Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in hopkinssj2000's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, December 6th, 2009
8:29 am	weekend Fairly boring weekend. Went shopping Sat morning and got back for 12 as expecting Brendan, a mate from work, to come up and do some filling/sanding/painting for me. Watched scorpion king 2 while waiting, Brendan was later than expected due to a mishap on previous job, but got there and finished Saturdays tasks by 6pm. Was just about to phone up to see if people in Cardiff were up for games when I remembered Gwyn was coming over to sort out stag stuff so stayed in and watched the Big Bang theory until he turned up. Except he didn't turn up which was odd, so hoping nothing bad has happened and it was just me getting confused. Today Brendan is carrying on sorting out decorating so I will be in bathing the dogs and sorting out Christmas presents until its time for me to go to panto rehearsals. Then its off to Caerphilly to sort out Carls stag do! Just looked at weekends and confirmed I have no free weekends now until 27th February! (Comment on this)
Monday, November 30th, 2009
7:25 am	Mammoth task list Another weeks starts and with it more things to do it seems. Have finally managed to get the wallpaper off the living room which is good - one wall was incredibly awkward. The whole thing took about 6 hours, but I just seemed doomed to be distubed everytime I tried to start it. I have mostly been able to complete my other tasks too, including sorting out annual gas safety certificate, boiler check etc on house in Trevethin which British gas made incredibly awkward. Tuesday brings the start of advent which is both exciting and scary as I have not done anywhere near enough to get ready for Christmas. (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 26th, 2009
8:16 pm	Taking a break Phew taking a break from taking off wallpaper from walls. Its a lot easier with a steamer, but still not easy enough damnit! Stupid busy life is getting in way of movie watching as well - I now have 3 films gathering dust that I would like to watch so I can send them back off and get another 3. Meh, its not really that much of an issue to be honest. So close to Christmas now, trying to work out when I will be able to do some Christmas shopping???? I had done it all but cos of so many birthdays since first bout of shopping I am nearly back to where I started! (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 22nd, 2009
8:24 pm	Weekend Pretty cool weekend - went to Cheltenham for board games and fun with Dave and Liz who had also invited Alex, Abby, Nigel and Mark. It was awesome to see them all again as I haven't seen them for a while, so hoping to see them for board games soon after Christmas again. Went out at the Pigs on Friday night which wasn't my first choice of things to do, but it was fun and a nice change to go out. Liz cooked fajitas Sat evening which were really good, although I suspect a lot of the rice got thrown out. I was pretty gutted as I quite liked the rice and was looking forward to some more for supper, but I think Liz was a bit embarrassed about it and wanted to get rid of it asap as it didn't turn out as she wanted. Looks like a busy time until Christmas now though - need to do more Christmas shopping, as well as making sure I leave time for work parties, choir rehearsals, panto rehearsals, Cthulhu, etc etc. Still, I love having lots of things to do so thats all fine. I am also thinking of buying myself some more board games - I have a few in mind but would love suggestions if anyone has any ideas? (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, November 19th, 2009
9:19 pm	Stuff Feeling really good about things at the moment. Work is hard and stressful but I enjoy being good at it and feel like I have accomplished something most days. Life outside work is a bit strange but fairly upbeat in most areas. Grandson is awesome, Julie seems happy more often, both of my brothers are happy and appear to be in healthy relationships. Everbody in my family appears to be in good health. Things are comfortable enough money wise that I am able to enjoy treating people to stuff fairly regularly. Also loads of friends seem at a very happy point of their lives, several of them getting married, so I am looking forward to approx 4 weddings next year so far, with the possibility of more. My thoughts are with the few people I know who are not so happy at the moment - I hope that Christmas and New year will bring good news and better times for them. At the very least if they can't celebrate the current year, my best Christmas present and New Years wish is that the following year gives them the fortune they deserve. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, November 16th, 2009
7:45 pm	Trying to get hold of... Hi if anyone happens to communicate with Stu Heading and Dave Jones (in Australia) could you mention I am trying to get in contact (not very successfully). I have just messaged Stu over facebook which I guess is the easiest way, although I don't appear to have Dave on my friends list - is he on facebook? (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, October 26th, 2009
