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Rob's Blog Welcome to Rob Middletons webpage. I'll post up some info about whats new with me, when I feel the urge. Enjoy! |
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I've finally got around to updating with a few new pictures. Me and a couple of mate just got back from a week at Skydive spain, in Spain So I'm also adding a few videos and pictures. |
 Rally on the 31st March 2009. I'm Going. |
Loving my BMW F650CS. For the last few months I've stopped using the trains/tubes to travel to work. I mean you never know what muppets they have fixing these things right?  So I've been riding the 20 miles across town to Golders Green. It's cheaper and a bit quicker, plus you arrive at each end awake and alert. The trains tend to leave you less than up for the day ahead. The downside is, you can't read the paper. Although you can listen to tunes via the TomTom  .Since I'm using the bike a lot more I had to invest in some new clothing:- Tureg Jacket and Tureg Trousers although I got them half price, so i'm well chuffed. The first time I wore them it rained stair rods and I arrived at work nice and dry, so happy days. I also have roof helmet and HG boots too. |
| Me and Lewis have been going swimming most Saturdays and Sundays recently. We've been going to the new pool in sidcup, hurst road. Lewis has a fairly fearless, indeed almonst suicidal, approach to swimming in the deep end. He is certainly keeping me fit anyway. Considering I was never really a great swimmer, I've managed to keep both of our heads above the water....most of the time anyway |
It seems I've been found on Facebook  . Apparently there is no where to hide You too can find me on there. Search 'Rob Middleton' and look for the fish. 21 friends in my list woohoo! |
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I spent a couple of 4 hr day sessions down at Ruxley with a view to catching off the top On the Tuesday I spent quite a lot of time looking around, as it was pretty windy on both days so not ideal conditions. I walked all the way around the shallows and Klingers. It seems the big boys on the shallows hang out in a clear channel (between all the pads) nearest to the far side, and to be honest I'm not sure how practical it would be to attempt fishing for them. I have to say I didn't realise how clear the water is on all the lakes. I tried fishing at the top end of the shallows towards the far side from the small island, but the fish just swam on by and didn't even attempt the freebies. After coming back through the gates from my walk around klingers I walked down into the first swim on the shallows. Yes! Swimming around were two carp (about 10 lb each) and a tench. I nipped back to grab my rod and eased in carefully reaching over some stinging nettles (ouch! ouch!) but the adrenalin is pumping so who cares. I then with deft precision flicked my chum mixer into the tree behind me, Oh dear I though to myself (yeah right!). After flicking a few freebies in I retreated back up the slope to attach another hook link in place of the birds nest my rod was currently sporting. Second time around I managed to gently flick out the mixer and hook the larger of the two fish a lovely Dark common of 11 lb. I put him straight back so no picture. But I did get the feel of my new greys 9' stalker rod so a good day. Wednesday was a blank; nothing much doing again it was windy. |
I’m nearing the end of the first week in my new job. The depot is pretty big, with four main sheds side by side The managers have told me to take my time and settle in, so I’m working days for the first month or so, doing my 35 hours. Basically I’m working 7.5 hours a day and starting anytime between 7 and 8 am, so I’m home by 16:30 The journey for me is approx. 1 hour 15 mins door to door so I like that too. I’m travelling early enough at both ends of the day to avoid packed trains, nice! It seems that if you do overtime it’s based on the full rate that I get at time and a quarter, so happy days if I need to work overtime in the future. This means that the pension appears to be based on that rate too. Happy days!Things seem fairly relaxed and all the other techs seem like a good bunch of blokes. Would you believe that I've seen both of the technician charge hands on the tools and fixing trains in my first week It seems they are still interviewing guys for positions too, as a guy was in today for an interview. There’s a dedicated technician instructor and I’ve been trained on SOP (safety operating procedures) or power up and working on units. I also managed to get on a two day course for the TMS (train management system) as one guy dropped out. They don’t normally put you on that course until you’ve been there for 6 months so that was very useful. I spoke to Dave (northern monkey) at Selhurst and the plan is to arrange a few beers up town with whoever can make it from Selhurst whenever is best convenient and dependant on shifts etc. In short I’m liking the new job so far |
