I think what Tricia meant when she was talking to Ellie at lunchtime was ‘don’t speak with food in your mouth’. Not, ‘don’t eat with food in your mouth’, which was much funnier and a far more interesting instruction. Talking is a permanant occupation for Ellie. I have spent quite a bit of the weekend in Ellie’s company. Yesterday I took her to three dance displays that she was in, and today being Fathers day, and tomorrow being Tricia’s bithday, I was busy with her for most of the morning. And boy can she talk. Almost non-stop jibber jabber. If talking was an Olympic sport, she would be going to Beijing in the summer.

The first and third dance displays were at RAF Halton, where the RAF held an open day, and flying display. I got to see a Hawker Hurricane as part of the display which was great, as I had never actually seen one flying. I have seen the Hurricane in plenty of war films, but to see a real one going through its paces was terrific. I also saw an old Douglas Dakota, which was great. In between the two dance displays at Halton, we had to go to a school fete, where they were also doing a display. So, a lot of fetching and carrying, but Ellie enjoyed it, and she danced well. I have spent many years taking either Nikki to athletics, or Robbie to archery, it seems for Ellie it will be going to dance displays.

Tricia and I went dancing on Friday night, and whilst I am gradually getting the cha cha cha, the Rumba and Jive remain elusive. Friday was a busy day, I was in at work early for a series of meetings, but took advantage of this to leave early and go and see Mum and Dad. Dad is looking a heap better, and in fact my Mum was not looking as drawn as she was, she looked better as well. We now know where the cause of his recent ailments has stemmed from, but not as to why it flared up. He is in hospital for more tests tomorrow, so best wishes go to him. After getting home, and then dashing out dancing, I was tired and hungry. When we got back though, Tricia had to start on preparation for a buffet she was providing on Saturday (an order for her business). Hectic.

Nikki has been away at a rock festival for the weekend. Robbie was in Shropshire today with his girlfriend and her family, for some horse event. Robbie has no interest in horses, so it isn’t too hard to guess what motivated him to get up at 5:30 this morning. So, most of Fathers day has been spent with Ellie. We shopped for Tricia’s birthday presents this morning, and she helped with the lunch. Nikki texted me around mid afternoon to say happy fathers day (she had probably just got up), and Robbie has just given me a card and a cup of tea (18:50), but he has only just got in, and I am glad he didn’t give me my card at 5:30am this morning.

Tricia was at Queens for the tennis on Monday, this is a photo she took of Leyton Hewitt serving. I watched some of the final today, Nadal beating Djokovic, in what was a very entertaining game.

Some more piccies of the garden…. and Ninja, who looks as if he isn’t best pleased to be disturbed from his slumbers by the resident happy snapper (Tricia). The metal birds on the lawn were something that Tricia and I bought a few years back. Not sure why  The other two are ‘views from the pots’ of either side of the garden.

This is the Fathers Day card Robbie got me. Says it all really. But whilst I might often reflect unfavourably on the kids at certain times (like when they get me out of bad at 3am on a Sunday morning (Ellie last night), or wake me at 5:30 am on a Sunday morning when they are having a shower (Robbie this morning) or breakdown in their car in the middle of nowhere at an incovenient time (Nikki on several occasions), or listen to dreadful music (Robbie and Nikki)), I am proud of all three of them, love them, and love seeing them grow up and develop.

Finally, I would like to wish Tricia Happy Birthday for tomorrow, my brother Mark Happy Birthday for Tuesday, my good friend Deb, Happy Birthday for Tuesday, my sister and brother-in-law, Les & Les, a happy wedding anniversary for tomorrow, and congrats to my brother Stephen and his wife Justine, who celebrate 20 years of marriage on Wednesday. Justine has done marvellously well to stay married to my brother for 20 years, I had warned her it would be hard. When younger Stephen used to say things like ‘Uggy Boo’ and ‘Pink plastic sock’s’ when at a loss to say anything else, or to anybody who would listen. He used to hang his action man from washing line as a punishment for desertion, and then made him a small coffin and buried him in the garden. With a track record like that it is understandable that Justine has done well….