Found a couple of strung conkers in Cal's school pencil case, so while kinda watching 'Return of the Jedi' we played conkers completely out of season. Anyway Cal's conker was dispatched to the nether circles of conker hell and that ends the conker season until the kids start throwing sticks at unsuspecting horse chestnuts in Autumn to let me know conker season has begun again. Mind you I'm ready for all comers with my oner.
Post work picked up the Potter novels at WH Smith's (apparently they had a couple of hundred loons on the doorstep at midnight) and then on to Maplin's for the cables I needed to hook to videos together to record the evidence tape of Cal at school. As usual I forgot on having forgotten I was recording to a mono video from a stereo scart so had to go back for a twho phono to single phono adapter. What are the chances of that happening, eh! So at the moment I'm shuttling between here, the two videos and supping a welcome cup of coffee.
Printing off the final version of our appeal evidence, few amendments from Catherine Blundell of the parent partnership. All solid constructive criticism so well impressed. Even better she gave us a copy of the criteria for a Statement used by the LEA (something Steve Redfern promised us ages ago but suprise, suprise never delivered) and of the four criteria (you only need to match some not all) Cal meets 3. No wonder Knowsley want to head off the appeal, not only would it make them look bad but they may well lose! Trouble is they've succeeded because they're delivering what we want... mind you that's not to say we can't scare the shit out of them by carrying on to the last minute......
I know this is a stupid time to be up, but I need to nip into work for about an hour or so this morning, then I need to go and pick up the new Harry Potter. Monst is waiting on a copy and I've got a copy ordered for me. I still find it bizarre that we had Jeremy Paxman interview JK Rowling on the Beeb. What next Basil Brush to interview Blair? Anyway beyond that I've no major plans for the day.....
Interesting afternoon post-pub lunch, the Rapidly Diminishing Ken Clare came in, as ever a delight to see him, much chat, a few IT issues sorted. Home via the LMI to drop an article they'd requested, and then Sainsbury's. Got home to a completely quiet house with both Monst and Cal asleep. Word is the Sports Day which finally happened today went OK and that for the Strawberry Fare Monst needs to turn herself into a land girl and Cal needs to go all agricultural too.
Another pleasant lunch with Val, Colin, Hilda, Mo and Tracy, the best pour of Guinness I've found in Liverpool, good chat, cheap and good food. What more could you want? Word on universal search environment is carry on as before. Get your shit together for it and let's go for it. Cool morning meeting with Ian Brown and Colin Lynch there too.
Couple of days away from work and you need to sort the crap out in your -email box. Not helped by the requirement today that I needed to go to work, print the draft evidence on Cal and then drag it home so it's ready for Catherine to read, then come back again. Anyway the Hefner's on, the coffee is about to be made and then I'm gonna hit the cataloguing. Nice to get an invite to Dr. Clark's stag do in Amsterdam, can't make it bu the invite was appreciated.
Er....what happened to Leeds, as a 'Soft Southerner', I reckon I have every reason to expect Northern towns to announce themselves with men in flat caps with whippets, by being bleak and industrial and have at least the odd cobbled street with urchins riding old fashioned shop delivery bikes dragging bread in their wake as the 'New World Symphony' seranades them. Leeds has been disguised by trees, we missed our turn and were well on the way to Hull before we noticed (got as far as Goole....) but we were having a laugh etc. A quick turn around and we found Leeds 30 miles down the M62 and not a whippet in sight. John Sargeant was facilitating (thats where my shagging phone bills go) and was very jovial, funny, and intelligent. Half of Canada was in Leeds. The guy that watches over the overspill car park would find all the letters that describe him in the words Coconut and Canute (we were late, had a prepaid ticket and we weren't stopping for nobody especially a lazy bastard who was hiding in his hut until we were past him) and then to get an earfull from an old geezer in a baseball cap (beware men in hats who are doing things relating to cars is a good thing to remember along with beware of men with thin wrists) really cheered me up. Luckily Hilda dealt him an ego blow with her pre-paid ticket. A nice welcome to Leeds from Mr. Happy, but as by that stage I was Mr. Grumpy Southerner, stick yer claim for 3 quid you Canute. FOI gig was good, but we did find out why the gig was free as BT tried selling us a Canadian enquiry/docs management programme (shelling it out at around �10K apparently). The food was good, the glass of wine at the end was appreciated, the speakers were quality, the bags and leatherette pads, nice but don't rub in how you're using my phone bills BT. Interesting things that did come out were the whole FOI gig requires: Training, training and more training for staff. Single points of enquiry are the norm in Canada, but won't be here. Enquiry management software might be an extremely valuable monitoring tool. KM/RM/FOI symbiosis is potentially extremely high.
