Nikki is an avid rugby fan, and it is difficult to be in the same room with her when she is watching a game on TV, as she shouts instructions at the players, then swoons if Toby Flood is playing, or Tom Croft etc etc… Her favourite team is Leicester Tigers, and on Saturday they were playing in the Rugby Premiership final at Twickenham against Saracens. Nikki had managed to get tickets and went to the game with her coach Brian. I watched some of the game from home, and it was exciting, Leicester winning the game with a try in the last few minutes. Nikki was elated… and we were all pleased at home as we didn’t want to have a sulky Nikki at home for the rest of the weekend.

Today Rob was playing cricket for the village. Due to the Bank Hol weekend however, there were only 10 players. I didn’t want to volunteer as I was concerned about putting my back out again. It is better but I didn’t want to risk it… so, Nikki volunteered. They played Great Horwood. Rob got a wicket, and then scored 18 not out, Nikki was 3 not out, as they lost the game by about 10 runs. They couldn’t quite score enough in the overs left to win.

Nikki has passed her end of uni year exams, so much relief was heard down the phone when she called us. One more year at uni for Nikki, but as she passed and doesn’t have to do any retakes, she has finished uni for the summer. Rob had one of his A Level Music exams on Friday morning, and he feels it went very well.

I enjoyed a quiet Saturday at home, the first one in a long time, and it was welcome on the back of a busy week at work. I was however on call, and I had two callouts during the day, one in the late afternoon, and one at about 10:45pm . Oh well.

Tricia has been working flat out, she is on a Brownie Pack Holiday next week, (Tue to Fri), but has cake orders for when she gets back on the Friday, so is trying to get ahead of herself. She has just collapsed in the chair to watch Countryfile…. I suspect she will probably only just get out of the chair to go to bed! Ellie is going on the pack holiday as well. Robbie goes off for a couple of days this evening, he is off with one of Nikki’s friends to see some band tomorrow, and then I have to pick him up in Hatfield after work on Tuesday. Nikki will be working in Hatfield during the week… so it will be quiet around the house.

Shortly before Robbies 18th, I agreed to wallpaper the hallway, stairwell, and landing. This then had the redecorating of the living room added to the schedule. Well the living room got done, and I had managed the hallway and stairwell, but still had the landing to do. However, having put my back out, I hadn’t been able to complete it. But, my back is much improved, and so yesterday set about the remaining papering. I had to stop about 2pm, as we were off to Matts 18th party, but I found time to finish it today… it feels good to have finally put the pasting table away.

Big week for Ellie

On Thursday, Ellie was part of her school ‘kwik cricket’ team that took part in a 4 school tournament. And they won, which she was thrilled about, and pleased to show her winners medal to all and sundry. On Friday, she was given a ‘certificate of achievement’ in weekly assembly in recognition of her hard work, and her positive attitude to her studies and contribution to school life. Then today she was in a dance competition at Stoke Mandeville. I was a bit concerned as she had been up very late last night, and I thought it may affect her… but, she did very well. She came 4th in the Solo, and then 4th with her partner Jessica in the Pairs, and then a third in Streetdance. So she was beaming when she came in. A few photo’s…The first one with the headmistress, as you can see Ellie is nearly as tall as her ! And then one of Ellie with Jessica, and then Ellie with all her prizes.

Robbie finishes school

Rob has finished his Art and Graphics A Level exams, and just has his Music exam to do in June. However, he no longer has to go into school, other than for his exam, so he has effectively finished school. He has his artwork on display in the school exhibition in a few weeks, which he will go in for, but it is the end of an era for Robbie. He is working at the village pub at the moment, mainly doing kitchen duties. He came in from work Friday evening at about 11pm, headed for the fridge and poured himself a cider. I am sure he deserved it !

Tricia’s Cakes

It has been a busy week for Tricia on the cake front. She made a cake for Matts 18th – his party theme was hats, so the request was for a cake with a selection of the hats he has worn over the years. Clayton, who has worked  for Tricia on catering jobs was 21, and he wanted a guitar cake… and one that was ordered was for a character called Ren 10… here are the cakes…

Matts 18th

Deb and Carlos’ son Matt has turned 18, and so they had a party to celebrate last night. It was good to see all the usual suspects at the party, and to see Debs Mum, and Carlos’ Mum and Aunt. The party had a theme – hats. I wore a fez, and of course the benefit is it hid my grey hair and made me look younger Carlos wanted to do something to embarrass Matt, and came up with the ‘Half Monty’. It defied explanation really, but got a laugh. As Ellie was in her dance competition today we travelled back last night, so it was a late night. Nikki and Rob slept over at Debs and came back today. Plenty of pics… Tricia and Me, then Robbie with Trevor, Ellie and Nikki with Lou, Andrew, Simon and Claire, and then the ‘half monty’… I am the A, the one with the well toned athletic legs..

In what seems like a set of random attacks by a gremlin, the tumble dryer has packed up… well with the washing machine and dishwasher going in the last few years it must have been feeling left out.

Nikki’s car has decided to overheat when she drives it, so it looks like another trip to the garage. I took her back down to Hatfield this afternoon. She is has 4 days work this week. She will also get her exam results… so, fngers crossed.

It has been a beautiful day. The patio furniture has been moved out of the conservatory onto the patio… which normally marks the start of summer for us…. but of course you can’t trust the weather, and the forecast is for high 20’s tomorrow… then down to 14 for Wednesday. For goodness sake.

A busy week ahead (isn’t it always !) certainly at work for me, Tricia has more cakes on order… and is on Brownie pack holiday the week after so will be preparing for that….

