Monday

Back to work after the long weekend and with the Launch event tomorrow there’s a lot to organise, check and double check so I’m busy all day right up until we have to leave for the airport. My lilies, despite the plague of lily beetle, are looking stunning, for now at least.

A quick stop off at the Chinese Buffet near the airport before I’m dropped off. Another late flight of course but did manage to grab a very quick beer in the lounge before getting another to drink out in the smoking area before my flight. And off we go. Pretty much on time which was good, the arrival at Gatwick however wasn’t so brilliant. After a 20min wait for the transfer to the South Terminal I’d missed my train and with all the tubes on strike I had to wait an hour for the last train to Blackfriars and walk home, not exactly ideal. Finally back sometime around 12:30 in the morning.

[6 June 2022]

Tuesday

A million and one things to do to get ready for the launch event this evening. Seems that I may however have forgotten that the only day I could get an appointment to give blood is also today. Genius! Of course Westminster Cathedral has some of the worst possible wifi you can imagine too which didn’t make things any easier, but when’s it ever easy saving lives eh?! I have to admit however that the diversion did however allow me to take in a bit of the Platty Joobs vibe as I scooted down the Mall and past some marching and band playing, unfortunately as I was in a rush they aren’t the best photos but you get the idea.

With blood donated it was time for a quick stop into the venue, then scooting over to the printers then back to the venue for set up. It was a great event with about 300+ people in attendance. Everyone seemed to enjoy it though despite some chaos with the badges at the start. Team Lambeth stepped up to help though with additional help from KHP’s head of comms and Prof Sir Robert rolling up their sleeves to get badges done. I do love people that just roll up their sleeves and get stuck in to help.

Event and strike done, it was time for a very small select crew to head to the pub for a quick wind down pint before heading home. A successful day well done, even if I do say so myself.

[7 June 2022]

Wednesday

Today’s a bit of a wind down day although I have an important coffee (hot chocolate) meeting with Peter first thing and then have to get back to the venue to pick up the case study boards. Apparently it is more difficult than I might have imagined to get a porter from the hospital to grab the boards and put them in the basement, in fact it took about 3.5hours longer. Thankfully I also managed to rope in Pete, after all this is what he trained for at the start of Covid and would be a shame not to use his portering skills; thankfully I don’t expect anyone will be seeking me out for my food services skills any time soon.

With that done we deserve a reward and Peter has an appointment with Neil from PwC who we used to go to the rugby with so I tagged along. After a couple of beers it was back to the flat for chinese takeaway, oh yeah, this stuff is amazing and far better than the French version!

[8 June 2022]

Thursday

Early start and then various meetings throughout the day. I had my second go today at getting some paperwork for Matt approved at the post office but again no joy. Peter’s back to Oxford this evening after work so I’m on my own. Vicky has just had surgery on her knee (for the millionth time). While I needed a rest Tonia and I were soon to cross paths at Blackfriars so may as well catch up quickly. It was good to see her naturally but I’ll be seeing her in a few days when she comes over to visit so didn’t want to take too long about it, she also had to get back to the dog.

Back at the flat and I need to get washing done and tidy up ready to go back again, I’m certainly getting used to these flying visits. Pizza for dinner, I’d finished the leftover chinese for lunch and this would give me lunch tomorrow. I was so exhausted though I was worried I’d miss the delivery driver being asleep on the sofa, but I gave myself a Tash style pep talk and kept myself awake just enough to get fed. Now I am though it’s time for bed, I’m shattered.

[9 June 2022]

Friday

Already the end of my trip. I had remembered to put the washing on the line but as the heating hadn’t been on so most of it wasn’t dry yet. I put it on the balcony for a bit while I showered, finished tidying up and of course had my morning meetings. Then off to meet some colleague of Matt’s to collect a package for him that I was to bring home. It was annoyingly sized and didn’t fit in my backpack making it almost impossible to scoot back. Another Matt errand, the one I had been trying to complete a number of times this week, getting documents verified at the Post Office. They wouldn’t complete the NZ forms and refused to sign it to say that they’d verified them but they gave me a UK form and put a stamp on them so hopefully it will be ok. Thing was the damned place was in the basement with no reception so I had to go up and down to call Matt and check what sort of postage it needed, whether the other pile of random letters should have been in the package too, etc, etc, I must have been up and down half a dozen times before I finally sent it. Anyway, it’s in the post so fingers crossed they have what they need and will be satisfied.

Back to the flat to check my emails and grab my things. The large black bin liner wrapped package however is a bit of concern, while I have no doubt that Matt isn’t treating me as a drugs mule, this does look a bit dodgy if asked if I packed it myself and anyone had asked me to carry anything I don’t know how to explain ‘well, yes and no, I mean except for that rather large black bin liner that takes up 80% of my only baggage on the plane that I never looked in once’. Having opened it I was still none the wiser, but I held onto the piece of paper that said what it was and at least they could have a look at it.

Time runs away from me a little as usual and seems that there is no way I’m going to get to my flat to see the tenants before they leave. I’ll have to work something else out another time. I do need to get going though as promised to drop in and see the patient before I left. Down at Lee and Vicky’s we had a brief catch up and Lee warmed up my pizza for us to have lunch together.

Now to the bus and Clapham Junction to get to the airport and meet mum. We’ve been advised to be there at least 2.5 hours early due to lack of staff. I arrived only shortly after her I think. We got through security and passport control pretty easy and then made our way to the lounge. Thankfully I had the Amex from Matt to get us both into the swanky lounge as the standard one was closed unless you had a reservation, only the best for my mother.

A lot of mixed messages online about delays to the flight but thankfully it wasn’t and after a nice curry and couple of beers/G&Ts we were on the plane. Matt was ready to meet us with refreshments and Burger King. Back home it’s been a long day and after a quick look at a few bits and pieces he’s been up to we’re off to bed.

[10 June 2022]