Damn, blood pressure again!

It's been an interesting week...

But let's start with what you already know.  The pain in my leg, ankle and foot is almost gone, thankfully, and I'm getting back to normal.  The bruises have decided to make an appearance, so my toes and ankle did turn a lovely shade of purple - but that is also starting to go now as well.

It has caused me some issues though :)  I saw some lovely shoes this week, and as my summer heels have seen better days I thought that maybe it was time for a new pair.

Err...  No. The shoes in the shop were as small as child sizes - I take a euro 39 / 40 depending on style and the size 40 pair in the shop were still about 1 cm too small to even get my foot into - let alone be a bit too small!

So... Onto another shop, one of our favorites.  There were not too many styles to choose from (I don't like the shoes this season!) but one pair were quite nice.  Beige suede, and just the right height for what I was looking for.  Only...  The 39s pinched a little too much, and I walked out of the 40s.  Hmm...  OK, I know the bridge of my foot has swollen a bit, and apparently so has the toe.  Lets abandon the shoe shopping until my feet are normal sized shall we.  I hate failed shopping trips!

But...  That was the end of the week, time for a flashback to the start!

I have taken over the project from a colleague so that he can concentrate on a new project that he has.  It's an evil one, that when everything works is going to be great, but getting to that point is going to mean that multiple companies are going to have to work together, and at the right pace and understand each other.  And therein lies the problem :)

So, on Monday the project started for me for real.  A trip to one companies offices to discuss last year, and to see where we are going to take the project this year.  Fine.  No stress at all.  Zero history and scared witless of sitting silent in a meeting for 2 hours feeling a complete failure and fool.

On the way discussed some of the history with my colleague.  Got there fine, and into the meeting.  And yes, sitting there silently as I listened to the evaluation of the last year, not being able to make a good contribution.  Lots of notes, and actions for me, but nothing really to say at that point.  Hmm...

Still, it improved.  They asked about our implementation of SEPA and it was something that I know a lot about (being involved in the pre work to see what we have to do, and knowing what the really annoying and difficult problems are!)  At last I could speak, and actually I quite enjoyed it!

We agreed on what we needed to do, and closed the meeting and left for home.

Or that was the plan.

Unfortunately my colleagues car other other ideas.  Whilst changing gear it suddenly revved uncontrollably.  Hmm...  He tried a second time, and this time it just went insane.  Hazard lights on and over to the hard shoulder (emergency lane - thanks Cass!).  Keys out, but no difference, it's still revving well over the rev limit of the engine and the smoke coming out of the exhaust has put a solid smoke screen across both directions of the motorway.

Only once before in my life have I been that scared of a non moving car.  That was when the AA set fire to my first car by removing what the guy said was 'dodgy, cowboy wiring' but which was in fact the main fuse for the car.  2 hours later the engine bay caught fire whilst I was driving.

This was the same feeling.  I just wanted to get out of the car and as far away as possible!  I wasn't worried about fire this time, but flying con rods and pistons should the engine really let go.  I ran up the embankment (not easy when it's overgrown with brambles and is loose sand, and I am wearing tights and heels). And filmed it for my colleague, he wanted some proof of exactly what it did.

The first tow truck came and moved the car to a safe place.  We got to a rest spot and my colleague called the rescue service, just as his phone died.  So he needed my number in case they needed to contact him again, so I had to try and write it on the back of his hand.

The ANWB (Dutch AA) guy came and very simply said it's dead - you need towing.  So they arranged that the truck that picked us up from the motorway would take us to get the hire car.  As it was bloody cold, and I had no coat with me we waited in the truck whilst the loaded the car onto the back.

Oh...  And tight(ish) skirts are not the outfit of choice for either climbing the embankment, or climbing in and out of break down trucks! :)

We eventually got the hire car and started on the way home again.  And saw the time :O So...  he offered to make me some food as it was going to be very late before we reached the office, and I had another 45 minutes from there to home (I was assuming that the traffic was going to be fine at that hour!).

Now I need another flash back...  Whilst we were waiting for the car to be loaded a second time he told me that the first guy assumed I was his girlfriend.  The second assumed I was his wife.  Quite outside of the wonderful feeling I took from that (could you ask for more of a compliment from complete strangers!?), it made a wonderful 4 part joke.

In one day...  I went from having a guy ask me for my number for the first time.  To being his girlfriend.  And then his wife!  And he cooks for me!!!!! ;p

Not a good end to the day (especially for him, I feel so sorry for what has happened!) but there was something that we could laugh at, at least :)

And...  Seeing as I think that is quite enough for you guys to have to read in one go I think that I'll give you a rest now, and type the rest of the week up later :)