My Life That Happened In #19
Episode #18 Part 2
… April 2025
Tuesday 1st
The wife woke up with back pain, and it’s her first day back at work.
I took Ne Ne to the mechanic for service and some other things. When I went back, Ne Ne seemed to be in good nick. They even buffed up the passenger-side headlight. I have booked her in for an MOT at 12.30 pm tomorrow.
I also discussed my snoring on the phone with the doctor. After everything I have tried, I haven’t been able to fix it. I have improved certain things, but I am far from a cure.
I will pick up the missus when she finishes work, but I won’t tell her. He He!
I met up with the wife, and she had a parcel to pick up from WH Smiths. I suggested we could pop to Smiths Orchard Garden Centre, and she brightened up when I asked.
The latest additions to the family.
There was some traffic, but we finally made it home when I found the postman had delivered the swatches from the multiple companies I had asked for free samples from.
My recent upgrade to Windows 11 hasn’t gone well, so I have reverted the computer to Windows 10. This is going to take a while.
Wednesday 2nd
I am ill! The wife has given me her bug. I am back at work tomorrow morning and need to get things ready. MOT test today at 12.30 pm. Ne Ne should pass as she was inspected yesterday. The only problem is that they haven’t fixed the warning light. I will have to let them know. I forgot to tell them, so I sent a text. Don’t know if they got it.
Dinner had been made for the next couple of days. I don’t want to go back to work, but sadly, I need money.
This arrived today after dropping off Ne Ne. I can continue the saga of Viv.
Collecting Ne Ne from the mechanic. She had passed her MOT but had some advisories that can be sorted, except for the bodywork. I asked if they knew anyone who could do it, and they couldn’t recommend anyone.
The change back to Windows 10 has caused some problems. Nothing major, but I feel the need to reset the computer. I set it up and let Windows do the rest.
Thursday 3rd
My new lounger has arrived, and I am happy with it. It also doubles as a bed, just in case. But now I have to find the time to use it to recreate some of the time at the cabin, having a cup of tea and reading my book outside. it’s not a puffy as I was hoping from the photos, but it’s good enough.
It has taken nearly a day, but the computer is back. The only problem is that it has removed my programs, but luckily, Windows has created a list of everything I have lost, so I can go through it and decide what I need and don’t need anymore.
Something’s wrong when trying to connect to my email accounts. I can’t connect to their servers, so I can’t attach the emails to the computer. I will work it out eventually.
Friday 4th
I was spoken to today and asked whether I would be interested in a new position. This would guarantee the hours I am after and a new set of responsibilities. Keeping my composure, I said I was very interested and thanked him for thinking of me. There was another position he was thinking I could be good for, but I am not sure. My manager returns to work in a couple of days, so I can start my training. I am looking forward to it.
I am still amazed at how much this company encourages me to move forward in such a small space of time. My previous workplace wouldn’t allow me to move forward. This place is nothing but supportive of my goals.
Sleep hasn’t been my friend today, as I woke up early, and then my wife came in in the middle of an attack. She and I believe it was a PTSD attack, as this is something she hasn’t experienced before. I did my best to comfort her, but there was not a lot I could do but ride it out with her. I think her meeting today may have triggered it. She needs the help, but the aftereffects are getting to her.
Saturday 5th
It is official: I am going to be trained for a new position. I have signed a contract for more hours, which is something I have been waiting for since I started. Everything kicks off on the 11th. I also have a new start and end time.
Monday 7th
I went to a body shop for Ne Ne and asked for a quote. The place I checked out didn’t feel right. The “manager” I spoke to seemed nice enough, but the air felt off. Their website made them look perfect, but I just don’t know. Perhaps I am overthinking it. The wife and I spoke, and she doesn’t like the idea of just sticking in one place. So, I will look around a bit more.
I only wanted to get a couple of things from the shop. Nearly three hundred pounds later… We did need to find items to help with decorating, so I thought I had already set money aside for it, so why not start getting what we need? I can’t wait for the wife to be comfortable with it all. It has to happen. The next step is buying the paint.
We also found a couple of things. The wife was going to surprise me with a present, and then we found this draught excluder. I don’t need to say anything; the photo should speak for itself.
Present from the missus
An indulgence buy.
