The Job Lot is a brand new ITV comedy, which has it's first episode broadcast TONIGHT on ITV1 at 2130.
So, why am I so interested in this new comedy ?? Two big reasons: Claire Downes and Stuart Lane. They co-wrote the series with Ian Jarvis. Claire is my best friend, and Stuart is her partner. I've known Claire since we were 11 and we became close friends from the age of 15. That's twenty-five years ago.
Claire is an amazing, successful woman. I am in awe of her staying power, enthusiasm, energy and talent. Stuart is equally amazing. What he doesn't know about films isn't worth knowing.
If I know Claire and Stu, their comedy is going to be an amazing success. This is their time and they, and their fellow writer, Ian, deserve to bask in the limelight. Well done guys !
How to find out more about Claire, Stuart and Ian, and specifically The Job Lot.
Follow The Job Lot on Twitter - @joblottv
Follow Claire on twitter - @iamClaireDownes
Follow Stuart on twitter - @itsStuartLane
Most of all watch The Job Lot tonight ! I'll be watching!
Monday, April 29, 2013
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Selsdon Half Marathon 2013 - A Review
I was only a little disappointed when the Selsdon half marathon was cancelled three weeks ago, it was raining and cold, which isn't much fun over 13 miles.
The organiser emailed offering a choice: run in 3 weeks, or defer to 2014. I procrastinated. I haven't been running as much as usual - was I fit enough ? I did the Trail man Human Race event last weekend. That 8 mile slog through the mud left me exhausted. I did a little local loop through the park with DD earlier in the week, and that was the whole of my prep.
Still, last night I dug out the kit, the trainers, the Garmin watch, the CompressSport supports, the gels, I even dug out my i-Pod thinking I was going to need every available prop, and had it all set up and ready to go. And so we went.
And what a day it was, firstly it was dry. Yippee! Also, ever so slightly sunny, but cool enough for a good run. The event is organised by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and the Start and Finish is in their beautiful premises. Since many runners had deferred to next year, I think there were more marshalls than actual runners. One of the marshalls came up and spoke to us, and was really very, very friendly. As was the man who gave me my race number.
The course was varied some hills, followed by nice down hills, but mostly flat and mainly through the streets of South Croydon. Although, sometimes we went through some dirt/mud tracks. I started well, with the first 6 miles under my belt in about 55 mins.
I took a gel whenever there was a water stop - so that was at 4.5 miles, 9 miles and 11 miles. That strategy worked well today. I overtook some runners on the second half and had a few 'battles' with some runners too. You know how it is when someone runs at almost exactly the same speed as you, and you take it in turns to try and outrun each other. In the end I focussed on my own race, which is all that really matters.
I crossed the line in 2:01:58 and that '58' is really important as I've already run a 2:02 half marathon, although the poor girl next to me thought that I was going for a sprint finish. Nah, it was all about me getting a PB.
BB and CC were there to support me and said I was about 6th woman, but I'll have to see what the final results say. Actually, I was 9th woman - results are out already!!. Still.. pretty happy with that ! I was 45th out of 71 runners, which includes males and females. Counting up the numbers, it seems that out of that, there were another 11 females and 15 males that finished after me.
The goodie bag was pretty good too - with a medal, banana, water, little chocolate bar and non-wicking, cotton t-shirt. Everything you need, really !
All in all an excellent, well organised race. Well done Selsdon half marathon. BB has already pledged to run it next year!
Here's a photo of me at the end - utterly exhausted.
The organiser emailed offering a choice: run in 3 weeks, or defer to 2014. I procrastinated. I haven't been running as much as usual - was I fit enough ? I did the Trail man Human Race event last weekend. That 8 mile slog through the mud left me exhausted. I did a little local loop through the park with DD earlier in the week, and that was the whole of my prep.
Still, last night I dug out the kit, the trainers, the Garmin watch, the CompressSport supports, the gels, I even dug out my i-Pod thinking I was going to need every available prop, and had it all set up and ready to go. And so we went.
And what a day it was, firstly it was dry. Yippee! Also, ever so slightly sunny, but cool enough for a good run. The event is organised by the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and the Start and Finish is in their beautiful premises. Since many runners had deferred to next year, I think there were more marshalls than actual runners. One of the marshalls came up and spoke to us, and was really very, very friendly. As was the man who gave me my race number.
The course was varied some hills, followed by nice down hills, but mostly flat and mainly through the streets of South Croydon. Although, sometimes we went through some dirt/mud tracks. I started well, with the first 6 miles under my belt in about 55 mins.
