Work update

I've been here just on 2 months now, so still not a huge amount of time, but long enough to have got into a routine. I'm working on one main project, designing a rising main - relatively simple, my main job is co-ordinating people and consents etc, as well as being involved in the actual design. Other than that, I'm going through a whole lot of somewhat historic applications for mains sewerage in villages in rural Wales - some of them first made the applications in 1998! So, just trying to get those tidied up and reports issued. It's interesting trying to pronounce some of the Welsh place names, like Pwllheli and Rhiwgoch!

At the end of last week I went on a Corporate Welcome, which is run every few months for new starters in the company - across all grades/levels. There were about 90 people there in my session. It was quite similar to the grades 6-9 conference that I went on last month - it involved an evening at Warwick University conference centre, with a nice meal and open bar to get to know others in the company. Then on the Friday, it was a full day of seminars - an introduction to what the different sectors of the business do, as well as an HR/ H&S / Financial overview and an introduction to some of the other Opco's. Really interesting to see the wide range of projects that FM's involved in. It was also a good chance to meet others in the company, and hear their vision for where we're going.

Outside of work, things are going well - have had a few weekends at home recently which has been really nice actually - good just to be able to relax a bit. Am still doing loads of stuff with church, which I'm really enjoying, and have lots of lovely friends there. I'm going to go and check out a swing dance class tomorrow evening, which should be fun.

Sunday pub lunch

Trip on Sunday to a lovely pub in Ford, near Bath, to celebrate Aunty Jenny's big birthday!!

Oxford

Hi all,
Nathan's cousin, Steve, came to visit us for a few days, and last weekend we all went up to Oxford for the weekend. We managed to catch up with Auntie Jenny and Uncle Chris, as well as Rich from back home, who's studying there, and Mim from Nath's church, who's just moved to Oxford.

We had a trip out to Chiselhampton, currently a building site - J&C are re-doing their house entirely. So far the walls are up, and the roof due to go on soon. You get quite an idea for the place even as a shell, as can visualise how it's all going to look - very impressive! And interesting to see it all 'in progress'. J&C then very kindly took us out for dinner to the Kas Bar, which is a Moroccan place with sort of tapas-style food (ie. lots of little plates of things). It's a really fabulous place - very buzzing, and decor is quite something.

On Sunday we hung out with Rich, at an Australian-New Zealand BBQ, and went for a bit of a walk around Oxford. Also got to have a walk around Magdalen College with Cat, his girlfriend (who's lovely) - which was very impressive, especially with the deer!