Hmm maybe I'm not working as hard as I should today

I think maybe it is the lack of emails over the past two days from my American colleagues who have been celebrating Thanksgiving, but I seem to have spent more time today on frivolous things than I should have done.
I managed to complete the meme that Welshcakes Limoncello set a few posts ago. I don't normally like to do many of these as I always feel pushed into them by someone who has tagged me. However Welshcakes has the secret, post it and leave the unspoken challenge for others to follow without actually tagging them - devious huh?

Well here is my version of 7x8

8 things I’m passionate about:
1. My marriage (I'm not screwing up another one!)
2. Motorcycling
3. Books
4. Music
5. Bad manners and unruly behaviour
6. Bad driving
7. Always doing my best at anything I do
8. Food

8 things to do before I die:
1. Learn to play the guitar reasonably well
2. Visit Hong Kong
3. A Motorcycle Track day
4. Climb a mountain (well maybe a small one)
5. Pass my Advanced Driving Test in a car to pair with the motorcycle pass
6. Visit The Orkney Islands
7. Learn to play Bridge
8. Get my golf handicap to 18 or less!

8 things I say often:
1. Red or White? (wine)
2. Oh OK then I’ll have another one please
3. We need to use some pragmatism here
4. Have you seen my ………
5. I’m sure I put it there
6. It would be rude not to
7. I’ll do it next week
8. When was the last time you did something you’ve never done before?

8 books I’ve read recently:
1. The Bourne Ultimatum – Robert Ludlum
2. Black Seconds – Karin Fossum
3. Bleachers – John Grisham
4. Skipping Christmas – John Grisham
5. The Midnight Club – James patterson
6. Winter in Madrid – C J Sansom
7. Lord of the Rings – J R R Tolkien (Again!)
8. How to be a Gardener – Alan Titchmarsh


8 songs I could listen to over and over:
1. Gerdundula – Status Quo
2. Parisienne Walkways – Gary Moore
3. Sarah – Thin Lizzy
4. Freebird – Lynrd Skynrd
5. Albatross – Fleetwood Mac
6. Cavatina – John Williams
7. Wheel in the Sky - Journey
8. Sultans of Swing – Dire Straits

8 qualities I look for in a best friend:
1. Be trustworthy.
2. Be kind
3. Available in times of need
4. Humourous
5. Don’t be narrow-minded .
6. Not too good a golfer
7. Supportive
8. Approachable

8 people I’m passing this on to:
Anyone who feels like doing it. [I promised you didn't I?]

By the way I forgot to mention that I had my regular eye test last week and I am going to try to wear a pair of Varifocals. Should be fun for a week or two. I will let you know when I get them so you can stay off the road for a while!

Weekend stuff

I'm feeling very guilty today as Mrs DeeJay, who never has any sickness, has finally succumbed to the cold that I brought home from one of my trips several weeks ago and still have not completely shaken off. She had a bad night last night, sounds extremely croaky this morning and is staying in bed today. That shows how bad she must feel as she NEVER stays in bed!

I hope she will be well again by the end of the week as it is her birthday early next week and I am taking her on a surprise trip to Edinburgh on Friday for a long weekend. She has never visited Scotland and as Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities, I hope she will find it the same.

Having had to give up my ticket for Thin Lizzy next month in favour of a business trip to Tokyo, I tempted fate yesterday and booked a couple of gigs for next year. Alison Moyet and an Eagles tribute band - The Illegal Eagles. I have heard the band before and they are excellent, but this will be the first time I have seen Alison Moyet on stage.
The tickets arrived on Saturday for Bill Wyman's Rhythm Kings in January. I am still in two minds as to what to do about them as I couldn't believe that literally 15 minutes after I placed the order on the internet, I received an email inviting me to a face to face meeting in the U.S. for the same week. I am sorely tempted to decline as I think it is time that I favoured my personal life for a change.

This is the week of my first guitar lesson on Wednesday evening. I will let you know how I get on. I must admit I am facing it with just a little trepidation.

Post-weekend ramblings

Thursday nights Status Quo gig was a success as usual with 2 hours of totally relaxed and fun performance by the boys who introduced numbers from the new album and played many of the old favourites. In particular, as far as I am concerned numbers like Gerdundula with 2 x twin guitar solos (can you say that?), 4500 Times with it's numerous key and rhythm changes and other older blues based numbers such as Down the Dustpipe.

I have been suffering all weekend with 'man flu' and know just how this guy feels :-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXLHWmjA5IE

I have finally bitten the bullet and fixed up my first guitar lesson. It's about time as I seem to be struggling with the teach yourself book option. I wonder how long before I post my first YouTube solo?

A post at last!

Where has all the time gone? I don't seem to have any left these days for posting, or for that matter for reading my favourite blogs. I blame the new role and all the travelling and worldwide teleconferences for stealing my time, but I wonder if it is really me and I need to get myself more organised and get my 'work life balance' back in kilter.

Well I am going to look after #1 (oh dear how American! - No. 1) tonight as I am going with some friends to our annual Status Quo gig. Bloody old rockers! No not Quo, US! This year's tour is wonderfully aptly named "In search of the fourth chord" as a humorous pop at all their critics. Tonights gig is in Croydon which is always a good night as it is Francis Rossi's home town.

Unfortunately I will not be able to make the next planned gig to see the recently re-formed Thin Lizzy as although I have a ticket, I will now be in Tokyo again for work on that night. What a bummer.

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Isn't it funny how you can see something almost daily and then suddenly see it in a completely different way?
I drive/ride on my daily commute past a fishing sports shop sign named after the town that it is in - "Sandwich Bait & Tackle"
I wonder what bait and what sized tackle you need to catch a sandwich?
Are there deep sea sandwich fishing trips?
What is the biggest one ever caught?
Can you imagine the photo posing with the monster catch?
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Oh well back to work!

Another Letter from America

Well here I am again on the East coast of the USA.

With my 3^rd international flight in 3 weeks, my body seems to be getting used to the travelling as I managed a full night’s sleep on the second night this time!

There is a bonus to this week’s trip and the heavy work that we are accomplishing, which is that we are meeting and therefore staying at a spa hotel and I managed to find some time yesterday evening for a massage. Aha maybe that is why I slept so well last night! I could get used to this as it follows hot on the heels of a wedding anniversary weekend with Mrs DeeJay at another spa in the UK. My muscles have never been so relaxed and my skin so smooth.

I missed out on my BA miles and points this trip as there were no seats available when I wanted to travel so I had to take an American Airlines flight. Maybe it was because this was my first flight with them and they want me back, but they upgraded me on both legs of the trip to First Class - A result!!

I will be home on Friday night and I think I may well be home based until mid December when it looks as though I will be re-visiting Tokyo