Mark Thomson

Okay I admit it. It was far to late, and I'm working far to frantically to try to get everything done this week. I've been backing up data, consolidating data, and cleaning out my various computers. I guess it was inevitable that i'd fuck up at some point, and I've done it. By golly it wuz a goodin... I accidentally deleted a large section of my blog this evening. Fortunately it wasn't the database, but unfortunately it was the graphics files. I've managed to luckily recover most of it from the backup, but I'm not too sure about the calendar and some of the other plugins, so if you notice anything screwy, just hang in there and I'll try to get it sorted out soon.

I'm off to Brisbane on Sunday for training for my new job, but I should have access to a DSL connection while I'm away.

Well it's out now. Word's getting around the place that I'm leaving. Some of the women decided to organize a party (despite my express wishes that I didn't want a fuss), and started notifying people. So the gossips have kicked into high gear, and now I'm getting people coming to me asking me about the rumors. Annoying! I had just hoped to leave quietly, no fuss on Friday. Especially since I don't want to have to put up with the bullshit of a party, people who've never liked me making out suddenly that its a tragedy I'm leaving. Who needs to waste time on that!

Good news though, house might sell soon. We've had a few interested parties now, who've come for a look through the house more than once. Should be getting close to an offer now. The only thing I'm worried about, is that Rob will take the first bullshit offer we get. Reality is, we need to walk away from NZ with as much coin as we can get, so I'd rather take or time and get the maximum we can, rather than folding for the relief of having it sold.

Last Monday was heart attack material. My counterpart at work unexpectedly resigned! Fortunately I'd had the meeting and received an offer of employment in Brisbane, but since I was planning to resign the same day, it accelerated the timetable greatly. I had to come in and resign the next day, which came as a shock to my manager. I've been horribly riddled with guilt over it, although I know I shouldn't be. I'm glad it's finally done now and out of the way, since I've been having trouble sleeping due to stressing about it. Now it's just a case of getting them to release me from my current contract. As per usual they're dragging their heels, and procrastinating on a decision.

I've already started meeting with clients as part of the new job, and I'm really excited to get started on it. I like a challenge, and the new people I'll be working with seem positive and excited about what they do. Makes a change from the sad losers I've been stuck with for the last 7 years - most of them can't be bothered to do any work, some don't even turn up. It'll be nice to feel excited about work again, and rewarding to accomplish something.

We barely survived Beagle's wedding last weekend. My feet are still aching after 14 hours of running around taking pictures, and running little errands. But it was all worth it, they had a fabulous day and Beagle just looked gorgeous. Also my family polished up pretty well too, and I felt extremely proud of them the whole day. Bev also did really well too with his speeches, and wrangling the respective families. We have 950 photos to sort through, retouch, and print now.

Our in-laws are over visiting at the moment. It's been great to see them so far, but I'm looking forward to getting our bed back. It's hard having other people in your personal space, you can't say or do what you want, and having to sleep in the kids beds is not comfortable.

Well surprise today. My sidekick resigned this morning. Slightly disturbing since I'm planning on resigning tomorrow. Talk about a dual kick to the scrotum! I've got a meeting with new employer tonight, contract in hand, plans to start prepping for a new project, so it's all go. I would have preferred though to have been the first resigner rather than the second, since the management team will probably be pissy about him leaving now.

I had to write a letter to my remaining customers this morning, which was really hard. It's still difficult to not feel bad, like I'm somehow letting them down by leaving. I hope there isn't going to be too much fallout. I'll probably fold like a house-of-cards if they get upset. I guess I'm something of a rarity nowadays, actually giving a shit about people I work for. I'll just have to harden up I guess.

Things are finally starting to move along. The bathroom renovations are almost complete. Thank the maker, I'm so tired of being covered in tile dust from the angle grinder. There's nothing quite like blowing your nose and having brown terracotta tile dust come out of it for hours afterwards. It's just gross! The house has been on the market for a couple of weeks now. We're having our second advertised open-home this weekend. Ironically we've had more interest at the unadvertised open-homes than the advertised one, where all we got was a nosy old cow from across the road that decided to have a look through. Hopefully this weekend will be better.

I met the guy running the NZ branch of the company I'm currently looking too for employment. I'm quite excited as the job looks more varied than I was expecting, and it looks like an opportunity to be involved in something that could become quite cutting-edge. They would like me to fly to Brisbane now to hammer out an offer, so I might be going next week. Unfortunately we're tied up this week with preparations for Beagle's wedding this weekend, and a Marriage Course (No no! we're fine, we just thought we might learn some new tricks!).

Rob survived the raunchy Hen's Night, and I think Beagle had a good time, which I was very happy about since she's been having such a hard time with the Crohn's disease. Bev sat up all night with Beeb playing X-Box till 2.30 am, so they were both looking pretty shady the next day. The wedding is this coming weekend, so there is lots of preparations to make this week. I'm a bit apprehensive since I'm the wedding photographer, so my mantra is "Don't feck it up!" at the moment. I'll just shoot like a man possessed, and sort out the best photos later.