Saying goodbye to Mike and Barry

This week is a sad one in two ways; we have to say goodbye to two good friends.

Mike was one of the porters here at the 'fun factory' He was big and loud and fun. Wednesday morning he came in, sat in his familiar place outside the sports hall and just quietly died. When a big rough rugby player of a guy dies, it is quite surprising to hear such an outpouring of affection for him. Although he had some sort of embolism in his brain about seven years ago, he had seemed in good health these days so his passing still came as a great shock. People are quite stunned. He was the same age as quite a few of us here, just 52, so it seems a bit uncomfortably close too. I shall miss him, a kind man who never complained, liked by all.

We lose Barry this week too, well, next week to be accurate. He is taking early retirement from his job in charge of 'X-ray spectroscopy', amongst other things. He is another man we shall miss more than we can know. I have been able to talk to Barry about any subject at any time over the whole 27 years that I have known him. He is never too busy for you, never judges you (not out loud anyway!) and I have never been let down by him. Although he is religious he does not sermonise or preach and he keeps a broad mind about other peoples' beliefs. I shall miss his advice whether personal, professional or musical. I hope to see him again on many occasions.

Weary of today...

1st blog...no idea what to say or why I am saying it!

Another frustrating day at the World Centre for Disastrous Career Decisions. Our optical table (weight about 3/4 tonne) won't go in the lift no matter which way we push or shove. 9 guys (8 guys + 1 gal) turned up to help shift it but they don't have the permission to stretch the lift. It fails to clear the door opening by about 1 millimetre. Now tell me there's no such thing as Sod's Law!

Then I decided to get on with my real job - a simple matter of machining some gauge plate to length. Didn't fancy sawing my way through a piece of tough steel 40mmx20mm so I put it in the cut off machine, an abrasive wheel gismo with an automatic feed. Went off quickly to the loo and came back to smoke, vibration and a ruined piece of steel. I'm really not very good at this job at times. Now I'm convinced the milling machine is clapped out so I am a bit weary of the whole thing. Can't wait to get home and get into my running kit. Out there on the road, no-one can hear you scream - at least they do, but Wiltshire people are too polite to ask...