The Calypso Curse

Well, first things first. Our syndicate has decided not to participate in Glorious Goodwood as I have only just returned & I'm not up to speed yet & the guys are both off on Thurs 2nd Aug on their hols anyway for a fortnight.

Secondly I am horrendously ill after returning from what should have been a relaxing cruise. I feel sick, dizzy, have a headache & I'm swaying when I sit or stand as though I am still on the Ship doing full speed in choppy waters. Not content with that the whole ship was pretty bacd. For example, the restaurant didn't have many of the wines they had on the wine list, the casino never opened once, the air conditioning broke on day two & that meant (with the 40 degree temperatures outside the entire metal body of the ship, which retained the heat) we all nearly suffocated when we went below decks as its not like you can open a window to let in some air for they are bolted shut.

In our specific cabin - one of only 4 deluxe suites apparently! - my sofa bed wasn't up to much with its thing almost non existant mattress. So much so that I had to sleep on the floor to avoid springs digging in me, which isn't that unusual for me anyway as I sometimes sleep on my floor at home.

Also in the restaurant the service wasn't up to scratch. The waiters just didnt care, so my dad is going to complain & no doubt get some money back. Having said that, the majority of people we spoke too were also going to complain for the same reasons & also coz some of them had been misled by Thomson's into thinking The Calpyso was a brand new boast when really she is a 40 year old converted ferry! There's a lot of difference between the two I can tell you! The entertainment was sparse as well and there wasn't much to do on the ship in compariosn to the other ships in the thomson fleet so we have resolved from now on we'll only go cruising on the Thomson Destiny.

The destinations themselves were hit & miss. Most were just little sea side villages with a few shops in them where the brochure led us to believe there were many temples & ruins to see. True I enjoyed Epidauras & Nauplion on day three & Ephesus on day six for that reason but the tours with the ship were well over priced. We did the first mentioned tour with the Calypso but for Ephesus we hired a air conditioned people carrier & a local guide named Augus who was very interesting & friendly. We enjoyed visiting the ruins with him although in the end it meant the day cost more than what the original ship tour did but it was worth it for the intimacy. IE there wasn't a crowd of forty eight people thrying to hear what the guide said - it was just myself, my mam, dad & Augus. Besides, some guides we overheard while walking around got the history all wrong ... but I guess they were Americans & they usually do rewrite history to make it more interesting for themselves.

One sight that completely distressed me was at Santorini. You could either get a cable car up to the town from the dock (which we did going up) or take a donkey - although technically they were mules & in no way donkeys! - ride to the top of the mountain. What distressed me was on the way back down. We were going to take the cable car but two huge American cruise ships were also in the bay & they were all heading back to their ships at the same time we were. This meant a two hour wait for the cable cars. We also had to be back on board in 90 minutes times so all us Brits decided to walk down the donkey track. When I say track it was more like wide cobbled stairs winding up the mountain, covered in dried & fresh donkey muck. Nice. I laughed my head off at all the women in stupid flimsy flip flops!

Anyway what distressed me was seeing all the poor mules tied up waiting for customers & having to watch them coming up & down the mountain with fat people on their backs. They looked so sad & pitiful, I was very upset at having to walk past them. Plus we nearly got crushed on several occasions by a train of five mules as ignorant tourists riding them kept slapping the quarters or digging their feet into the mules' bellies to get the animals to walk past the people coming down on foot when it was obvious the mules were trained to stop when a crowd of people were walking too close to them so that they didnt crush any human beings. Instead under such cruel pressure the mules had all the walkers right up against the wall & very nearly standing on people's feet. I myself clambered up on the wall which was a fairly dangerous thing to do as there was a sheer drop on the other side. Luckily as with most equine type of creatures they sense a horsey person a mile off & they calmed down pretty quick once I petted the lead mule nearest to me & quietly told him it was going to be ok. The poor frightened things.

