Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in marty21's LiveJournal:

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Thursday, June 18th, 2009
3:40 pm	John He was given a good send off, and I think he would have enjoyed the drunken wake. (Comment on this)
3:38 pm	uncle Pat It's frustrating, all the indicators seem to suggest that Pat died but can't quite prove it, it's circumstantial at the moment. Should be getting more info next week, hopefully it will prove it either way. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
3:08 pm	uncle Pat we are closer to finding out whether or not Pat has died, should know later today, a bit of information my cousin is tracking down to tie in with what we know about the Pat who died. I still have the feeling that Pat is dead, but would like to know for sure before we tell the rest of the family. (Comment on this)
Monday, June 1st, 2009
6:56 pm	uncle Pat I've been trying to contact Uncle Pat to tell him of John's death. Pat disappears for years on end, but usually someone knows a pub he drinks in, so we get a message to him. This time we're not sure, so we contacted the pension people who said he hadn't claimed a pension (he's 71) I checked death records, and found his name, with the same date of birth (but one year out on year) I have a feeling that it is him. Still have to check some more, but a cousin of mine found out that he was living in Lambeth 6 years ago, and the death was registered in Lambeth... (Comment on this)
Thursday, May 28th, 2009
6:40 pm	Uncle John RIP On Monday my Uncle John died, he was about 62, and had been ill for some time. He was one of my dad's younger brothers so my dad is understandably upset. John was a heavy drinker, a real heavy drinker, he'd disappear for months on end, was was basically a street drinker for years.I didn't meet him that much over the years, even though he lived in Bristol for a long time, and I was in Bath. He'd turn up, get into a fight with dad, and disappear. He surfaced for a funeral about 10 years ago of his sister, my auntie Bridget. Ultimately the drink took his toll, after years of heavy drinking, he was admitted to a care home, suffering from dementia. It was a sad end to a life that promised a lot from what I have been told. He was the brightest of my dad's family, they thought he might end up going to either university or entering the priesthood. My Dad is one of 14 kids. He started drinking early, not fantastically early, 15 or so, but soon gave up on dreams of education, he would have been the first of the family to attend University had he gone (I think that honour went to me in the end, about 20 years later) he gave up on the priesthood, and headed for England. A well worn path followed by elder siblings, to Birmingham, where my Aunty Bridget had settled, she was the eldest in the family, a 2nd mother to her siblings who followed her to Birmingham, and then spread out, to London and the West Country. Initially he held down labouring jobs through the family, and the drinking continued, he moved down to Bristol where 3 of his brothers lived, and then the cycle started, working, drinking, not working, drinking, not caring, working, drinking, etc etc. I remember him as a clever man, witty, and great to talk to, unless he was shitfaced, when he could be very annoying to be fair. They say drinking is an Irish disease, it has claimed another victim. My dad and another brother (TJ) are driving down to Devon today to register the death, and to claim the body and make the funeral arrangements. I'll go down for the funeral and the wake (which John would have loved) John's brother Liam, was closest in age to him, he would have just been to the Wedding reception of his oldest son Oliver (which I am also going to) a happy occasion, followed by a sad one. Rest in Peace John Togher, I hope you find peace, finally. (Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 24th, 2009
9:18 am	20 years Forgot to mention yesterday when i was a little animated about the poison pensioner, that yesterday was the 20th Anniversary of my arrival in London. Yes, little marty21 (aged 23) got on a train in Bath and came to London, well Buckhurst Hill where my mate was staying. Lost count of the number of jobs I've had in London, I could count them if I could be arsed, ok just got arsed, 11 jobs. I made my way to Clapton via Buckhurst Hill, Acton (although it might be Ealing) Southfields, Temple Fortune, Stoke Newington, London Fields, Stoke Newington (again) and finally sunny Clapton. (Comment on this)
Monday, March 23rd, 2009
8:49 pm	being savaged by a poison penned pensioner I work for a housing co-op, been there 6 months, it's dull and not as worthy as I thought. Last week a tenant contacted me to tell me he had received a copy of a letter by mistake, and it mentioned me. Of course I was very curious and raced around to see him, the letter was basically addressed to the management committee, tenants who run the co-op, I basically have 12 bosses. The committee member wasn't able to make a meeting to discuss my probation, so had written to other members with her thoughts, and mistakenly posted a copy to this tenant. She basically wanted to extend my probation due to my apparent "lack of attention to detail" and an "appalling letter I had sent to all members of the committee. Now attention to details is probably true, I don't make mistakes, but may misspell a name every now and