Tim's Journal, February to March

Welcome to Tim's Journal, where you get the opportunity to read all the amazing (alias boring) stuff I've been up to lately. In reality, I'll probably be the only person to ever read this in the future, but if you do care to have a look, enjoy!

20th Mar 2005
Travelling veterans warned me and fellow Londoners tried to explain. The first day of our magnificent sun is accompanied with rejuvenated life, colour and joy. It is amazing what a bit of warmth on your face will do in the wake of an English winter. Millions left their homes beaming smiles worn over shorts and T-shirts. I thought it a myth, a country changes with the seasons.

I awoke an hour after Sal left for the gym. I planned to meet her there, work out while she gets her initiation instruction and then sauna together. Before putting the customary tracksuit paints over the shorts, I opened te front door to test if it was ANOTHER false blue-skied, warm spring day. Christ! As silly as it sounds, it was exciting to not reach for the jacket and be able to wear what you had wore most days growing up.

Later that day, we met the top-floor girls in Chelsea who were showing Fiona’s parents about – I think their names were Mum and Dad, at least that is who I was introduced to. My first impressions of this area were positive. While most of the pub’s rowdy patrons cheered Wales as they surmounted Ireland to become 6 Nations victors, I spent the afternoon crowd-watching Chelsea’s Highstreet. Rich, glamorous, stylish, beautiful inhabitants and the pretenders among them (like me!). I’m still shocked we found a pub in Chelsea that wasn’t showing the Crystal Palace clash.

16th Mar 2005
The broadband is temperamental. It may be because we have two Sky boxes in the house (can you believe our second TV is dying and we may be forced to buy a new one!). I've had a gutful.

I thought I would add a few of Amanda's photos from Cam's birthday a couple of weeks ago. Fun night. Cam was smashed.

Speaking of smashed, Sal finally made her way up to where I work last friday night for some introduction drinks. Unfortunately for her, she was also introduced to the Hornbill version of "work drinks" which usually consists of a dirty dozen at the work Local. I have since heard that several fellow employees threw up - possibly due to the tequilla or apple vodka shots. Sal& I survived unscathed, although, we did miss the last train somewhere in central London. A minor problem here as the underground closes at midnight for the minimum amount of mandatory maintenance - it is a THOUSAND years old.

13th Mar 2005
We are just about to go to the gym that we signed up to yesterday. It has a sauna and spa that Sal & I can enjoy together, so we are looking forward to chilling out for a while. Probably try and spend our sunday mornings there on the weekends we are not abroad, similar to when we were Willoughby Leisure Centre members in 1999. I think Sal will also take advantage of the beauty saloon quite often.

12th Mar 2005
I typed this while sat in our lounge room on my laptop, in front of the fire with today's NBA game playing in the background - Tracy McGrady Vs Amare Stoudamire (who is in danger of becoming my favourite player – reminds me of Karl at the beginning of his career). I scheduled it to be taped on Sky + (Plus) before Sal and I ventured shopping for food and a modem. You can tape anything shown on Sky's channels with the click of a remote button. No need to leave your seat, just review the online channel guide and select which programs to record. Stored on harddisk, you can watch and delete at your leisure.

Food shopping can be testing at times. Having no car, we are forced to carry the bags. Hans and Daisy get the bus to Tescos - further away, apparently cheaper and requires less walking. Sal & I are yet to try this. Both of us have Train/Bus cards, so Tescos is an option. Have I spoken enough about London’s public transport? It is good. Hope they get the 2012 Olympics.

7th Mar 2005
Geoff once hid a tape recorder under Ollie’s desk to capture GB Wee’s well known (and joked about) catch-phrase: “What’s the mission?”

My mission was to give Sal a nice surprise (for no particular reason - the best kind of surprises!). You must see a West End production while you are in London. I searched the internet for a show that (i) Sal must enjoy, (ii) that we can see soon. Nothing jumped out through the screen …

[Aside: 3D may be pushing it, however, I expect within a decade most users will have a paper-thin, foldable and flexible touch-screen one metre in diameter (size restricted only by reach). Therefore, I expect Pocket PCs with these miracle screens and a keyboard made on the same technology to supersede Laptops].

I believe in fate. If I could not find an available West End production then it was not meant to be. What other options were there? Perhaps a weekend away would have been nice. We really should get cracking on our European Experience. We left Sydney 4 months ago and even if the first was spent in India/Thailand, I would like to have traveled more than our three December trips around England and Scotland so far.

