Hip Hip Hooray ! I am certainly not going to complain. Sure, we could do with some rain, sure it may even have felt a tad too hot on Saturday afternoon… but the recent weather has been lovely, and I have enjoyed it when I can get out in it. I have been trying to remember when there last was such good weather in April ? I looked back to April 1976. After all I recalled the wonderful summer of 1976, where it didn’t seem to rain from April to September, and it was hot… but of course this could just be my memory picking out the good bits. I found a weather chart for Hertfordshire in April 76 (via Google), and the temp high spot was 18.5c, nothing like the 20+’s we have been having, and there was rain… so, I really can’t recall such good weather for the time of year. Who knows how long it will last, so let’s all enjoy it whilst we can

The Easter break was very welcome, what with work being so ‘full on’ at the moment, I was ready for a decent long weekend. I picked Nikki up in Uxbridge on Thursday evening on my way home. She had been at St Andrews in Paddington during the week on placement, and she caught the tube out to Uxbridge so I could pick her up. Nice to have the whole family home for Easter. The placement has been going well for Nikki so far, but she was finding the travel in from Hatfield each day something of a pain.

On Friday morning, Tricia, Ellie and me headed for Aylesbury. The first stop was the furniture store. We had decided on a particular corner sofa we wanted after recent searching around furniture stores. We managed to get the store (which is a local one to us) to ‘price match’ on a cheaper advertisement for the same suite (which we had seen in Milton Keynes), so we were pleased with that. The new sofa will take about 10 weeks to be delivered. That was job one done. Then we were off to Tesco for a ‘monster shop’, or so it seemed. Whilst in Tesco we noticed a deal they had for a Samsung flat screen TV, with a new ‘blu-ray’ DVD player. We ‘ummed and aghed’ and then carried on with the shopping… Ellie was very keen on the tv. I have been hankering after such a tv for a while, mainly for watching sport or films. But Tricia hasn’t always been so keen. A larger TV wouldn’t fit in our existent TV cabinet etc. After much haggling from Ellie, which included a promise to cook the evening meal once a week, Tricia agreed. And so we bought a new TV as well. However, it was on the understanding that we found a new cabinet so that we didn’t have cables and wires all looking untidy. So, once back home with the shopping, Robbie (who having seen the new TV was enthusiastic to get it working) and I went back to the furniture store and found a lovely corner unit in Yew, and even better, it was in the ‘clearance sale’. Rob helped me get the unit home, and then we set about putting it all together… and I have to say I am very pleased with the result.

Well, all of this took up to about 6pm… and then Tricia and I were off to our friends for ‘curry evening’… six of us who get together on a Friday once a month, get a take away, talk nonsense and laugh. And that was Friday.

I decided Saturday should be less expensive than Friday, and so, no further visits to furniture stores. I went off to Buckingham to get a haircut… my hair was driving me nuts, so this felt long overdue. I then did some shopping in Tesco’s for bits we couldn’t get on Friday. Nikki had gone off training and taken Ellie with her, and took her swimming afterwards. Ellie does so love to have her big sis at home. Tricia spent the whole day baking… we had some friends coming for a meal in the evening, and as it was April 23rd, we dcided on a Shakespearean evening. Which meant she was cooking all sorts of oddities. I went into the garden, and after covering up with sun cream, proceeded to cut the lawn and tidy the garden. The garden is starting took lovely, and there is nothing better than a sunny morning sat listening to the birds. Some piccies… me with my shorter hair, then the garden, including Trotsky the cat, at home amongst the forget-me-nots.

Our evening went very well, with the food highlight for me being a layered chicken and ham pie, with a wonderful crust. To start we had cabbage and apple soup. An odd combination, but was actually very nice. The company was good, Trevor and Cathy, and Lisa and Richard. Nikki had gone out ice skating for the evening with Chris, who she has been dating for a few weeks. It was a late evening, and past midnight by the time we went to bed.

Easter Sunday morning we all sat and had boiled eggs for breakfast. The kids exchanged Easter Eggs. They had got Tricia flowers, and me some small plain chocolate aggs. I am not a big fan of milk chocolate, but I do like a plain chocolate. Ellie and I went to church… and it turned out to be a long service. An hour and 20 mins. So God had a good share of my time. I cooked lunch, and Tricia’s parents came over to join us. We had a splendid piece of lamb. Tricia knows the butcher well (he stocks some of the chutneys / jams she does), and so we tend to get our meat there and he looks after us well. After a lovely lunch, it was a flop in the chair. Tricia’s father did the same, and we chatted whilst both half sleep. A typical Sunday afternoon . Chris came across for a while in the afternoon to see Nikki…

But the important thing about today… LENT IS OVER… and so, I enjoyed a couple of cups of tea today, and a beer this evening whilst writing this blog, and a glass of sherry… and a pudding after lunch… No doubt I will pay for all this excess tomorrow.

In other news… the new glasses turned up, so Robbie and me are happy. West Hams poor season continues and it looks like we are certain to be relegated. BP may be sending me to Chicago and then Houston in May sometime to do a project. I will look forward to the travel and seeing a few places I haven’t seen before… but won’t look forward to the work I will have to do. I mentioned this to me Alisa, my old penfriend the other day… her advice, have a good time, just don’t mention who you work for, BP are not so popular over here !

