I have survived my first week of work in the United States although I use the word work very lightly as I have sat in a class room all week. It’s been slow going really and a little frustrating as the pace of learning has been slow talking us through basic Windows functions. Which seems kinda pointless as most of the people there are from a technical background and Windows isn’t complicated to use. Right now I am writing a “teach back”, which is a presentation describing certain features of the software, I have the options menu to talk about for 10 minutes on Tuesday. Other than that I have nothing else to say about my first week of paid work/training.
Yesterday evening Erin and I spent four hours in hospital after we thought that Erin’s water had broken, I’ll spare you the details. At first our suspicions was confirmed by the resident doctor. Later she came in and notified us that Erin’s water hadn’t broken after talking with our OB/GYN, saying it was just heavy discharge. We have our doubts about that diagnosis as Erin is still leaking fluid bad enough to have to wear a pad. It’s only another eight days before our daughter Alya Elizabeth will be born by Caesarean section. It’s going to be a very long eight days for us!
Jenson Button has decided to leave Brawn Grand Prix in favour of McLaren; from what I have read from Ross Brawn statements; Jenson was asking for $22.5m per year to sign for the Brackley based team, while Brawn were offering $8m with upto $4m in race bonuses. I don’t know how much McLaren are paying Jenson but I don’t think it’ll be in the $20m range as they could have had Kimi Raikkonen for $7m as Ferrari would pay $10m towards his salary after ending the Finn’s contract early. So we have the British dream team, two British world champions in a British team. It’s all change at Brawn GP; as Mercedes have bought a 75% stake in Brawn and the team will be renamed Mercedes GP from next season. It also looks like McLaren will become a manufacturer after releasing a road car with their own in-house engine. And finally Michael Schumacher is rumoured to be making a return to F1 with the new Mercedes team alongside fellow German Nico Rosberg to make the German dream team, at least until they can prise Sebastian Vettel away from Red Bull.
Both Plymouth Argyle and Liverpool had poor results, Argyle lost 1 – 0 to Leicester City with a last minute goal almost four minutes into added time from Andy King and Liverpool drew 2 – 2 with Manchester City at Anfield. Liverpool remain in seventh in the league, 13 points off the league leaders, unless something amazing happens Liverpool’s hopes of winning the Premiership have evaporated; the best they can hope for now is a top four finish. While Plymouth Argyle drop back into the bottom three of the Championship after this weekends loss at The Walkers Stadium.