The sun is shining:

[taximan007]

July 2012 (it’s been a good month)

Monday 31st July 2012

One of the things that have been a major change since my return has been my use of the gym!!!

Throughout my life I can say I have been one of the most inactive people exercise wise that you would be likely to meet, but with my last job and my current one I have been able to use the gym free of charge as one of the perks of the job, so this started off as a gentle ‘bike ride’ of 10/15 minutes a day, but I have to say after a while I got sort of hooked on the whole thing.

I started doing a few weights and other cardio exercises and I really enjoy it, I probably don’t push myself as hard as I should but I have lost  a few pounds and I feel better within myself than I have in years.

The gym manager organised a ‘Tour de France’ challenge for the duration of the actual race, where Kms were awarded depending on the amount of time spent on the bike, either spinning or the gym bike and there were prizes awarded for 1st Man, Lady and Staff member.

I started out on the challenge knowing if I completed it I would win the staff member award as I am the only one who does the bike regularly.

There were about 8 gym members who were taking part and after the first week it was evident that there was one guy who was determined to win it, now this is where the ‘competitive me’ kicked in and I decided that I was going to win it!!!

I had been doing an hour a day for the 1st week but the 2nd week I upped this to 2 hours which to be honest I found reasonably comfortable as we neared the end of the challenge it became evident to me I would need to do even more if I were to win, so the last three days I put in 3 hour stints, this was actual agony but by the end of the challenge I had completed the equivalent of 11,600 Kms which equated to 29 hours not only winning me 1st prize in the Staff section but winning the OVERALL challenge also, the 2nd place guy finished on 10,700 Kms.

[taximan007]

Staff Awards (part 3)

I have posted my thoughts on these awards twice before but the time has come to mention them once again!!!

As well as the Employee of the Month Award the hotel also have a Manager of the Quarter Award and this is for the STAFF to choose the Manager/HOD they feel deserves it for whatever reasons.

Although a Night Manager I am not a HOD so have always been an ‘employee ‘ when it comes to these sort of things, but because of the person I am (not afraid to speak my mind) and some internal political issues a few months back I now attend the HOD/Management meetings and am recognised as a ‘Manager’

So it was a pleasant surprise at the staff tea party yesterday when the winnerof the  Manager of the Quarter Award was announced as ...............

[millidonk]

Wiiiiiii congrats.

[smashedagain]

Wiiiiiii congrats.

Great posts and news again

[Laxie]

Very well done on BOTH fronts!!! 

How's things with yourself and Roxanne these days?

[rex008]

Wow. Superb stuff Graham.

I thought I'd look up how far you could actually get by going 11600km from where you are. Answer was pretty much bang on the middle of the Philippines . If you could go as the crow flies of course.

[Kev B]

Wiiiiiii congrats.

[Eso Kral]

Wiiiiiii congrats.

Great posts and news again

[taximan007]

Very well done on BOTH fronts!!! 

How's things with yourself and Roxanne these days?

We are both great thank you Dawn.

Roxanne has her 16 week scan next Tuesday, she is like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment, in awe of everything we take for granted, she couldn't believe that when she had her 1st scan that she could see the baby on the screen, and then when they gave her the picture she just burst into tears....

Also it's the FIRST time she has ever seen the Olympics, and when she watched the openining ceremony she thought it was the first time that the Philippines had ever taken part as they have no coverage at home on local TV. Naievity is such a wonderful thing....

[taximan007]

Wow. Superb stuff Graham.

I thought I'd look up how far you could actually get by going 11600km from where you are. Answer was pretty much bang on the middle of the Philippines . If you could go as the crow flies of course.

if only life was so simple 

[Laxie]

Very well done on BOTH fronts!!! 

How's things with yourself and Roxanne these days?

We are both great thank you Dawn.

Roxanne has her 16 week scan next Tuesday, she is like a kid in a sweet shop at the moment, in awe of everything we take for granted, she couldn't believe that when she had her 1st scan that she could see the baby on the screen, and then when they gave her the picture she just burst into tears....

Also it's the FIRST time she has ever seen the Olympics, and when she watched the openining ceremony she thought it was the first time that the Philippines had ever taken part as they have no coverage at home on local TV. Naievity is such a wonderful thing....

Awwww, bless.  One of these days, technolog and I will have to pay a visit.  Until then, cyber hugs to the pair of ya.  xx

[MANTIS01]

You have come a long way in just a few years m8 which is just reward for your determination. I remember reading about the bedsits and the pizza toppings when you first landed at Heathrow. Who would have thought that today you would be living with your beautiful wife in the UK as an award winning manager with a new baby on the way. As well as having the yellow jersey of stamina and virility adorn your new slimline physique. All in all pretty good going fella, toasty life. Few young guns could learn a trick.

[claypole]

So how's the last month gone?  I always dip in now after being introduced to your diary as part of the advent calendar, genrally when I need some inspiration which is the biggest compliment I can pay you.  Congrats on the Manager of the Month award, great work

[smashedagain]

So how's the last month gone?  I always dip in now after being introduced to your diary as part of the advent calendar, genrally when I need some inspiration which is the biggest compliment I can pay you.  Congrats on the Manager of the Month award, great work

I don't know how he does this. I see Taximan viewing occasionally and he was in the RSQ last but only posts when the time is right and appropriate. Complete opposite to me who just spouts complete bollox all day long

[taximan007]

Cloudy days!!!

Friday 07th September 2012

After 4 years of continuous sunshine it suddenly became cloudy and overcast in taximan land around 3 weeks ago.

We got a message to say that Roxanne’s father had been rushed into hospital, Danny is 51 years old (same age as me) lives a relatively good lifestyle, eats healthily, doesn’t smoke, likes a couple of beers of an evening but is generally in bed between 9 – 10pm as he is up for work at 5am.

After tests he was diagnosed as having kidney failure (both kidneys) and was in need of dialysis treatment, now the Philippines are no different to many other countries where you need to pay for ALL your medical treatments, and there is NO treatment without cash upfront so it is pay up or die!!!! And the cost of medical treatment does not balance with the income so it is no wonder the life expectancy is low.

Danny spent a week in hospital undergoing treatment was then sent home but the next morning rushed in again struggling to breathe, spent another 4 days in hospital and is now home again, attending hospital as an outpatient for his dialysis treatment.

Now we come to the hard part for us, the stay in hospital, his treatment and his medicines just about wiped out the small amount of savings we had managed to accrue and the hospital have said he needs dialysis treatment 3 times a week, the cost of this including medicines works out at about £450 per week!!!

This puts Roxanne and myself in the position of having to tell him that we could probably only afford to pay for him to have treatment twice a week as we obviously need a small amount of money to live on here and we also need to send money home for the family to live, but then as I said to Roxanne some treatment is better than none.

It has been particularly hard for Roxanne as she wants to be at home with her Dad but she also realises she needs to be here to help finance his treatment, she chats most days online with the family so that makes things a little easier.

As always in taximan world there are positives and I will update with a couple of ‘sunny’ posts shortly…………………..