This time of year is hectic with special days for various people… So, Happy Birthday to Tricia for the 16th, 21 again. Happy Birthday to my old friend Deb, who celebrated her 51st today, and Happy Birthday to my brother Mark, who celebrated his 45th. It is Happy Anniversary to my brother Steve and his wife Justine, who celebrated 24 years of marriage on the 16th, and also to Tricia’s sister Lesley and Les, who celebrated 22 years of marriage as well. And of course a Happy Fathers Day to my old Dad, and also to Tricia’s Dad.

Strewth. How many cards did we have to write! I got Tricia a new backpack / rucksack, and a ‘walking’ shirt for her birthday, items she wanted for the walk she is doing next month with Robbie. The kids got Tricia some plants Tricia wanted for the garden. She had loads of little gifts from friends, and cards… and last Thursday got taken to the theatre by her friends. So she did well. On her birthday she chose to spend the day at an athletics track, cheering on her athletes and giving coaching advice. In the evening we sat down to ‘steak and chips’ (what else – and the steak we got from the local butchers was glorious)… and bubbly. Nikki was away over the weekend, part training at Bath, and part partying with her friends (she has just arrived back home looking very weary), but with Robbie she made a cake for Tricia… the lily is Robbies work.

On Wednesday evening, Tricia and I were due at an open air theatre production of Macbeth. This was at ‘waterperry gardens’ near Thame. This was supposed to by my Fathers Day treat from Tricia. As I sat in the office and looked out of the window on Tuesday I saw the wind bending the trees, and torrents of rain coming down. I thought there would be no chance of the production going ahead… but the sun was out on Wednesday, and the rain stayed away. I really enjoyed the performance. Here are two pics, one when we got there to set up, and one of Tricia tidying up post picnic.

For Fathers Day itself, Ellie got me a new mouse mat with Laurel & Hardy on it, and Nikki and Rob got me a new shirt. We went to church this morning, I was doing the reading and then we did family (intercession) prayers… when I say ‘we’ I mean Tricia, Ellie, Robbie and myself. Tricia then cooked Sunday lunch, Tricia’s Mum and Dad came over. After lunch Robbie went off to play cricket for the village. Tricia and her Dad walked up to watch Rob play, Ellie made me a Fathers Day cake, and Ticia’s Mum and I sat in the living room talking whilst struggling to stay awake Here is the cake Ellie made.

In the ongoing saga of house items blowing up, leaking, breaking…. The bath has now been repaired – the drain away from the bath had leaked. We have to sort out the ceiling it leaked onto now. The plumber who fixed the bath, has also installed an outside tap for the back garden – we have been talking about doing this for years and finally got round to it. The same plumber has also worked on the drainage from the en suite shower… so the ensuite is in something of a disarray presently, but should be sorted soon. The oven which broke down last Saturday was fixed on Monday – new element and fuses. We have a roof leak, which is being ‘managed’ but we haven’t organised a man to fix yet….

Robbie has been continuing his ‘epic’ picture in the conservatory. This is his ‘fresco’ of the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, where Tricia and I went for our 25th… he has amazing patience, having originally outlines in acryllic paints, to now working in detail with oils… He believes it will take till the end of August before he his happy it is completed…

So, on the whole a good week. Capped with two good performances from England in the Euro 2012 footie. But on the downside… a lady colleague of mine at work was taken unwell about a month ago. She has been diagnosed with a liver diease that has been in her system for some time… to the point her liver is seriously damaged. There was no indication before she was taken unwell that this problem was sitting there waiting. She will find out this week if the new course of drugs she has just started will save her liver, if not she will have to have a transplant. The problem being the wait time (could be up to 6 months) for a transplant could be too long. She phoned me on Friday, and we had a conversation where she was quite tearful, and is clearly living with the fearful prospect that treatment or transplant may not save her. Needless to say I have reflected on this… you never know quite what is around the corner. Life is too precious to idle away or abuse… The poor lady is only 56. Praying for a positive reaction to the drugs for her.

I am not a big fan of the monarchy, I do think it is somewhat antiquated, people having a privileged life just through birth… but putting all my doubts aside, I have to say at 86 she is an impressive lady. I recall the silver jubilee as clearly as if it was yesterday. There was a street party where my brother threw a wellington boot into the face of a girl (accidentally I should add), I dressed in blue trousers and a red and white shirt, and got into the festivities…. for this jubilee I was rather underwhelmed. Tricia took Ellie inro London on the Sunday to see the flotilla… which they enjoyed, although they both got rather wet. They both went to a service at St Paul’s in the morning and took communion. Here is Ellie outside a wet St Paul’s.

On the Monday in the village there was a full day of activity. Ellie played in a rounders match, Ellie and Nikki were both in a little play the acting group did. In the evening we watched the ‘granmarstonberries’ play at the village hall… which included the Marillion guitarist Steve Rotheray. I was a big Marillion fan, and watched him play in the mid 80’s, odd to see him play in our village hall. At the end of the evening we went up to see the beacon being lit. Here are Ellie and Nikki in the play…. a waiting room in a doctor’s surgery. Ellie with the black hat on, Nikki with the wooly hat and glasses. Then one of the ‘granmarstonberries’.

What I did enjoy was the four day weekend. For that I salute Her Maj.

This week was thankfully short at work, but regrettably not short of work. Tricia and Ellie went up to the Lake District to see Tricia’s sister. They went up Tuesday and came back Saturday. A nice break for Trish. Nikki took on the cooking mantle, and so I had a meal waiting each night when I came in Here is Ellie sat with our nephew Chris at the beach.

Nikki has been down to Bath the last couple of days for ‘baseline’ testing with the bobsleigh squad, she did well in some of the tests. Rob played cricket for the village today, they lost but apparently he batted well.

Yesterday whilst coking tea, the oven decided to blow… I assume the element has gone. What with recent leaks, the hob needing an element replacing recently, we are not on a good run. So, with no oven to cook the chicken in today, I improvised and roasted it in the bbq… and it turned out very nicely, and so did the baked potatoes. Tricia will call the man who fixes our appliances tomorrow…

We are all booked for our summer hol… we are off to Northumberland this August. Hopefully with all this poor weather we are presently having it should be nice by then. But I am not holding my breath!