I took a gel whenever there was a water stop - so that was at 4.5 miles, 9 miles and 11 miles. That strategy worked well today. I overtook some runners on the second half and had a few 'battles' with some runners too. You know how it is when someone runs at almost exactly the same speed as you, and you take it in turns to try and outrun each other. In the end I focussed on my own race, which is all that really matters.
I crossed the line in 2:01:58 and that '58' is really important as I've already run a 2:02 half marathon, although the poor girl next to me thought that I was going for a sprint finish. Nah, it was all about me getting a PB.
BB and CC were there to support me and said I was about 6th woman, but I'll have to see what the final results say. Actually, I was 9th woman - results are out already!!. Still.. pretty happy with that ! I was 45th out of 71 runners, which includes males and females. Counting up the numbers, it seems that out of that, there were another 11 females and 15 males that finished after me.
The goodie bag was pretty good too - with a medal, banana, water, little chocolate bar and non-wicking, cotton t-shirt. Everything you need, really !
All in all an excellent, well organised race. Well done Selsdon half marathon. BB has already pledged to run it next year!
Here's a photo of me at the end - utterly exhausted.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
To do an MBA, or not to do an MBA, that is the question..
I don't often talk about my professional life here on the bliggy-bloggy, but if you want to know a little more about me check out my About Me link.
A few years ago now, I had set myself a personal life goal of completing my MBA by the time I reached 30. So, when my little CC was no more than 6 months old, and I had already gone back to work full-time. I started a part-time, distance-learning MBA.
I completed the course in 2 years, each module was studied over three days and then an assignment and project were set, I also did a final dissertation. It's true to say that I couldn't have completed it without my BB, as there was many a night that I was doing the night shift in the front of the laptop, whilst BB was sleeping and, of course, he looked after little CC whislt I was at university studying.
Graduating was a defining moment, I really felt complete and I was SO looking forward to not studying any more... Ha, ha since then I have completed the Foundation exam in IT Project management, an A+ Hardware exam and just this month I became a Microsoft Certified Professional in SQL Server 2008.
But that's by the by, so what does an MBA give you ? Well, if you're not a manager already, it enables you to see the bigger picture and really understand where your managers are coming from, you now understand their priorities. If you are a manager already, it gives you expertise on all facets of management. Here's the subjects I studied as part of my MBA: Marketing, Financial Management, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Research and Statistics. My dissertation was about Corporate Social Responsibility Policies in FTSE-250 companies, and whether having such a policy has an impact on share price.
If you are thinking about starting your own business, an MBA will give you everything you need to make it a success, except the idea, of course.
I enjoyed the MBA, I met really interesting people whilst attending the course, and whilst I'm in a job where an MBA is not required, it has to be said that in my current role right now, I use the skills that the MBA gave me every day.
If you are thinking of doing an MBA, my advice would be to go for it !
A few years ago now, I had set myself a personal life goal of completing my MBA by the time I reached 30. So, when my little CC was no more than 6 months old, and I had already gone back to work full-time. I started a part-time, distance-learning MBA.
I completed the course in 2 years, each module was studied over three days and then an assignment and project were set, I also did a final dissertation. It's true to say that I couldn't have completed it without my BB, as there was many a night that I was doing the night shift in the front of the laptop, whilst BB was sleeping and, of course, he looked after little CC whislt I was at university studying.
Graduating was a defining moment, I really felt complete and I was SO looking forward to not studying any more... Ha, ha since then I have completed the Foundation exam in IT Project management, an A+ Hardware exam and just this month I became a Microsoft Certified Professional in SQL Server 2008.
But that's by the by, so what does an MBA give you ? Well, if you're not a manager already, it enables you to see the bigger picture and really understand where your managers are coming from, you now understand their priorities. If you are a manager already, it gives you expertise on all facets of management. Here's the subjects I studied as part of my MBA: Marketing, Financial Management, Finance, Human Resources, Corporate Strategy, Marketing, Project Management, Entrepreneurship, Research and Statistics. My dissertation was about Corporate Social Responsibility Policies in FTSE-250 companies, and whether having such a policy has an impact on share price.
If you are thinking about starting your own business, an MBA will give you everything you need to make it a success, except the idea, of course.
I enjoyed the MBA, I met really interesting people whilst attending the course, and whilst I'm in a job where an MBA is not required, it has to be said that in my current role right now, I use the skills that the MBA gave me every day.
If you are thinking of doing an MBA, my advice would be to go for it !
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Yak ? Kids ?
I took this photo last month in Dusseldorf - he really was a greedy little yak. Cute, huh ?
