from the desk of Johnny Morris

As it's fairly likely I will have to move back to Europe in the coming months (still no exact idea when), I'm starting to prepare the animals for this.

HM Government, are finally coming round to the notion that given the compulsory rabies vaccination of all domestic animals, required in the US (well, at least in CO), it's just possible that North America isn't such a risk for animals getting rabies.

So they're setting up (at a crippled tortoise's pace) a scheme whereby I can get my animals vaccinated, chipped and blood tested, and they can then stay in the US for six months (instead of having to stay in special kennels in the UK for six months) and then enter the UK without going into quarantine.

If I move back to Europe, I'm planning on living in Ireland, most likely in the capital city, Dublin (because the vast majority of the tech jobs are there). That said, if the right opportunity came up in Britain, or France (particularly Paris) I'd be interested. The (crafty) Irish Government deal with rabies by saying that you can only bring an animal into Ireland from the UK. In other words, they get the British Government to do all the work! Good for them, I say!

So anyway, today I had to take all my animals for this potential move. I took all four (two dogs, two cats) to the vet's in one go. All for had blood drawn. I also got the vet to investigate Benny's "Charlie Chaplin" walk he seems to have developed lately.

Of course, Benny being Benny, he didn't shut up the whole time we were there. Most cats would be nervous about a trip to the vets, but not my Benny. Also he's just about the most expressive cat I've ever met. He has about 10 different meows, meaning different things. Some of them sound like squawks, some make him sound like Eric Cartman. The conversation in the room went like this:

Benny: Squawk
Vet: He's talkative.
Me: Yes, he never shuts...
Benny: Squawk
Me: ... up
Vet: How long has...
Benny: Squawk
Vet: ... he been doing this?
Benny: Squawk
Me: Oh about eleven years now.
Benny: Squawk, meow

That's the other thing with Benny. He always has to get the last word in.

Picture Purrrfect
And now, especially for Jodi in New York, some pictures of the kids... err... animals:

Click to enlarge

When I got home, it transpires that there may well be another couple of dozen sets of flaming hoops I have to jump through for HM Govt, before they let me bring the kids into Blighty, and the blood may need to be drawn again. Just how much blood does HM Govt want out of my babies?

Work, Immigration etc
I've been very careful, in this blog (no really, I have) not to go on about my being out of work and my wanting to stay in the US so much, mainly because if you already know me, then you'll know my situation, and if you don't know me (you lucky swines!) then you'll be even less interested than those who do!

It's ironic that I can work, without any immigration worries in about 15 countries (Europe), but the one place I really want to live and work in, won't let me, without a struggle.

So, this is a small request, that if any of you have any jobs going, preferably in IT, but I'll consider anything, email me and let me know. Yes, I need some sort of work visa, but that's not hard to do, nor is it expensive as you can get the costs back from me over the first few years. My resumé is at Dice. Oh, and don't let the foul language, rants and dreadful comedy of this site put you off. I'm a total pro at work, and this site is just a pressure release valve for my current frustration. It doesn't have to be in Denver, but it'd be all the better if it was!

I'd be looking for either desktop or web development, or support, or even training. I've previously written and presented a course in a number of countries, most notably, the United Arab Emirates!

...and now back to your regularly scheduled blogging....

*This was a BBC children's TV programme, all about animals, that ran from the early sixties through to the mid-eighties. Johnny Morris was the (superb) presenter, who would supply imagined voices and words for all the animals shown. It might sound odd, but was superb entertainment and education for children.