The first three days of the Easter break have been quite busy. Plenty done, but entertaining can be hard work. So, tomorrow is scheduled to be a relaxing day … (please).

No, this is not a reference to Tricia after a day in the coal mines, but to the play we went to see on Friday evening in London. For my 50th Deb and Carlos, Wendy and Rob, got me tickets to see the play. And so on Friday, Tricia and I travelled into London on the train, before meeting D&C, and W&R, near Covent Garden. We had a pleasant meal before the play, the went on to the theatre. It was a ‘ghostly’ story, acted out predominantly by two actors. It was very well done, and entertaining in an odd sort of way.

I was fortunate to actually get to the play, there has been something of a ‘flap’ on at work. Wednesday coming is the anniversary of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, and there are concerns our computers will be hacked / targeted. To add to this Microsoft released a set of patched to some new ‘vulnerabilities’…With the vulnerabilities known widely (because Microsoft published them) we needed to get all our Windows servers patched at very short notice… and I got roped into the exercise. It took up my Thursday totally, and Friday… but fortunately I managed to get away to go the theatre.

Robbie and I had eye tests this week. Rob needs new glasses, his frames had been damaged and the lenses were scratched. My reading glasses are no longer strong enough, and the frame is wobbly. Robs eyesight hasn’t changed since the last test, and we have ordered him 2 pairs of glasses, one to keep at home safely. My reading glasses were x1, and now have to be x1.75. The glasses will be in next week. Just as well really as one of the lens fell out of Robbies glasses yesterday.

Rob has been working hard this week. He has painted all of the fencing for me, for which I will pay him. He has done a good job. Tomorrow he is off to Winslow where he is painting a couple of ceilings for Tricias parents, and also their fence. He is doing some babysitting Tue and Wed…

Nikki is in Batch tomorrow with the bobsleigh team, where she will pick up her new GB kit. On Tuesday she is back on placement at a hospital in London, near Paddington station.

I finished wallpapering the room Nikki is now using, so that is pretty much finished. I am hoping I can have a break from decorating now for a while.

So, I now have less than a week in Lent left… thank goodness. I did too much on reflection, and I can’t wait for a cup of tea… a busy 4 days coming up ate work, but I am very much looking forward to the Easter break.

 Last Sunday I went down to Bracknell in the morning to see my Mum on Mother’s Day. Beforehand I went to mass at St Joseph’s church in Bracknell, a place where I took my first communion, and where I was confirmed, and where I was in a couple of carol services… so it was a little trip down memory lane. I enjoyed the service, but was surprised to find the priest saying that the Sunday was the ‘day off’ in Lent… Day off ? what was he on about, I have never heard such a thing. A day off from your lentern fast. Well I was surprised, but decided not to take advantage. As I write this I have less than 2 weeks to go. Thank goodness. I miss the tea more than anything else, and there have been a couple of times over the last week when I would have happily donated bodily organs in return for a cup of tea.

Anyway, I digress. After church in Bracknell, I went to see Mum and Dad, before returning to see how my offspring were treating there mother. Tricia was happy with her Mother’s day gifts, Nikki cooked a splendid roast dinner… which I normally cook, so I had the day off . Later in the afternoon I returned Robbie back to Uni. It hardly seemed worth it as he finished on Wednesday for Easter, but he still had some lectures to attend. And that was the weekend done and dusted.

This week I have been mainly not looking forward to the swimathon which I was scheduled to do on Saturday… which seems a little odd I suppose as I have been training hard for it since the turn of the New Year. I ‘tapered’ off my training by doing 70 lengths on Monday morning, then 60 on Tuesday, 50 on Wednesday… then rested Thu and Fri. But I didn’t feel as if I was in as good shape as last year, when I was lighter and the training had gone very well. This year I had been interrupted with a virus and a cold. But then life goes and shows you that you can’t second guess these things.

Nikki came along with me to the swim, she was going to be my lap counter. As it turned out she counted laps for three others as well. I was first off, and there were 3 others in my lane, all of whom were going more slowly than me, which can sometimes be frustrating, and early on I got held up a few times, but after a while the other swimmers started to accommodate me at turns, and after a while I wasn’t being held up at all… I ended up doing the swim, 200 lengths, in 1 hr 33 mins and 16 secs. I don’t believe I have done it as fast as that before. The first one I did, when I was in my early 30’s was 1:37… so, not bad for a bloke of 50.

When all the sponsorship is in I should have raised close to £2000, which I am pretty pleased with. I am determined that I will do he swim next year in under 1:30… a personal target. If I can get a stone off, start doing tumbleturns I reckon I can do it. We will see.

In order to earn some extra sponsorship I agreed to do the swim in some pink speedo’s. Horrible things… but the object was to raise money so I did it…. not a pretty sight ! Pink speedo’s and a pink swimming hat.

When I got home I showered off the chlorine and went for a nap … Spared me the misery of listening to West Ham lose again.

