Very quiet at work

Due to being the last working week before Christmas it is dead quiet in the office. Although nearly everybody is in, nobody is rushing to meet deadlines because any work that comes in now will probably have a deadline of early next year or at the very most after Christmas

Of course everyone is looking forward to the rest, for most Civil Servants in central Government Departments we get the two days of the weekend followed by the two days of Bank holidays followed by a further privilege day which changes from year to year depending when Christmas falls. This year it happens to be the 27th December therefore giving us three days holiday.

Monday was pleasant day, it was our team Christmas meal. It wasn't a particularly exclusive restaurant just the local Italian but it was nice to get out the office. I also have to thank our Director for paying for it out of his own pocket.

As is traditional with Christmas meals those of us who had no pressing need to go back to the office didn't which gave me a chance to finish buying Chanukah presents for my family (being Jewish I don't celebrate Christmas).

I'm looking forward to the 27th as Jewish Lads' and Girls' Brigade (JLGB) Winter Camp starts. We're at the same place as last year, a purpose built Youth centre near Kidderminster.
The camp is about 5 days this year and we finish on the morning of the 1st. Will post again after camp or maybe before depending on how I feel and if I can get some time on a computer.

Been a busy week since I last posted.

Last weekend was the Jewish Lads and Girls Brigade London Challenge (also known as the Banner).

I been involved with the Brigade since 1998 as an adult leader. I'm now a leader at Hendon Bugle Band. The London Challenge is where all the London Companies (About 10 companies comprising over 100 children) come together and compete in 5 sections:

Drill
Inspection
Brigade Knowledge
Physical Challenge and
Formal PE

We did incredibly well and picked up the Physical Challenge cup and did well enough in all the other sections to win the Competition overall.

We now take on the Winners of the Provincial Challenge (AKA the Walton) in the Brigade Challenge (AKA the Ancil) Final at Summer Camp 2007 (The Walton has not yet taken place). The last two times we won the Banner (within the last 6 years) we also won the Ancil.

We also have the privelige of leading the Brigade march for the London Parade of Awards in July. The last two years this has been at Wellington Barracks followed by or preceeded by a march up/down the Mall. It is hoped to hold it at The Tower of London next year.

The next event was our weekly meeting of Hendon Bugle Band in Hendon. It was the last one this term and was also attended by our Battalion Commander, Brigade Major Ian Leveney. It was a fairly celebratory occasion due to the win at the weekend and we had a small Parade at the end where the children received Badges and/or Promotions.

Yesterday was hectic , I had to go up to our company offices in Darlington from London. I left home at 6.45 a.m. and got home at 4.45 p.m. All in all I spent under three hours actually in Darlington and just over two hours at our offices up there. Absolutely knackered today.

Anyway going to go home now, may post again before the holidays, if not it will be the New Year as I have Camp from 27th December - 1st January

Decided to restart

After allowing my last blog to fall by the wayside, I decided to restart.

I'm not sure what I'm going to post yet but I'm going to try and post regularly