17th July

We start demolishing the Reprographics area. The problem we have is that we can't go too deep as we still don't have the asbestos report. However, we can do things like removal and storage of the window blinds which are new. We want to retain the data network, the electric cabling and the heating system. These are all new and spin out from the refurbishment of the rest of the building.

We work with Simon to make sure that we retain features and that demolition is not too drastic.

In the meantime, i'm trying to get stuck into the ICT elements of my new role. Loads of new stuff to fill my head - new version of MS Office to be rolled out; new contract terms to be ironed out; new links with other councils to be checked and explored; how to handle the connection of private devices to the council's network; etc. Loads of fun and game sto come!

16th July

I am now over a month late in doing this blog but I intend to catch up with it on a day by day basis. So if you're still reading and interested then stick wih it. It has been a busy month with some interesting challenges. I'm writing this on 27th August so have quite to catch up. I'll try and do at least two every day!

Today we start refurbishing the Reprographics area. We have to check for Asbestos as we have found some in the building and we can't send any workers in unless we have checked any further areas. Bit of a drag but it can't be helped. The first day is given over to the asbestos team to check the area.

Essex County Council have requested that we soundproof the meeting rooms they are renting from us. I'm quite annoyed about this as we have refurbished the area and now have to make major changes to it. I have managed to persuade them to pay half of the costs. It's not cheap to do the work.

We have a new site manager and John is supposed to be project managing this piece of work with me as his mentor/coach. I'm not sure how well this will work out as he is covering annual leave for his Duty Officers and will have to work shifts! Doesn't leave much opportunity for project managing a piece of work like this. The new site manager is quite different to Steve but he is keen to do a good job and to get on the right side of the council. We have a look at the soundproofing work that needs to be done with sub-contractors who're doing the actual work. Basically we need to clad the thin partitions, put sound proof panels in the ceiling and rubber door seals. Not major but the electrics have to be moved, the carpets can't be disturbed and the rooms have air condirioning and ventilation panels in the ceiling space!

Essex County Council started moving their people in and the scond floor is hectic. This is the first time the space has been occupied since the refurbishment so I'm expecting to find some problems!

15th July - Bastille Day

320 years ago the French peasant sstarted the revolution - well they say it was the peasants but it was really their middle classes. I think.

We have a leisurely morning and take the dogs out to Goldhanger for their outing. The weather is much better and at least its dry. They swim in the canal and then leap into the river as the tide is coming in. I rinse them down when we get home to get rid of the salt from their fur.

Visit Phil and Bren. We hadn't given him his pressie from earlier in the week for his 65th. Its a tablet from us and Andy and Kay plus a bluetooth keyboard from Pascale and Alex. We have a chat about their forthcoming holiday in Canada, Pete and Ali and kids visit from New Zealand and the exodus from Antigua.

Back home I tackle the lawn - first time in a while due to the recent rains - bloody jetstream!

14th July

I take Blake and Colin out. The weather is not great but the worst of it is the long grass. Its very unpleasant walking in it as it is thigh long, water logged and gone to seed. Its not too bad for Blake but poor Colin is drenched within 2 minutes. It breaches the zip son my boots and 5 minutes into the walk my socks are wet and ten minutes later my boots are full of water. Most unpleasant.

Back home we dry off and settle down to breakfast. Eggs, bacon, toast and coffee. Lovely.

Marian donates some more of her tomato plants to Pascale and Alex. They head off home with Colin to get some rest before going off to their next social rounds. We dive into decorating and finishing off the bedroom.

Keith and Yvonne turn up to return our marquee that they borrowed for the last weekend. We have a quick chat as they're in a hurry: they're helping Kate move into a new flat in the next village and also on their way to the tip to get rid of some rubbish.

Back to decorating.

Warren and Mirabel turn up with Petal (their cocker spaniel). They're off to Spain for a week and we (Marian) has volunteered to look after her.

Back to decorating. We finish it at about 6pm and sit down to relax for a while.

Crash out and relax in front the telly with the two dogs! Nice to sit still for a while.

13th July - and its a Friday!

I get a call as I'm walking into the office to say that there is a guy trying to sort out the air conditioning. I didn't even know that they were turning up! When i get in I find out that he's from the mechanical engineering contractors. He has a diagram with references that I don't recognise and we get nowhere. He says he'll come back on a weekend to sort out the air conditioning problems. I fire off a letter to Steve asking him to clarify what's happening.

I then get another guy pop in to look at the two faulty hot water boilers in two of our teapoints. He spends a couple of hours on the main one and seems to fix it. Unfortunately. It stops working at about 4 in the afternoon and i have to report it again.

I find out that there is some of the lower strain of asbestos tiles in the area we're refurbishing. We're going to have to close the area down and get it cleared. Its going to add time and money to the programme. Bugger!

Late in the afternoon I get a text from Pascale saying that she and Alex are coming over for a pub dinner. Bonus!

I get home and get another pleasant surprise as Alex drives down to pick me up. We have a couple of beers and decide to get a taxi to the next village, have a beer in the pub and then have a curry. We haven't been to this restaurant for some time now for a sit down meal. The last time was when Pascale went off to uni. We've had takeaways but not a proper sit down meal. Its as good as ever and Shihab is pleased to see us.

Great evening. We even have time to have another beer in the pub afterwards whilst waiting for the taxi.

Back home we crack open the wine, turn on the music and break out the chat. Its a long boozy chatty night. Good impromptu fun.

12th July = Beer Festival

John and I meet with Steve and the guys from the mechanical engineering company. We go through the problems we still have outstanding and try to get resolutions in place and the dates by which they will be done. I don't trust them but don't have much choice.

Trudy, Cherieand I meet to discuss the waivers the new ICT contractors want to apply to our new contract. With a couple of minor changes we reckon that we could live with the waivers/ Meet with Joyce and agree the way forward.

I head in to Chelmsford to meet Pascale and Alex at the Beer Festival. They are there with Colin and Bea. I sample a few beers. Bump into a few people I know = I used to work in Chelmsford. Chat with Pascale and Alex and their friends. The company is good but the weather turns foul: cold, windy and very wet.

Its great to see them and spend time in a different place. Would have been great if the weather was better but you can't always have everything!

11th July

I meet with Trudy and Mischa to look at the Google mini search box options. He wants tof ind the best place to locate the box with the search engine and at the optimum cost. We identify a realistic solution with our new ICT contract. However, there are still some questions so I offer to email them to get clarifications.

Essex CC have some questions about various items. I spend some time with them and try to help them. In most cases I can.

We are still having problems trying to sort out snags and complaints are building. I write a stroppy email to Steve and get an immediate phone call to ask for a meeting with the mechanical engineering company tomorrow.

trudy and I discuss some of the ICT problems we're facing. There are a few and some of them will be problematic. I think I need to build a plan for managing these so that we can get a handle on it.