Mrs B

I'm so glad someone else started the August thread so I didn't have to think up something profound for the title. Owl, it appears you and I belong to the same group of extremely suspect persons - perhaps we really should drop our habit of walking around with an axe in one hand and a machete in the other - that'll just leave us with the chloroform in our back pocket. To be honest, the thought of someone giving up days of their time to help find dogs and using that as an excuse to get to their children is quite bizarre. I have pinged the letter - when my work PC decided that it was going to work! I have no headache, just feel shattered. And have an extremely long "to do list" - that that's before I look at my work "to do list". Now need to add "Christmas" to my list - thanks Alex. San, you and I definitely belong to the same school of housekeeping - although there is always cake here.

Thanks guys. It's printed and in my work bag - need to scan it over to She Who Thinks She Must Be Obeyed in the morning. Ironically, or not, the minute it was printed, my two day headache went! Not sure whether it was the relief of it no longer hanging over me, or the fact that I had succumbed and actually taken TWO paracetemol rather than one a short while ago. Off to see if either Tigger or Daisy fancy a brush - they're both a tad scruffy just now. to the lady who doesn't want one.

First draft - I've gone for the only thing I would apologise for! Any comments? "To whom it may concern I was informed today that a complaint had been made against myself and my colleague concerning our actions on Saturday, 16th July 2011. By way of explanation I would like to state that I had been given no prior information that the Main Hall would be in use at this particular time, and, if I had I would have sought prior permission to enter the Hall, or, if this was not forthcoming made alternative arrangements. When I saw through the doors of the Hall, which were both open, that it was in use, I left my colleague outside, whilst I sought permission to go through the Hall. This was freely given by one of the female adults, and was subsequently confirmed by one of the male adults present. My colleague and I made a single trip through the Hall, ensuring the door to the side room was closed whilst we put things away, and left, neither speaking to, nor engaging with any of the children whilst in the Hall. I take my responsibilities towards the protection of young people extremely seriously, and would therefore like to make an unreserved apology for any distress caused to any of the children, or their parents through my actions. If anyone wishes to meet with me to enable me to offer an apology in person, I would be willing to do so. Yours sincerely"

Well done Glenn Feel better soon Merledogs. I have a headache for a second day running. And I have That Letter to write today too. Maybe, just maybe the two are connected. Planning on having an easyish day I think - I've three cakes cooking, Mr B wants some bits of shopping, then I think I will thrash some paperwork, have a potter around the garden and catch up on some ironing. Tigger and Daisy seem shattered at the moment, so I'll wait-see how active they are - perhaps take them out later as it looks as if it might be warm here today.

Merledogs, sounds like you need lots of for lots of things. Thanks Fugees for all you sensible comments and for giving me a or two along the way. The letter is still in the mental stage - hence me being wide awake at 1.00 am and 4.00 am considering what to put. And now have another headache. Unfortunately the wishful option of explaining the facts of life to them isn't quite so simple as it appears - the group in the hall are entirely separate from group I was helping out with - and as group I help out with sell my cakes for me, and I currently don't have a local alternative, I may be doomed to make apology as requested - well, more along the lines of as Mrs B decides! Kind of ........... Para 1. I've been told third hand there's a problem. Para 2. Here are The Facts. Para 3 I apologise unreservedly if I have caused any distress to any children at the Party - but not to the adults 'cause they appear to be paranoids. Para 4 If you want me to apologise to them in person, (the traumatised children that is, not the adults) I will gladly do so - and will try to remember not to turn up in my scary goblin outfit to do so. Maybe the best of it is that I saw wife of guy who helped me take the stuff into the Hall yesterday lunch - and she is of the opinion that he too should be obliged to write a letter (we are both 5p shareholders) - believe me, heaven help the organisers of the party if he writes a letter too. Maybe we'd both be chucked out anyway. Strangely, on the back burner, I have a plan in the vague stages of finding an alternative to using this group anyway! Problem is, that will take at least a year. Oh to be able to give up the day job!

OK. So, just to bore you, my story goes as follows. I was helping out with an event (actually, without dogs, so that was probably my first mistake) and at the end of it had to take some stuff back to a Hall, to go in room off the main Hall. When I went in I discovered there was a children’s party going on, which no-one had warned me about in advance, so, I left my (male) helper outside, went and found a female who looked like they knew what they were doing, asked if it was OK to take the stuff through – got the OK, we took everything through in one go, shutting the door to the side room behind us while we put everything away, walked back through the Hall, exchanging pleasantries with one of the guys who was helping out who spoke to us first, neither of us spoke to any of the children ………………… and a complaint has been put in that we walked through a children’s party without asking permission “and it’s gone higher”. I am now expected to write the letter of apology (not sure who to exactly) and I’m just gutted that I spend my life tying myself in knots over whether or not I can help children when they obviously need help, and when I don’t speak to them, and try to do the right thing by asking permission, I end up being reprimanded. I was asked this morning to write the letter of apology by lunch time today – but on reflection I decided that I needed time to think what I was going to say – and in any case I have actually been at work this morning, so have better things to do than write letters like that in work time (!) So now I have to find the right words to say “sorry” for something I’m not actually “sorry” for at all, over the weekend. I think I need a night’s sleep first. Rant over.

