Panto week. So I rehearsed last Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Then first performance was on Thursday, then Friday evening, and three (yes, three!) performances on Saturday. All went well, I didn’t miss any lines, and got a few laughs. But boy am I knackered…. I actually felt well this week, for the first time in about 5 or 6 weeks. I managed the gym four mornings, and on Wednesday got a bike ride in. It was the first time on a bike for a while, and was somewhat saddle sore as a result. But the panto workload, my work workload, and the exercise…. all means I needed a quiet relaxing day today, which thankfully I have had.

Ellie and Tricia went up to church. I cooked roast beef for lunch and the four of us sat and enjoyed our Sunday lunch. I picked up Nikki on Monday from Stansted airport on her return from St Moritz. All that bobsleigh exercise clearly works, Nikki is looking quite slim and toned at the moment. We raised a glass to Robbie at lunch, so that he wasn’t forgotten. This afternoon I have been recording the last of my vinyl albums (lp’s). I recorded all my 45’s last year, I have them on cd, and on itunes, and then gave them to Carlos. I have nearly worked all the way through my albums now, I only have 3 left to do… they have all gone to the charity shop. Then I am going to start converting our old video tapes to DVD… which will probably take me about six months…

Nikki was disappointed to be deselcted from the squad going to Soschi, but has been told she is likely to go to Lake Placid at the end of Feb for a couple of weeks for some training and a competition with Mica, which kind of makes up for not going to Russia. This coming week she is back off out to St Moritz. Tricia is driving her down to Gatwick on Tuesday and flying out to Basel, before going onto St Moritz. She will be staying with one of the coaches, and doing a week of ‘ice work’ with bobsleighs. And of course she will also be able to meet up with her boyfriend Kevin. She has funded the trip herself, and British Bobsleigh have given her the clearance to go and train there.

Ellie had a splendid school report this week. Here is what her form tutor put …. ‘Where to start with Ellie? She is an absolute star! She is willing to get involved with everything Waddesdon has to offer. She is such a reliable and helpful member of the form, sports teams, and the School Council, the list goes on! Her report absolutely reflects this attitude in all of her subjects as well. She is an all round lovely and hard working pupil who I feel lucky to have in my form.’

Well what can you say to that….. proud and pleased parents. Hope she continues in the same way.