Forced to rationalise, job update and other stuff

A few days since my last post and a lot happening in the news. As I type this, the overthrow of the Gaddafi regime seems to be entering its final stage and there is speculation the rebels have him surrounded in Tripoli.

Back down to earth and I've decided to focus my attention on growing herbs, tomatoes, onions, peas and beans. Most of what I've tried to grown in the ground has been eaten and I'm tired of trying to keep my vegetable plot pest free. Everything I'm growing under cover in my conservatory is doing very well including most of what I'm growing in pots on my patio. So these are the methods I'll employ for all my growing. It's so much simpler and more especially, productive.

I will endeavour to grow some vegetables - potatoes and carrots especially, but I'll use grow bags which I know to be a very good method.

Of the herbs I'm currently growing, rocket and coriander are the most popular and abundant. In fact, I've been adding rocket to just about everything I can. It has a mild, peppery flavour.
My tomato plants are beginning to bear fruit, lots of it. They are quite small at the moment but I'm certainly going to have a good crop. I'm keen to get another plant going as soon as I can so I can stagger my tomato production. I'm very fond of tomatoes and I know it won't take me long to eat them!

Still no word from my new employer but I'm hopeful I will hear something in the next few days especially if they want me to start at the beginning of September. I signed-off on Monday last which was a great feeling. I'm no longer slave to the Job Centre!

The TV news (especially from Sky) is getting more exciting by the hour. Their correspondents are really placing themselves in amidst the action and I'd be amazed if awards aren't won. I'd be very surprised if there isn't a major development in the next few hours. The coverage has been excellent and is testament to the continuing developments in technology and the portability of news gathering. Compare this to the techniques used just 10-15 years ago.

Oh, I must mention my wife's Birthday which was yesterday. My wife isn't one for celebration - much like myself - but we did nevertheless have a very pleasant day. We popped along to Hunstanton for the afternoon, one of our favourite seaside locations. My son immediately headed for the land train and we travelled the length of the seafront including the Searle's Holiday Camp. After a few rides at the amusement arcade, we had some fantastic fish and chips, opting to eat them on the grass atop the cliffs. Weather was perfect and it all made for an excellent afternoon.

Vegetable Garden Update & Some Possible Good News

I had a call last Thursday from the guy that interviewed me the previous day in Peterborough. He had an odd question to begin with - my weight. Apparently there is a weight limit for driving that I had to be under. I told him I was and he replied 'thank God' followed by 'provided you pass the medical, you've got the job'. That was fantastic news. They are sending me a letter which should arrive in the next few days. It should tell me when my medical will be. Hopefully it will be next week and provided I pass this I should start training soon after.
It'll be great to get back into work doing the job I want to do and be able to help my wife with the bills. Needless to say, I'm chuffed to bits and can't wait to start training behind the wheel. The medical is the only thing standing in the way at the moment. I am diabetic - type 2 treated with tablets - and I do take a good few tablets each day. It shouldn't prevent me from driving though, provided I keep the diabetes under control.
So, I'm just waiting for the letter now. Peterborough is a good 45 minute drive from where I live but provided I leave enough time, it should be fine. After all, I enjoy driving and I used to do the trip to and from work for several years previously.

My seedlings are really starting to shoot up. I have broccoli, spinach, carrots and cucumbers on the go at the moment as well as my tomato vines. I'll prepare the ground in the next couple of weeks to receive the plants once they're a little stronger.

I'm also having a go at growing some herbs - rocket, thyme, coriander and mint. At our local 99p store, I picked up rather a nice honeydew melon growing kit so I'm giving that a go too! Well, why not? What we don't have a use for I'm sure the rest of the family will be glad of.

Oh, in preparation for my imminent medical (whenever the company decide to let me know), I am on a strict diet. Basically, I'm eating loads of vegetables and steering clear of anything fattening. It's not easy but it's certainly worth doing. My aim is to lose about 6-8 lbs. I've developed an odd craving for carrots which do an excellent job of keeping the hunger pangs at bay.

So now I'm waiting for that letter to arrive, to confirm to me that I didn't imagine the interview I had last week and subsequent phone call offering me a job pending a medical. I really hope it arrives soon. My mortgage insurance company are getting picky, more so than ever it seems, so any good news I can give them will be a good thing.

I'm keeping a close eye on the weather. It's bright, sunny and warm. In fact the sun is quite hot when it emerges from behind the clouds. The storm clouds are gathering though - we are forecast very heavy rain this afternoon and thunderstorms in places. I'm holding off watering my vegetable seedlings and tomatoes just in case.

OK, that's an update on where I'm at right now.