How I love the 24 Hour Asda at Hunts Cross. When Cal was tiny and keeping people awake at nights it was an oasis of silence (apart from the bloody muzak played by Radio Asda which is apparently designed to make you buy more as it reduces you to the mental state of an emu on acid) and calm as you shopped for those vital supplies that kept you going (usually following the conversation with Monst 'Have we got anything to eat? I need biscuits, Kieran wil you....). So imagine my disgust this morning when I go to get some spare milk (we seem to be drinking loads of the stuff at the moment) and a bit of bread, pre-me going to Leeds with Hilda for a FOI gig. 5.30 a.m. and the shagging place was shut. Now I did pick up petrol from the 'Fast Lane' (what a misnoma don't know about anyone else but when I'm filling up I generally find travelling at 70 to be a bit of a problem - please note Mr. Plod adherence to speed limits on the motorway - well a guy can dream) but that only required a card and nothing human (believe me you want to see me this time of the morning it ain't pretty and it ain't human pre-a couple of cups of coffee). Anyway back home and waiting for the wee shop Hannah's Place to be opened by Tommy. On the FOI gig, must admit I'm kinda looking forward to the journey if only because Hilda is a scream, that and it means I can investigate the Royal Armouries as a potential day out for Cal and myself. Trouble is I don't think I've ever been sober and in Leeds. Dave a mate from school was at college there and that meant if I ever visited drink. I even had my one and only Roadie gig there with Ian for the Dentists and Hitchcock because Dave was one of the ents organisers at Charles Morris Hall (we did sod all work but did play footie with the Dentists and Mat Seligman (Soft Boys, Tom Dolby, Snail), this is one of my dodgier claims to fame).
Looks like I'm finally getting my shit together over a scrapbook of imagry that inspires me when putting together posters and stuff for the library (ask me I'll produce something last minute at the drop of a hat, always sodding last minute though even if I've plenty of time, inevitably they are the result of years of back rooms in pubs, dodgy cellars and way to much music and too many flyers grabbed at the end of an intoxicating night......). 'Elfin Smile' just seems to be happening. Need to tell Marie about it as it's a direct result of many a discussion with her. Meanwhile I've finished draft one of the evidence and the fridge and a bottle of my precious Brakspears beckons..... Check out this unofficial Brakspear's Fan Site this along with Martin Beeks Clumps photies are making me homesick.... if you want to know what it tastes like as Brakspears Live Organic just click on the preceding link. For me it's vaguely reminiscent of their Special, a worthy alternative to my favourite Old on a hot summers day.... As for the Brakspears as an inspiration when I wrote my MA I did give it its own acknowledgement.....
No Sports Day, it was cancelled as a result of a nasty bout of rain in the morning. Unfortunately the venue (aka the playground) is in a sheltered area (er...surrounded by (expletive of choice insert) big trees) so the wind was unable to dry it out in time. Consequently I'm well ahead on the evidence for the SENDIST appeal. On the plus side once again we were seen at the bowling alley (another victory to me), whereupon Cal introduced a new technique to rolling the balls down his ramp thing (implement of destruction, call it what you will) as he started heading the bowling ball. I know the kid can be a bit of a headcase but this was taking things a touch far. Post bowling off to the Falstaff for dinner on a two for one deal. Cost effective, plain food in a plastic pub (I stuck to Pepsi because it was safer than the beer). Then home, plan was to do some speech and language exercises with Cal but he had other plans and has promptly fallen asleep. House is quiet in consequence. I'm just plugging myself into the Belle and Sebastian album so see ya later.....