It is natural to find reasons to NOT do something. I can NOT contribute to my savings this week as this bill is due. I can NOT go to the gym as I am too tired from work. I can NOT start the diet yet as I know there will be great food this weekend.

The first to fail are long term goals. The time difference between achievement and tackling the obstacle are too far apart to compare unless we remain focused. For example, Sal & I moved to London for many reasons, two of the more fundamental being putting coins in the little piggy and filling passports with European stamps. Albeit, for two months we have neglected the latter and pressure to continue doing so does not lift. Simply Not Good Enough! If you want something and are lucky enough to know what that is, then you do not let anything stop you from getting it.

I am not suggesting I will stop paying the bills, denounce democracy and dispense with underwear for robes made from animal-friendly natural fibers. What I am describing is my approach. I have a vision. I know the steps required to reaching it. Those steps are my priority and it is sacrilegious to skip any. All else will be taken care of and not by some magical, mystical, mauve Minotaur. There secret to my success will be remembering what is sacred.

I digress and have come perilously close to preaching, even if it be to myself in my own journal …

I believe in fate. I came across Brighton and Saturday’s showing Fame at The Royal Theatre, the final night there. Since her first dancing lesson to It’s Raining Men while wearing leg-warmers, pink leotard, a tutu and ballet shoes, Sal has dreamed of seeing this musical. What of a few hours of Fame pain in order to see Sal’s face light up when we arrived at the doors?

I type this entry in the dim light of our room’s lamp while Sal lies next to me in deep slumber. Reflecting on last night, I honestly believe it was close to one of our happiest days together.

Is this last statement an over exaggeration or talk-up? As previously said, this journal is not the forum to detail each trip (besides, there is already copious amount of drivel projected through my fingers for you to fall asleep reading!). You answer the question - read about it on the England, 2004 / 2005 , review The Brighton Photo Album and check out the photo collage below.

I believe in fate. A fate we create. [Terminator 2 soundtrack anyone?]

4th Mar 2005
Big week. Heard the cliché - “When it rains, it pours”?

I have booked a surprise weekend away for Sal & I. She is In The Dark, so all I can say is - It involves a famous outing. It is nothing spectacular, yet I know she will enjoy it. Like the daily action of a million Londoners, I spent an hour searching the net yesterday with the aim of booking something special for Sal. She has been stressed a bit lately as she looks for another job (got one by the way). The strange thing is it is my birthday next week, not hers!

I’ve been asked/told to buy a new suit (even though I already planned to). Kenton (my new Boss) pulled me aside and hesitantly approached the subject as if it was a sensitive subject. Answered “No Worries” and moved on. I guess anything that requires money is sensitive.

I went on my first solo client visit today [borrowed Hans’ jacket ;-)]. That went as smoothly. These particular clients are Taylor Wessing, a law firm overlooking the Themes, and the people are lovely women. Pleasure to work with. I am happy with how I have been conducting myself on client visits and I would like to improve.

My professional progression will accelerate as I do not have a boss/mentor like GrainCorp. Whereas more former boss, Stewart, keep a firm grip on things and encouraged me to be an individual, Kenton is only temporarily managing my department and must be efficient as he is managing multiple departments (too much for one person). “If It aint broke, don’t tell me!” So basically, I am left to my own devices, manage my projects as I see fit and leave the other 2 members in the Projects Office to do likewise. This brings me to my next point …

The other Hornbill Project Manager resigned today. This can only mean more responsibility which in turn will result in more growth. I look forward to it.

28th Feb 2005
Why O why did I foolishly suggest the weather was bearable like Grizzle Adams’ companion? Did I challenge the Gods? Did I offend The great green, brown and blue Mother?

Last night, I drifted to sleep to end another satisfying day’s work in our cosy, acoustic enclosure. I woke in another world; a white world; a world of fluttering silk continually searching for an alternative to the straight fall; pillowed pavements and patches of death, creating humorous scenes of dancing man-size penguins; imaginary powder-covered houses resembling a Christmas activity scene.

Fulham laughed as they watched their mature Australian neighbours immaturely playing in the snow. Or perhaps not - there are so many Kiwis, Aussies and “Sowth Arfrikens” in this part of London, it is probably a frequent sight.

