Having taken Monday and Tuesday off work this week, you might have thought that I would have had plenty of time to blog. But no. It all started on Friday evening…

I got back from Hull, and Tricia went off to Chelmsford on her coaching course. I was informed of some complex arrangements about Nikki coming back late Friday evening after work, playing hockey Saturday morning, then picking up Robbie, who was going to go back to uni with her. Then they were both getting a train into London to see some heavy metal meatheads, before going back to uni, and Tricia was going to pick Robbie up on Sunday from the uni. Got all that?

Well, I went to rehearsal Friday evening, returned home, tidied a few bits up and went to bed at around 11:30pm. Then I got a text from Nikki, ‘please call me’. She had broken down on the motorway. She was in a ‘free recocvery’ area so, with the help of a nearby police officer got towed away. I then had to arrange for the RAC to get out to Nikki (she had forgotten to take her RAC card with her). Nikki was eventually towed back to her uni, with the alternator declared dead. But it was 2am by then. So I was late getting to sleep, and wouldn’t have slept till I knew she was back safely.

Saturday morning I had to get up reasonably early as I was helping at the school Xmas Fayre. I was working the bbq, and I have to say it was constant work from 10am to 2pm. At which point I had to pick Robbie up and take him to Aylesbury to get the train into London (with some of Nikki’s friends) so he could got to the meatheads concert/gig. After doing some shopping and spending a bit of time with Ellie, it was well into the evening. I was knackered, and half watched tv, and half dozed in the chair. Robbies evening at least went to schedule. He met up with Nikki in London and they all went to the concert. He managed to get on the last train back to Aylesbury and got a taxi from there, getting home at 1:45am… another late night for me. Nikki however hadn’t realised there were rail repairs starting at midnight, so no trains were running back to Hatfield and she had missed the last bus. Fortunately, one of the friends she had been at the concert with was staying with his father in London, who came out and picked her up, so she stayed with them overnight.

Sunday morning was church, then I cooked the roast, and then watched West Ham v Tottenham on the TV. We drew 1-1, which was ok, although I was slightly disappointed we didn’t win it in the end. Nikki texted me to say she had got back to uni (without any more disasters happening). Tricia came back from her course. I managed to catch Cranford, which I have to say I am still enthusing about.

Monday, the real work started. Nikki’s old bedroom had to be turned into Ellie’s new bedroom. I painted and toiled all day. I had hoped to have started this work on Sat / Sun, but the chaos and late nights prevented it. 

Tuesday first thing I had a job interview. Then it was back home to carry on the decorating, painting some convoluted stripes onto the wall in various shades of pink & purple, moving beds in / out etc. I have completed the task, and Ellie is really pleased with the result.

So you see blog, I have been far too busy to update you.

I have been verbally offered the job I went for, a large global organisation, I am just waiting to see if the contract looks right.  Could be moving up to play in the IT premier league again.

Another trip to Hull this week (Thu & Fri). I don’t have to go next week

Tricia has been full of cold most of the week, but has got over the worst, and left for Chelmsford this evening. She is doing an athletics coaching course over the next few days.

Robbie has had 2 GCSE exam modules, he seems to think he did ok. He is off to London to watch some heavy metal band tomorrow, then going back and staying at uni with Nikki, till Tricia picks him up Sunday evening. Nikki’s Uni hockey team drew 2-2 in the week, so she has yet to play in a losing side for club or uni this season.

So, it will be quiet in the house, just me & Ellie for a few days. Off to rehearsal in a little while, so I had better have a quick look at my lines.

Today brought a cold day, with rain and sleet. So, it was a good excuse to stay in all day .

As reported previously, yesterday we celebrated Nikki’s birthday. The neighbours, Rachel and Alan came in for a while to wish Nikki the best. In the evening we all sat as a family and had a meal, which was quite nice as we hadn’t done that since Nikki had started at Uni. I cooked a roast at lunchtime today, Nik was just about up in time to join us. Nikki has gone back to Uni this evening. 

I am trying to write an essay on father figures in Great Expectations at the moment. I need to have it in for Thursday. The words aren’t flowing easily though.

Back into the life maelstrom tomorrow.

Many happy returns to Nikki, who is 19 today. Nik came home this afternoon, after having played hockey this morning (her team won 3-1). She was out celebrating last night with her uni mates, is having meal with us later, and then out with her friends from the Aylesbury area tomorrow. Hard life being a student

West Ham are the team I have supported all my life. At times it brings joy, but mostly despair (character building stuff). My brother supports Derby. On Saturday West Ham not only played Derby, at Derby, but beat them out of sight 5 goals to nil.

I considered calling my brother Mark after the game to talk to him about football, but knew that he would be suffering, and felt I shouldn’t add to it. After all, his wife supports West Ham as well, and I knew she would be giving him stick. However, Mark phoned me. He had gone to see the game, with his family. I didn’t give him too much stick, it was clear that he was down enough about the result.

Mind you, if it had been the other way around, Mark would almost certainly give me stick!

Sad day in the village on Friday when one of the teachers at Ellies school died. A young woman (late 30’s), and the death was unexpected. Needless to say, the staff and children were somewhat upset.

I am off to Brighton in a while, I am there at a conference for 3 days. It beats going to Hull.

Later this week, my eldest, Nikki has her 19th birthday. Which just can’t be right, I am far too young to have a daughter that old.

You would think after 30 years of shaving I would be able to shave without cutting myself. However, I can’t. This morning, after I had a workout in the gym (so I was wide awake, no bleary eye excuses), I had a shave. I have managed to cut myself. When God put the wiring in my body, he must have had an artery left over that he didn’t know what to do with, and so he terminated it at the point of my face which I cut with the razor. Normally a shaving nick dries up quickly. Not this one. So, I have a large plaster on my face, and people are assuming I have been fighting.

Many happy returns of the day to my dear Mum. 21 again. Mum’s are always special, and she is no different. Fed me, clothed me, looked after me, guided me, and advised me, taught me to respect others, and to work hard. Thanks Mum.

Saying ‘I hate Hull’ sounds quite irrational.  But having spent far too much time there recently I am just glad to be back in the south this evening. I arrived in the hotel in Hull on Sunday evening, and there was some sort of ‘singles night’. It was loud, and I couldn’t sleep – half past midnight the racket stopped. I have nothing against singles having an evening where they hope to meet somebody, but not on Sunday evenings when I want to sleep.

I got a good mark on my Pride and Prejudice paper, as part of my new OU course (approaching literature). I am quite relieved, as I wasn’t too sure about the quality of the essay I had submitted. Obviously I pretty much hit the spot. Next paper has to be in for the 22nd….. I had better start working on it.

Last week saw me in Hull again for a staff conference. Later this evening I am back off to Hull again for a couple of days. A busy’ish weekend. We had a dinner party on Friday evening, which went well. I went and saw Nikki play hockey yesterday, her side drew 2-2 at Abingdon, Nikki scored a really good goal. Wallpapered yesterday afternoon and this morning.

Robbie got an A* grade for his performed work for music GCSE, which should help him get a good pass overall. He has his mocks coming up in a few weeks, so he will have to get his head into his studies, and forget about his band / girlfriend for a while. Whats that ? Robbie is a teenage boy. Yes, no doubt he will worry about his mocks the night before, and not sooner.

Off to watch West Ham on the TV.