Gem's Stuff - Babblings - Friends Guide

You've all been subdivided into groups so it makes more sense. Quick, scroll down to find out what it says about you!

If you don't like sitting with the other people in your group you'll have to request a move. Unfortunately this might involve coming to work in my office, or joining an internet discussion forum, or moving house. But hey, the choice is there.

› Family
› Office People
› ATA People
› French People
› Other

Family

Euan

Also known as "The Sprog", he's 3 and runs around a lot saying "Oh no!"
He gives lots of hugs. He throws occasional tantrums. He's basically your average toddler. And no, I don't see him as exceptionally gifted or a prodigy in any way, even though I think I'm supposed to. I wouldn't wish that kind of pressure and responsibility on a child. He's the centre of my universe, isn't that enough?

Steve

My boyfriend. He's great.

Used to be a chef, which he reckons is the best job in the world if you want lots of women running after you, but unfortunately no free time. He's currently an evil taxman. He assures me he won't work there forever (I said something similar five years ago).
Occasionally buys me flowers, but don't tell anyone. It'll ruin his image.

Steve's Website

Dan

My brother. Does all the technical stuff on this website, so I can't say anything horrible about him. Erm. I get on well with him, except when we have a major argument (about once every three months) when we can't stand the sight/sound of each other for a few days, but eventually one of us goes, "So yeah, anyway..." and everything's back to normal. Lives in Marford with Mum.

Dan's Website

Mum

Lives in Marford, works in my office - no, it's not weird actually. It just makes it easier to discuss babysitting arrangements etc. She does Ceroc dancing, which involves lots of complicated spinning and twirling around. Looks impressive though.

Dad

Lives in Llanwrtyd Wells (the official middle of nowhere) in a hotel. Always busy, usually trying to stop the hotel from collapsing in stages. Married to Catherine.

Dad's Website

Catherine

Dad's wife. Used to work as an auditor for the council, which sounded like quite a hazardous job from what I heard. Now runs the hotel with Dad.

Granny

Lives in Lincolnshire, but has been staying with Dad & Cath recently.

Grandma

Lives in Gresford, just up the road from Mum. Whenever she comes round she starts doing gardening or something, which is very kind but makes me feel a bit guilty.

Office People

Aidan

Works downstairs, married to Andrea. Passed out on my sofa once after a night out. Ian informs me that I will never live this down in work, and it will be remembered as "spent the night".

A legend in his own lifetime. Well, he should be. A very good friend of mine who makes me smile whatever we're talking about - from politics to culinary experiments. We swap books a lot. His job involves stakeouts on beaches. Jammy sod.

Andrea

Works downstairs. Have been friends since we went on a Winter Sports Weekend with work and got humorously drunk. She's married to Aidan. They've got a sprog called Ethan, 10 months younger than Euan. She seems to have a unique facial expression, a cross between amusement and disapproval. She uses it on me a lot.

Chris

Works on CIS team. Simon's lodger. Has twins, Cian and Megan, who are ten months older than Euan.

Colin

Steve's step-dad, works on the same team as Ian and Aidan. Was also at my house the night Aidan stayed. Colin actually managed to leave though, although I don't think he was popular when he got back, at 4am, with no key and wearing a hedge.

Ian

Lives round the corner from me, gives me lifts home and criticises my musical taste. Works on the same team as Aidan and Colin.

Karl

My ex. Moved to Cardiff, lives with Jane and her kids Neil, Amy and Jack. We alternate between excellent cooperation and outright war over Euan. Sometimes in the same day.

Kirsty

Joined Receivables at the same time as me, then went onto Movements. Has now left the Revenue, to pursue a career in nursing.

Nicola

Joined Recovery same time as me, now moved teams. We have similar taste in music, similar attitudes to the world, and both drink double-vodka-cokes when we're on a night out. We have a lot of fun.

Rose

Was 'placed' on Recovery from Corporate Services (which is being centralised down in Cardiff. They're probably synergising in a dynamic way, too). Replaced Nicola & Kirsty. Is learning the job from me... oh dear, hope she doesn't expect me to get it right.

Simon

Been friends with Simon since I joined the Revenue for some reason. Used to work on a very close-knit team, but since Sam & Kelly both left and I moved to Recovery it's not as much fun. Lives in Chester in a huge house that I'm going to divide up and rent out to students for him.

ATA People

Jason (Marlowe)

Has a rather interesting, and occasionally dangerous job. Has an infinite number of hilarious anecdotes, and a habit of talking complete sense.

Jayne

Student, goes to a lot of gigs, very enthusiastic about music. She and I have decided we're the Official ATA Women's Committee. Now an official item with Rich.

Jayne's Website

John

Lives in Chester. Attends college in Wrexham. Used to work at Blue Planet Aquarium, which means he got to dress as a shark and say disturbing things to impressionable kids. He's an excellent writer, with a scary imagination.

John's Website

Karl (Kondor)

Yay! Another single parent! He understands the Call of the Wine Bottle! He's got Kris, who's 3. Lives in the Midlands, collects mad stalker women.

Paul (PaulMorgster)

Went to school with Dan, from Chester originally but at Uni in Stoke. Goes nicely crazy when drunk. Mental note: get Paul drunk more often. Gives me & Dan a lot of lifts, especially when going to Alton Towers. Very kind person.

Paul's Website

Rob (RPG)

Student in computery stuff living in Sheffield. Reviews music and gets lots of freebies. Drinks interesting beers. Wins at bowling. Also very good at making Yorkshire puddings... well, you'd expect it from a northerner!

Rob's Website

Ste (Zippy)

Lives near Peterborough, which was nice when I was on training there. Came to celebrate New Year at Dad's with his girlfriend Laura. Then came on a mad five-hour dash to join in with Eurovision. I think I can safely say it wouldn't have been the same without them, and their rather unique contributions to the party spirit...

Tom (Nexus)

Lives in Dronfield, works as a computery bod for a debt recovery company. Working on a big project for them.

Tom's Website

French People

Carole

Nick's partner. I love her sense of humour. Does have a tendency to speak very fast French, which is challenging at least.

Flavien

Carole's son. The most pleasant teenager I've met in a while.

Reda

My ex from five years ago. He kept in touch. Algerian who lives in Paris with two lodgers - both young, female and attractive. Something about this doesn't surprise me.

Yoyo

(Yosef, I think). Reda's friend, used to flatshare with him when I first knew him. Co-runs a bar near Place d'Italie in Paris. I've got a permanent offer of work there if I want a foothold to get back to France.

Other

Lou

Have known Lou since I was five. Used to live round the corner from Mum's house in Marford, now married to Adi. Moved to Cardiff.

Steve & Karen

Have been friends with Simon (from work) for years. Very nice people. Two teenage daughters, who always seem to be stumbling around in pyjamas suffering from hangovers when I go round.