[I wrote this on the train coming to work] I’ve been flat out at the office lately and I don’t use the internet outside Hornbill’s walls (haven’t got broadband at home yet), so I have not been able to (i) write emails, (ii) update the journal, (iii) upload the mounds of pictures stored in various places, (iv) build more web pages. Just need a little time…

16th Feb 2005
If Mark Waugh [or another person] replaces Alan Border as a selector, my expectation that White and Watson will be leading Australian Test cricket along side Punter, Lee and Clarke will be cemented. I agree the off spin obsessed selector and former brilliant captain/leader, Border has contributed to Australian sport so well. However, I think Symonds was given far too many chances (and still is for that matter). His days are numbered without Border, leaving only Punter pushing for his inclusion.

Went in to China Town for Chinese New Year on Sunday instead of Greenwich. Absolutely packed! Delicate dancing dragons retrieved and ate lettuce that owners leave on shop fronts. I have photos but this temporary work PC is crap (crashes every day and does not agree with Adobe products). The pics will have to wait until I get my laptop next week. Actually, I really should be looking for broadband deals instead of writing this - I am too tired, though ... easier to just ring the sales people tomorrow.

We defined the house rules, last night. I suppose the more humourous of results is learning that Anna, our current dosser, is planning to stay with us for nearly 3 months! Naturally (although perhaps to some surprise) she will be paying dosser’s rent (£5 a night) and her share of the bills. 2-3 months is unacceptable however there are special circumstances that make her stay OK with me (one of which is the fact that she’s cool!). That makes 8: Sally, Daisy, Mary Francis, Sarah, Fiona, Anna, Hans & I. Ange and Mary Francis’ sister are already planned to doss soon, as well. Can too many chicks in one house be a problem for a guy? Ask Hans, he has been the solo lad in a bird’s domain since he left Aus.

9th Feb 2005
First English Football experience! Not fulfilling some amazing fantasy - eg keep a Fulham clean sheet for 90 minutes, then smashing the winning header after a full field run in extra time. It was just joining the work lads (and a couple of birds) for an evening kick around a couple of nights back. Albeit, I pulled up fairly sore. The couple of trips to the local gym did nothing to prepare my weakening body.

The majority of my work colleagues are poms and nothing like what a few friends prepared me for. They are not miserable, slow, lazy nor hard to work with. In fact, they have quite a laugh and do not need supervising in day-to-day activity (thank god, managers here are busy enough without having to micro-manage their teams). We try to keep the consultants in our team booked 3 months in advance (by days) and while these may need to be shuffled occasionally, the team more or less operate well and proactively. I think this is a reflection of a good environment. The GM himself wrote the company's core product over a decade ago (still supplying to the first customer) and has created an atmosphere which is a joy to work in if you're prepared to earn your rewards.

Anyway, time to battle the cold and take off home. Not that it’s cold. Weather is overrated. It’s actually getting warmer and I’m still waiting for it to get freezing. Guess we were lucky with a mild winter or I blinked and missed it. Not that I’d knock back a few days on the beach …

8th Feb 2005
Sorry for the lack of updates for anyone that cares. I have been eager to push closer to realising my dream to become a top notch project manager (and general leader period). Therefore, I've neglected the journal. While attacking my responsibilities at Hornbill I have probably engrossed myself a little too much. I've spent too many an hour trying to hit the ground running, yet still not satisfied with my productivity. colleagues keep saying it is to be expected for a new employee, but that is not good enough - If I am to become a professional who can walk into a unknown environment (be it a new project or even contract) and immediately produce results on day one then my skills to adapt must improve.

The work itself is cool. Not totally unlike my experience and yet so much more. Much more client facing skills required. Interaction with other managers, departments, clients etc. is on a more formal basis. In the interview, I conveyed a highly motivated, fearless managerial professional with considerable exposure to interaction on all levels. Now it's time to deliver.

Meanwhile, poor old Sal has had a tough week or so with the flu. She hasn't worked much. Mary (friend from home) and Daisy (Hans' girlfriend) have moved into the house now, so we are just awaiting Hans for our home to be complete.

Will be sad to say goodbye to Ange and Lian. We went to The Church on Sunday for a farewell (renown London club). They say you must do it when visiting. Then again, they say a lot of things. This one, I'll agree. The two lots of comedians were hilarious and the stripper, like most, forgettable. Kept it fairly quiet to reduce chances of Monday hangovers.

More home-made-sushi sessions at Cam's place this week (last time at Caz'). Whoo Hoo! Went to National History museum last weekend - fantastic! [Below is a pic of me and my new employer] Although we did miss the Wildlife photography exhibit. Will go in the next couple of weeks. This weekend, it's off to Greenwich again. This time, during the day!

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You can email me at tjcrouch@hotmail.com