I have been put off watching the new film, but I still love Garfield.
Tuesday 8th
It looks like I will be working in another area when others aren’t available. As well as my new role. Training will begin on the 11th. I am hoping I am not stretching myself a little thin. And also not screwing the area I am working in already. The manager said I should be fine and that they have worked out the kinks. We will see.
I checked out another body shop. It still feels a little off, but the interaction with them has been a lot better so far. The person who quotes things wasn’t in, but will call me tomorrow. The desktop version of their website has not been designed well.
Friday 11th
There is a new start time today, and I don’t think most people have been told. My new job role is Gatekeeper. My role is to help with running the loading bay. While I am still waiting for my training to begin. I have also been given the position of the backup of the backup chef. I won’t need to cook anything. When I am the only one available, I will set out the pre-prepared food for the night staff while continuing my normal duties. Then clean up afterwards.
Hopefully, I won’t have to do it too often.
I had my training for the new “chef” position. It seems to be simple enough. I was given a walk-through of my duties and the area I will be working in and then completed the online training course.
The second body shop hasn’t bothered to call back. So, I will continue my search elsewhere.
Saturday 12th
The plan today was to spend the day off reading and finishing off some more blogs, but all I ended up doing was sorting out the built-up paperwork I have collected over the year and scanning it to the computer. I am glad I did it, but I couldn’t continue with anything else, so I just picked up my wife from work and came home again with a couple of extra things to add to dinner.
Monday 15th
This morning at work, I performed my new canteen job. As I went for my break, I set up what was needed to deliver warm food to the night staff. It is not a complicated job. I spent most of the time waiting. The next time I do the job, I will take my break a little later to make it easier, so I don’t wait any longer. I understand why the present staff likes this shift.
I will be in the canteen again on Saturday, 19th.
Wednesday 16th
I have been spending more time on the trucks recently. This is a good thing as I need the practice. But I got caught in a tight situation in an aisle, and the area got congested with several trucks. Because of this, I started to have an attack. It didn’t go full-blown, but it was enough that I couldn’t remember how to drive the truck.
I thought I was getting better when I was informed that I hadn’t done a certain thing when putting a pallet away in the racking. I hadn’t done anything wrong; it was just that I didn’t know I had to do it, but that took me to a point where I had to get off the truck. And put on my emergency hat.
I went outside for a few minutes to clear my head. When I returned, I spent some time clearing cardboard, which, combined with spending more time in the fresh air, helped a lot.
More Learning in Extra Time
I was about to go home when a manager asked if I could attend a course. I told them I was going home, but he asked if I could stay a little longer. My belief that it was going to be about half an hour ended up being two and a bit hours. I wasn’t happy. On top of that, I had a text from the missus saying she was having problems breathing. I was hoping she could help herself and work her way through. But when I finally got home and was nearly settled, I got a phone call from my wife stating she was in Waterstones having an attack.
I got dressed again and headed back out, and met the missus sitting with a member of the Waterstones staff.
The staff member left us to it and we continued to wait until she was ready to leave. After some coaxing with an Eeyore cuddly toy and a burger, we left and went to McDonald’s and then headed home to rest. I was knackered. I had one more thing to do before bed, and that was to apply for another position at work. I’m not expecting to get it, but anything to learn on how to get high up the ladder is something I will take advantage of.
Thursday 17th
I woke up at my usual time before midnight yesterday and went to work. I wasn’t feeling great. They wanted me to go back on trucks again, and I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do that. I had a massive tension headache, and I was a little dizzy. I didn’t feel safe. They were cool about it, and I am happy for that kind of help.
I should maybe also think more along the lines of that they’re not against me. But if they are screw them. I am on a mission to learn and get on and make money as quickly as possible without screwing myself in the long run. Also, at the same time, appreciating how much they have helped me and made me feel good about myself, but I still have a plan.
I will always be there to help anyone who needs it. And I am doing that, but… The mission.
Friday 18th
Day off today and I am writing my blogs. It is nice to just sit here and write what is on my mind. Most of my thoughts have been going back to the cabin where we spent our holiday. We do miss it a lot. I need to get my head back to a place of freedom, genuine freedom from the worry of life, bills and dealing with anything stressful.
