No shortage of news this week, and Robbie seems to have provided most of it….

On Monday he went into his old school and spent the day in the art department, and some time with the sixth formers talking about uni, and the standards of work required. It was good of him to give some time back. On Wednesday he trekked into London, and had an interview for a job as a 2D Artist, with a gaming company. They liked his work, and him, and he was offered the job on the day. He is on a six month contract, and starts on Monday July 29th. It is going to be something of a trek each day for Robbie, an hour on the mainline into Marylebone, then a couple of tube changes, around 90 minutes all told. Then he has 8 hours of work, before coming back home… so he will miss the free time he has at the moment, and I suspect the novelty of going in every day on the train will wear off at some point, but at the moment it is a big adventure for him. And of course the challenge for Rob is to deliver art that sometimes he may not be particularly interested in. He liked the people, and the office location in Berkeley Square. Yesterday he went to Milton Keynes with Trish, and he came away with a couple of suits and smart shirts.

Friday was the big day of the week. Robbies graduation from Northampton University. I took the day off, and Nikki was back home so she was able to come along. As ever Rob was immaculately turned out, and looked very smart with his gown on. The presentation was a formal event at the Royal Derngate theatre. It was also a very hot and sunny day…. Some pictures of the day. Robbie on stage collecting his degree, then proud big sis with her brother, and a very proud Mum and Dad with their son.

Then we have … Robbie and Nikki with Jordan, and the ‘fab four’ … Aneta, Jordan, Weronika and Robbie.

And finally… the man himself, Nikki, and Tricia and me.

After the graduation we went for a meal with Jordan and his family, and Aneta and Weronika came along as well, 13 of us in all, before winding our way home and getting back home around 9pm.

On Wednesday evening Tricia, Robbie and me went to the school prize giving to see Ellie pick up her award for ‘effort’. It was a stifling hot evening and we were glad to be sat near a doorway where there was some breeze. After dropping Tricia and Ellie of at home, Robbie and I went to Gatwick to pick Nikki up… her flight was delayed and didn’t land till 11:30pm… by the time she got through passport control, and picked her bags up it was after midnight before we got on the road. 2 am by the time I got to bed… and so I was tired on Thursday.

Nikki was back as she had testing with the bobsleigh crew on Saturday. Ellie went down with her. Nikki was a little nervous as she had to show improvement on the last tests, but seemed quietly confident. The tests went quite well, particularly her 60m time. So she was in good spirits when she came back… we all had a fish’n’chips meal, and then sat and watched a film together. Not often that we are all together these days, so it is important for Tricia and I to enjoy the moment. Next Saturday Nikki has some push time trials…. if she is in the top 4 (which she expects to be) she then goes off to a training camp in Switzerland, ironically, exactly where she has been training these last few months. Then she is back for a bobsleigh conference… around that time Kevin is likely to come out and spend some time here seeing Nikki.

Here is Ellie with the book token she was awarded, Nikki doing an indoor push….and Tricia last weekend – she went on a 80’s themes hen night, so got down one of her original 80’s dresses for the evening

It has been a quietish day today…. we have had a bbq this evening. Earlier on Ellie was able to pick her repaired laptop up from PC World, so she is happy. I had a workout in the gym this morning over in Milton Keynes. I am on a little roll at the moment, I have lost 11lbs, and I am enjoying my clothes being more comfortable… a few more pounds yet to get to target, but it is going well.

My concerned brother Mark, hearing that the elderly were suffering in the heat got in touch to see how I was coping …. blooming cheek.

Nice to see England thrash the Aussies at cricket…. again

Well that’s it for now. Tricia and I have just watched the latest episode of The White Queen, and bed awaits…. a trip to the docklands in the morning for me.