| The news fishing season is upon us so I've felt compelled to get some new fishing gear, it's the law honest Anyway after much looking around at the stalker sized bags, including: - the fox evolution stalkerbucket Chub snooper bag Chub rova Chub rigger I finally settle on this one Chub rigger xl coolstyle because its big enough for all my bait, dry and prepared, has extra pockets and two removable pouches to carry all tackle, rigs, camera, scales, food and drink. One of the big swingers was the cooler lining for hot summer days, and the removable inner lining bag will be double handy for cleaning out the main compartment, of bait and food spillage etc. The lower hard compartment is great for storage, waterproofing/water soaking and hard wearing. I've ordered a Greys Prodigy Stalker Rod 9' and a super tiny super light reel Shimano Symetre 750FI I decided against the 7 foot version of the stalker rod and went for the versatility of a 9 footer. The reel weighs less that 200 grams and in order to get the weight down, I decided to sacrifice the prefered rear drag of other reels. I think as a package the rod and reel could be great fun for the roaving type of close in fishing that I enjoy. I've still got my 12 foot TFG rod and Shimano 10000XTE for fishing in the same spot. I bought all the kit from www.harrissportsmail.com they have a fantastic price matching system. You click the price match request and type in the URL of the item you found (www.anglingdirect.co.uk are cheap) and the price to be matched and within a few minutes they responded with a link, which automatically puts a discount in your order basket. Groovy! I could also do with a large landing net as my Fox predator pan has a small hole in it. Ive been looking at the JRC Roamer X-lite as it has a folding block for when i'm moving, and doesn't cost the earth, like some of the other folding block nets. I think I'll wait though until I start catching fish a warrant a big net. |
It's been a lightning fast year or so, and to be honest, There did seem to be quite a lot of frustrated blokes on the shop floor, due to there being no fixed systems in place, who were looking to find recognition and some path to advancement. The last couple of weeks there have been two or even three charge hands overlapping at the same time. It seemed to me that the place was taking on a more relaxed and less stressful atmosphere as a result, or was it because I’m leaving hehe! I’d love to have been working more in fixed gangs, even if they were rotated around. A broader view of the anticipated and exams in progress would be great, to enable the ‘gangs’ to plan the work a bit more themselves (the engineers are more than capable). In my experience you can build trusts, get to know people and the less experienced guys get the chance for more mentoring when the guys get used to each other. Working together on a semi-permanent basis would stop people disappearing when ‘their’ job is done. I’m used to all having a cuppa tea after the last job is being finished by everyone….. …..and yet when you work long hours, for pay that’s not great you are gonna take what you can get. Damn I’m reading back at the above and it look like I’m having a pop. I guarantee that’s not the case, but I just feel that 99% of the guys at Selhurst are frustrated because they’re not able to do their job as good as they know they can, or the systems in place mean they don’t have the tools or parts in stock. Enough of all that. Thanks to all the charge hands, for taking shit from both sides and not giving me too many shit jobs. Thanks to all the long termers for your patients and for teaching yet another new starter who was destined to leave, all the jobs from scratch…you know who you are. The same goes for the trainers, but hey at least you’re off the shift right guys Good luck to those who are fine where they are and for those that are looking ahead, keep pushing forwards to reach those goals. Don’t sell yourselves short or settle for where you are. All the best to Les and the whole shift, peace and love to all. Kudos to the guys who do 72 hours a week, you have my utmost respect as it’s something I haven’t the mettle to do. Good luck and all the best to everyone Cheers Rob M |
Only a few weeks now until I start my new job on 19/05/2008  !Its been a long slog to get the technicians roll with Alstom at Golders Green on the Norther Line. My first interview was on 08/01/2008, the second on 18/01/2008. The formal offer came on 27/02/2008, then I had the medical on 02/04/2008 with the results through on 14/04/2008. I rode in and handed my notice at Southern on the 14/03/2008 as soon as I got the call. They seemed overcome with an air of indifference lol! I think they've seen it all before. Still worth the wait i'm sure. Even though there is traveliing to Golders Green, it's more money, less hours and a better shift with more rest days. In fact its pretty much a four day week (works out 4.1). I'm looking forwards to the change, before I become institutionalised at Southern  .I'm trying to gain membership of Ruxley lakes ready for the new 2008 fishing season. There doesn't seem to be any security issues there, and as it's around the corner I thought I'd give it a go. |
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