So here I am, despite photographic evidence to the contrary, happy again. Here for a while now and who knows how long it will remain. I still have two little holes left by friends who left work two weeks ago now, both on the same day. I am still in touch with both and from one I will soon inherit a small kitten in about a month’s time. The other is happy in her new job but a long way away and most importantly of all, not drinking coffee with me or putting the world to rights on a regular basis.

Work is good at the moment. I am still busy and the madness that is Christmas is not far away. I am still mostly spreadsheeting but tomorrow I am making an alarming departure and helping present an idea using Powerpoint.

“Get on with it Neil. They don’t care about this stuff.”

“Ok. I just like writing this stuff down. It feels good.”

“Feeling better now?”

“Yes.”

“Well…get on with it.”

“Ahem…”

Long gaps aside, do any other bloggers reading this have a blog spot? I do. It’s just past the second speed bump on Weston Park Road as you approach from the Hyde Park end. At this precise point, usually around 10.10pm each evening I have a thought. More often than not it begins with, “I should blog again soon really” and then continues with a really great idea or three for things to write about. By this time on Sunday night, I have usually forgotten all but one of them and this week I only remembered to tell you about my blogspot.

So, in predictably circular fashion, here we are again. Sunday night. Alan Titchmarsh is on the wireless, a cat is asleep on the bed, a mug of cold Early Grey is at my side and my pudgy, oddly childlike fingers hover poised over my Dell keyboard.

So here we go…

I Made A Word

I have made-up a word. I probably did it ages ago but I have only become overly concious of it in recent weeks. I don’t know if it’s borne out of shyness, embarrassment, britishness or just an overt manifestation of my tendency to mumble. Nevertheless, I made up a word. I realise it would be best if you could actually hear me say it but unless you approach me from the far end of a corridor at work and play a sort of eye-meeting chicken challenge with me, you are unlikely to be lucky in this respect.

So, it kind of goes…”Alrighellok”.

Let’s break it down.

a) Alrigh.. this me starting to say “alright”. I have been down these south western parts so long, I can’t remember if this is a common salutation elsewhere but here it is used all the time. Usually as a question.

b) Hell.. this is when my non-Devon upbringing kicks in and a small but nevertheless still pompous part of me reminds me to talk properly and say “hello” but it never quite makes it out because…

c) By this time, the person walking towards me has already said “Alright?” and I have to squeeze out an “ok”, pinching off the loaf of this excrutiating but all too recently common occurance.

Altogether now…”Alrighellok

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