Final photo’s for this week, taken by Deb of the Mid Sum Dream performance at Bryans wedding last weekend. First Pyramus takes his life when he thinks Thisbe has been eaten by a lion, then the players watch Lion read a poem at the end, and finally ‘Wall’.

On Saturday Tricia and I went across to Silchester House, where an old school friend from Brakenhale, got married. Bryan was getting married for the second time. I remember going to his first wedding back in the early 80’s. Unfortunately that didn’t work out for him, and he spent a number of years on his own until he met Margaret. They seem very happy together. Tricia did the cake, and and a tier of cup cakes. I fulfilled a rather odd request for them on their wedding day.

Bryan and Margaret both like Midsummer Nights Dream, and asked if I and some of my ‘acting friends’ would perform the ‘play within a play’ from Midsummer Nights Dream, during the evening at their wedding. I agreed and managed to convince some of my fellow actors that it would be a hoot. And so, the last week has seen a number of hurried rehearsals as we prepared the piece. There were 3 scenes, from within the play that we did, one inside, and two outside in the grounds. It seemed to be very well received, and Bryan described it as ‘perfect’. After the play there was music and dancing, but I faded as the adrenalin ruah of the acting seeped away. All in all though it was a splendid day, and we wish Bryan and Mags every happiness for the future.

The cake was decorated with butterflies, which is what Bryan and Mags wanted. However, the fresh flowers which were supposed to be put onto the cake turned out to be only a couple, they were supposed to cover the whole of the top cake. So, Tricia had to improvise.

Bryan and Mags after the ceremony.

And our group, from left to right, me, Rob, Wendy, Des, Carlos, Deb, Tina and Tricia.

Unfortunately Tricia didn’t get to photograph the tier of cakes before they started being removed . A photo also of Tricia with Tina.

This is me, Des, and Carlos. Carlos has his head bowed forward to show I have more hair on my head these days! And then my fav picture of the day, two old friends sat having a cup of tea together. Perhaps seeing an old school friend getting married and looking happy after all these years made us nostalgic, but we talked about the value of having friendships, such as the friendship Deb and I have had over the years, and the comfort it gives to know that whatever was happening we would always want to help each other out and be there to give support to each other. You can’t buy a friendship like that.

For me though, this weekend has been a culmination of a number of plays / events, where I have had to learn lines and rehearse. There hasn’t been a day in the last 6 weeks when I haven’t felt I should be learning lines. Now I can have a break…. so, no more acting for a while.

After the wedding we stayed over at our friends Wendy and Rob, along with Deb and Carlos, and Tina and Des, who had also been to the wedding. It was good to enjoy their company this morning over breakfast. Tricia and I are back home, and have put away / tidied up, and now we are feeling a little jaded. I enjoyed watching England win the 20/20 world final, England were the best side in the tournament, played the best cricket, and deserved to win.

Robbie went out playing cricket for the village today, but the game was rained off after 8 overs. Nikki went along with him to watch and act as team physio. Ellie went to a friends birthday party today at the Snowdome. Robbie has finished all his Art and Graphics A Level work, he just has music to do now. Some of the pressure has eased for him. Nikki has finished her end of year exams, and assuming she has passed will also wind down for the summer.

Robbie turned 18 on the 5th May, and he voted on the 6th May Not that it made much difference to the outcome of the election, but it was good timing on his part. We had a house full on Saturday, with family, and friends coming along to celebrate Robbies 18th. An extravagant cake modelled on an aztec temple was Tricia and Robbies latest culinary masterpiece, with a rocket launcher (well, large candle on top). In the evening Robbie went out clubbing with Nikki and some friends. He was a little hungover on Sunday morning…

It has been an extremely busy time. 10 days before Robbies party, and with something of a rush of blood to the head, Tricia and I decided to redecorate the hallway, stairwell, landing and living room. Whilst I worked on the hallway and stairwell etc, Tricia and Nikki took down the wallpaper and started painting the living room. I took a couple of days off, and though it was very tight, we got the job done. Just to compound this, I was also appearing in a local production of ‘Daisy Pulls It Off’. I didn’t have a big part, but I was needed at rehearsals and performances and it ate time up. I must slow down, and start learning to say no to some things, there has been barely time to draw breath in the last few weeks.

Unfortunately in doing the wallpapering I seem to have put my back out again… which I am not pleased about, and have been in some degree of discomfort these last few days. That will teach me to decorate … better not do anymore

After Robbies 18th on Saturday my Mum and Dad drove up to Newcastle to surprise my Uncle David who was celebrating his 70th. A bit of an adventure for them, but it sounds like thay had a really good time, and are pleased they made the trip.

Nikki has been doing her end of year uni exams and getting quite stressed about them. She has been working hard, so hopefully she will do ok. Ellie has had a cold this week, and missed school today, but she will bounce back no doubt.

This weekend is Bryan and Mags wedding. Tricia is busy with the cake and cakes. I have some acting friends and we are putting on a few scenes from Midsummer Nights Dream, which Bryan requested as part of the wedding entertainment… odd, but there you go, we shall have fun.

Finally, a comment on the election… we are supposed to be a democracy. So why is it, the LibDems who were third, seem to be calling the shots about who gets into power. It also seems that Gordon Brown was willing to stand down as Labour leader in order fro Labour to stay in power, to please the LibDems. So they would have elected a new leader who would have be Prime Minister… without having been elected by us the populace.. and that would be democratic.. I think not. Anyhow, we now seem to have a new PM… I wish him luck, I think he will need it.