a new pub, three weeks of house hunting and two weeks after we are meant to have moved, we are still stuck where we are and still have no move date.
And to add insult to injury, we are living out of boxes.
*sigh - sob - sigh*
Best of British
Iain.
Sunday, 20 April 2008
On this day today.....
April the 20th is a day steeped in history.
For example, today in 1945 at the fuehrerbunker, Adolf Hitler made his last trip to the surface to award the old Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler youth.
Also, in 1972, Apollo 16 landed on the moon. On this day in 1653, Oliver Cromwell dissolved Rump Parliament, and replaced it with Sirloin.*
In 1871, the Civil Rights act was passed, and in 1968, Enoch Powell made a speech that would ruin his political career.
Allow me to go further ; Adolf Hitler was born today in 1889, as was Andy Serkis (1964) and Carmen Electra (1972)
Sadly, on this day, the world mourned as, amongst others, Bram Stoker (1912), Don Siegel (1991) and Michael Fu Tieshan (a Chinese bishop, apparently) headed off to the big shop in the sky.
It is the 111th day of the year (normally 11o, but its a leap year) and 255 days left until 2009.
But all this aside, today will be remembered and marked in History for all time for one reason.
One reason and one reason only. A reason to be shouted from the roof tops, preached in the churches and depicted in films and maybe a musical, as long as isn't written by Lord Webber.
For today, on this Sunday, is the day that after months of searching, days of turmoil, and hours of sweat and tears, I finally found the sky remote.
It was under the sofa.
Best of British
Iain.
*Authors note: This is not true. It is just a really shite joke. I apologise for the level that this blog seems to be lowering to.
For example, today in 1945 at the fuehrerbunker, Adolf Hitler made his last trip to the surface to award the old Iron Crosses to boy soldiers of the Hitler youth.
Also, in 1972, Apollo 16 landed on the moon. On this day in 1653, Oliver Cromwell dissolved Rump Parliament, and replaced it with Sirloin.*
In 1871, the Civil Rights act was passed, and in 1968, Enoch Powell made a speech that would ruin his political career.
Allow me to go further ; Adolf Hitler was born today in 1889, as was Andy Serkis (1964) and Carmen Electra (1972)
Sadly, on this day, the world mourned as, amongst others, Bram Stoker (1912), Don Siegel (1991) and Michael Fu Tieshan (a Chinese bishop, apparently) headed off to the big shop in the sky.
It is the 111th day of the year (normally 11o, but its a leap year) and 255 days left until 2009.
But all this aside, today will be remembered and marked in History for all time for one reason.
One reason and one reason only. A reason to be shouted from the roof tops, preached in the churches and depicted in films and maybe a musical, as long as isn't written by Lord Webber.
For today, on this Sunday, is the day that after months of searching, days of turmoil, and hours of sweat and tears, I finally found the sky remote.
It was under the sofa.
Best of British
Iain.
*Authors note: This is not true. It is just a really shite joke. I apologise for the level that this blog seems to be lowering to.
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Kitchen Nightmares
Today I have spent most of the morning cooking and baking.
Its a little thing in life that I enjoy doing, and am often found behind a stove conjuring up something or another.
Some things work - others do not, and the latter is where I found myself today.
Painstakingly bent over a recipe book by a well known, former 3 star Michelin chef, following each instruction and ingredient to the hilt resulted in a chocolate tart that looked superb.
Unfortunately, it didn't taste superb - it tasted pretty awful to be honest.
So, after 4 hours, I enjoyed the process, but was rather disappointed with the result.
And now I've got to do all the washing up but with no tart to help me on the way.
No change there then.
Best of British.
Iain.
Its a little thing in life that I enjoy doing, and am often found behind a stove conjuring up something or another.
Some things work - others do not, and the latter is where I found myself today.
Painstakingly bent over a recipe book by a well known, former 3 star Michelin chef, following each instruction and ingredient to the hilt resulted in a chocolate tart that looked superb.
Unfortunately, it didn't taste superb - it tasted pretty awful to be honest.
So, after 4 hours, I enjoyed the process, but was rather disappointed with the result.
And now I've got to do all the washing up but with no tart to help me on the way.
No change there then.
Best of British.
Iain.
Friday, 18 April 2008
Who would want to be me?
Well, someone does apparently. Normally, one would be quite chuffed about this, but in this case its a bit of and arse. Well, a large one actually.
I have been the victim of a crime commonly known as "identity fraud".
As I was trying to pay various bills today, my card was declined time and time again, which was odd seeing as I knew the money was in the account, seeing as I had only been paid the day before.
I rang my bank and spoke to a nice young lady who asked me various security questions.
Then the biggy : Can you tell me if you have been abroad in the last month?
Me: Er, No.
Bank: Ah. Please hold.
I did indeed "hold" (for 20 minutes in fact) and was eventually put through to Lisbon!
Anyway, long story short, some guy in Malaysia has gotten hold of my card number and has been helping himself to withdrawals.
Bugger.
Luckily, the sum that has been taken before we could stop it is only been 200 quid, so it could have been worse. But its still a ball ache, cause now I have to find alternative means to pay bills.
Still, worse things happen at sea. Apparently.
Best of British
Iain.
I have been the victim of a crime commonly known as "identity fraud".
As I was trying to pay various bills today, my card was declined time and time again, which was odd seeing as I knew the money was in the account, seeing as I had only been paid the day before.
I rang my bank and spoke to a nice young lady who asked me various security questions.
Then the biggy : Can you tell me if you have been abroad in the last month?
Me: Er, No.
Bank: Ah. Please hold.
I did indeed "hold" (for 20 minutes in fact) and was eventually put through to Lisbon!
Anyway, long story short, some guy in Malaysia has gotten hold of my card number and has been helping himself to withdrawals.
Bugger.
Luckily, the sum that has been taken before we could stop it is only been 200 quid, so it could have been worse. But its still a ball ache, cause now I have to find alternative means to pay bills.
Still, worse things happen at sea. Apparently.
Best of British
Iain.
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