Work...

I suddenly realised (just the other day) that for two years we've been blogging with some regularity and in that time I've barely mentioned work at all.

One could see this as a good thing.

Work is that thing that happens in between holidays after all, but in terms of the proportion of time spent at work VS on holiday, there is most certainly some disproportionality there (crap that's a big word - who the hell uses words like that?? Seemed to fit though!)

Work is great though. I'd show you photo's of what i do, but that would be a flagrant breach of confidentiality... Hmm I do lots of exercise based therapy like these: Which are pilates based exercises that i did as handout/demonstrations for patients...

Great team of folk to work with though and we have a great time at work, chatting away amongst ourselves when we've not got patients to see and just doing what we do! Anyway, With only a month to go at work before we head off for browner pastures in Australia, we thought it prudent to head out for a night with the workmates. Actually this is something that happens with some degree of regularity - there's been at least half a dozen such occasions in the last couple of years. So we headed along to Chung's in Mapperley - which, as luck would have it, is literally a couple of hundred metres up the road from Andy and Jess's place (who lovingly volunteered to babysit the Abster for the night) and not too much further from our place. Great night out as the pics of course tell, starting at a new Pub just across the road from the restaurant, called the Bread and Bitter, before the Chinese 4 course feast. Good times as usual. GREAT food.

My previous best cantonese was (surprisingly not in Hong kong) Fr Mark's favourite in Dunedin, but this now takes over as the best yet. in fact first and third place Cantonese cuisine medals both go to Nottingham - Chung's in the number one spot and Opium in number three (which is a restaurant in town that we went to back in the days when we could easily get to restaurants... ie, pre-Abbey!) Glad that this last wee bit in the UK is not fizzling out - we were a little worried that we'd wind down in less than spectacular fashion, but looks like that's just not going to be the case with loads to do in the coming weeks and loads of catch-ups with various people. Excellent.






Sally toasting with Ina and Peter at the Bread and Bitter. Sally is our other full - timer at work (So the person I see the most, apart from the receptionists). Ina was receptionist and general ass-kicker when I first arrived and she 'showed me the ropes' so to speak. Peter is Ina's hubbie, a builder by trade... so he smells a bit like my dad (like sawdust etc) which is a pleasant reminder of home.

Denise is our Wed-Fri receptionist and cupboard tidying whizz. She's a general mum too as has daughters around the age of us youngins (me, Phil, Matt and Kate), She is married to Steve (at her left) who is an all round smiley chap. Lisa is our receptionist Mon - Wed and organiser par excellence who has made it her task to ever keep me on time, and perpetually shake her finger at me when i'm not on it... which is entirely necessary and endearing. Lisa has twin daughters (not pictured) called Olivia and Phoebe who are also exceptionally cool. They have a birthday coming up this weekend also, for which they are having a fabulous party. Mez is my wife. Which is cool.

Lisa and Mez, Peter and Sally.

Me and Denise, Steve and Lisa

Me and Steve (yes, a second Steve). This Steve can easily be distinguised from the other Steve, in that he looks totally different, is wearing different clothes, has a kiwi accent (being from Lower Hutt!) and hangs out with Sally. Sally and Steve (this Steve) have a little boy called Saxon. Saxon isn't like most other little boys, because Sally and Steve had his balls cut off. Sally kinda feels mean about this, and apparrently Saxon gave her lots of sad faces, post Balls chopping off to rub it in. Fair enough i'd say. At Steve's left (or kinda in front of him) is Phil. Phil is a part timer at the Sports Injury clinic, but works most of his other hours at another clinic owner by the same people. He works the same hours as me (but only half days) so we get to see a lot of each other too. Which is cool, cos we bounce loads of ideas back and forth. Phil also works with Great Britain's canoeing team, which always sounds very exciting. Phil has a suspicious look on his face. I'm not entirely sure why. It's possible there may have been something rude said.

Steve and Phil, Wagging chins.

People I have named at least once before.

Myself, Phil and Steve

Ina and Sally. If my Dad saw this photo, he would say Sally was grinning like a Cheshire Cat. I've been to Cheshire and I didn't see any grinning cats. But Sally does smile a lot. Which is a good thing.

Sally, who hangs out with Steve. Both smiling. This could be because in three days time, they were to be flying to NZ for a holiday. Lucky them. Though just for one upmanship, when I fly, i'm going on a one way ticket. Haha.

This is Mez (my wife) and Rachel. Rachel works with Kids both for the NHS and privately. She has a husband whose name escapes my memory (though i can say with certainty that he does have a name, and indeed has also a hand, which I have shaken. I'd guess he has two, but can't say for certain. He also has a job as a Youth Minister at a Christian school which sounds like fun). Rachel is also looking very smiley. This is possibly because she is having a night off from her wee delightful boy, Noah, or perhaps even because in three weeks she is going on holiday to South Africa. Excellent.

Denise and Steve smiling for the Camera

Young Love at its finest. Awwww!