Signs Of Spring

It seems a good deal milder today. Carol and I decided it was time to bring my fridge in from the garage, where it has been stored since we got married nearly three years ago. It was easy to get at, fortunately, although we had to move some items which were in the way. It didn't take much effort to carry it through the garden and into the house and through the French Windows. It is now plugged in and working, although it is going to require some cleaning. As we came out of the garage we noticed that the tree near the garage is in bud, so a real sign that spring is on the way. Also, we still have the little Christmas tree in the house, and it was moved in preparation for bringing the fridge into the house. Carol noticed that this, too, is showing signs of growth, on the side nearest the wall. I have been careful to water this tree, but not too much. Also, there are crocuses coming up on the grass verge along the side of the road coming into Crownhill. Definite signs of spring.

Drive To Bedford

I took Carol to the Academy early this morning. I should really say that she drove and I drove back. There has been a fall of snow over-night. It seemed very fine and almost like granulated sugar. The surface of the road going through Crownhill was really slippery. We got to the bottom of Hendrix Drive and the intersection with Munro Drive, and Carol put her foot on the brakes and the car almost didn't stop. A rather nasty grinding noise which was the tyres on the surface of the road. There was a possibility that we were going to end up in the house opposite and join the family inside for breakfast! It was quite traumatic, to say the least. We managed the rest of the journey without further mishap.

I dropped Carol at the Academy, came home and had some breakfast and then drove over to the Registery Office in Bedford. I was somewhat reluctant, considering the snow and ice, but as it turned out there was very little snow or ice on the roads.  It seems that the estates within Milton Keynes are the worst hit by the night's snow, and I had no problems. Bedford's traffic system seems just as bad as it always was when I lived there, particularly going into Bedford from Bromham, and all along Shakespeare Road. I got to the Registry Office and could find nowhere to park the car, so had to find a space off-street in one of the roads off Brickhill Drive and then walk into the office. There seems to be no problem getting a full Birth Cirtificate , although it costs £7 and they will post it out to me 2nd Class and so it should get to me in a couple of day's time, so that is one less problem to worry about.

Training In Aylesbury

I had a training day in Aylesbury yesterday. I had to get to the Phoenix office at 10. No problems there, as I now know exactly where the car park is and where the office is in relationship to the car park. Just as I arrived at the Phoenix office it began to snow, although it didn't settle, fortunately. The car park cost £8. Just thought you'd be interested to know the full cost of parking in Aylesbury from about 9.30 a.m. until about 2.45 p.m.

We were doing a course on First Aid. This included the C.P.R. part which caused so much amusement when I worked for Guardian Homecare (see earlier blog if you haven't read it.) Nothing particularly exciting to write here, except to say that it is now the THIRD time I've done this in the last year. There will come a time when I'll be able to lead a course on this subject myself very soon.

The course covered quite a few subjects, including what happens if someone has a heart attack. I obviously have first-hand experience of this, so I could hardly sit and say nothing. I gave a short description of what happened to me (see my earlier post.) and the trainer asked me if I had my red spray with me. I said I had no need for it, but she said, what would happen if I needed it? I think, perhaps from now on I will have it with me at all times, just in case.

I now have to have a FULL birth certificate in order to work for Phoenix. It seems that I won't be able to work until they have this form of identification, so I'm going to drive to Bedford and go to the Registry Office there to get one. I have another two days of training, and once I have the Birth Certificate then I can officially work. It now depends on the C.R.B. check coming back, which may take around 4-6 weeks.

I got home and had a look at my emails. I have had an email from Casting Collective to be in a new Disney film about to be made in London somewhere. I won't hear whether I've actually been selected for a day or two.

Trip to Aylesbury

I answered an advertisement in the Milton Keynes Citizen for work for a care agency a week or two ago. They sent me an information pack, application form and so on. Well, in truth the application form and so on never turned up. How long does it take a letter to get from Aylesbury to Milton Keynes? A couple of days? I rang back, and got an apology and a promise that they'd send out another application. A few days later this application form turned up. I rang to make an appointment and then  drive to Aylesbury for the appointment, which was yesterday at 10 a.m. I managed to park in a multi-storey car park (I don't know Aylesbury very well. I have driven through several times and Carol and I have been to Stoke Mandeville Hospital for appointments, but as regards the parking arrangements, I'm not familiar.)

The address I was given was in the Market Square, but the actual office building wasn't actually IN the market square, which was somewhat crazy. The building wasn't market in any way, no notice saying 'Phoenix Healthcare' so that I could pick it out. I was wandering around the streets and I had to go into a solicitors office eventually and ask. A lady there pointed the right building out to me, so I was somewhat relieved to find the right door, although I had to look down a long line of doorbells and find the right one. It was one of those security systems where you press a button and a voice speaks through a grille and then they let you in. A post lady was about to enter the building so she came in with me. The office was supposed to be on the third floor, and we had to spend ages wandering about trying to find the right office and the right floor, and even looking for the stairs to get there! If Phoenix had only put up some sort of sign to say where they were, there wouldn't have been all the problems in finding them!

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I had to do yet anothert C.R.B. form (Criminal Records Bureau) which cost £35, although they tell me I will get half of the cost back once I start working.  I'm somewhat annoyed that you have to keep on forking out £35 for a C.R.B. check. I realise that the whole idea of a C.R.B. is to prevent those with criminal intent from working with vulnerable people, but to have to have one for EACH company or agency you work for is really too much. It is rather like an M.O.T. in that it's only good for the actual time they look to see whether a person has a criminal record. I have also applied for another company and they want £47 for the C.R.B. So is part of that for 'administration costs' or are they merely making a quick profit out of this? If that's the case, it's totally wrong and someone should put a stop to it immediately. There is so much paperwork that you have to provide to just prove your identity. I have a birth certificate, but I have to have a full one, as the one I have doesn't give enough information, so it looks as if I'll have to find around £10 to get one. I'm going back on Thursday to start doing induction, as, again, you can't work until you've done the basic training. The C.R.B. check will take around 4-6 weeks, so I may as well get the induction out of the way first.

The roads are getting really bad. They are full of pot-holes. I noticed this on my drive over to Ayslesbury yesterday. This must be due to the recent ice and snow we've had. You have to take your life into your own hands, as you drive around Milton Keynes. You have to dodge the potholes, and in so doing run the risk of running into other vehicles on the road. It is really about time the local authority around here got it's act together and started repairing the roads, certainly before there is a serious accident.

Up-To-Date

Yes, I know. Before you ask 'where have you been?' I've been off-line. The snow and ice has gone, but it's still cold, with a biting wind. The roads around Milton Keynes have really suffered since the ice and snow, with a lot of potholes appearing. It's making driving really precarious, having to dodge these holes in the road. There are a lot left over from the previous winter, and the Council should really get it's act together and sort the roads out before there's a serious accident.

Well, that's all for the moment. I'll come back and write some more when I have the time.