Oh yeah I remembered another thing to go wrong with the ship. On a few occasions we had to use our lifeboats as tenders to ferry us to shore as the harbour was too shallow for the ship itself to venture into. One day, we were watching the crew & captain prepare to sail when we saw there was still a lifeboat in the water. The three guys in the boat were securing the cables ready to be winched out of the water & back onto deck. However once the lifeboat was in position at the top of the winch, the Captain started shouting into his walkie talkie for them to hurry up as we were already ten minutes behind our depature time. He must have made them flustered for the next thing we knew the lifeboat came crashing down into the sea, sending two for the crewmen overboard.

The Captain did his nut yet further which was most amusing to watch - he was a very angry man in general though. After 45 minutes the lifeboat was finally winched into place & secured on board. Of course it just happened to be our lifeboat, didn't it! Anyway from that day (day four I believe it was) on lifeboat eight was out of order to undergo maintenance work. I swear we were lucky not to actually need it as we all wouldn't have been able to fit into the remaining 9 working boats - our fellow passengers were so fat they'd take up two or three allocated spaces. Im sure there are laws against not having enough lifeboats for a vessel.

As all I've done is moan I'll redress the balance a little & say the good ship Calpyso is home to the fantastic cocktail; Kalo Taxidi (means Good Journey) that I discovered on day one & which I drank all holiday long (when not supping Budweiser on my sunbed thorughout the day) & they had me very merry. If you don't know, a Taxidi is made up of blue curacao, lemonade, grenadine & ouzo. It looks a deep royal blue in colour - like the ocean we were sailing on - & tastes like fizzy aniseed sweeties. Yum!

Ciao for now

TJ

Graduation Congratulations

Well, my sister has finally graduated (until she does so again after her next three years at uni) & for the most part the day went off without a hitch, until all photos had been taken so at least those weren't spoilt. Then as we were potentially looking for somewhere to eat, my dad & sister bickered & had an arguement which saw her & her bf heading off one way & myself, mam & dad heading for home. We bumped into our next door neighbour upon arriving back & the first thing my dad said to him was "What a waste of a day." He just cannot be proud. So, of course this upset my mam who was on the phone in tears to her mam & I had to comfort her. She advised me not to bother asking him to give me away at my wedding if I have one. Which I totally agree with.

My delicate little tootsie's have taken a hammering from my gorgeous shoes that totally matched my baize suit with all the walking to & from the uni campus to the city hall that we did so now I can't walk. That will be great with my holidays upcoming very soon.

Anyway, not only did my sis get a first, one of only 6 in her chosen subject to do so, but she got a further award for being the best student of her subject. Seriously we have no idea where she gets her brains from! My mam is no way academically inclined, much like myself & my dad isn't either though he does know all there is to know in his chosen field: offshore drilling for oil. Seeing my mam so proud when my sister was on stage made me a bit sad & probably a flash of jealousy ran through me too coz I have never made her proud like that & never will.

Although on the flip side my sis knows fuck shit about horse racing & would never find a 16-1 winner in a million years. I guess that's my talent in this life& if that's case things could be a lot worse!

Ciao for now

TJ

Somewhere Over The Rainbow & Why Is Life So Confusing?

It has taken me a while to be able to talk about it, but I was saddened last week when I heard the news that prolific racehorse sire, Rainbow Quest (above) had to be put to sleep after complications following emergency surgery for colic. He was 26 years old, which is a fair innings for a horse, but even so, I was still shocked to hear off his passing. Afterall, any sire of champion fillies are ok by me, although sadly his sons have never quite hit the target. This now means only Sadler's Wells is left of my favourite "old school" stallions & he's no spring chicken either. Oh well, guess I'll have to invest in some new ones although so far there's only Silver Patriarch, Loup Savage & Montjeu that I like.