10:07 am	It seems like I should have a fairly fun packed time on the run up to Christmas - I don't think I have many free weekends which is cool. However at the moment I am in Pembroke Dock a little bored to be honest - brought 7 movies with me and have watched them all! Nice to have some relaxation forced on me though I guess. And going to Dragon alley today so should see some interesting stuff. (Comment on this)
Friday, October 23rd, 2009
6:39 pm	Phew, pretty long week for me. No huge problems, just constant effort required! Lot of work on again at the moment as the guy we had just trained up has left for the RAF. We took someone else on as a temp on Tuesday and then I had to fire him Wednesday as he was struggling too much and was going to have real problems with the job as it got harder. That was pretty harsh and was an experience I hope I don't have to repeat too often! I am only taking 2 days holiday next week instead of the whole week due to the situation we are in - work can get along without me but unfortunately there are quite a few people away at the moment so it would be tough going for them, so decided to take the hols at a better time for the company. On the plus side we took on a guy today who seems to be really good and is likely to stay from the sound of things. Going this evening to Pembroke Dock with the wife and dogs for a few days and maybe some Christmas shopping. Cthulhu was also pretty cool despite having to create my 5th character for the campaign! I think its a good thing my characters die though - it shows I am getting involved and getting the most out of my roleplay time. Or that I am an idiot..... Anyway, see yas all soon! (Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009
7:45 pm	Is it really only Tuesday? (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 13th, 2009
7:18 am	Job *furiously backpedals* Ok after handing in my notice Monday, ended up in a meeting with each director and left work with an envelope of new salary and job prospect. After discussing it with Julie I decided to stay where I am - wasn't the outcome I was planning but actually fairly pleased about how it turned out. Definitely enjoy working where I am and no longer have the danger of somewhere new. Hope this doesn't all go horribly wrong!! (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, October 10th, 2009
6:18 pm	So I have taken a career plunge. I have accepted a contract for a new job, higher pay, better hours, slightly worse holidays, and sort of less responsibility. It should only be good for my career with experience of a different company, plus its felt like I am unlikely to get a decent salary rise at any point soon with my current one to reflect the extra work / responsibility I have had recently. All the same, I am not looking forward to handing in my notice tomorrow, I think there is a fair chance of some biting remarks from directors and colleagues for 'jumping ship'. Also I feel bad because they have been very supportive every way except financially over the last couple of years. Hopefully though, because of the way the print industry works, there is a good chance they will pay me my notice period but not make me work it, so it should be a fast sharp shock and over pretty quickly. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, September 27th, 2009
9:05 am	Today.. So plan today is babysitting Thomas this morning, then panto rehearsals this afternoon. After rehearsals we are cooking a meal for Carl and Denise. This means no games for me (boo, sorry guys), but it does mean I get to spend a bit of time with Carl and Denise whom I haven't seen much of lately so that will be good. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Saturday, September 19th, 2009
3:03 pm	Bored Pretty fed up right now. Foolishly decided to not go to Cardiff and play games, instead thinking I would be spending some time with Julie. Have spent most of the day so far just staring at the computer screen. Have to look after the Grandson later which will be cool, so couldn't come down for the whole day anyway, but probably could have got in a good few hours Grrrr (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
8:39 pm	11 to 12 hour working days are hard work. I am feeling very sorry for my poor doggies being left on their own and not getting walkies - I feel like a very bad pet owner at the moment. But too tired to do anything about it. Frankly its just as well there was no Cthulhu tonight - got home just before 8pm, and have pretty much just rushed around getting myself some food, putting bins out, and generally cleaning so the house isn't too bad for Julie coming back tomorrow. On the plus side I am hoping things may start getting a little better - we may be taking on an extra person for internal sales at work, who should make my work load a little lighter once they are trained. It does mean however that I for the moment have more work to do organising getting CV's from applicants and organising interviews. Then I will have more work to do for a while as they will require time training. But eventually it will work out for the best!! (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, August 16th, 2009
