TEC'd an intermediate TRF group. Very hot and dusty but no breakdowns and no unscheduled dismounts. Off to watch my cricket teammates try to bowl out the oppos, then back home to await the arrival of Son #1 to watch the football.
I probably ride about 200 miles per week off road, do one or two enduro and/or MX pay to play practice days per month, plus the odd training/tuition day. I reckon I’m fitter and stronger now than I was in my 30s.
Been helping Lady Nasher today, and for her sake had to go along with making light of a situation I'm furious about. I think she is too but won't admit it. School broke up yesterday for the summer, and as usual she had lots of lovely cards, messages and small gifts from students, parents and colleagues. Every year she writes a personal thank you message for each student gift and posts it to them at home. Yesterday was different however as she retired, so the cards, messages of support, and gratitude for a job well done were extra special. She's taught at this prestigious independent(Fee Paying Posh) school for 32yrs, hardly ever had any time off sick, and been involved in so much more than just the day to day curriculum. Amongst other things she's spent weeks of evenings and weekends every year making costumes for school productions, and as director of Music has been away many times on Brass band trips all over Europe during school holidays. I've also helped out with Rugby, and built many sets and props for productions. Our two sons went there and also got roped into all sorts of things to help. It's been a big part of life for us as a family all that time. She had asked for no fuss, so didn't open her official leaving gift from the school itself celebrating 32yrs of all of the above in front of everyone, but instead brought it home wrapped up. The gift was obviously a bottle, and a small but reasonably heavy wrapped box. Everyone at the school knows she doesn't drink, but out of the tall bag came a cheap bottle of Red wine with a screw lid. It was immediately obvious that the seal was broken and the bottle was already down about a glass. Funny in a way. But, then the package was opened. Her main gift from the school for all of the above....... Two Whisky tumblers worth @£30 for the pair engraved with the school logo. On Monday I'm taking her Laptop, swipe cards, parking pass etc to school because the people she needed to drop them with had gone home before she'd said goodbye to everyone. I think I'll return the bottle too, but I've not come up with exactly how I'm going to express my disappointment with them.
Thank you for sharing, i'm certain i would be feeling the same way. The bottle does need returning as it's a 3-fold insult not a Thank you gift. I'd be tempted to say nothing, but if appropriate, just eye contact would do while handing over the already opened "wine".
Delivered a 7.4 litre peach of a (convertible) car to a chap destined to marry in Sussex. Splashed out on a taxi - drove it home later. (no, not the Taxi).
That's disgusting and almost deliberately insulting. The way of the workplace world I'm afraid to say, I'd just take the gifts and compliments as the main 'prize' that were freely given by her pupils. My partner had been at her school for 25 years when they gifted her a £5 Amazon gift voucher as a celebration of time served. They couldn't even get the service period correct believing she had worked there for 20. She semi retires next year after over 30 years of teaching, she hoping for at least a £10 gift voucher from the academy but could be less. For me I think I'd just take it all back and say nothing, they wouldn't care what is said incase IMO.
Thanks all. The messages and gifts from students are always appreciated by her. Considering the type of families a lot of them come from it's always a little surprising how much effort the parents go to to find or even make a very appropriate and personal gift.
I struggle to understand how the bottle issue could come about other than that one specific person was tasked with purchasing a gift and either a) drank the original, better quality, if thoughtless, gift; b) spent the money they were given for a gift, on themselves; or, c) lost or shattered the original gift, and whichever of the above grabbed whatever was to hand at the last moment and wrapped it, and no-one else at the school knows. I'd ask for a private word with the headmaster and hand the bottle over, adopting the position that he/she knows nothing about it, mentioning specifically that it had already been opened. I'd say "Presumably there was no cooking sherry available?" One would suppose, at this point, the head will say something along the lines of how they'll replace it, giving the opportunity to say she doesn't drink. I think I'd add "No, no, I rather think the damage has been done. Wouldn't you say?" Then politely leave. Final thought: rather than calculated humiliation in the event of her opening the gift on receiving it, it seems more likely it was done by someone not in the habit of thinking that far ahead, i.e. by a kid.
Terrible day yesterday. Sold my 1199s Tricolore. Had that bike 12 or 13 years and it wanted for nothing but life has changed and I haven’t been able to ride it for 2 years. Nowhere to keep it at the cottage, so it’s been in storage. If it’s not on site you don’t get to use it, simples. Suggested to the Mrs that we put it in the fireplace in the hall. Would have fitted nicely and looked great there. Strangely enough it was a flat no, so it had to go. Great shame as it’s a beautiful bike, they don’t seem to make them that attractive anymore. Ah well, it’s gone to a good home and the new owner was in a daze about having his dream bike. It’ll be interesting to get the Multi 1200 out and compare it to the V4. What the hell am I going to do about my name on here?
Easy for me to say I suppose, but don't let that sour the memory. The wine thing is funny really . Pour the rest away and glasses to a charity shop, unless they can be used as a memory of the time there rather than a memory of them as poor gifts. A travel voucher would have been nice. It is a bit like a sketch from The Office !
That was your first mistake Remember the golden rule..... It is far easier to gain forgiveness than it is to seek permission Just wait until she's not there, then just do it Here's proof it works
Collected this rather expensive O ring from the local garage yesterday. I also had a chat with a nice bloke from Yalding in Kent collecting his new Monster motorcycle which looked great.
Blimey. Your mention of Yalding is very much appreciated. It was my Nans favourite place but I’ve been struggling to remember the name and wanted to take my kids there. Thank you!
I don’t think I’m ready for anything as full on as that yet, but I would like to try something competitive next year.