At work, I got everyone that deserved it into trouble for their actions (or lack of in P's case) last week. All I did was tell the truth in my debrief so my conscience is clear & I actually feel at peace now. Luckily I am not at work for a week so things may have calmed down by the time I return. Quite frankly I don't give a shit if they subsequently don't like me - Im not here to be liked. I'm here to do a job. Besides I don't really get on with two of the offenders anyway so it won't change our relationship too much.

Topic of the day (as discussed with those few that are still talking to me!) was "Crossed Wires" thanks to AF. As in, if you go out with a member of the opposite sex, is it a date or not? He went out for a drink last night with a girl who he#s known for a while. He confessed that in his mind he thought they were on a date however at the end of the night when he went to kiss her goodbye, she was less than impressed. He was 100% sure up until that point that he'd read the signals right but now he doesn't have a clue.

This has to be the hardest topic of all. I din't have an answer (unusual for me) as I've been on both sides of the story & i didn't have a clue then & I still don't now. Unless right at the start of the night we state our intentions:- "Would you like to go to the movies with me? By the way it is a date & I expect a snog at the end of the night" & voila no more confusion. Yep, that's definitely the way forward I reckon!

Ciao for now

TJ

Hurricane K Touches Down

Well my sister is back and she is already causing mayhem. There were three arguments last nigh; one about contact lenses, one about spiders & one about moths. Oh not to mention I got wrong for using the bathroom at 7.40 this morning as it woke her up. Hark it - this coming from the girl that gets up at 6am to do her makeup for work & making a noise while doing so. At least I am quiet. And she uses the hair dryer at 1am in the morning & we're expected to be ok with it. I hope she moves out soon.

My mam is also doing my head in sticking her oar in trying to do a bit of match making as she read in my stars that I'd be invited to a wedding then lo & behold I have been.

Anyway on the work front our non American didn't turn in today & it took him til 1.40pm to phon eme & explain what was up. Apparently he cracked his head whilst moving house yesterday & was in hospital. He had only just been released when he called me. I don't believe him to be honeest but he did say he's be in tomorrow. Great.

Our joke of the day (again by default) is brough to you by our volunteer driver GB:- A dog owned by the landlord of a pub gets run over in the road outside. Everything is gone except its tail. The landlord picks up the tail & has it mounted on a plaque on the wall behind the bar. On the 1st anniversary of the dog's death at 11pm his ghost appears in thepub. He goes to the bar, whimpers a few times so the landlord pours him a pint. The dog laps it up then disappears. The same thing happens every year until the 5th anniversary of his death. On this occasion the dog appears, goes to the bar, whimpers & one of the locals says, "I know what he wants. He needs his tail to make him complete so that he can pass through to the other side." Another man goes behind the bar to fetch the tail only to be stopped by the landlord. "What?" he asks. "Sorry mate, I can't serve spirits after closing time."

I have to day I found that one lame but what do I know? I had a text from my protege D this arvo & it was nice to hear she is blissfully happy in a new placement. I wish I was. God this place has driven my mental today & I have a splitting stress headache. I'm off to do some relaxing things like take a long soak in the tub with bubbles & surrounded by scented candles that smell of the tropical Caribbean, paint my nails & do some yoga.

Ciao for now

TJ

Love & Marriage: Discuss

I watched G.I. Jane last night purely to drool over Viggo Mortensen in his white US Navy uniform in the last couple of minutes. He could do without the dodgy tash though. I have a thing for the white Navy uniform ever since I saw Stephen Seagal in the first Under Siege movie & Richard Gere of course! Anyway I think its an ok movie & don't see why it got slaughtered by the critics. I've seen a hell of a lot worse, like Munich & Blood Diamond. I didn't get the hype surrounding them coz when I watched them I found them quite boring, in my humble opinion.

The song I had stuck in my head today was Little Esther's "Aged & Mellow Blues" which may be too obscure for you to have heard of it. It's a blues song that I was listening to last night. Principly the immortal line "I like my men how I like my Whiskey, aged & mellow" is what's floating around my head. Maybe its an omen!