Good news for Mo, she went for the Library Managers job at the Cardiothoracic Centre and got it. This is great news for Mo as it's a really good carer move for her. also she knows she can do a competative interview and come out smiling. We knew the other candidate and she would have been equally able to do the job. For me it's less good news. We need to recruit on a fixed term for 9 months (a bugger of a job, mind you if you're a UK based librarian and looking, drop me a line) while Mo goes on secondment (just in case it all goes horribly wrong and the CTC don't secure additional funding to continue the post). In addition Mo is our detail merchant and I need one of them to keep my feet on the ground. Oh, well, advert writing it is then. On the plus side, gives us a big in, into the CTC.
Putting the final touches on our SENDIST appeal, fully aware that we won't go through with the thing because Knowlsey LEA have offered in writing a place at Northern Primary for Cal 2 days a week. Still putting it together because we might need it again because I dont trust the LEA. Must say though since Dilys Strzalko got involved things have started to happen. Why is it it takes the threat of an appeal to get to this stage though. Couple of nice blog links here, one from Ken Goldstein's blog as part of a list of interesting librarian blogs (pleased to see the Spinster Librarian and Rogue Librarian there and a few I'd not looked at). This place has also made the fave list of Online Dating Blues which is nice. I can't help but think this could or should have been a song title used by my mate Ian and myself when we believed guitars could save the planet. Sadly not the case and more importantly we suffered from the punk ethic (me more than Ian it must be said, he has some musical ability) that learning to play the instruments was a bad thing. The serious muso's at school would talk to us about keys and things like that and our only response was chubb or yale. Anyway if you don't play don't make my mistake and work on the basis that because it only has four strings a bass is the easy option. Believe me there are these nasty things like notes and rhythm to be negotiated as well. Faint praise here from the library school at the University at Buffalo. Thank non existent deities that I got the library school experience over with, 7 months of UCL. Committed the sin of being a rich kids college and being in London. Big question for the day, why do cockney's run for a tube train? Could never understand it, mind you I'm an old culchie who maintains another'll be along in a minute or two. Still every time I'm in the smoke I feel myself speeding up. Anyway suppose I'd better get on with what Monst ain't paying me for.
150 parents are due to be cheering their kids on, we have a copy of the set list for the gig, like the sound of the Nursery Potato and Spoon Race, but the Nursery Dressing Up Race maybe a bit dodgy. I hate to think what type of outfits they intend on putting on (Darth Vader, Django Reindhart or just a jumble of old clothes being my predictions). We're taking the camcorder, which means dodgy holiday style film if only on the basis that I'm not quite Eisenstein. This whole thing feels well weird though, feels like I should be sending my parents along rather than attending as a parent in my own right. Learnt today that the courses we've identified for the staff at the school, which we were planning on paying for if need be, will be paid for by the school. Cool, this is exactly the sort of commitment I like.
Got 50% of a records audit achieved at Stockton Heath which was more than I expected and then picked up some Brakspears. Knakered from last night so clinging on to this bit of good news.
Finally got my shit together and sorted out the library registration for all those WLSINFO'ers on my btopenworld webspace. Got to say I love the blurry pic of Rita Tushingham having spent too many years chasing the girls with the Rita Tushingham hair and elfin smiles. Trouble is I'm too slow and they're alway dead nimble...... Tempted by a page two for it when I get the time.... Taking myself and the grey hairs for a bath then bed..... need a drink while I'm at it...
