17th May

I attend the monthly Managers briefing. I find these quite interesting as its the only time the managers at my level are all brought together with the Management Board. Its fun to see what's considered to be important and to hear what the managers at my level have to say.

I'm also there to give a briefing on what's happening with the refurbishment and what progress is being made on the new ICT contract. I do both but don't get any questions. Its not bad news so people aren't too interested.

I then have a meeting with the Reprographics team to discuss the refurbishment of their area. They have been pushing very hard for this and I've saved money to try and make this happen. We work out some of the logistics and i ask them to get some costs together for the specialists to come in and move their sensitive machines. I also ask them to draw up plans for the relocation of some of their equipment in one of the meeting rooms. Nice!

I've arranged to meet Ian and Alex tonight. We all met in the E-government team in Chelmsford. We've all left there now but still meet regularly. Lucy used to join us and probably will again in a few months but she has just had Jacob so won't be with us.

Before I join them I meet Paul to discuss the document for wrapping up our investment club and to have a beer and a general gossip. We do all three before I meet up with Alex and Ian.

I haven't seen Ian for a while. We've been trying to do this for a few weeks and have only just managed to fix it.  We meet in the Steamer, visit the White Horse pop along to the new Ale House in the railway arches and then finish up in the Spice for a curry.

We chat about crap, gossip about rubbish and generally catch up with each other. Sam is pregnant and Ian is over the moon about being a Dad again. Lovely evening. I sleep on the train on the way home. And then sleep in front of the telly before falling into bed.