How I spent my day off

As I noted yesterday, I went to visit two old chums, one of whom is an entrepreneur and the other of whom, like me, is an ISO9001 auditor. We want to see if we can get a “quality system” offering together to sell to companies. The first depressing thought, however, is that the only conditions under which companies are willing to buy this type of service are “fire sales”–your business is going to hell in a handbasket and you need help, fast. Doesn’t endear one to the business owner. But we had a profitable time brainstorming and coming up with things to do and people to see. We had lunch in a traditional pub with a traditional very low 6′ 4″ ceiling and traditional loos (eg, slimy floors and pastel sinks cribbed from some cowboy plumber’s rejects). The traditional food, however, was quite traditionally good.

Transport, as it always is, was the main problem. I sauntered to London Bridge, bought my tickets, and got on the platform. I had about 15 minutes to spare. However, a stalled train at New Cross did us in. After about 1/2 hour and a platform change, we were off. I had to sit next to an obnoxious tourist and her husband, who had strategically blocked entry to the empty seat with their “carry-on” luggage, er, steamer trunk. Unfazed by that, I moved the trunk and sat down. They were not best pleased and spent the rest of their trip to Gatwick Airport muttering in Danish about the boorish Brit who had stolen their empty seat. I hope they missed their plane. Of course, after that, I deserved the almost empty train on which I returned to London Bridge. Was amused by the group of people who got on at East Croydon: the “Lunar House” crowd who deal with immigrants and asylum seekers. One was crowing about how he was about to leave and what a relief it would be. I was waiting for startling admissions about their work, but they spent the rest of their time criticising the guy who was leaving on his rather love-em-and-leave-em attitude toward romance.

Tomorrow, back to the usual salt mine.

These four-day weekends are turning into shorter variations of the two-day weekend I’ve grown to dislike over the years. I look forward to the day when I can have a seven-day weekend. Preferably someplace warm. And with HWMBO as well.

Comments are closed.