Good speech and language practice with Cal when we got home. He did his best and that was good. Still nothing in writing from Knowsley LEA. Chilling with a bit of Belle and Sebastian a band I meant to investigate way before now but just about got my shit together to buy 'The Boy With The Arab Strap' today. Mainly it must be said because I was so pissed off. Anyway took it out on the cataloguing and wapped out a starter for 40 for the grey lit list. It's a good marker, I'm aiming for 20 items a day so that's tomorrow's quota taken care of. Trouble is I'm not in now til Friday, unless that is I get away from my records audit at Stockton Heath early tomorrow. Anyway the Deuchars calls. On the Belle and Seb front, why, oh, why did I wait til now? I must have been pissed off post this morning shenangins because I went for a haircut, a thing I despise, but the hot waether means I need to let a little fresh air reach my head. Alarmingly I'm noticing an increas in the grey fellas that are starting to haunt my head. Jaysus at this rate I'll be a senile delinquent before I get to the adult bit...
Bugbear hit us again so a.m. saw me running around like a demented Woody Allen on speed, trying to get the help desk to help and as usual when the library is trying to cope with this sort of horror the phones start to go mad. Do people know we're stressed and wanting to scream at the world. Not helped by the fact we're trying to sort all this crap about Cal out.
Dropped Monst at work and picked up some Deuchars from the Caledonian Brewery, staple beer of PCT Librarians meetings. Planning on sitting in the garden as the sun goes down, supping cool and refreshing beer and reading 'Boiling a Frog'. Cal's in bed so I can just kick back and relax for an hour or so. Gonna shove some Nick Heyward on the stereo and shove the cans in so I don't noise pollute the neighbourhood and it'll be fine. Might even see if the blackbird family are about so I can get an update on what's happening in their nest.
Poor old Steve Prisk don't know what hes walking into tomorrow. CGI problems with Cairs for one thing, then me wanting to push on with the Web proper version..... Oh well it'll keep him active.
Hit Sainsbury's post swim, got a Peri-Pari marinade for the chicken to do a warm chicken salad for tonight, picked up the free bottle of wine and then headed for the exit. Trouble was I forgot Cal's fruit. Quickly remidied. Swim went well, dispensed with the swim vest and Cal just had his water wings and a float. He coped really well and had much more movement to allow him to scoot around in the water. Well impressed with him. He's currently playing with his marble run, wearing the Bob the Builder shades that Monst bought him yesterday.
Enough of the jangle and onto something a bit different. Sunday and to celebrate hitting the 'Black Grape', felt like a change. Anyway while on the subject of Stupid, Stupid, Stupid, happy fathers day to all of you fathers out there..... mind you as I scored all but the 'Wildcats of St Trinians' on DVD out of the deal who am I to whinge. Plans for the day, Cal and I due for a constutional swim down at the 'Let's Rip off Trevor Brooking and Sell Some Land for a Huge Fortune' Leisure centre in Halewood. Followed by a mission to retrieve an evening meal from Sainsbury's that is both consistent with the need to eat and the weather which is hot, and to score the free bottle of wine that Mr. Sainsbury sent Monst a voucher for. Even better it's chardonnay which Monst won't drink, I say all the more for those of us to whom a descriminating palate is not a concept with which we are familiar. The garden and I need to have a major argument as usual. The bloody plants keep on growing and need chopping as a result. Especially as my folks are due up at some point for a night and they like gardening. Capability Brown I ain't, Incapacity Lamb maybe. Other than that I've finished the last Brookmyre I hadn't read (the first he published 'Quite Ugly One Morning') might re-investigate 'Boiling a Frog' which might make more sense now. Got to wait til round Feb 04 for 'Be My Enemy' the next thing on the Brookmyre assembly line. Was looking through his press and loved this '"If he decided to move on from his love affair with low brow... then he might one day aspire to literature. But perhaps he doesn't want to." Peter Jinks, The Herald. Well if this is low brow long may my head suffer from gravel rash.
