Clark Street, Chicago

Now this blip is a bit of a cheat as obviously I didn't take it, and I'm hoping that Rose (LoveMy3Dogs) doesn't mind me using it! Alan's mum reads my blips, so she'll enjoy seeing this picture.

Alan was picked up at 6am to go to Heathrow for his flight to Chicago. We messaged each other while he was in the car, but then I didn't hear from him, which is unlike him as he usually lets me know he's arrived. I knew his flight was at about 9.30am, so by 9.15am I was starting to get a little worried. I then got a phone call from a number I didn't recognise, and it was Alan. It turns out he'd left his phone in the car (or tonight he had), and one of the air stewards let him use their phone to call me. He said once he landed and was at the hotel he would be able to track his phone - which he did, and it appears it's been to Harrods and then Covent Garden lol! Anyway he's spoken to the limo service and they're going to get hold of his driver. Fortunately it's a service provided by Virgin as he flies upper class on his long haul business trips, so it's not a normal taxi.

Once he landed, he bumped into Eddie, his old boss from MasterCard in Belgium, so they travelled to the hotel together and Eddie let him use his phone to call me. I already knew he'd landed safely though as Rose had tracked his flight and messaged me to let me know he'd arrived, which was really kind of her.

Rose and her friend Jim then drove into the city to meet Alan for an early dinner - I'm so disappointed that I couldn't be there too! Neither could Randy as he was on a business trip to Denver - next time we'll all have to meet up!

So this blip is courtesy of Rose, taken by Jim. Our surname is Clark, which was also Rose's maiden name and they're both stood under the Clark Street road sign!

My good news today is that work have agreed to my resignation and I can finish next Wednesdsay. They've made it out that 'under the circumstances' they'll agree to waive the normal 12 week notice period. However, I know the real reason - they're moving Rachel to the Worthing office on 3rd October and Megan & Nick are going to the Brighton office the same day, so our little team is being broken up. They spoke to Rachel and said they still wanted me to work the 12 weeks and it's down to her that I've been allowed to go. She questioned why, when they were moving her and what did they plan to do with me? Anyway whatever their reasoning I'm free to go. I'm not quite sure where I would have fitted into their plan, but there's no way I would want to commute to Worthing every day, so I think my new job has come at the right time! I've had a lovely letter from my new place of work with my terms of engagement and I'm very excited about starting! I think my colleagues are all envious that I'm escaping lol!

The other good news is that our case has finally arrived at Gatwick and will be delivered by courier tomorrow!

Thanks to those of you who 'came on holiday' with us. Apologies for the lack of comments while I was away! I'll catch up this week, but tonight I've been so tired after a day back in work - I promise to do better!