Anyway today was another quiet affair in the office which gave rise to two topics of the day: "Marriage Pros & Cons" & "How Do You Know When You Are In Love?" both partly brought on my a convo I had last night. To summarize the first topic, it was generally decided I think like a man. Is that any surprise when I work & play in a male dominated environment?! All my best friends over the years have been male so it's natural their views will rub off on me.

I don't believe in marriage as I don't think you need a ring or a piece of paper to prove you are committed to one another. Yeah ok, I'd love a big white wedding but only for the dress, cake & getting to be a Princess for the day aspect - not becuase I believe in what "marriage" itself means. In fact I'd go so far as to say that I scorn the whole institute of marriage & would loathe being called a wife as once you marry a guy that's all you're ever known as; "Mr X's wife". It's never your name. It's like you cease to exist as an individual. Besides nowadways it's proven that you are better off financially if you don't marry. I'm sure that's destiny trying to show us all the way.

The second topic was an extension of the first one when AF pointed out that maybe my special someone would want me to marry him to prove that I loved him. To that I said the same as I do in any situation where a guy trots out the bullshit line of "but you would if you loved me", which is: "well in that case, maybe I don't actually love you at all". That then gave rise to the "question how do you know if you're in love"?

The general conclusion was there are no cast iron ways of knowing as it's different for every one of us. IE AF knows he's in love when he finds himself grinning when his girl sends him a text. This is before he's even opened it - it's as soon as he sees her name beneath the little envelope icon. B said he knows he's smitten when he can't wait to see her after being apart at work all day. I would hazard a guess & say I get butterflies in my stomach which I have inly had the once & I did think it was love at the time but now I'm so confused I dunno what to think it was!

Which then begged the quetsion, "What If You Are In Love But Don't Recognise The Signs?" IE B may grin like an idiot when he gets a text instead of dying to be with a girl & because it isn't his usual sign he might just ignore it & think she's "just a girl" rather than "she's the one". God I'm even more confused now. Fuck it I've had enough. I should charge for this kind of shit!

And finally, Joke of the Day (by default as we only had the one entry) was brought to you by AT:- A lad asks his grandma "have you seen my pills? They were labelled LSD." His grandma replies, "Fuck the pills! There are dragons in the kitchen.

Ciao for nnow

TJ

100th Post Milestone & Welcome To Club Tropicana

Oh my God, I am loving the new Davidoff aftershave advert with Josh Holloway aka Sawyer from Lost. He's so hot it's almost criminal. I've only seen it the once but hell I won't EVER forget it.

We had three out of three winners on Saturday gone so we've decided to split that money between us & get absolutely hammered on it rather than put it towards Glorious Goodwood. Anyway I'll have a credit card bill to pay off when I get back from my hols so I really should be saving my share. Do you see a recurring theme here each month?? I should cut my damn card up!

Today has been quiet in the work front but I have been busy in a sense coz I've got Wham!'s Club Tropicana stuck in my head after hearing it on the radio so I've been dancing about the office all day, which I can do quite happily as there is only me in it - unless the guys pop in obviously - in which case for the most part they joined me in all my madness. It was fun apart from the fact I'm in my new shoes that hurt when I merely walk too much, let alone dance! They weren't designed for dancing, I can tell you but they look damn good, which is all that matters. I just ignore my aching feet - sorry for abusing you in this way!!

Hopefully it will be the same tomorrow before the non American returns on Wed & our bosses are back on Thurs. Not that I care coz I'm off from 20th til 30th July. I can't fucking wait... Club Tropicana drinks are free, fun & sunshine, there's enough for everyone, all that's missing is the sea but don't worry, you can suntan!

