I got ticked off last night about my lack of recent blogs. Apologies, all the usual excuses, busy etc. Since my last blog plenty has been happening. My Dad had his birthday…. 73 … so many happy returns to him. There was Mothers Day… So, happy Mothers Day to my dear old mum, and a Happy Mothers Day to Tricia. Then last week, Mum and Dad celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary. That is a lot of years.

Mothers Day here meant dashing into Aylesbury on the Saturday afternoon so the hoolies could get some gifts for their Mum. Then on Sunday itself, Ellie did Tricia breakfast in bed. I cooked the lunch, and then Nikki and Rob washed up / tidied up.

I was feeling under the weather earlier this week. Whilst I went into work, I felt like I could just fall asleep at anytime. Fortunately as the week went on I picked up, and felt better. I avoided cycling though. I did loads of miles the week before but didn’t want to push it this last week. On Friday, I had a visit from senior execs to the Data Centre. There were lots of compliments on site standards, and the standard of completed work, so I was pretty pleased with the outcome.

Friday evening, Tricia and I had our usual monthly curry evening with our friends Pete, Sara, Alan and Rachel. It was a good evening, lots of laughter. We were up early on Saturday morning. I had to go for a haircut, then drop Nikki off at hockey, before coming back home to get Tricia, Robbie and Ellie, going back to get Nikki, then we all went down to Cold Ash near Newbury, and to Wendy and Rob’s house. Tricia and I were going to a Ball, Wendy and Rob arranged getting the tickets. There were a number of our friends going, and including offspring there were 25 of us staying over. So well done to Wendy & Rob for being such fine hosts. We had a great evening. Some photo’s.

Tricia’s hair looked great done up, and her new dress suited her well. In fact Ellie ensured she had her mothers love forever, when she walked up to Tricia and said ‘Mum, you look beautiful’…

Nikki and Andrew provided a taxi service taking us all to and then from the ball. Once the clock had gone forward an hour, it was 3:30am when we got to bed. Hence, we are a little jaded today. Tricia is catering for a funeral tomorrow, so she has spent most of the afternoon doing prep work. I started to watch the cricket, and promptly started to nod off. However instead of sleeping I went out and washed and polished the car, and helped Ellie clean and polish Nikki’s car.

I have tomorrow off, in lieu of some of the time I recently worked at weekends. It means I don’t have to get up early, so can catch up on some sleep. I am doing an interview for a Science teacher at 10, as part of my role as a governor, and will then help Tricia with her catering…. and then I intend to do nothing.

But I always say that… and never do.

What a lovely day. Sunshine and warmth, fantastic. Tricia spent most of the afternoon in the garden, so she was happy.

I have been working pretty much non-stop since my birthday, hence the blog has been quiet. I worked Saturday and Sunday last weekend. We had some power maintenance work to do, and the only time we could do the work, was at a weekend, outside of business hours. I then had the usual Monday to Friday, and then had to work Saturday morning, yesterday, where we concluded the previous weekends work.

So, I was grateful of a day off today. Last night we had a darts evening, and although it wasn’t a late night, by 11pm I was yawning for England. Off to bed shortly to get a good night sleep before the week ahead,

Some piccies… First of all Ellie with curly hair, which Nikki did for her last weekend. Then me, having thrown a dart. I am not holding the bike!

Finally, an 18th birhday chocolate cake Tricia did. I am not a big chocolate eater (haven’t eaten chocolate at all this year so far).. but I have to say this was a temptation.

I don’t want to be 48, I would rather be 25, but 48 it is. It seems time cannot be changed or altered, no matter what science fiction books or films would have us all believe. At least it is a nice even number, and not 49, which would be very close to 50. My good friend Carlos is 49, and closer to 50 than me, which is a source of comfort !

I have taken the day off. Well, I have to work tomorrow, so I am getting one of my weekend days in early. I was given cards and pressies by Tricia, Robbie and Ellie this morning. Nikki is at uni of course, but I had a card from her, so she had planned ahead, not bad for a student. The envelope that arrived from Eightlem Towers had a picture on it. Thanks Dad!

All in celebration of ‘Charlbury Moon’ (see audio page).

Well done Tricia

Tricia passed her Level 3 coaching assessment last night. A few years work has gone into it, with various courses and paperwork, and training schedules etc. Last night she had to complete an observed training session, then sit through an interview with the assessor… So well done to Tricia. The assessor has encouraged her to go on and do a Level 4… and you can’t get higher than that, and also wants her to keep specialising as a Jumps coach, and work with some of the UK national coaches.

Charlbury Moon

I am a Mystic Wizard. Have been since about 1980. There are three of us, the Cardinal Wizard (aka Longead), and the Apothecary Wizard (Bard). Now Apoth has been unwell, he had bladder cancer, and in his convalescence he started writing some new Mystic Wizard music, and he pressed me for some lyrics. Well I managed one, which I called ‘Charlbury Moon’ (Speeds Lament). It is about the great times the Mystic Wizards used to have in their spiritual home of Charlbury, and a reflection. Bard wrote music for it, rearranged slightly and recorded it. Charlbury Moon is on the music page, and I helped write it

Well done Nikki

Nikki was awarded a ‘first’ for her recent placement at Watford hospital. It seems she got more confident in herself, and in dealing with hospital staff and patients, the longer the placement went on, and she did very well. Naturally we are very pleased, but not necessarily surprised…

Puncture

I have been on the bike the last four days, and done about 75 miles. When I came out this evening from work, I was greeted by not only rain, and wind, but a flat tyre. Why do these things never happen when the sun is shining and there is no hurry. Anyhow, I eventually got home. A little damp and weary, but I had earnt my evening meal. A day off from the bike tomorrow.

Charlbury Moon 2

The lyric….

Charlbury Moon (Speeds Lament)

The ambient days have gone,
To me it was a time that shone,
and one that won’t be back anytime soon.
I’m thinking of time spent under the Charlbury moon.

In the forest or the field,
It’s hard for my memory to yield,
Apoth and the Card who leapt like loons,
Coming out of the shadows of the Charlbury moon.

Sat on the bench of philosophy,
They explained the path that was meant for me,
The boys picked out a new Wizards tune.
But I was just thinking of that Charlbury moon.

Not sure if it was ever real,
Or if my spirit has had the time to heal,
From the hope that this was our high noon,
Only to be lost in the rays of that Charlbury moon.

This Tigers eyes burned bright,
Had he found the one way that was right,
Perhaps Speed was too much of a cartoon
To live out his hopes under that Charlbury moon.

Over the bridge of Cunningham,
Where the nippon chickens bravely swam,
Speeds hand went back towards the swoon,
And made an oath to be back under Charlbury moon.

Time gives us all time to regret,
And I look back with a burden of debt,
To the time when we thought we were immune,
Of the mark that was left on all by the Charlbury moon

Take me back now and I will be true,
To the time that’s gone and left me blue.
But I won’t be back anytime soon,
The sands have run out on the Charlbury moon.