I got home yesterday evening, and the party the rain gods have been having this week was still raging (in other words it was pouring). Now a few weeks back I had rescued some drainpiping from the side of the house which had come loose in a storm. The guttering that the drainpipe had been attached to seemed to be blocked, and the guttering was overflowing and making constant loud drips onto the conservatory, which was starting to drive everybody nuts.

Tricia ‘suggested’ I might remedy the situation. So, out came the ladder and up I went. Robbie stood at the bottom to make sure that the ladder didn’t slip. I reached up and after a few attempts shifted the build up of sediment..

The effect of this was of course, that I removed the ‘plug’ which was holding up quite an accumulation of rain water. Which then proceeded to gush out and straight over me.  Robbie thought this was hilarious.

I refixed the drainpiping, and went back into the house substantially wetter than when I went out. My waterproof jacket was soaked on the inside where all the rain water had run down the inside of my sleeve.

Wet Bank Holiday is an understatement. The rain gods have been partying hard! Saturday was ok, we managed to get out for a walk in the morning, and do some gardening in the afternoon. We walked near Whipsnade, and had a picnic overlooking a glider field.

We have also seen the new Indiana Jones film, which was ok, pretty much what it says on the tin. Lots of action and adventure.

But the rain has pretty much taken over most of the weekend.

Tricia and I were at dancing class again tonight. The class was quite light this evening, probably due to the bank holiday. I was the only male there, and caused much amusement demonstrating my incompetence. It was enjoyable, but it is going to take many weeks before I can display something remotely co-ordinated. We will have to see if Tricia’s patience lasts the course. She is of the view that the dancing will help tone up my posterior… which is somewhat deflating, as I didn’t realise it needed toning…

Tricia is hobbling after the dancing. She aggravated a calf muscle doing her PE lesson today and the dancing hasn’t really helped. We are supposed to be cycling tomorrow, we will see.

Robbie is relieved that half term is here so he can get a break from exams. Nikki is at her end of first year ball tonight.

I was very tired last Sunday. After working very late on Friday evening, and then working a long day Saturday, Tricia and I went out on Saturday evening. Over the last ten years Tricia and I have organised themed safari suppers in the village, which are very popular. A party had been organised for us on Saturday evening as a thank you, so even though I just wanted to sleep in a chair when I got home from work Saturday evening, we had to go out. So, come Sunday I was knackered. I opted for a quiet day, I cooked the lunch, and baked the most misshapen cake you are ever likely to see (but Robbie ate most of it so it can’t have tasted bad). Tricia, however, was her usual self. She went off to do an athletics training session, then came back, had lunch and took Ellie out on a 6 mile walk.

Having worked the Saturday, I missed the FA Cup final for the first time in 18 years. I love to watch the Cup final, and would like to have seen this one. Portsmouth won, and as my Dad and also a very good friend support Pompey, I was pleased for them. I watched a terrific game of football last night. Man Utd beat Chelsea on penalties to win the European Cup, and it was an excellent game to watch. A friend came round and we had a couple of beers watching the game, all very relaxing. I didn’t mind who won, so I was just able to appreciate the game.

Before the football we had gone to Robbies school to see some of his work in the art exhibition.

Robbie can be proud of the work he exhibited, and I have to say the overall quality was exceptional. Rob hopes to go on and do two art A Levels next year.

He has had a very busy week of GCSE’s this week, and finishes tomorrow with German. Next week is half term so he will be glad of a bit of a rest.

Ellie has been rather excited this week about getting elected onto her schools ‘eco-council’. I am not sure why she felt she wanted to do it, but it seemed very important to her. So, she filled out a form, and had to tell her class why she wanted to do it. Her first meeting is next week.