I was "told off" this morning ................ long story which I will bore you with later. Suffice to say it has (1) upset me (2) given me a headache and © left me incapable of concentrating for more than five seconds at a time 'cause I keep going over 'stuff'. Hope everyone else is but have a if required. Off to see if I can manage 10 seconds concentration, via a mug of tea - especially as it took me an hour to make my first one this morning!

The gazebo is still languishing - but I was highly insulted this morning to receive an e-mail from the woman who thinks she is "it" for the group to ask if I could not pack the gazebo away wet - would be a bit late from Saturday anyway! My CLs are all wrong at the moment and I am battling with visibility - I'm fine as long as I am not reading of using my PC at work! I've had one consultation and have another one by telephone tomorrow. I forecast that I will be going back again!

I appear to have spent more of the weekend wet than dry. Was at an event on Saturday, and I had all the leftovers to bring home - including one wet gazebo which I have nowhere to dry to is currently in a soggy heap upstairs. I need some dry weather! Preferably evening as I suspect Mr B won't actually think to put it out during the day unless I ring him!

Lots of good thoughts for Ttyzer. And for you Rumpole - waiting for test results is never pleasant. Sorry to hear your holiday may be interrupted Alex. To my mind a full week off is always more restful than a few days - but I guess it's a case of 'needs must'. I would also say that three weeks off is even better. Am hoping blue skies continues here until after I have walked into town for my lunch break. 50/50 at the moment!

Me go maith. I think. Maybe I've just become a man? Not sure what the Irish is for "guess where"! Let's just say that the students descended while we were there!

Feet first or head first?

Thank you very much. We were in TiggerLand, and our dongle access transpired to be non-existent, so have only just caught up with this. Celebrated the day at Killary, although the dolphins did not oblige (story of my life, I NEVER see dolphins). It's time I learnt Irish. Any volunteers?

Well done Mags. Do we get to see piccies too? RMF: I am eating work colleague's left over hummous - brings in a whole pot, eats what she wants, and leaves me the rest in the fridge. Yummy. However I fear this also makes me the resident office dustbin!

I am confused. I came avisiting the new July fred but it has alluded me so I've sneaked one in. Off to catch up elsewhere and then will see if I can find anything intellectual in my head.

Are you on JustGiving?

Afternoon. I have spent a silly amount of time this morning putting paperwork on top of paperwork - now I have no idea what I'm dealing with and need to stop and regroup. Bad multi-tasking! Step-MIL appears to consider it necessary for us to travel to Ireland with a quantity of trifle sponges. I am not sure whether there is European shortage of this 'delicacy' or whether it is envisaged that I am going to be doing some extremely complicated cooking. I'd rather make soda bread! I am tired ....... and therefore unproductive.

That is a wee bit brave. At 18 I really wanted to do this, now it gives me the heeby-jeebies just thinking about it. So you'll be fine! Houndzrus, Tigger is an Irish boy. And has more than a touch of the blarney about him when he's with the ladies!

How is it that in trying to organise a holiday to the land of Tigger's birth, more problems are caused by the fact that the in laws and the husband are going than by either of the dogs?

Why is it that when you're 'expecting' not to get a Doctor's appointment for weeks, you get one the same day. Now I need to have a think about what exactly I am going to say!

I saw this and thought of HLGS. Polling Station Handbook

Snow, I am very concerned about you taking on all these additional responsibilities at work. Especially as it appears to be costing you more in dog treat currency. Mind you, if you train Daisy now, she could be very helpful in the futures ........... my Daisy is particularly helpful at paper shredding time! I was very pleased to be doing my voting stuff at 7.01 am today. Even if the polling staff were scrambling around and forgot to ask me the questions they were suppose to - I gently poked them! I would now like to go back to bed - but I was awake in the night remembering the things I had forgotten to do at work, so guess I'd better crack on with the flying e-mails.

My lack of knowledge of technology never ceases to worry me. I didn't even know you could get TV downloads on iTunes. Mind you, I'm still working my way through the one page idiot's guide to FaceBook! Meanwhile, really looking forward to the Apprentice. Mr B hates it, but I love it - so I have to record my fix of it.

Think that's called "stop trying to be clever Mrs B!" Try this simple plain version! http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/no-more-junk#coldcallers

There are days when I should just stay away from technology - here's the linky. No Cold Callers Sign