Ciao for now

TJ

Thank Fuck Its Friday & Demon Dentists

Im glad for the first time in my life of Mini C's silver tongue. He charmed us into changing our minds in the 2.35 having received some insider info, so we all went on the beautiful Giganticus who romped in at 16's, providing a little consolation for Top Dog who overlooked Tybalt in the first. That means we are back in profit by £306 for the year & we are keeping it all as the starting stake for Glorious Goodwood in 3 weeks time. Of course technically we all had the winner but it was Mini C that found it so as I'm feeling generous he can claim the credit all to himself. And so the winner of the Master of Newmarket Cup is Mini Cooper. Well done hon!

1st place ----- Mini Cooper ----- 3 individual winners

2nd place ----- Top Dog ----- 2 individual winners

3rd place ----- TJ ----- 2 individual winners

It transpires that those involved with the broken down bus yesterday arvo didn't get finished until 8.30pm. In a total waste of man power JK was present as was H who I sent to the rescue & JK had called R in as well. R was especially livid as all he did in the end was stand around like a spare part.

My trip to the dentist resulted in a filling that will hurt for up to a week until it settles & another appointment for 17 August (unless J says I can't get the time off work) for another filling but on my left lower tooth to stop it becoming as bad as the one I've just had fixed. If the work I had done today doesn't work & I still get pain then he'll have to remove the offending tooth. He took great pleasure in telling me that. too much if you ask me but whatever, I don't really care I just was the pain to stop!

So I got into work to find everyone milling about my office waiting for their wages & expenses. There were 9 messages on the answer machine that our non American B had listened too but not actioned. £12k T was also eagerly awaiting my arrival coz his computer was demanding he insert a disk into it that happened to be locked in J' s office. Then to top it all the bloody sign writers showed up to put our livery on the "new" buses.

Where was JK in all of this I hear you cry? Good bloody question. I didn't get that back log cleared til 11.05 when the two hospice drivers came in also full of chaos. Apparently there was a major fuck up last night on the disabled kids tennis run. Both AT & I checked the job sheets on my computer & they were right so the problem lies with JK. What a coincidence.

Now Im off to celebrate our great day with a bottle of wine from my secret stash. Hell I might even make it the bottle of Moet & Chandon I have saved for an occasion such as this! Ciao for now

TJ

A Damsel In Distress & A 14-1 Beauty

A massive thanks to Tranquil Tiger, Spanish Bounty (& Mini C of course for his inspired selection x), Traffic Guard (top pic) & Winker Watson (bottom pic) who may end up being on of our ante post bets for next years Classics. I myself was absolutely distraught at missing out on the moody git that is Papal Bull but got over it incredibly quickly when Spanish Bounty went it!

So after an exciting day the results stands as follows:-

1st place ----- Mini Cooper ----- 2 winners

2nd place ---- TJ ----- 2 winners

3rd place ----- Top Dog ----- 2 winners

And so Day 3 selections look like this:-

TJ:- 1.30pm Cape Hawk 2.00 Feared In Flight 2.35 Mine / Fajr (EW) 3.10 Dutch Art / Sander Camillo 3.45 Honky Tonk Sally 4.20 Nine Stories 4.55 Ameeq

Top Dog:- 1.30pm Ea 2.00 Ellmau 2.35 King of Argos 3.10 Soldier's Tale 3.45 Baraari 4.20 Runswick Bay 4.55 High Treason

Mini Cooper:- 1.30pm We'll Come 2.00 Declaration of War 2.35 Zomerlust 3.10 Prime Defender 3.45 Rockellio 4.20 Bid Art 4.55 Samurai Way

Today was quiet at work which meant we had plenty of time to discuss our topic of the day "Telephone Voices". Apparently I have a "smiley" voice but not in an annoying American way - just an irritating British way. Seriously though, I always sound happy on the phone even when I feel sad or pissed off. I also do a very good "sympathy" voice that sounds sorry but isn't patronising so if there's any bad news to be broken, I'm always nominated to do it!

