What? A post that's on time?

Good morning/ afternoon/ evening (please delete as appropriate) all. I know how shocked you all must be, but here is a CATCOUK post on time!

Everything really has all launched at the same time this year. In previous years, I've been eased back in slowly, with NTC starting a week in, other stuff starting a week later, and university in February. But this year, everything has hit me at the same time! NTC, School (work), Adult Education work... it all adds up. I didn't know where I was last week.

This week, I had a whole evening off! Monday night was our first band night of the year. I was actually quite impressed. Not many people had practiced since our last band night a month ago (since we take the instruments in over Christmas, which makes practicing difficult). Despite this, the band (now 21 big, with a few people missing) still held a tune reasonably well.

Tuesday night was Sturdy Band. I don't have to tow their trailer home any more, as Mark now finishes his taxi job slightly ealier so he can do it. That was handy this week, as it meant I could write some lesson plans (and make handouts). I really am a thoroughly exciting person, and I'm not even a teacher yet! Imagine how dull I'll be then...

On Wednesday I assisted my Year 7 colleagues with a pre-visit to Lodge Hill camp. For the past few years, I have always felt that Year 7 could do with a residential trip, and last year Jez had told me he was toying with the idea of holding a camp. Well, as he is the Year 7 leader this year, it's actually happenning. As I was walking around (and being quite impressed by the activities), I began to think that I didn't want to go to America. I can't attend the Year 6 residential (Broadstone Warren) again, and I'm going to miss this fantastic camp. Then I came back to my sesnses.

On the evening, I had to go back to TS Sturdy, so that on of my junior officers could do some of her Petty Officer's training. They were doing circuit training. Whew - I tell you, just watching them all running around made me feel dizzy and out of breath. It was a good job they had some sweets their for me to eat...

Thursday, I had an evening off. So I went out a bourght a book case for my room (well really a load of shelves in a moveable case so that I haven't got to nail anything to the walls). I don't really have any tools, so I had to go out and buy some. So, armed with a £7.99 tool set from Sainsbury's, I set to work assembling my first piece of flat pack furniture.

Now I am sure that we are all aware of the stigma surrounding flat pack furniture, but in rather a Top Gear fashion - How hard could it be? I opened the box, and found the instructions. 'Won't be needing those' I cheered, and tossed them aside. I quickly identified the pieces, and layed them out. And after 10 short minutes of not really seeing what part goes which way up, I retreated to the instructions. These were completely undesipherable, but I struggled on.

Book 'im Danno - well you try and think of a book case pun!

I may have cut a few corners, and I have quite a few parts left over, but it's up. And it pretty good time. Because just 2 short hours after starting, I had something definatly recogniseable as a bookcase!

Friday evening saw the first rifle shooting at NTC this year. But no shooting for me. I had toys to play with. About a year ago, we got funding for loads of new outdoor goodies. Some new super-light weight tents, and a box trailer. But most excitingly, a fleet of 6 identical Tek Sport Kayaks. I was like a kid in a sweet shop. I can't wait for our store to be repaired so I can fit them all in!

My last trip into doing anything interesting, was yet another DIY adventure. I'm afraid I have spent the rest of this weekend doing exciting risk assesment paperwork for NTC. And I wonder why I don't have a girlfriend...

As you may have noticed in the photo above, two of the shelves are seperated quite far apart, with an extra white shelf in the middle. This was deliberate so I could put in the affore mentioned white shelf for my videos. Firstly I measured the space, and then found an appropriate bit of wood. Sawed off the redundant length, screwed in some screws to hold the shelf up, and then placed in the new shelf. And it fitted like a glove. On a small animal. The screws weren't level, so the shelf wobbled, and the there was some considerable distance between the end of the shelf, and the start of the bookcase. Apparently you can't saw back on a length of wood, so I haven't (see picture). But the misaligned screws I could answer.

Not a clear picture - which is probably a good thing, as you can't see what a bad fit that is...

Now, not many people know this, but they do make a tool for making minor adjustments to screw alignments. And I think I may have slightly disgruntled my brother (who was sleeping in the afternoon ready for work in the evening). As I was making some minor, highly accurate adjustments, using my minor adjustment tool (Jeremy Clarkson called it a Ham-Mer?), this grumpy teenage voice groaned 'Shut Up!'

My handiworking skills aren't brilliant. Well, they don't call me John Wayne for nothing...

Well, that's it for this week. I think this was almost a whole post as well. If I keep this up, people might start accusing this of being a blog.

If you think my DIY skills are more DI-WHY? skills, why not leave a comment on how rubbish my bookcase is.

If you have equally brilliant DIY skills, why not leave a comment on what a great effort I made on my bookcase.

Quote of the Week: 'Oh, you mean Andy!' exclaimed Dave at my Garage, as a friend of mine inquired about booking his XR3 in, and mentioned that he had a friend with a Mark IV Escort Estate...