Relocation

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Moved to my new office Friday, the first of several shifts to be made as space is reworked. I'm actually no longer within the physical walls of the department, but have an extra office in the Ministry suite. Eventually, the understanding is, the Permanent Secretary and her clerical assistant and the couple of consultants used by the Ministry will move over to where the Minister's offices are now located, and the Department will reopen the doorway connecting the spaces and wrap the administrative offices along the corridor. As such, there will be periods of disruption probably throughout my tenure with the department.

Nonetheless, what I now have is an office about 3 times larger than my last landing spot, with a wall of windows that look out over Parliament and its surrounding park - no water, but an eyeful of vaguely Tuscan architecture and green park. (I didn't think to take any pictures Friday, but will do so this coming week.)

I can, and will, complain a bit about being separated from the rest of the staff (I'm across the elevator lobby from the department, and a two-key-card walk away), and this being an east-facing office I get full sun in the mornings, so things heat up. But it is quiet, I can keep the noisome overhead lights off and just use task lighting, much my preference, and it is indeed a generously sized space. Could do with at least one more file drawer - I left a four drawer lateral file cabinet, this has a two-drawer.

My director showed up about half an hour after I'd settled in after lunch, which astonished me - he isn't known for any particular chumminess - but we exchanged stories for a while. Later others come over to inspect the digs and make jealous comments - my good fortune is due both to not supervising anyone directly and to being perceived as someone who is sufficiently self-motivated and disciplined as to continue to perform reliably in such an off-on-my-own location. One of the kids presently in the central 'bullpen' will move in to my old space.

A coworker, lovely guy who is in charge of building control, had noticed my note on the stuff still in the old office that I would be taking it to my apartment once transport was organized, but doing so required transport, as it was not bus-able stuff. His second visit over was to offer to meet me Saturday and we'd put the heater, laundry basket, plant pots etc in his car and deliver us all to South Road. We worked it out that he would pick me up from Emma's in St. George's after today's painting class - he lives in St. George - and we'd run this errand. Being in the business we are in, we did manage to stop for a couple of site visits on our way into town.
Turns out a former girlfriend (long past - he is now married) lived in this apartment. Such a small world here.

Anyone see any of the Perseids? We had clear skies, and I'd dragged a blanket for padding out onto the veranda and watched the sky for parts of two nights, tho without much luck in seeing anything. But t is cooler outside, and if one ignores the sensation that bugs are exploring your bedding it is comfortable. A cot would probably have come in handy.

Bit of a wild ride home on Friday's bus - I was reviewing reports when others on the bus erupted in shouts - the driver had taken the road Rt 3 follows at the split, instead of the Rt 1 direction. To get back to where we could pick up the route required about a nine point turn, in Friday evening rush hour traffic, so I'm sure the pressure was on. Came out of that okay (tho I'm glad I wasn't in a rush - probably 10 minutes extra), and settled into routine again, when something flying not very well came hurtling down at us - a plump, upended chicken, frantically trying to haul herself out of the way. Several of us squealed, but no thumps were heard, so I'm hopeful that last barrel roll carried her out of harm's way.

Before Emma's today I pottered around town taking more pictures, mostly in Somers Garden, so I've posted a handful. Enjoy! Also a work in progress, and some bits from the studio.