On a completely different subject, I'm just watching '16 kids and counting' on tv. That is not so cute.
Animals ? Children ? I have one daughter, two guinea pigs and a dog - I think that sums it up !
Are you a Yak-Person ? Or a Kid-Person.. ? Answers on a postcard...
Either way, you have to agree that theYak looks pretty happy.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Chilling Lounge Clothes
I had an amazing run today in Hyde Park, with a work pal. It was nice and fast, and I felt strong - which is just as well since I have a half marathon in about ten days. The only down side of today is that it was, and still is, freezing cold, with a biting wind. By the time I had finished, my ears and head were really quite painful.
Today being a work day, after my run I was back at my desk for another couple of hours, that was followed by a really crappy train ride home, which meant another walk this time, across a park in the freezing wind.
So, what to do ? When I got home, once I had fed the dog, fed CC, put washing in and out (and shook it all about), I got out of my stuffy work clothes. I'm just feeling so comfy right now that, and this is a blogging first for me, (a fashionista I am not) - I had to share my outfit.
So, here goes:
Superdry t-shirt: What to say? Mine is cream with a dark-red logo and it's nice and soft cotton. The link to the left goes to a pink Superdry t-shirt with white writing. Little CC has that one.
Jack Wills lounge trousers The link shows the Spring equivalent of the above in a pink and blue colour. They are very pretty and I can vouch for them that they are very comfortable and slouchy.
Dean & White Cashmere cardigan in black. It's like wearing feathers.
Faux Fur Boot Slippers from Marks and Spencers. Mine are in a Dark Stone colour and have a little bow on the side (aw...). And guess what, they're comfortable and WARM.
So, this is me for the rest of the evening - BB and CC are off swimming, so DD will snuggle under my feet, whilst I get on with learning all about administering SQL Server, and keeping warm!
Happy Monday!
Today being a work day, after my run I was back at my desk for another couple of hours, that was followed by a really crappy train ride home, which meant another walk this time, across a park in the freezing wind.
So, what to do ? When I got home, once I had fed the dog, fed CC, put washing in and out (and shook it all about), I got out of my stuffy work clothes. I'm just feeling so comfy right now that, and this is a blogging first for me, (a fashionista I am not) - I had to share my outfit.
So, here goes:
Superdry t-shirt: What to say? Mine is cream with a dark-red logo and it's nice and soft cotton. The link to the left goes to a pink Superdry t-shirt with white writing. Little CC has that one.
Jack Wills lounge trousers The link shows the Spring equivalent of the above in a pink and blue colour. They are very pretty and I can vouch for them that they are very comfortable and slouchy.
Dean & White Cashmere cardigan in black. It's like wearing feathers.
Faux Fur Boot Slippers from Marks and Spencers. Mine are in a Dark Stone colour and have a little bow on the side (aw...). And guess what, they're comfortable and WARM.
So, this is me for the rest of the evening - BB and CC are off swimming, so DD will snuggle under my feet, whilst I get on with learning all about administering SQL Server, and keeping warm!
Happy Monday!
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Happy Mother's Day
CC designed me this lovely Mother's Day Wrapping paper for today, in which she had wrapped a copy of the DVD called 'The Lucky One'. This movie stars Zac Efron, of High School Musical fame, and he's also in other movies that I have probably seen with CC. Surprise, surprise she like Zac Efron.
I also received a beautiful bunch of flowers, and BB has ordered me a new pair of trainers for my forthcoming half marathon. There are my usual Mizuno's and I'm looking forward to having a run in them.
I had already sent a card to my Mommy, and we dropped a card and some flowers at BB's Mum's house. For my Mum, who I won't see til next month, I have framed the original poem that her own mother wrote about her father back in the 1940s. It's a sweet frame, and I know she'll love that she can display the poem in her own home. This is my Mother's first Mother's Day without her own mother..
This morning BB and I went for an 8-mile run, DD and BB dropped out after about 5 miles, and I carried on... the rest of the day has been relaxed and BB and CC are cooking me a nice dinner. Yum!
Back to work tomorrow.
How did you spend your Mother's Day ?
I also received a beautiful bunch of flowers, and BB has ordered me a new pair of trainers for my forthcoming half marathon. There are my usual Mizuno's and I'm looking forward to having a run in them.
I had already sent a card to my Mommy, and we dropped a card and some flowers at BB's Mum's house. For my Mum, who I won't see til next month, I have framed the original poem that her own mother wrote about her father back in the 1940s. It's a sweet frame, and I know she'll love that she can display the poem in her own home. This is my Mother's first Mother's Day without her own mother..
