I arrived back from Hull yesterday evening after a few days at ‘head office’. It was a long trip back, through road works, and some rather violent rain. On pulling into the road where I live I was somewhat irked to see Nikki’s boyfriends car parked… now, I don’t dislike him or anything, but I wasn’t in the mood for having someone else in the house.

So, when Mrs HoG suggested I go to the pub with my neighbour, I jumped at the chance. It is not often that your wife suggests you go out drinking. Alan, my neighbour, has been on his own this week – his wife and kids have been in Scotland visiting relatives. Mrs HoG thought he might enjoy some company.

So… off to the pub we went. Just for a ‘couple’ of drinks. But unfortunately, it was more than a couple, and I had too much Guinness.

When I awoke this morning, I was sure it must be Saturday, because I wouldn’t be foolish enough to go out drinking on a midweek evening… but no matter how hard I kept thinking it must be Saturday, it wasn’t, it was Friday. And, so here I am in the office, but not quite firing on all cylinders.

A deathly pallor is what you have when you have sat up too late on a Sunday evening, reading the latest HP book, and then had to get up for work on the Monday morning. But when you have read two thirds of the book, you might as well just finish it…

I got drawn into reading the HP books a few years back now, after sitting with Robbie to watch the first film on dvd one day. That sparked a curiosity to read the book, which then lead to reading the second… and so on. I thought it was a good read, reasonably fast paced, and finished well. Hats off to JK Rowling for a simple idea, which she has turned into a massive fortune – wouldn’t we all like to do it.

Mrs HoG wasn’t too impressed with the. vast amount of time I seemed to spend reading at the weekend. But what the heck, I don’t do it every weekend.

Saw the HP 5 film as well. It was ok’ish. A bit too fragmented, trying to capture a 600 page book in two hours of film was always going to be a challenge. I thought the lad that acted the role of HP has vastly improved since his first few films.

On with some work…

Or so it would seem, with all the furore around the book launch. My copy should turn up in the post around 10:30. Not that I will have a great deal of time to read it today.

Today is a day where nothing was planned. However, I have just agreed to take Ellie to the library, and then swimming. And to take Robbie to see the new Harry Potter film later this afternoon. I have also agreed to wallpaper the hallway / stairwell / landing… whilst I won’t do that today, I want to get the old paper down this weekend. Robbie has said he will do some though.

There is also the Open golf and Test match cricket on the TV… so I am not sure where HP will fit into the day.

And so the great grass god wreaked his vengeance on Harapha of Gath’s garden….

And so my manicured lawn  disappears under water….

First point of order today is to pass many happy returns of the day to Lisa. Hope you have a good one, do enjoy your day, regardless of anything else.

I actually finished work a little early yesterday. I was at home at 5:15. So, I took opportunity of the fine weather of the last few days and cut the grass. Obviously this seems to have upset the grass god, as it is throwing down the rain (again) this morning.

I am off to the gym. Fourth day in a row… the body is ojecting and reluctant this morning, but the brain knows better apparantly and keeps saying …. but it’s good for you.

The concept 2 rowing machine gets delivered this morning. I have booked one for 3 months – Nikki is going to a ‘talent’ day for the British rowing board in September. I am hoping she will be able to take advantage of the rowing machine between now and then.

Nikki has been told that she has won a prize at school for her Biology work over the last year. So, whilst she has actually left, we are all going across to the school tomorrow for the end of year prize giving.

Robbies band, Blood Red Sky have recorded a couple of tracks, which can be found on their myspace site. Here is the link for those interested.

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=195535632 

Beware. For those of a quiet musical disposition it may not suit. Further, the track called Cursed has a ‘naughty’ word in it. Robbie is playing the drums, and for a group of 15 year olds I think they do quite well.

Ellie is in the doghouse. She didn’t shut the freezer door properly after getting herslf an ice cream. No sweets or ice creams for a week was the penalty incurred. And a week is a long time for a 7 year old.

Have been listening to The Pretenders ‘The Singles’ album, which has been a trip down memory lane. Being a cheapskate I am recording from the original vinyl, and converting to an mp3 track so I can ipod it. Why would I want to pay for the music again ?

This was the weekend when nothing was planned, and so I planned to do nothing.

