We finally got our new pay offer after months of delay and it was certainly not worth the wait. The pay increase is only 2% while inflation is currently at 4.6% and the pay rise for our grade is appalling. It seems TPTB concentrated on the next grade up from mine because they are trying to keep hold of their staff and that grade has the highest turnaround. It’s quite a kick in the teeth when you consider employees of the same grade at the Scottish Executive are getting paid £2,000 more a year. The union are staying neutral and leaving it up to the members to decide but chances are if we reject the pay offer now, we may be forced to take it 6 months from now anyway despite further industrial action.

The general public seem to be under the impression that civil servants all have cushy salaries and fat pensions to look forward to on retirement. While I don’t dispute the fact that we are better paid than most office workers, we are definitely not living in the lap of luxury and I can’t even afford to buy or even rent my own home. House properties in my area alone are well out of reach of most first time buyers and when you are single like me - all you can do is dream. The govt seem to be always giving out rewards and benefits to families and while I don’t begrudge them it, part of me very much resents it. Don’t I have the right to get on with my life too?

It was Grandma’s birthday yesterday but I wasn’t as upset as I thought I would be - that doesn’t mean I didn’t think about her, quite the opposite in fact. Mum, her brother and his wife went down to the cemetery for a little while which is okay if it comforts them but I just don’t feel close to her there. I still think about her everyday and I’m wondering if I should try to let go, I don’t know, she was such a big part of my life for such a long time, part of me doesn’t want to let go at all.

I’ve been fighting off a nasty cold since last week and it almost got me at the weekend! I felt pretty miserable on Saturday and I’m still quite headache-y. There’s always something going around at our work, you are practically guaranteed to get something eventually. I move positions on Monday and I’m not sure how I feel about that, part of me is relieved to be away from “mission control” and another part dreads working closer with S. I don’t like her, simple as that.

I finally caught Happy Feet last night and was very impressed. The artwork is so fantastic and it was a lot more serious that I was expecting too. I seem to be developing a thing for Hugh Jackman lately! He voices Memphis for those that don’t know. I’ve caught a few of his films lately.

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I’ve been waiting for the exchange rates to go up again and this week was assured it would happen after the Budget on Tuesday, so I transferred more money from my savings account and was ready when the rate went up yesterday. I bought the rest of my dollars and have just under $2,000 to spend in Florida so I’m sure that will be enough for food and shopping! This is the biggest holiday I’ve ever been on and I intend to blow the lot! The flights, villa, insurance and rental car are all paid for so that just leaves the packing! Five weeks to go today!

It’s quite strange because we are going to miss the General Elections in May too so that means we’ll be returning to the country with a new Prime Minister. I’m also going for promotion at work so it is going to be a busy few weeks for me. I don’t particularly care for the new job but it means more money at the end of the day and I’ve done all the training so it may as well be me doing it than some outsider!

ETA: I changed the layout again, mainly because Redoable was too full of stuff I don’t need and it was slowing down the load time. I prefer things more simple!

I’ve been speaking for months about how much trouble a work colleague is being and how the management seem to be oblivious to it all. Well, it just goes to prove the old saying is true - what goes around really does come around. Due to holidays, S has been left as the most experienced member in the dept and she has basically screwed up one thing after another. We’ve had numerous complaints about the quality of work from other depts and finally, the managers are taking notice!

In a way, I’m so glad S has been put into this position this week because it means the staff who foresaw the problems have been vindicated. H and I have been positively skipping with glee the past couple of days which may seem cruel but you have to understand how much stress we’ve been under since no one seemed to be listening to us. It was so frustrating! Now, that it has all come to a head, I hope it can be resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

I’m having a busy weekend!

Firstly, I hopped aboard Mrs Lifecruiser’s cyber cruise yesterday and thankfully I’ve been spared the horrors of seasickness and may even pluck up the courage to remove my lifejacket some time soon. I’m still staying away from the sides of the ship though. To find out what I’m talking about, head on over to Mrs Lifecruiser for more information.

Secondly, it is my parents’ Ruby wedding anniversary tomorrow (18 March) and we’ve been having family popping in and out all day with pressies. We’re not having a party or anything because my parents decided they didn’t want that but I’m taking them out for a meal tomorrow.

Oh, and it’s Mothers Day in the UK on Sunday as well!