Lights Off
Posted: Wed 9 July, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Driving, Own Business, Travel, Work-related | 4 Comments »Driving today was utterly horrible – particularly on the M11 – with heavy rain and spray for the entire duration, and visibility down to maybe thirty feet at some points.
What gobsmacks me in these conditions though – and I know I’ve mentioned it before – is that there are so many people who don’t put their lights on. Sure, they don’t need to be on full-beam, but even sidelights and rear lights add massively to your visibility.
Now, the car I drive is silver, and I know how silver cars just disappear into the spray, they become virtually invisible. So when the weather gets like it did today, I always put the lights on – it’s about being seen, not about seeing – but that logic has obviously avoided a lot of the drivers out there.
In fact, it seems to be primarily the drivers of white and silver cars that couldn’t be arsed to turn on their lights at all, let alone something that might mean they got seen at a decent range – you know, like foglights.
Personally, I suppose that I just don’t understand the mindset that means they allow their safety to be reliant on the observation and driving skills of other people on the road. But maybe that’s the control-freak side of my personality coming out again…
Distance Commuting
Posted: Tue 8 July, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Own Business, Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »I have to say, on the evidence of yesterday and today, that I’d made the right choice by staying in a hotel close to the office in Essex while I’m there, rather than doing the commute on a daily basis.
While the journey yesterday was ‘only’ 2 hours each way, that’s still four hours of driving in addition to the eight hours of working, which amounts to what is effectively a twelve-hour working day. It’s also meant that in spite of the journey being twenty minutes shorter on the way in today – a frankly gobsmacking 1hr 40 to do the 110 miles, an average speed of 65mph – I’m still utterly knackered. And I’ve still got to drive home.
Thankfully, tomorrow I’m not in the office, as I’m seeing another client about some work. It’s still a 60 mile (ish) drive, but I’m not seeing them ’til 10am, so that’ll be a dead easy run, and not having to start ’til two-ish hours later than the current run.
I know I couldn’t do this on a daily basis – I’d be dead within the week.
Off to Essex
Posted: Mon 7 July, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »So, another week starts, another two hour drive. (if I’m lucky)
And because there’s no rooms available for the first part of the week, I’m driving home again tonight as well. So that’ll be fun.
Hound Behaviour
Posted: Sat 5 July, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Animals, Domestic, Own Business, Travel, Work-related | 1 Comment »Apparently, Hound has been an utter pain for the last few days while I’ve been away. She really hasn’t handled the change in routine caused by me being away four nights during the week.
As it is, during the week she’s been anxious and stressy, and generally just a pain.
Today, with me home, she’s lying in the doorway of the office, fast asleep. One of her other primary stressors, the washing-machine, is on in the kitchen, and she’s still fast asleep – most uncommon.
It does seem that she’s relaxed because I’m home. Which is a good thing in general – although it does make life a hassle for Herself if I’m going to be working away from home a lot.
Hound truly is a bizarre creature…
Another week down
Posted: Sat 5 July, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »Today is the end of my second week working in Essex. So far, it’s been going pretty well, and I’ve managed to get two sites out in that time – no bad thing at all.
Next week’s looking like it might be more interesting, as there’s obviously some bug function or event going on here, and all the hotels are booked solid for at least the first half of the week. So I’m going to be commuting for the first couple of days. One hundred miles each way, so that’ll be a laugh.
Still, at least everything’s going ok, so we’ll just see how next week works out.
On the way home…
Posted: Fri 27 June, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Domestic, Travel, Work-related | 2 Comments »Well, that’s week one over and done with. It’s been pretty productive, and the clients are happy, so that’s all cool.
It’s also given me some thoughts and material for the company site, which are in the process of being written and published sometime over the next few days.
But I’m on my way home now, completed time-sheet in my little paws so that I’ll be getting paid next week – always a good thing. A weekend at home, and then back to Essex on Monday morning. Oh lucky me.
Still, it’s been a good productive week, and all’s well with the world.
Halfway Already
Posted: Wed 25 June, 2008 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Domestic, Own Business, Travel, Work-related | Leave a comment »Today is halfway through my first week in Basildon. It’s going well so far- although I can’t deny, I’m quite happy that I’m not anywhere near the town centre.
As it is, I’m right on the outskirts of the town, and that’s fine with me. There’s enough things nearby to keep me amused (including the cinema, although I haven’t been yet) so all told it’s not too bad.
Yes sure, I’d rather be home in Norfolk. But this is just what I have to do for a couple more weeks, then they look like being cool with me working primarily from home. No bad thing at all.
In the meantime though, don’t expect any incisive reviews of the place – I’m just here to work, and sightseeing in Basildon (even in the evenings) really doesn’t seem all that appealing.
It’s all going OK though. I’m even getting work done in the evening, so it’s not too bad at all. And it’s paying the bills.