8:49 am	Pretty cool game of shadowrun yesterday - who would have thought grenades are both big and clever. Running drones appears to be a bit broken - I am assuming they are really good because of the cost outlay. Enjoying the juxtapose of a ghoul runner as well, it cost me character points and has really only given me downsides, but its pretty cool. (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm	So the end of my holiday is fast approaching. Its been pretty awesome, spent last weekend in Swansea, then on the Sunday went back with Mark and Janet to theirs in York. Spent a few days chilling and playing board games, watching some DVD's and have just come back by train today. Back to work on Monday, and basically hoping things are not too disastrous there!! (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 1st, 2009
12:06 pm	Yaay for holidays. I have 2 weeks off work which is very very much deserved - overtime is killing me, particularly my eyes on the computer all the time! So plan is to go to work for an hour tomorrow just to complete a couple of tenders and tidy my desk so no phone calls are needed! Then away to Pembroke with the wife for a week. I have also arranged some time in York with Mark and Janet which will be awesome. Also trying to think of some ideas for Julie and I to treat ourselves with for our anniversary - suggestions welcome. I am thinking along the lines of a day doing something together, or something nice for the house that we will BOTH enjoy. Both ideas are going to be problematic in terms of finding something we both want though. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009
7:30 pm	So my life at the moment... Pretty tiring really. In many ways I consider myself very lucky - basically my company announced that there were going to be between 3 and 5 redundancies in the office staff. The decision couldn't be finalised for 2 weeks, so spent a nailbiting time wandering if I should be applying for a new job. we had 4 redundancies, 2 in my dept of 3...eek. So now work is pretty frantic as we try and keep up with everything, although I have other people helping. It means I am doing on average 2 evenings and a couple of hours on the weeknd overtime a week, hence the tiring busy bit. In other news about me my tenant moved out of the house so I had a little while panicking about bills. Fortunately I have been able to get someone else in pretty quickly by the looks. Dealing with the letting agents has been a real problem though - they didn't tell me the tenant had given notice, and I only found out about 4 days before because a neighbour thoughtfully gave me a ring to let me know they were moving out furniture. I was fairly nice to them over it and pretty much left it as mistakes are sometimes made, at least they were advertising and getting viewings (although still a bit disconcerting they were getting viewings without telling me either!) However since then they have continually not got back to me over many many queries, all of which are pretty frustrating, and are delaying the new tenant moving in. So current positive things - as this is a bit negative - really enjoying the little social life I get at the moment, have bought a new computer so can go on internet, earning a bit more due to overtime, and although tired am pretty happy at the moment. Hopefully things will calm down soon and I can get back to being a bit more social. (Comment on this)
Sunday, July 19th, 2009
5:20 pm	Apologies to anyone who has tried to contact me via email or LJ or facebook - I have been internetless, although should be resolved now. Also really busy at the moment - did about 8 hours of overtime this week, and I expect that may be a pattern that continues. Hopefully extra money will be good, but struggling with the time and the tiredness! Hopefully I will be doing a bigger update fairly soon (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, May 24th, 2009
6:35 pm	Update Haven't posted for ages, so thought I had better take a few minutes to reassure the world I am still alive! Its Hayfever season but (crossing fingers and touching wood) I have not been too bad so far. Have been taking cetirizine fairly regularly to try and avoid symptoms this year, have so far been ok if a little odd at times (which may or may not be due to meds!) Just bought a couple of board games, an expansion for settlers, Marvel Heroes the board game and BSG the board game. BSG is probably the best game I have ever played. I still have War for the Throne which I would like to try at some point, but it involves reading the rules! Had a really nice day yesterday hanging out with Mark, Janet, Martin, Matt and BO. Turkish meal was on the expensive side but definitely worth it. Starters were awesome, and all the meat in the kebab world for main meal. Yoghurt and Chilli is apparently an awesome combination, and will have to try that at home. Play is going well (I am in a murder mystery type play), have learnt most of words, and now starting to learn the actions. There are a couple of points where I have to kiss 2 different ladies in the play, but due to embarassment/modesty/insert word here/ we are studiously ignoring those parts so far. That'll do for now I guess. Mark and Janet are having lunch with us tomorrow at a Harvester I think (if anyone wants to join us), and should be free in the afternoon/evening if anyone is around and fancies playing a board game. (3 Comments |Comment on this)