Sunday, November 26, 2006
That was the fortnight that was
A week ago Friday (the 17th) I was in London for the day for a work-sponsored "Computer Systems Validation" course. The content was very dry but the tag-team lecturers and the lunch/facitlities were quite good. After, I stayed to wander around Regent St. & Oxford St. to take in some of the christmas lights and holiday displays. Unfortunately the trains from Paddington back to Oxford were hosed & I had to travel via Reading on the slow service, not getting home until after 9.
Then next day was the Gran's 97th, and though it had only been two weeks since my last visit, I made the trek up there to throw a card and some gifts at her. I think she liked the sack of spuds best.
My pain from my RSI has largely resolved itselft after only 2-3 days of anti-inflammatories; I need to email my GP to see whether I should continue or keep my physio appointment next week. I've also been given the opportunity to make any required adjustments at work that are necessary to alleviate the symptoms.
This past week went by in a blur as I rushed to finish the last 2 projects of my course work. I regret not having spent more time on them, but on the other hand factored that they will contribute only 20% towards my final grade in the class. Only six weeks to go until the 3+ hour final exam....
I was off Thursday doing the last of the projects, not really aware it was Thanksgiving too until my next door neighbour brought over a slice of pumpkin cheesecake.
I've been suffering from pains in my right arm and wrist and hand for the past three weeks. While I was off from work earlier this month the pain wasn't so bad, but after returning on Monday I was in terrible pain; the one in my forearm felt like a knife slicing into bone. It's difficult to grasp a pen to write and/or move a mouse.
I made an appointment with my GP and was diagnosed Friday with RSI, and am schedule for physiotherapy starting Dec 4 (the earliest available appointment). I'm also on anti-inflammatory painkillers. I'll be speaking with my lady boss tomorrow about having Occupational Health do an evaluation of my desk space.
I also went back to the opticians on Saturday as my glasses had been given me headaches. I was retested and my prescription slightly reduced, and new lenses made, for no additional fee. Good deal.
Soon-to-be-former Senator Allen has conceded the election in VA to Jim Webb, giving the Democrats control of both houses of Congress for the first time in over a decade. What a close race! Only 7,000+ votes separated the winner from the loser. I wonder what all those people who decided not to vote are thinking now?
Bush in yesterday's press conference said: we took at thumping. Oh, and by the way I lied to you last week when I was directly asked and said Rumsfeld and Cheney would serve out their terms until mine ended.
Many people at work today asked me if I was celebrating, assuming I'd voted Democrat. But of course, any reasonable person would have, wouldn't they?
Surprisingly, this week it seems there haven't been as many fireworks going off throughout the evenings and nights as last year. Though Guy Fawkes Day falls on a weekend this year, even last night there weren't as many bombs and cracks as I'd anticipated.
Perhaps I was lulled into slumber after over-feeding at an all-you-care-to-eat Chinese buffet, at which I met my former colleague AA last night after a quick visit to the Gran's. The meal was quite reasonable at £12 before tip, and it was great to laugh and catch up with AA.
On the train up to Banbury earlier that day, I'd been surprised to read about a town which decided to have a virtual bonfire display after determining there was too much red tape and too many planning and security concerns to have a real fire: so, they built a bonfire on private land the night before and filmed it with a cam corder, then on the night they played the video on a a large screen set up in the park. People apparently payed a few quid for the privilege of watching.
I've not had such a good week. Last week's work drama fizzled into nothing on Monday but the time change and other stuff must have caught up with me. I hadn't printed my course notes for Tuesday's classes and for other reasons wasn't feeling well and didn't go to Uni - spent the day under the duvet. Which turned into four days under the duvet as I called in sick from work as well. From Monay night until Thursday afternoon I slept one 22 hour stretch and about 50 hours total. By then I was just tired of being in bed and forced myself to get up and take a shower and check the mail and fold some laundry. I was up at 4am Friday watching The Comback season one on DVD. I wish I had been motivated enough to look at my coursework, as the 2nd and 3rd/last projects are both due in 3 weeks.
To be honest I could go back to bed right now. And I can only imagine how many email and phone messages will be waiting for me at work tomorrow.
