I suppose the hot news story of the week was Nikki being on the tele. Early in the week Nikki had a call from the Bobsleigh performance director asking her to be at a track in St Albans on the Wednessday morning for an interview with Sky Sports News. They were doing a feature on her friend Serita, who fractured her back in October. So on a wet morning in St Albans she was interviewed, and was subsequently shown on Sky Sports News on Thursday.

Nice that the photo of her being on tv coincided with a headline about West Ham. Talking of which two home draws in a week isn’t promotion form

Nikki’s friend Serita came over Thursday evening and has stayed the weekend. On Friday they went into London for the day. Serita has made a remarkable recovery from her back injury, and has started doing some light training. Rob has been home for the weekend, and it has been good to catch up with him, although he seems quite consumed by a new Xbox game, ‘Mass Effect 3’. His uni work is going well, particularly the illustration he has been doing for a Grimms fairytale, Iron John. Here is the castle…and a pic of Nikki and Serita all dolled up.

Of course there was also the small matter of me turning 51 this week. Less said the better… on the slippery slope to 60, and the years are slipping away quickly! I had a quiet day, Nikki cooked some steak for tea (Rob was envious at missing out on steak!), and then I was given a cake (of which I did save some for Robbie). I was presented with some new trainers which I am very pleased with. A couple of pics…

On Monday evening I went and saw my Mum and Dad, who both seemed in fine fettle. For a change that was my only evening out this week. Friday evening was my first Friday evening at home for a good few months, and felt rather odd. We had a Saturday evening in as well… and I may as well enjoy them, as last week I learnt BP are sending me to the States for two weeks. Next Sunday, the 18th, Mothering Sunday of all days, I am flying out to Chicago for the week, on Friday the 23rd I then fly down to Houston, before arriving back in the UK on Sat 31st March. I am travelling with a colleague who I get on well with, which will help, but I won’t enjoy being away from the family for two weeks.

Today has been pretty quiet. Ellie and I went to church this morning, whilst Tricia, Nikki and Serita went off to the athletics track. We all had a roast lunch, before Tricia, Robbie and Ellie went off on a ‘lent walk’, which was a 5 / 6 mile walk – in what was beautiful spring sunshine. I sat and watched an exciting game of rugby – England beating France – with Nikki and Serita.

What a gorgeous day it has been – wonderful sunshine.

This evening a bit of relaxing… I will sit and watch Upstairs Downstairs in a while with Tricia. It’s been a bit of a disappointment so far, trying to cram too many storylines in (in my opinion). Tricia takes Robbie back to uni tomorrow morning.