Well it seems an age since my last blog… and indeed it is. My excuse as always is a hectic schedule. Last weekend, was Bank Holiday weekend, and of course I should have had time, but it didn’t work out like that. My old mate Bard, a Mystic Wizard (Apothecary) was coming for the weekend. Bard lives in Brighton, and isn’t working at present. He had major surgery and treatment for bladder cancer last year. So, after work on Friday I drove to Brighton and picked him up. Of course Brighton is a favourite bank hol destination, and so I got caught up in some traffic. But it wasn’t too bad. On Saturday we spent most of the day talking and catching up, and in the evening an old school friend of ours, Tina, came across. On Sunday afternoon, and full of roast beef and yorkshire pudding, I took him back. It took 6 hours…. groan. But, I caught up with my old mate, and he enjoyed a relaxing weekend.

Whilst I was driving Bard back, Robbie was playing cricket for the village again. He bowled 5 overs, got a wicket, and the team won, so he was happy. On the Bank Holiday Monday Nikki was competing for the county at an inter county competition. She did ok, no pb’s, but was disappointed because people she used to be able to beat have now gone past her, and what with an impending exam she was not best pleased on the Bank Hol.

Tricia and Robbie were supposed to be walking part of the Ridgeway with a friend of ours Pat. The idea was that I would drive them all doen to the start point, and then Pat’s husband Clive would collect them at the finish point later. However, Clive, who is one of life’s dependable, trustworthy, and honest people has just been diagnosed with Hogkin’s Lymphoma.. a form of cancer. Cancer is of course indiscriminate, it doesn’t care whether you deserve it or not. He has been given a 50/50 chance, but has a positive outlook, and is determined to beat it. He had some good news on Friday when tests showed it hadn’t reached his bone marrow. He has just started being nuked (chemo). He had had his first treatment on the Friday before the bank hol, and wasn’t feeling a 100% so Pat pulled out of the walk with Tricia and Robbie.

So, plan B. Tricia drove her car to the end point, I followed her. She left her car there, then I took her to the start point. I then returned home… however, having started out at 8:45, and due to an accident on the M40 not getting back till 12:15… and having spent 6 hours in the car on the Sunday, I was starting to get the grumps. This wasn’t helped by Robbie remembering whilst we were on our way to the walk, that he had fogotten to feed the cat in the house he was ‘looking after’… so I had to do that when I got back. And then Nikki realising she had left her folder at home with her exam material in it (how could she forget ?)… so Ellie and I were back in the car and met her in Milton Keynes to give her the folder… So, my rest on the Bank Hol Monday started about 2pm. Tricia and Robbie arrived back about 7:30pm, both very tired…

It has been half term during the week. On Wednesday Tricia took Ellie and her friend Jess to Whipsnade Zoo. Ellie and Jess had a great time despite the weather. Wet, cold and windy is how Tricia described it.

This weekend hasn’t been any slower than last. On Friday evening I hosted the gathering of the local amdram, to review the Babes in the Wood production, and decide what to do next. Sat morning I managed to wash the car in the beautiful sunshine, then we were off to Market Harboro. Lunch at Deb & Carlos’ and then we saw our Godson Matt in Fame. Very well done it was to. It did mean I missed the cup final for the second year in a row… but it seems I didn’t miss too much.

Today I enjoyed a bike ride in the sun… but I hit a pothole, which has necessitated an inner tube change this afternoon. Tricia went to the track and did some block work… seems she is coming out of retirement to compete for the MK vets on Wednesday evening. Nikki has been back for the weekend… although we haven’t seen much of her as she has been working.

We had a bbq this evening… and I have just sat and watched the first episode of the new series of House with Robbie. Robbie likes House.  Must go, back into the chaotic world tomorrow.

It may seem an odd title for the blog in the middle of May. However, recently Tricia was checking some items in the larder, and noticed a Xmas pudding that was due to go out of date. Now, nobody likes to waste food, and so for pudding today we had Xmas pud. We felt that the occasion could not pass without ceremony, so we sang the obligatory ‘we wish you a merry xmas’ and lit the pud.

Ellie has been on a mission these last few days. Her school are doing music lessons next year, and she desperately wants to play the clarinet. So out of the cupboard came Nikki’s clarinet. Tricia has told Ellie that if she learns soem of the basics by the end of the summer she can do the lessons. Well, with some assistance from her big sis, she has learnt some basic notes, and has been trying to play Jingle Bells. Nikki was home yesterday, and amazed us by just picking up the clarinet, and she hasn’t played for a good few years, and was playing along to Blues Brothers and other numbers as if she hadn’t stopped at all.