Exams

They have all been at it this week. Nikki finished her uni exams yesterday, so feels she can get some of her life back. Robbie has two GCSE exams this week. Today he has the final part of his music exam. He told me this morning that the teacher has said that unless he messes up today he should get an A. So, lets hope he didn’t… But the most nervous person due to exams this week was Ellie, who has been doing her SATS. 8 does seem to be too young to inflict exam worry on children. Still at least she has finished, unlike Rob, who has a busy week of exams coming up.

Rear Windows on Ford Mondeo’s

A few weeks ago, Ellie managed to break a rear window on a Ford Mondeo. Last night, my Ford Mondeo was parked on the High Street of a village called Cookham, and somebody decided to smash mine and take as much of the car contents as they could. All this happened between 7:30 and 10pm, whilst I was at a business meal in a restaurant, which I didn’t particularly want to be at.  Needless to say I am furious, but have little recourse but to sort the insurance out. As I write this the glass is being replaced.

Work

I have to work this evening, and all day Saturday, as there is a major exercise testing power recovery in the Data Centre. This means I will miss the FA Cup final tomorrow…. not happy, but I have to get on with it.

Tricia has had a ‘relatively’ quiet week… but that just brings her back to the ‘busier than a normal person’ level.

Many things to write about, but I am going to start with the real main event of the weekend. A few pictures will explain.

              Robbie (hairy lump)                                                                 Captain Caveman

For a few years now Rob has grown his hair, which went with his interest in heavy metal, and the fact that being hairy was part of the image. Hence I would often refer to him as ‘hairy lump’.

Well, he wanted a style change. This is the result after Tricia did his hair for him.

Blimey…. what a change. The major surgery was performed about an hour ago. Rob, is now staggering about as he feels all light headed, but his knuckles aren’t dragging along the ground any longer, as the weight of the hair allows him to stand upright. Robbie has just passed through the teenage neanderthal phase, and emerged as a young man.

Last night was a big night for Robbie, the band he is in, Blood Red Sky, were performing in a ‘Battle of the Bands’ at Aylesbury civic centre. There were 6 bands competing, and Blood Red Sky won. So, as you can imagine, he is very excited by all this. The way the winning band was selected was by the audience. As you went in you were given a token, which you placed in the box of the band you thought was best. Well, I voted for Robbies band, as Robbie was in it, even though I though a band of lads a few years older were better on the evening. Rob’s band had a lot of local support – school friends – who came along, and so they won. I am pleased for Rob, but I do feel his band need to either get rid of their front man, who seems to think that swearing is the way to do it, or get hom to concentrate on his singing. He went over the top, and it detracted from the band. The band still have to get a lot better, but they have a strong work ethic, and if they stay together I am sure they will. Thanks to Carlos, Simon and Matt who came some distance to support Robbie.

The picture is of Rob on stage. The finger in the air is not an obscene gesture!

Friday evening Tricia and I went to a dance class. I am not the most talented / co-ordinated when it comes to dancing, so suggested classes to improve. This is a big strain on Tricia’s patience, as she puts upwith a dance partner who takes a long time to learn. We did the cha cha cha, the samba, and the jive. Only basic stuff, but good fun. We watched some of the American strictly come dancing on tv after, and they did the cha / samba… and it bore very little resemblance to anything I did. Early days though.

We had the mother of all thunderstorms Friday evening. It cleared the air after a sunny week. I went out for a bike ride on Sat morning, and did 25 miles. The warmth was just starting to come through, and it was still fresh from the storm. Glorious. I have however, tempted the patience of the Rain Gods this afternoon. Not only have I cut the grass, I have put the patio furniture out… no doubt this will mean continuous, torrential rain for the next week.

Nikki was in the county champs yesterday, and came second in the senior ladies shot putt. She did 10.27 – which she would have been disappointed with a few years back, but after all her back problems it is nice just to see her competing, and I am sure if she can get into some competitions it will come back. She also did long jump, and was about half a metre down on her pb, but is is the first time she has been able to do a number of jumps for nearly two years. She has another week of exams coming up, so we will be wishing her all the best. Robbie has two GCSE exams this week, so good luck to him.

