Ralph the Wonder Llama

Normally I’m not much for souvenirs. I sometimes pick up little pressies for other people if it’s their birthday or something, but generally it’s just more stuff to cart about. Maybe if I was away for longer (don’t get me started…) I’d be more inclined to post something home but since I don’t generally need more stuff, often I don’t bother. “Bah”, you may say. “Humbug”, you may further assert. Well, for once I indulged myself. I wasn’t going to, but I couldn’t resist this:

It’s a bit bonkers. Can’t think why it appealed…

Evenin’. Just a very quick note, for I am unwell and am off to bed, to say that an initial set of photos, hastily lovingly selected and annotated for your viewing pleasure, are available here. I may or may not do some more at a later date, or make some of the wonky ones less wonky. We’ll see.

Enjoy.

I’m back. Coooeee! Actually I’ve been back for over a week, but it took until Thursday last week before I felt normal, or at least felt that I was dealing with a probability ratio of 1:1. Since then, I’ve caught up with a friend I’ve not seen for about 18 months (hi Kate!) and caught up with Sue, and then caught a cold. Boo that.

Anyway, I’ve put all my travelly stuff away, done my laundry and almost got used to the ridiculously low temperatures here. And the rain. And the lack of big mountains and cheap thalis. And gulab jamun. Mmm, sweet, sweet gulab jamun. Erm, anyway. As you may know, after nearly three years I finish at the bank in two weeks. It’s fair to say that IT contracts are not laying ten deep in the street, causing one’s step to falter in the snowdrift of opportunity. No. The world, not in a good state when I left it, seems to have deteriorated markedly in my absence. Turn your back for a minute etc etc. The point is, there may have to be some adjustments to The Plan™ if I can’t get some more work lined up soon, and especially if I can’t get another contract. I am ruminating upon the possibility of returning to the ironically-named world of ‘permanent’ employment – not that I imagine that would be terribly easy either, but still. I guess we will have to see what can be found.

What does this mean, planning-wise? Well, it does rather deposit a large, threaded fixing-adjustment tool into the operating componentry. Certainly in terms of timings anyway. It may be that I have to delay my departure date, for example. I, of course, find this prospect somewhat irritating, after having worked to a (relatively) set date for so long. Still, we are where we are, and must do what must be done. I am assured it will come out in the wash. I shall, of course, keep you posted, though I’m sure you can hear the gnashing of teeth and the stamping of hooves from there. Maybe. We llamas have notoriously soft hooves you know.

Meantime, I shall endeavour to sort out some photos from my recent jaunt to India (at the Oval!) as soon as I can. After all, I may have plenty of spare time coming up soon…