This morning BB and I went for an 8-mile run, DD and BB dropped out after about 5 miles, and I carried on... the rest of the day has been relaxed and BB and CC are cooking me a nice dinner. Yum!
Back to work tomorrow.
How did you spend your Mother's Day ?
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Things you can know about me...
1. I don't like going to the hairdressers.. 'What shall we do today?' they ask. 'Er... ' I reply.. thinking, you're the hairdresser, You tell me ! Of course, I don't actually say that, I timidly say ... 'just take an inch off all over.. and don't bother to blow dry it..' Knowing that I can get out of there as quickly as possible, and avoid the hairdresser for another year...
2. I'm not keen on fireworks - I quite like them, but the brightness hurts my eyes. I have this thing where one of my pupils does not react as quickly to light as it should. Consequently, sometimes one pupil is larger than the other, so sometimes bright lights are hard to look at.
3. I quite like a dictionary - as a reading book, I mean. A little odd maybe, but the thrill of all that knowledge enclosed in those pages.. That makes me happy.
4. Sometimes I think in colour - how to explain that one .. ? I can't really explain, something will just feel particularly 'blue' or 'green' or well, any colour really.. It doesn't really effect anything, and doesn't happen very often.
4. I did a degree in Computer Science.. without a computer Seriously ??? I guess in my defence I can say that the computer labs were open 'til 11pm, most of the home stuff was learning theory, and my really good mate Matt let me use his PC to write up my final year project. Result.
5. The real reason I like exercise ? Basically it give my brain a rest, and when I'm running, I'm not really thinking...
6. I love learning .. I thought that once I had done my MBA that I wouldn't want to really learn any more, that I would have fulfilled all of my academic dreams. Ten years on, and I now know myself a little better. I will always want to learn, and push myself to acquire more knowledge.. it's like a unquenchable thirst..
7. I love having a pedicure.. You would have thought I wouldn't since I don't like hairdressers, but since I have ugly runner's feet, after a pedicure my feet feel heavenly. I love sitting there and coming out a little while later with beautiful twinkly toes and smooth feet.
8. I question everything - It's not a surprise to me that I'm a Computer Analyst, where I'm required to questions things, evaluate things and fix things. It's what I'm good at. If you say anything to me 99.99999% of the time, I will answer with a question.
9. I'm a good friend If I'm your friend, I will be a good friend,the best you ever had. If you ever let me down, or don't act like a friend should (in my eyes), you will have broken my heart to it's absolute core. But I will never tell you.
10. I like fur and patterns and symmetry - Fur for it's smoothness, patterns for the texture and symmetry for it's reflective perfection.
2. I'm not keen on fireworks - I quite like them, but the brightness hurts my eyes. I have this thing where one of my pupils does not react as quickly to light as it should. Consequently, sometimes one pupil is larger than the other, so sometimes bright lights are hard to look at.
3. I quite like a dictionary - as a reading book, I mean. A little odd maybe, but the thrill of all that knowledge enclosed in those pages.. That makes me happy.
4. Sometimes I think in colour - how to explain that one .. ? I can't really explain, something will just feel particularly 'blue' or 'green' or well, any colour really.. It doesn't really effect anything, and doesn't happen very often.
4. I did a degree in Computer Science.. without a computer Seriously ??? I guess in my defence I can say that the computer labs were open 'til 11pm, most of the home stuff was learning theory, and my really good mate Matt let me use his PC to write up my final year project. Result.
5. The real reason I like exercise ? Basically it give my brain a rest, and when I'm running, I'm not really thinking...
6. I love learning .. I thought that once I had done my MBA that I wouldn't want to really learn any more, that I would have fulfilled all of my academic dreams. Ten years on, and I now know myself a little better. I will always want to learn, and push myself to acquire more knowledge.. it's like a unquenchable thirst..
7. I love having a pedicure.. You would have thought I wouldn't since I don't like hairdressers, but since I have ugly runner's feet, after a pedicure my feet feel heavenly. I love sitting there and coming out a little while later with beautiful twinkly toes and smooth feet.
8. I question everything - It's not a surprise to me that I'm a Computer Analyst, where I'm required to questions things, evaluate things and fix things. It's what I'm good at. If you say anything to me 99.99999% of the time, I will answer with a question.
9. I'm a good friend If I'm your friend, I will be a good friend,the best you ever had. If you ever let me down, or don't act like a friend should (in my eyes), you will have broken my heart to it's absolute core. But I will never tell you.
10. I like fur and patterns and symmetry - Fur for it's smoothness, patterns for the texture and symmetry for it's reflective perfection.
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