Despite being on the 13th floor in room 1313

Ush and I spent most of the weekend in Birmingham. Not ber-meeng-ham, like in Alabama, but BERming-um, 2nd largest city in the UK with more miles of canal than Venice. (True story.)

Awhile back, Ush was nominated for a national RailStaff Award – Trainer of the Year – and we went up to attend the awards ceremony! Ush’s office footed the bill (travel and accommodation!) for both of us as well as his manager and a colleague. It was a rather fancy do (I wore a dress! gasp!), hosted by a famous record producer and train spotter, with a four-course meal, entertainment from a comedian, and a raffle for charity.

Bit of background: After the initial nominations, he was shortlisted based on number of votes received, and then the winner was to be chosen based on comments/testimonies sent in about the nominee. I’ll just copy and paste some of Ush’s account for you.

“Aaaand the winner is…”

*Ush is laughing at some other joke*
*We have all had too much wine*
*Steph is trying to take a photo of the big screen with my pic on it*
*Boss is making some sarcy comment about my picture (justifiably!)*

Then Pete Waterman (who is surprisingly short) says “USHWIN PAI!”. I was in stunned silence as the table erupts.

(He forgot to add that I was shrieking my head off!)

…Then the long walk to the stage (the Birmingham ICC is huge and there were a good 100 tables or so and we were at the back!) still unsure that it’s real. Walk up the stage, they hand me the glass trophy thing, and I pose with the sponsor, the comedian, and Pete Waterman for a photo.

Then walking back stage, small interview, some more photos, the “PRIZE PACK” (more later). Then just stunned silent me for the next hour or so, broken up with the occasional director of random company, some from TfL and other nominees coming up to say well done.

THANKS FOR THE VOTES GUYS!!!!!
They said that I had flown into the shortlist by the number of votes I had, and then the best testimonials were written about me in comparison to anyone else. I was meant to have been the only far and away winner in any category!

Seriously still in shock.

Now have to pick a prize:
A week long Mediterranean cruise
7 nights at a 5* resort in Egypt (Sharm El Sheikh)
5 nights in Vegas at a hotel on the strip
A week in Euro Disney
A Sony Bravia 40″ TV, Sony Cinema system and BluRay player
Or any other holiday if they can arrange it.

Jeez…………. *shock*
I really dunno what to say……
♥
xxx

So there you go! My husband is Trainer of the Year!! And we get a free holiday!!! Right now, we’re leaning towards Egypt or the cruise. Not sure yet, though.

Photos will be available from the website shortly, so I’ll be sure to post them up for you then (as the few I took were pretty crap!).

*proud wife*