Since giving up hockey a few years back, Tricia has been competing in veterans athletics for her club, Milton Keynes. She gets very nervous before events, and days before she competes can be somewhat ‘tense’. Last night she was competing at Bedford in the over 35 category. She did 100m hurdles, 100m, 200m, High Jump, Long Jump, and a relay. Just thinking about doing that lot would make you tired. She came first in all her events with the exception of the High Jump and Hurdles where she came second. So, well done to her. I would imagine she may be somewhat tired today.

The weather is beautiful at the moment. In the 20’s and lovely sunshine. The last few evenings I have managed to get out on the bike for an hour. It’s a nice way to wind down a day, a bit of exercise, and some fresh air.

Nikki has finished her second exam, which she thinks went ok. But she was a bit down last night as Homebase have told her they won’t have any work for her over the summer, so she is going to have to look elsewhere, which is a bit of a pain.

The young man reached 16 today. He arrived into the world in a hurry – within 45 minutes of Tricia getting to the hospital – but has pretty much taken his time about everything since. Laid back, unhurried, patient and calm would be a good summary of Rob.

And I can’t remember him smashing up cars, unlike his young sister. Fortunately the rear windscreen on the affected car has been repaired.

Nikki was home for Rob’s birthday. She took him out for his birthday on Sunday evening. Tricia made him a cake, with some strange logo from one of his favourite heavy metal bands. This afternoon he went to see some friends in Aylesbury. As you can see from the photo’s, Rob’s hair is rather long…. the good news…. he is going to get it cut considerably shorter , and I haven’t said anything to prompt it. Well I do call him a hairy lump, but that’s all.

Last picture is Nikki with her recently acquired car, and her brother pulling a face.

Ellie, who has been grounded since the car smashing incident, was allowed to be creative today… but boy what a mess afterwards. As you can see, pink paint. What else would she use. And it has been turning up in different parts of the house all day.

Tricia has made the most of the good weather we have had over the bank holiday, and got the garden in good order. I cut the grass (which will of course anger the rain gods), Tricia has got the flower beds all in order.

Finally, I would just like to put a good word in for Champagne and Rhubarb Stilton…. fantastic.

I love the sound of breaking glass, was a record by Nick Lowe in 1978. I liked the record, and bought it at the time. But that is where the enjoyment of breaking glass ends. On Friday evening after school, Ellie and her friend from next door, Emily, were playing outside. For some reason, which has yet to be really understood, they decided to practice skimming stones along the street. You can probably guess where this is going. A rather vigorous attempt from Ellie ended up going through the back window of a car that was parked in the street.

Well you can imagine the ‘excitement’ this has caused. I have had to try and get the situation sorted out. The car owner has been pretty reasonable (probably more than I might have been if I am honest). Ellie has been in her room since. She is not a naughty girl generally, in fact, far from it. But it has been a chastening experience for her, and I am hoping she has learnt to think about what she is doing in future and the possible consequences.

I went to a review of the ‘allo ‘allo production last night. We sat and watched a recording of the show. We all laughed a great deal but we are flummoxed as to what to do next. We can’t find anything that would seem to have the same appeal. I daresay we will find something eventually.

Earlier in the week an Ostrich egg was obtained. A rather large egg. Robbie used it to make him and his friend Alex some scrambled egg. It made a very substantial portion. Once consumed Robbie announced he was ‘stuffed’, which to most people is full. Here is the egg compared to a normal egg.

Well it is a bank holiday weekend, so it will be nice to have an extra day, and the weather is supposed to be nice as well….. we will see.

In other news, Robbie had his German oral exam earlier this week, and seems to have done ok. Robbie is 16 on Monday… where have the years gone ? My Dad wasn’t well last weekend, and the doctor had to be called out. Fortunately he has picked up, and the antibiotics have helped recovery.