Tricia picked Rob up on Friday, he is now home for the Easter break, and goes back in May. He is doing a job for me next week, finishing the fence painting, as well as looking after somebody’s house while they are away. Nikki came home Friday evening, she is with us until Wednesday, then she will be back to uni, and starting another placement next week.

Ellie didn’t have her teeth out on Thursday, that is now happening on Friday this week. Tricia has been enjoying the fine weather and the has got the garden in good shape. Yesterday she was coaching at Hemel Hempstead, and caught the sun a little.

A slow Sunday, Tricia, Ellie and me were at church this morning. I was doing the rading, and Tricia was doing coffee, tea and flapjacks for after the service when we had the annual agm. Not been a good year in the church’s coffers. Nikki and Rob were up at the sportsfield, helping put up the cricket nets for this season. I cooked lunch and we ate in the garden… in the glorious sunshine.

Rob put out the patio furniture… and as he was moving it from the conservatory to the garden he moved a plant which was sat in a glass dish which slipped and smashed.. Ellie cooked scones for tea (and very nice they were too), but whilst working in the kitchen she accidentally elbowed a glass and … smash. Two breakages in a day, and neither were Nikki’s fault ! Very unusual. Nikki spent the afternoon painting the spare room… saves me doing it. It’s looking quite good. I will have a wall to paper which I will do next weekend.

Tonight is the last of Waking the Dead… it will be missed.

Tomorrow, well tomorrow I am going to get back in the swimming pool and do some lengths to work out some of the stiffness in the legs and shoulders.

A happy mothers day to my dear old mum, who nurtured me in my formative years, and kept me on the right track. It’s been a tough year for Mum so far, who hasn’t been in the best of health, but she has approached it as best she can, with the fortitude that has always been an example. I shall be popping over to Bracknell to see her a little later on.

A happy mothers day to Tricia as well. We have Nikki and Robbie home for the weekend to see their Mum. Tricia is in her element and at her happiest when she has all her offspring around her. Robbie came home Friday, and Nikki on Saturday morning, Tricia picked her up after coaching in Hemel Hempstead. On the way back they picked up the wallpaper I will be hanging in the spare room Nikki uses, and some sample paint pots. I have done the flooring, and the woodwork, and the ceiling. Nikki is with us until Tuesday evening, she is going to paint the walls, after which I will hang the paper.

On Saturday afternoon we all went off looking for some new living room furniture. The current sofa’s are 10 years old and looking it. I decorated the living room last year, and the sofa’s have been looking tired by comparison to the rest of the room. Tricia and I have an idea of what we would like, but couldn’t seem to find what we wanted… so some more searching to do. After walking around the furniture shops we went off for a meal at ‘Nandos’ in Milton Keynes… Tricia was trying to remember the last time we had all eaten out as a family, but we couldn’t really remember it has been so long. When we got home Nikki went out with her old friend Jade, while the rest of us watched a film. I was worn out at 10pm, and had to give up and go to bed.

On Friday evening I did my final ‘long swim’ as part of preparation for this years Swimathon. I did 160 lengths.. and didn’t feel too bad. I think it caught up with me on Saturday evening. The swim is next Saturday, so my training is now ‘tapering off’. A few light swims this week just to keep the muscles lose. I don’t think I will be able to do the same time as last year, but I won’t be far away.

Nikki has just finished her placement in Luton & Dunstable hospital. She was awarded a ‘first’ for her work in the hospital, which will count towards her overall final degree. Needless to say she was very happy with this. She also had some other good news last week. She has been asked to do some work for ‘TASS’ which is the ‘Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme’. This will involve spending eight days over the summer, for which she will get paid, speaking to and working with young athletes. She is off to Loughborough on Wednesday for a days training. The university have been happy to accommodate Nikkis time in the States in July. It seems now she has an ‘international athlete’ status, they are more obliging then before. Nikki has two placements left to do before her degree is complete, and the final one clashed with the trip to the States with the bobsleigh squad. But this has now been worked around.

Rob finishes for his Easter break next week, so will then be home for a few weeks. He was pleased this week, when two of his posters were selected to be displayed in Northants libraries. This was part of the course work he has been doing. He has also been happily shooting this weekend, with his new ‘airsoft’ rifle.

Ellie has been pleased to see her big sister and brother at home. She does miss them, and got rather excited about Nikki being home on Saturday as she hasn’t seen her for since my 50th. She has had a busy week. Last Sunday she was at a dancing competition in Hemel Hempstead. She didn’t win anything, but did reach a final, and got further than she has previously. It was a long day both for her, and Tricia. They left just after 8am, and didn’t get home till about 8:30pm. Even though she was tired from the dancing she went along to help Tricia at Brownies on the Monday evening, then went to Guides on Tuesday evening… on Wednesday she was playing ‘tag rugby’ for her school. This was an all day competition and they came 3rd out of 16 schools. Straight after she went to her dancing class. She then had dancing on the Friday as well… phew. Still she likes to be active, and that has to be a good thing.

This week though she has to have two teeth out. Then two the week after, and the week after that she will have a brace fitted. Her teeth are overcrowding her mouth and this is the decision of the orthodontist to manage the situation. Needless to say she won’t be looking forward to it….