Then of course a mere 20 minutes from home time & all hell breaks loose. One of the new buses' fuses all blew so its lift was stuck on the ground & it couldn't go anywhere. First of all both myself & the driver JC (I think she might be jinxed with that bus!) tried to get in touch with a skiving JK but he ignored his mobile. There were five disabled kids on the bus, whose parents I had to call to say they'd be late home. But lo & behold their contact details were locked in JK's office & I haven't any keys for it. I did point out to J at the time that I should keep the details as Im always in the office whereas everyone else goes walkabout.

So I called JC back & we decided the best course of action was to get the phone numbers off one of the kids on the bus that wasn't so severly mentally handicapped. We managed that & from his mam I got the other four contact numbers. Now you would think mams would be worried about their kids but not this lot. Everyone I spoke to was too busy laughing their heads off at the fact our new bus had broken down for the 2nd time in as many days.

Meanwhile, as we couldn't get in touch with JK for instruction I took it upon myself to send another driver up to rescue the kids with the intention of leaving the bus preferably unlocked in the hope a gang of youths would come along in the night & torch the fucker & put us all out of our misery. So I went out side to collar a hapless driver that had just returned back to base & you know what? He refused to go coz he was off home. Baring in mind it was 3.50pm & he is paid to work til 5pm. So J will hear of this disgraceful behaviour.

At this point I decided to try JK's mobile again & a woman (i presumed it was his wife) answered. He'd left his phone at home but had gone out driving. Absolutely fucking typical. When the shit hits the fan, JK isn't around & I have to fix it. And he is supposed to be in charge while of the office while our bosses are away. Anyway I managed to send another driver to the rescue at which point I gave up & went home. And to top it all off I have a bastard Dentist appointment tomorrow. On Friday 13th. I get the intense feeling something is going to go wrong.

Oh well, ciao for now

TJ

Pointless Tears & Crisis Centre UK

I could cry with the amount of "nearly bets" we could have had today. Each one of us changed our minds at some point during our selection session & missed some beautiful long priced (for the flat) winners. Still I did manage to stay faithful to Turbo Linn (above) - back her now for next years Cheltenham Festival. You have been warned. She is fast becoming no in fact she IS my favourite NH mare.

So Day One standings look a little bit like this:-

1st place ----- TJ ----- 1 winner

2nd place ----- Mini Cooper ----- 1 winner

3rd place ----- Top Dog ----- 0 winners

And our selections for Day 2 are:-

TJ:- 1.30pm Spice Route 2.00 Winker Watson / Spitfire 2.35 Black Rock 3.10 Lucarno / Admiral's Cruise (EW) 3.45 Hunt The Bottle 4.20 Drumfire 4.55 Forest Dane

Top Dog:- 1.30pm Tranquil Tiger 2.00 Spirit of Sharjah 2.35 Bid For Glory 3.10 Eradicate 3.45 Aaim To Storm 4.20 Eddie Jock / Traffic Guard 4.55 Distinctly Game

Mini Cooper:- 1.30pm Galianna 2.00 Gaspar Van Wittel 2.35 Pipedreamer 3.10 Sixties Icon 3.45 Spanish Bounty 4.20 Lone Wolfe 4.55 Bertoliver

Ok now thats out the way I can moan about my horrible morning. As usual I was left to run the place on my own first thing which in ordinary circumstances I can deal with perfectly well but not with an apprentice to train. I think through a crisis better on my own rather than having a shed load of people milling about the place.

Crisis One occured when one of our "new" (I say new but its probably 2nd or 3rd hand but its not in bad shape) buses on its very first time out on a job, made it to its destination but then refused to start. I dispatched R to go rescue JC & he managed to jump start it so it could limp to the garage. Turns out the battery is as dead as a dodo & upon enquiries to the security team it turns out the people that delivered the buses changed batteries over before leaving the premises. Its the second time this company have done that. So we've complained again & like the time before they are going to pay for a new battery for us. It just goes to show, a little complaining goes a long way coz its costing us £65 for a new battery.