again. The appalling letter was basically not a letter, more a briefing note about a decision reached by the committee, sent to everyone, it didn't have a "dear" or a "yours sincerely" in it, just a few paragraphs, a summary. I wasn't particularly surprised about the author, she has always given me the impression that she doesn't like me, not another colleague, who has had run-ins with her for years. My predecessor left because of this poison penned pensioner. I stewed on it over the weekend, came back to the office, the Chair arrived, seemed aware that I had seen it (no idea how, I hadn't actually told anyone) she said she was sorry that I had seen it, but that some of the criticisms were correct, although accepted that the "appalling letter" wasn't actually a letter. I said I wanted to meet the poison penned pensioner, she said she would ask her, she did, the poison penned pensioner didn't think it was "appropriate" to meet. I heard that she had visited members of the committee on some sort of campaign to convince people that she was correct. Quite happy to write letters and have meetings behind my back, not that happy to speak to me directly. Anyways, they are meeting on Wednesday to discuss this. They will be in no doubt that I am pissed off with poison penned pensioner, and I will hear their decision. Could be back on the temp market soon, I won't beg for a job. Current Mood: chipper (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, March 1st, 2009
11:29 pm	more sales well one more, to a bloke who is a tenant of the co-op I work for, he gave me a fiver for it, I was going to give it to him for nothing, crap salesman that I am. An old friend from America asked about it, I sent it to her free of charge, in a credit crunch/recession as well! scabby arm is much improved, although i still pick at it, stopping it from going completely, will post more scabby arm updates soon! (Comment on this)
Monday, February 9th, 2009
11:46 am	arm improved My arm is less scabby, the cream from the chemist seems to have had a beneficial effect. Still can't help picking at the scabs though, did that as a kid, and haven't quite grown out of it. my book is for sale again on Amazon, and sales are "brisk", 2 copies in 2 weeks! (Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
12:45 am	back again Been a while, all sorts of IRL stuff happening, still happening, quite stressful to be honest. I have a rash on my arm which could be connected, it is pretty yukky, and I scratch it at night, which doesn't help. I did finally get around to getting some cream for it, went to the chemist, offered to show him my scabby arm, but strangely he refused, but he recommended some cream which I am now applying to the scabby arm, must try and not scratch it, even though it is dead itchy. It says on the tube to go and see a doctor if it doesn't heal in a week, that would involve actually registering with a new doctor, which is something I haven't got around to since i moved here in 1997! Let's hope the scabby arm improves and i can put off registering with a new doctor for a few more years. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, December 18th, 2008
10:07 pm	I finished another nanowrimo, 50,000 words in 30 days, was a real struggle this time, at the half way point I still needed 38,000 words, but I knuckled down and did it. Four years in a row I've done it, not done a thing with those 200,000 words yet. One day I'll get back to it. I'm more embedded in my job, and find myself being pissed off by two pensioners, and really guilty about it. The two of them just annoy me, they are connected to my work place and I see them often, and something about them is just plain mean spirited, despite their pretend friendliness, the room seems to grow colder with them in it. Luckily I haven't been in a room with both of them in it yet, that would be freezing. Merry Christmas the odd reader. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 15th, 2008
12:46 am	where did all the years go? I started this blog in April 2005, over 3 years ago, I don't post on it every day, but rarely go a month without posting. There are some periods of obsessive posting, followed by more fallow periods. I haver no idea why I do it to be honest, it's a habit, is the best I can come up with. (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
10:39 am	Ding Dong the wicked witch has gone! 3 weeks into my new job, settling in, less of the politics of larger places I have worked. I still don't know what I'm doing, but feel less confused. I heard from people at my old job, the evil manager has been let go, she was a temp so it would have been an easy process to let her go, pity they didn't do this in January, a whole lot of hassle could have been avoided. She is off the gravy train, and I hope (and I'm usually a generous soul) that she doesn't get another job, partly because of the way she is likely to treat staff at another organisation, mostly because I'd like her to suffer in some way - payback. I feel bad that I feel that way but not too bad (Comment on this)
Friday, September 19th, 2008
10:00 am	quick work not had an email from my old employer, after criticizing the management when I left, I sent the form about 2 months ago, and now they are inviting me in to discuss my issues. I told them I couldn't go in as I had just started a new job, and that I was sure that the director was aware of the issues and should be able to make an informed decision on the basis of not just my comments but several others - talk talk talk, but no action, sums up the place to be honest, I'm well out of there. (Comment on this)