Friday evening started out well. Tricia was out with some friends, and so after some nosebag, I settled down to the TV. I watched an episode of the Simpsons with Ellie, which she likes to watch before she goes to bed. This episode was all about gay marriage… and so I had to field some interesting questions from Ellie. After I had packed her off to bed I watched Waking the Dead. I have just bought series 3 on DVD. I didn’t start watching the prog till Series 4, so these are all new to me.

Saturday I had promised to take Ellie to the library. So, we were there at 9am as it opened. I then somehow had my arm twisted to buy her a dress from Next. It is difficult for a Dad to say no to his 7 year old daughter. I explained that I bought it for her because she had received a lovely school report. But in truth I would probably have bought it for her anyway. We returned home briefly before I took her swimming… I was then allowed a few hours peace whilst Tricia took Ellie off to a dancing display. See photo below – Ellis is central.

Then Tricia and myself took Robbie and Ellie to see Shrek 3. I must say I thought it rather dull compared to the other two. I would rather have watched Harry Potter – perhaps next weekend. On that note I have just ordered up the next HP novel, for delivery next Saturday morning.

So, that was my quiet Saturday. Actually it was a good day. Some quality time with Ellie. I often don’t see too much of her during the week, so the weekend is a good time to catch up.

Today, after church, I have just sat and either read, or listened to music…. now, that is more like it.

A guy I worked with about six years ago is leaving the UK to return to his home in New Zealand. He is a really nice feller, and a network genius, he was a pleasure to work with. Anyhow, he planned to have some farewell drinks last night at a wine bar in Covent Garden. After a day at work I have to say that I was not particularly keen to travel into London, but I am glad I did. It was great to catch up, not only with him, but with some other old colleagues that I haven’t seen for a few years. We all worked together for a start up organisation, building Data Centres and selling hosting. The business failed, but it was probably the most enjoyable two years of my working career, pretty much due to the people I worked with.

So, a late night last night. I feel somewhat jaded this morning. Thank goodness it is Friday.

I have registered for my next Open Uni course – ‘Approaching Literature’. Whilst the course doesn’t start until October 1st, I have started reading some of the set texts as part of the prep for the course. Hence reading Great Expectations recently, and presently reading Pride and Prejudice.

I have read  P&P a couple of times before. But it is still a great read. Jane Austen never had the use of a wordprocessor to be able to edit / revise her text,  but her command of prose is impeccable. The fact that she wrote it freehand makes it all the more to her credit. Pity that she died at only 41.

The press this week have been talking about the dropping of a number of established literary authors in favour of more contemporary authors as part of the school curriculum. Personally I just can’t see how Austen can ever be missed off a text list, it is reassuring then that the Schools Secretary assures us that it won’t be the case. Today the press are reporting that the Churchill will be dropped from History teaching – I don’t know how much this is fact, or whether this is the press grabbing a headline on the back of something else. However, whatever your views on Churchill, a great leader, a war mongerer, an economic blunderer, an innovator – he was integral to modern Britich history, so therefore cannot be excluded.

Oh well, I had better do some work….

I watched a good chunk of the mens singles final at Wimbledon yesterday. Federer and Nadal going at it full on. I like to watch tennis, but was always hopeless playing it. It amazes me the power and speed they hit the ball and still control it. The part of the game that I saw really was top class.

However, I couldn’t watch it till the end, as Tricia and I were going out – off to an evening of music and fireworks. We left home, and the lovely sunshine that we had enjoyed for the best part of two days, and arrived in Warwick just over an hour later…. where it was raining.

The orchestra were excellent. The fireworks magnificent. The food, drink, and company of our friends was great. But, we had to sit through three downpours at various times in the evening. So, despite umbrella’s, waterproof’s / coats, we arrived home somewhat damp. Where there had been no rain. Grrrrrr.

I am looking forward to next weekend already, as nothing is planned, and I plan to do nothing.

Saturday morning I took Ellie into Aylesbury, where she took part in a Roald Dahl parade – local schools walked with paintings and models they had made from the books.

Ellie ws walking with her ‘best friend’. Afterwards I took her to the library, and she joined and got her own library ticket. She took out two books, and finished them both by this morning, and wanted to go and change them, and was disappointed to be told that the library was closed on a Sunday. Her one disappointment with the library was that it wasn’t as quiet as she expected.

The wedding Tricia was catering for went very well.  So, she is relieved that it is over and was complimented on the food.

Off to an evening of music and fireworks shortly.