I know that’s near impossible, but there must be a way.
We haven’t planned out our next getaway yet, but I would like it to be pretty much the same sort of place as the cabin. It doesn’t really matter where, but as close as possible.
I sent a little thank you message to Waterstones on Facebook, just saying thank you for their help with my wife. They didn’t have to do it, and I appreciated their help.
Searching the job site, I found something that my wife might be interested in: a job at my workplace. It is a little different from what she is used to, but it still deals with what she has been doing for most of her working life: Customer service. I have applied for the position on my wife’s behalf. We will see what happens next.
Saturday 19th
It turns out I won’t be needed for my duties as chef/ canteen staff. This is mainly because they haven’t cooked anything for me to put out for the staff. Instead, they have prepared filled rolls. I am not too bothered by this. But it would have been nice to have been told.
I also spoke to one of my managers about the missus application. He said he will talk to the person in charge of the applications. This is one of those things I like about my place of work. They rely on recommendations. They trust the word of their staff to bring good workers into the fold.
I have done as much as I can; it is now down to the wife to finish the rest.
Monday 21st
I received an email from my job about an interview for a coordinator position. I applied a few days ago. The email was about an interview for the next day, and I was to meet my manager at 7 am.
The wife also got an email for an interview on Saturday, 26th. The only problem is the time of the interview. She will be working that day, and the timing will be awkward for her to get to the interview on time.
Tuesday 22nd
It may be just me being paranoid, but today was different. I began training as a Gatekeeper eleven days after I officially started the position. My paranoia is telling me it has something to do with my interview today. It is telling me that if it weren’t happening that I wouldn’t be getting the training.
I would be happy to be wrong.
The training went well. They did throw me straight into the deep end and left me to it. But I learned a lot, and the stress from all the information left me with a tension headache, but that is something I will just have to deal with. It is going to be a while until I have mastered everything, but I will get there.
The interview was… Great. I have doubts I will get the position, but I don’t care. I know I might be a little upset if I don’t get it. But I also know I had a good interview. My manager spent a lot of the time speaking, and I let him do so.
We learned some new things about each other. I saw some cracks in his armour, and that’s a good thing, as I have seen him as someone who doesn’t do that and is in a constant state of mellow. My manager learned more about my past beyond my nearly twenty years at Tesco. This was mainly my managerial experience and the work I did with Unite. This helped a lot.
I also asked questions and aired some concerns. This included the start date that the wife will have if she gets the position. But in the end, it went well. And that’s all I can ask for.
Time to go home and rest for a couple of days.
Wednesday 23rd
We worked out a way for the wife to get some extra time to deal with the interview, and it looks like her work has accepted this. The wife asked to move her shift back by an hour. She doesn’t lose her hours, and her job still has someone to cover most of her shift.
She also hasn’t told them it’s for an interview.
Today was supposed to be a good day as I received my book, the final story of the Library Trilogy, by Mark Lawrence. The only problem is that the book was damaged. I contacted Forbidden Planet with photos, and it is being sent back, and I will be sent another.
I also had my new toy delivered. A Bluetooth speaker I bought for work. We will see how good it is later, but I am happy with what I have got.
Saturday 26th
The wife had her interview today for a position at my workplace. It would be a day shift position, so she wouldn’t be working with me.
My new case for my Bluetooth speaker arrived, it is slighty bigger than the speaker but it doesn’t slide about so I am happy with that.
My replacement signed book has arrived, and it’s okay.
Monday 28th
Today I have been told they will let me know whether I will get the job or not. We will see. I need to know whether I got it or not, so I can rest my head. I am stuck on that, I haven’t got it, which has helped, but I would like to be put out of my misery.
The wife got an email telling her she didn’t get the position. She hasn’t taken it well. Depression and a bit of bitching and moaning has began, oh and some chocolate.
Tuesday 29th
Had to pop to Lakeside for some toiletries. It was also an excuse to go to Greggs and have a second breakfast with the wife, and while eating, I could see Waterstones, so of course we had to have a quick look around. I used some of the credit my brother bought me for Christmas. I left my wife to go to work, and I went home to rest.
The book on the left was a recommendation, and the book on the right was something the wife found.
That is pretty much it for this much. Hopefully, I will see you next month. Byeee!
