So, first off, a big Happy Birthday to Nikki, who was 24 last week… good grief… I have a 24 year old daughter! We didn’t see her of course as she is in Germany, but we did send her cards on to the hotel she was staying at, and we variously wished he happy birthday via Skype, text, and facebook.

Then happy birthday to my dear old Mum, who nurtured me, loved me, looked after me, but now just looks at me in despair….when I have had all my hair cut off that is!

Then happy birthday to our friend Pat who celebrated her 60th last weekend.

This week Tricia’s Dad reaches 76, and Tricia’s sister is a birthday girl. So, busy for birthdays everywhere.

Nikki is in good spirits at the moment having performed marvellously so far on the Europa Cup Bobsleigh circuit, and in 3 races have achieved a 4th and 2 5ths. This is a ‘podium’ finish, (top 6), so when she comes back next month she will be bringing a few trophies back – her first in bobsleigh! GB2 are ranked 4th on the Europa Cup circuit presently. The 4th position and one of the 5ths came at Igls, in Austria, the other 5th came at Winterberg in Germany this last week. Today she has moved on to La Plagne in France where they will be racing next week. She had some good feedback from the coach as well, who is pleased with Nikki’s progress. Here are a couple of photos’… the Union Jack flying at home on race days, Nikki with the GB2 driver Vicky, and Nikki and Vicky with the coaches.

Last weekend we went to celebrate Pat’s 60th… Robbie came back from Uni for the weekend for the party, Rob is a good friend of Pat’s son Alex. Deb and Carlos also came over for the party. Tricia did the catering for the party…. and me, well Pat asked me, Bob and Peter if we could do some ‘entertainment’. So we did, at Pat’s expense of course. Now Pat is always going on about her winceyette nighties, and her love of all things winceyette. So, we took a song called Lady Eleanor, modified the lyrics to be Lady Winceyette, actually recorded a backing track during the week, and then performed the song resplendant in some winceyette nighties we had specially made! It went down a treat, big laughs. What with Tricia doing the catering, and then us all being at the party till late, and a busy Sunday, involving doing the roast, and then taking Robbie back, I was knackered on Sunday evening ! So much for a restful weekend. So, here are ‘The Winceyettes’ as called ourselves, and one of Ellie from the evening.

Robbie is working hard with his uni course, but a little respite this last weekend, he has been up in Yorkshire near Leeds where his mate Jordan lives, getting some Yorkshire hospitality. Ellie has been busy as always, with school hockey, dancing, guides etc… and came home with an excellent school report a week ago… so a big well done to her.

Tricia is full on with the catering… loads of Christmas orders, the house is full of marzipaned cakes, she did a catering job last Friday, and one today as well, and was on a stall at Waddesdon school yesterday. She has a few more weeks of full on work, before it will perhaps ease off just before Xmas. Which is starting to get close… first in Advent next Sunday. I used to love the first in Advent when I was a kid, getting the wreath with the candles set up at home, it was pretty much the start of the Christmas season, and all the activities that went with it. It is something we do here as well, so next weekend we will be out getting the holly. Driving home this last week, I have seen a few houses plastered with Christmas decorations already…. now that is a bit too soon, it isn’t even December yet.

The hair is returning…. getting some length on top now, helps cover up where I am a little ‘thin’ .

Tricia and I went to see a production of 42nd Street that is on tour, at Aylesbury theatre last night. It was nice to get a bit of time together, as we seem to be running at full tilt at the moment. Great show, the tap dancing and singing was brilliant. When the show finished, and we stood to leave, I noticed a familiar face in a row in front that took me a few moments to place…. it was David Jason, as in Del Boy and Inspector Frost fame. I know that he lives locally to Aylesbury but not seen him around before. He looks his 72 years.

As we sat having Sunday lunch today we reflected on a busy week for us all, as well as Tricia’s catering work, I have been busy at work, I had school governor duties this week as well, Ellie has had after school activities etc…. but we are on top of things, the house is tidy, all the washing and ironing is up to date, so…. we aren’t too badly organised. No stress at being behind schedule. Well not yet anyway