It has been a relaxing weekend. No rehearsals, or acting, and no socialising – I don’t mean to sound anti social, but sometimes you need a break. Friday evening I spent in the loft tidying up some old rubbish. Saturday morning I washed and waxed the car, and then went to see the new Star Trek film with Robbie. I had been sceptical as I thought I wouldn’t like new actors playing the old roles of Kirk, Spock etc. However, I have to say I thought it was done very well. You would have to like Star Trek, and sci fi to appreciate it, but I enjoyed it.

Today we went to church, then I cooked lunch, and promptly fell asleep in the armchair. Apparantly I was snoring… can’t believe it myself.

Robbie has put together a video, which he has posted on you tube, we found funny if you can put up with teh drumming… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gJaIThukoo

Take a look. I am auditioning for a part in the Winslow Boy on Tuesday night. Got the bug!

I forgot to mwntion yesterday, that Nikki (aka Nik-Nik, or Nikki-Lou) was competing as a senior athlete in the County Champs last weekend. She had entered the shot putt, discus and high jump. Unfortunately Nikki could feel her back on the Saturday, and so pulled out of the High Jump as a precaution. However, from a standing throw, she won both the shot putt, and the discus, and in fact set a new pb in the discus. So she is a double county champion again, with two new shiny gold medals. So well done to her. I am convinced that once she gets an opportunity to do a few competitions where she can get a spin in for throwing the discus she will surprise a lot of people. This evening Nikki got a call and was told she had been selected by the county to compete at an inter counties competition in a few weeks…. just like old times!

Rob has been finishing off a chunk of his graphics coursework, which looked pretty impressive. I have had to print a load of A3 work for him and it all looks good.

In the meantime I spent most of my time in a rage about MP’s. Today we had the MP for Bracknell… who is married to another Tory MP.. and they have both claimed second housing. Then there is the MP who claimed mortgage interest relief for two years after he had finished paying the mortgage. Lock them up in the Tower and throw away the key I say. Morally bereft and totally lacking integrity. If I drive through a speed camera and got clocked, I can’t just say sorry, and it gets forgotten. I don’t care if these people are acting within the corrupt rules they set for themselves. We should have a general election about this. Any MP with his finger in the till should be automatically deselected. Lets have new people in. MP’s are supposed to be looking after our own interests, not feathering their nests at our expense. It may sound idyllic, but that is how it is supposed to be.  

Signing off,

Mr Angry of North Marston

It has been so long since I last blogged, that it would seem I have been on a blogging holiday. This hasn’t been a deliberate break you understand, but I have been so busy with the play I was in, which consumed all the time I wasn’t working, that I haven’t got around to it.

First thing to say…

Happy 17th Birthday Robbie

Difficult to believe really, it only seemed a few years back that he was addicted to Thomas the Tank Engine, and spent his life either watching, playing, or drawing trains. He still draws of course, and but he now plays the drums. We bought him a camera. He had been using Tricia’s a lot recently, so we took the hint. He has been having a lot of fun using it for making videos of drumming…. I mean, what else would you do ?

Ellie has been doing well at school. She picked up a certificate last week, for her work in maths. This week she got the part of the Emperor Claudius in a school play, so is busy learning lines. Like father, like daughter.

Last week I was in a play called Present Laughter. This took place in Winslow, and was the first time I has acted with the ‘Winslow Players’. As well as the 3 performances, we did 4 full run throughs on the preceding 4 days, so come Sunday I was shattered. But it went well, and big thanks to those from the village who came to see it, and Deb and Carlos who came over on Saturday evening.

On Sunday Robbie was playing cricket for the village team, so I took him across to Mentmore where they were playing. I had hoped for a dozy afternoon in the deckchair, keeping just enough attention to watch Rob. But I got drafted into scoring. I was reluctant, and felt put upon, but what can you do. It was me or nobody. Any how, more importantly, North Marston won by 12 runs, and Rob played well. We didn’t get home from cricket until 8pm. Then Monday evening I had to help bring down the set from the play. Last night I was at work late, and so this evening is the first time I have had a proper evening in about a week and a half.

Tricia has been busy the last few days putting together a dress for a weekend away next month. We are away with some friends, and the theme is High Society. Tricia couldn’t find the style dress she wanted to wear, and so made one. She is clever like that. She is out this evening with Rob, doing a weight training sessions.

Nikki is stressed out with exams at the moment. She comes home this evening, and is with us the rest of the week, whilst she revises for next weeks exams.

I am looking forward to the weekend. I have nothing planned, and that is what I intend to do. Nothing.