Crisis Two involved a regular contract. Every morning we get a list of people to pick up & take into the day care centre. I personally went through the list today with the Head Nurse & we had eight pickups. She even specifically said to me, "Thats eight today, TJ ok, love?"Long sotry short, we get these eight people into the Hospice & 30 minutes later we get a calling asking where a Mrs X is. She was like "There are eight people in today." I agreed & asked her to double check how many people we in the building. She went off presumably to do a head count & upon her return said "Yes they are here but where is Mrs X?" To which I pointed out that in that case there should be nine people in today. "No eight," came her reply. "Well if we pick up Mrs X, it will mean you'll then have nine people & either someone is in who shouldn't be or you are expecting nine in today." She STILL couldn't grasp this notion & kept clingling to the number eight as though it was a life belt.

Anyway the next problem arose when I tried to send a driver to get Mrs X. Two of the actually argued ovre who would do the run. Meanwhile five minutes later Im standing there shouting "I don't care who does it, just one of you get there now!" As it was, both of them went. Still arguing but this time over who would drive. I've come to the conclusion that drivers are a breed apart!

Ciao for now

TJ

Well our new apprentice has started & I don't get a good vibe from him. I'm usually right about these things: a case in point being the pther guy I don't get a positive vibe from, AC. He is now on his last official warning for a whole host of offences. I knew my gut instinct would be proven right in the end.

Ok, I know I said I quit but after a 30min phone call with Top Dog that basically boiled down to the fact that we'd really only lost £108 each over 5 days & over 35 races which in the grand scheme of things, wasn't much so I was persuaded to re-join the syndicate. If indeed I had ever left in the first place! We have in fact made a dent on the debt with 2 nice wins curtesy of Juniper Girl & Notnowcato - both my tips. I may well have helped get us into this mess but once I feel as though the pressure is off I manage to find the larger priced winners when we're drinking in last chance saloon. So we head into the "Master of Newmarket Cup" £154 down for the year.

TJ:- 1.20pm Steam Cuisine 2.00 Annemasse 2.35 Elletelle 3.10 Nannina 3.45 Turbo Linn 4.20 Strategic Mission 4.55 Silver Suitor 5.20 Ektimaal / Gaelic Princess

Top Dog:- 1.30pm Champfleurie 2.00 Lipocco 2.35 Janina 3.10 Sweet Lilly 3.45 Scatina 4.20 Exhibition 4.55 Spring City 5.20 Full Victory

Mini Cooper:- 1.30pm Telltime 2.00 Vitznau 2.35 You'resothrilling 3.10 Red Evie 3.45 Mont Etoile 4.20 Visconti 4.55 Jack Junior 5.20 Networker

But as I said before my "Lewis Hamilton For World Champion" bet is looking mighty healthy at the mo & will blow our debt away & then some in one single strike. But hang on... why am I sharing it three ways when no one else gives a fuck about F1? Surely this is my own personal bet as only I have laid down the stake money & so therefore it has nothing to do with the syndicate. I predict I'll now get a phone call from one of them blasting me for deciding to keep the Lewis winnings for myself.

Ciao for now

TJ

Just A Quick One

This is a short one coz Im off to see Shrek The Third soon. Im a child at heart. I love Donkey the best & can't wait to see his donkey-dragon hybrids. They are so cute!

There was drama in the office this morning when we sprung several leaks during a torrential downpour of rain. My office walls started to seep water through them & in J's office we were frantically trying to stop water cascading as if from a running tap, in through her window before it hit our electrics. Needless to say we survived though who knows what the place will look like when we open up tomorrow morning. As usual our call to the site manager was met with the response & I quote directly "Everyone's got rain" - not dangerously close to their electrics they don't. Anyway its all academic as we have sent off an offical letter of complaint to Head Office as we are still waiting for different repairs to be carried out since last June.

In other news my sister has got a 1st in her Uni exams so well done. She's studying Criminal Pyschology & will be spending the next year (from Sept) doing a practical placement in a prision though Im not sure which one yet. Good luck with that one! x

Ciao for now

TJ