Thursday, September 18th, 2008
2:11 pm	back in the land of employment Quite relieved to be honest, started a new job on Monday at a Housing Co-op in West Hampstead. Bit of a dramatic change from my last job at evil massive housing association, they told me at the interview that they are a bit tame, I said I love tame. So I was out of work from June 27th, paid until July 27th, and wageless until September 15, I could have temped from June, instead I decided to hold out until I got a permanent job, and dug into my savings a little, before the credit crunch stole them. Talking of the credit crunch, they way I understand it, short selling was a major factor, brokers sell stock they don't own, in the hope that the shre prices drop, then trouser the difference when the stock tanks, I think the practice is actually called "naked short selling" since you don't actually own the stock you are trading. I read somewhere that some hedgefunds who favour this practice had made billions out of it, making hay while banks went out of business, immoral really, since it is not just the big earners at banks who suffer, and frankly they get no sympathy from most, but also the support staff, and businesses who supply services, they are the real victims. Bank staff with the big bonuses can sell their 3rd homes or second porsche I guess. Meanwhile the share price drop directly affects those with pensions, I had my pension statement recently, a stakeholder one, I have paid into for the past 6 years, it's worth what I paid in. Great, I'd have been just as well off stuffing it under the bed. (Comment on this)
Thursday, July 24th, 2008
12:57 pm	a friend writes for the guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/jul/19/healthandwellbeing6 he's an online mate, although i have met him a few times in real life, and a lovely chap he is as well. In saturday's guardian magazine, he wrote very movingly about how he killed a man, nothing sinister, he is a tube driver, and someone committed suicide under the train he was driving... (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, July 6th, 2008
5:41 pm	a life of leisure been a week now since i left, my main worry is whether or not i'll get paid in July, I have a feeling that the evil boss will try and stitch me up on that. She has already stitched me up on my yearly bonus. Once i officially leave the form, then i will start my complaints against her. I feel sorry for the people left, and she is really the worst manager i have ever had, and my experience of managers goes back to my first part-time job in 1978... it has been very relaxing, not having to worry about work, next week i aim to start the job search in earnest. honest!!! (Comment on this)
Monday, June 30th, 2008
11:18 am	the end! I'm out of there!! Friday was uneventful, finished most of the stuff i needed to, but impossible to finish everything - gave copious notes to my successor, nice bloke, I hope he can handle it better than i could. Evil boss barely spoke to me all day, although after i sneaked off at 4.15 (through a useful side entrance) I heard she was looking for me. I wouldn't be surprised if she turned up at my flat . I am convinced that she will try and stop the pay for July, even though she asked me to leave and offered to pay me to the end of july, and stop the paltry bonus that she stiffed me on anyway. I did make sure HR were aware of the deal Gawd, I feel like a surly teenager, I'm forty fucking three, and I'm so glad to be out of there. There are plenty of people i will miss, but I felt under real strain there, seeing the way she treated me and most of the other staff. Maybe i should have spoken out a bit more, but when you are in the situation, it gets difficult, I really didn't want to jeopardize the last month's pay. So I begin again, just like 2003, when i last left a permanent job - temping awaits. Hopefully I am older and wiser now, and I'll get a perm job, and settle into it again. Sadly I thought I was all sorted in the last one, and up until Feb, i was. Then evil boss comes a calling, mass exodus, voluntary and involuntary, and stress, and anxiety. It's just not worth it. I have savings, I can survive for a few months (even if she stiffs me) and i feel relaxed for the first time since Feb. Lucky I went gray early, or this experience would have sent me grey. (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 19th, 2008
4:45 pm	more changes now i have only 5 working days left, my manager asked if i wanted to leave earlier - told me they'd pay me til the end of july - i said yes, so suddenly I'm leaving in a week. blimey - how it did all end like this? i guess they didn't want me hanging about infecting people with my leave-iness. I can take a bit of time off now, so there may be some lazy days in the pub before the job search starts in august i want sun this july !!! (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 12th, 2008
1:38 pm	it's done resigned today, i have about 6 weeks left in this job, sad that it had to end this way, sad that i don't actually have a job to go to, but relieved that i don't have to put up with their shite management anymore (after july anyway) other non blog stuff is making me sad too, but that's not for here (1 Comment |Comment on this)